September 25, 2019
Education Week, Vol. 39, Issue 06
Budget & Finance
Taking More Control of the School Coffers
Public school spending accounts for more than $700 billion in taxpayer dollars each year. Why so much—and how does that money get managed? Here’s what the numbers show and what district and school leaders think about it all.
Every Student Succeeds Act
Money Jitters Are Never Far Below the Surface for School Leaders
Talk to school and district leaders and you’ll hear worries about the next recession, spending restrictions, and a public that knows little about worries that lawmakers and elected officials who know little about their funding needs.
School & District Management
For Already Burdened Principals, Budget Control Remains Elusive
The majority of school districts still sideline principals in major financial decisionmaking, even as researchers argue they should have more control. But some principals remain ambivalent about significantly greater autonomy.
Every Student Succeeds Act
States Gird for Spending Reviews of Worst-Performing Districts
A new mandate under the Every Student Succeeds Act requires a top-to-bottom look at how such districts deploy their money, staff, and the time used to support improvement.
School & District Management
More Than Calculators and Red Tape: Why Schools Should Pay Attention to Procurement
The business of buying things for schools is a key part of making sure that hard-fought K-12 funding actually turns into a quality education at the school and classroom level.
School & District Management
We Asked About School Finance. What Did Districts Say?
Education Week surveyed school principals and district-level leaders nationally about the challenges they face in managing the money that keeps their schools running.
Curriculum
Math Teachers Take a Page From English/Language Arts: Comic Books!
Comic books and graphic novels, popular in many language arts and social studies classes, are just now tiptoeing into the world of K-12 math.
Standards & Accountability
School Quality a Critical Family Issue for Military
Concerns about local school systems can pose recruitment and retention hurdles for the armed services as they seek to meet the needs of military families.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Are Schools Prepared to Respond to Sex Abuse? Latest Probe Reveals Shortcomings
A federal investigation of Chicago's failures to respond to sexual violence in schools raises troubling questions for school districts nationwide.
College & Workforce Readiness
Teens Feel Ready for College, But Not So Much for Work
High schoolers believe that their educational experience is getting them ready for college. But they're less certain that their coursework is preparing them for the world of work.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Do Districts Actually Want Black Male Teachers?
It's a question that district leadership needs to answer—with action, not just words, writes Rann Miller.
School & District Management
What the Research Says
Early Education Teachers Face Racial Job Discrimination
Early-childhood educators who are black or Hispanic are less likely to get interviewed for jobs, finds a study in the journal Educational Researcher.
School & District Management
What the Research Says
Lack of Internet Access Hamstrings Homework Efforts
One in 5 urban teachers say most of their students don't have the home access to the internet necessary to do assignments outside of class, finds a new teacher survey by the nonprofit Common Sense Media.
School & District Management
What the Research Says
Early-College High Schools Boost College Enrollment, Completion
Participating in early-college programs could have a long-term positive effect on students' college-enrollment and -completion rates, finds a new study by the American Institutes for Research.
Education Funding
Infographic
Data: Breaking Down the Where and Why of K-12 Spending
America's public school system costs taxpayers more than two and a half times what it did half a century ago. What factors are driving that?
Mathematics
How Math Teachers Are Using Comics in Their Classrooms
Comic books and graphic novels have found their places in many language arts and social studies classes. Now, more math teachers are starting to look for ways to incorporate these engaging, visually appealing texts into their instruction.
School Climate & Safety
How Gun Violence Is Changing Friday Night Football
As shootings break out at high school athletic events, districts must grapple with major questions about their role in keeping venues safe.
Science
Opinion
Dry Facts, Debate, Despair: How Not to Teach Climate Change
Young people across the globe are demanding action, but many teachers remain unsure of how to address climate change in the classroom, writes Ann Reid.
Classroom Technology
Briefly Stated
Briefly Stated: Stories You May Have Missed
A breakdown of high-profile news stories you may have missed during the week.
Federal
Which States Saw a Surge in Teenage Voters in 2018?
As many as 1 in 3 eligible 18- and 19-year-olds voted in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, and Oregon in last year's mid-term elections, new data show. Did civics education help?
Law & Courts
Parent Who Criticized His Son's Math Program Is Sued By Curriculum Company
In a surprising move, MVP Math is suing a Wake County, N.C., parent who has pushed the district to stop using the curriculum.