May 16, 2018
Education Week, Vol. 37, Issue 31
Student Well-Being & Movement
Trump Seeks $7 Billion Cut to Children's Health Insurance Program
The White House is aiming to cut the money, mostly from unobligated funds, as part of a broader effort to reduce government spending.
Federal
Trump Wants to Ax After-School Funding. What Would Be Lost?
Federal aid offers a lifeline for local organizations providing after-school programming, but providers remain concerned about the future of the $1.2 billion 21st Century Community Learning Center program.
Classroom Technology
Q&A
Teens Are Worried About Online Privacy: What Schools Should Do to Protect Them
Many teenagers spend significant time managing how they present themselves on social media and are concerned about the digital trails they leave, a researcher explains.
School & District Management
Gates, Zuckerberg Team Up to Craft New Ideas for Schools
In a new Request for Information, two of the most powerful groups in education philanthropy jointly seek ideas to improve students' math and writing skills, and "executive functions."
School & District Management
How Long Do Big-City Superintendents Actually Last?
An oft-cited misconception of the longevity of urban schools chiefs is being debunked by a new look at the data on superintendent tenure.
Every Student Succeeds Act
Phila. Schools Take a Systematic Route to Better Discipline
The school system is taking a "continuous improvement" approach to ironing out the kinks in a sweeping rollout of discipline reforms aimed at curbing school suspensions.
Education Funding
Opinion
Teacher Evaluation Is Stuck in the Past
Race to the Top is over, but the initiative is still driving teacher-evaluation policies and priorities, write two professors.
Families & the Community
Opinion
I'm a Veteran Teacher. Here's Why I'm Speaking Out
Many teachers have long tended to avoid activism, but that is changing, writes veteran educator Paula Reed.
School & District Management
Opinion
No, Teacher Strikes Do Not Help Students
When teachers use their students as leverage, they damage their own professionalism, write William J. Bennett and Karen Nussle.
School & District Management
Report Roundup
Civics Education
Yes, schools can influence students' later civic engagement, finds a new study.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Report Roundup
Sex Education
States vary widely on sex education, and few address issues of consent or sexual assault, according to a new policy report by the Center for American Progress think tank.
College & Workforce Readiness
Report Roundup
College and Career Readiness
In a new exploration of dual enrollment, the Education Commission of the States calls on states to rethink their restrictive policies.
Families & the Community
Report Roundup
Research Report: Homework
Parent support can help keep students on track academically, but a new study suggests a light touch can be more helpful.
Education Funding
Report Roundup
Research Report: Teachers
States should be doing more to make sure teachers are "meaningfully compensated" for exemplary teaching, according to a new policy brief by the National Council on Teacher Quality, a Washington-based think tank.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Leverage Students' Gaming Interest
To The Editor:
Mr. Hillman is correct: Students should not be playing "Fortnite" when they are supposed to be learning in class ("Educators Battling Class Distractions Of 'Fortnite' Game"). But we as educators should leverage student interests so they will deeply engage in their learning.
Mr. Hillman is correct: Students should not be playing "Fortnite" when they are supposed to be learning in class ("Educators Battling Class Distractions Of 'Fortnite' Game"). But we as educators should leverage student interests so they will deeply engage in their learning.
School & District Management
Obituary
Obituary
Brian Whiston, who led Michigan's department of education since 2015, died May 7. He was 56.
Education
News in Brief
Transition
Jesus Jara, the deputy schools superintendent in Florida's Orange County school district, is heading to Las Vegas to run the 320,000-student Clark County, Nev., school system.
School Climate & Safety
News in Brief
On the Bully Pulpit to Stop Bullying
First lady Melania Trump unveiled her new "Be Best" initiative last week aimed at promoting emotional well-being, combating cyberbullying, and fighting the opioid crisis.
School Climate & Safety
News in Brief
Citing Gun Culture, New York Bill Targets Shooting-Sports Programs
A proposal in the New York legislature would outlaw all high school shooting-sports programs in the state—including air-rifle teams and archery clubs—on the premise that they feed into a gun and shooting culture that could lead to violence.
Ed-Tech Policy
News in Brief
Online Charter Used For-Profit Companies to Hide Attack-Ad Money, Auditor Finds
Using private companies owned by ECOT school founder Bill Lager, plus a media-production company run by his daughter, the now-defunct online charter school tried to hide the source of payment for nearly $250,000 worth of TV attack ads aimed at the Ohio education department.
Teaching Profession
News in Brief
In Late-Night Deal, Colo. Lawmakers Pass Pension Reform Measure
In the 11th hour of their legislative session, Colorado lawmakers last week passed a compromise deal to change the state's underfunded pension system for teachers and other public employees.
School Climate & Safety
News in Brief
Many Environmental Hazards Found in Philadelphia Elementary Schools
More than half of Philadelphia's public elementary schools have serious environmental hazards, a newspaper investigation has found.
Education
News in Brief
Democrats Slam Plan to Shut Down Hundreds of Schools in Puerto Rico
More than 30 congressional Democrats are calling on Puerto Rico's governor to put the brakes on plans to close some 280 public schools on the island.
Equity & Diversity
News in Brief
Proposed Change Would Reduce Data on Crimes Against LGBT Teenagers
The U.S. Department of Justice has proposed changing an ongoing federal crime study to bar questions about sexuality for minors.
Federal
Teacher Activists Take Fight to the Polls
Fresh off a wave of strikes and protests in several states, education activists aim to turn that momentum into electoral victories in this fall's midterm elections.
Teaching Profession
The Faces of the Teacher Revolt
In states with recent strikes and protests, individual teachers—some of them in their 20's and most of them with little or no organizing experience—have taken charge of the grassroots push for higher pay and more school funding.
Early Childhood
From Our Research Center
Corporal Punishment and Preschoolers: What New Federal Data Show
A trove of federal civil rights data has, for the first time, captured a snapshot of the controversial practice of paddling of preschoolers in the nation's public schools.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
How Teacher (and Student) Protests Are Cutting Through Partisan Politics
The Oklahoma teacher walkouts show the value in airing a state’s “dirty laundry” in public, write two civic educators.