July 13, 2011
Education Week, Vol. 30, Issue 36
Early Childhood
Report Roundup
Early Learning Linked to Adult Successes
Chicago children who attended a high-quality prekindergarten-to-3rd grade learning program tended to be more successful as adults than peers educated in standard preschool and elementary programs, according to a study that tracked 1,400 children for 25 years.
School & District Management
Study Finds Few Learning Gains from Gifted Services
Researchers find that students nearest the eligibility cut-offs for gifted services don't get much of a learning boost from gifted classes.
School & District Management
Studies Find Students Learn More by 'Acting Out' Text
New research suggests that more active approaches to reading can promote students' understanding—especially with word problems.
Teaching Profession
News in Brief
Wis. Union Law Takes Effect
The Wisconsin law limiting collective bargaining for teachers and other public workers took effect June 29.
Teaching Profession
NEA Relaxes Evaluation Policy, Endorses Obama
Union leaders sought an early endorsement and revisions to how teachers are evaluated, but there was disagreement among delegates.
Early Childhood
States Face Challenges in Early-Ed. Race to Top Scramble
Experts say projects likely to have the greatest impact are state data systems, rating programs for child-care providers, and assessment tools.
College & Workforce Readiness
Report Roundup
Tuition Guarantee
A new study on the Kalamazoo Promise, a program that offers free state-college tuition to graduates of the Michigan city's high schools, finds that the financial incentive encourages students to work harder and aim for college.
Teaching Profession
States Curbing 'Double Dipping' by Teachers
Nearly half the states have passed laws in the past couple years that put restrictions on retired teachers returning to the classroom.
Families & the Community
Opinion
The Futures of School Reform: Readers Respond to the Series
Organized by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Futures of School Reform Commentary series and time-limited blog drew a wide range of responses from readers eager to discuss the working groups' visions.
School & District Management
News in Brief
Turnaround Schools to Get New Federal Focus
It also announced that it was eliminating the office of safe and drug-free schools.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Illinois Drops Writing Tests
Illinois drops writing portions of standardized tests for high school juniors.
Law & Courts
News in Brief
Court Supports Students in Principal Parodies
In two major decisions, a federal appeals court ruled that students were within their First Amendment rights to ridicule their principals online.
Equity & Diversity
News in Brief
Mich. Race-in-Admissions Ban Struck Down
A federal appeals court has invalidated a voter-approved amendment to Michigan's constitution that barred racial preferences in admissions at state universities.
Accountability
News in Brief
Worst Mich. Schools to Get New Management
Michigan plans to create a new management authority that will take over the lowest-performing schools in the state, starting with Detroit in 2012-13.
Standards
News in Brief
Texas Pulls Out of Chiefs Group
Texas has withdrawn from the Council of Chief State School Officers.
Education
News in Brief
D.C. Cheating Probe Expands
The U.S. Department of Education has joined an investigation into allegations of cheating related to big gains in the District of Columbia schools' standardized test scores.
Teaching Profession
News in Brief
Largest Merit Pay Program Slashed in Budget
The nation's largest teacher merit-pay program fell victim to budget cuts this year, as Texas lawmakers slashed 90 percent of its funding.
Science
News in Brief
NRC: Put Science on Par With Math
The National Research Council recommends that science should be tested as frequently as mathematics and reading.
Education Funding
Md. Teachers Get Training on Common Standards
The state is using Race to the Top resources for extensive professional development in its push for common academic standards.
Education
Photo Gallery: Big Easy Summer
New Orleans is one of a handful of cities that have enhanced their summer programs with creative funding and partnerships. In this slide show, Education Week shows the impact of a New Orleans Recreation Development Commission camp and other summer programs that are helping low income students in the hurricane-ravaged Treme neighborhood, where youngsters have historically had few opportunities to prevent summer learning loss.
School & District Management
New England Project Aims to Use 'i3' Aid for Innovative Learning Approaches
Student-created, teacher-guided learning experiences can take place beyond the traditional classroom setting.
Teaching
Ethnic-Studies Classes Tense Subject in Tucson
A Mexican-American studies program doesn't violate a new state law restricting such classes, an audit says, despite the state schools chief's claim.
Student Well-Being
Creativity Drives Programs to Prevent 'Summer Slide'
By blending funding sources and building partnerships, communities have expanded and re-created summer programs.
Law & Courts
Education Issues Take Spotlight in High Court
Hot topics included religious-school tax credits, and children's and workers' rights.
Standards
State Consortium Scales Back Common-Assessment Design
Citing cost, among other factors, PARCC drops two of the four tests that would have been given to students throughout a school year.
Assessment
20-Year Hispanic Academic Gaps Persist in Math, Reading
Despite nearly two decades of academic progress, Hispanic students still trail on national assessments.
Equity & Diversity
Districts Get Warning Against Prohibiting Gay-Straight Alliances
The U.S. Department of Education is advising schools against taking steps to prevent students from forming gay-straight alliances.
School & District Management
State Chiefs' Roster Beset by Turnovers
19 states have seen new schools chiefs come into office, and five other states are currently conducting searches for new leaders.