Workforce

Attracting, Educating, and Empowering Workers

If American companies are to compete and win in a worldwide economy, they need well-educated and well-trained workers.

No one can outwork or out-think the American worker. But if we are to remain competitive internationally, the best foundation for a competitive economy starts with an education and training system that gives American workers the skills they need for the jobs of the 21st Century.

America needs to change the way that it trains, pays, and evaluates teachers. Pay for performance and incentive pay should be the rule.
The bureaucratic culture that stifles learning in too many public schools should be replaced with a spirit of innovation through programs such as expanded learning time, early enrollment of high schoolers in college-level courses, online learning programs, and more charter schools.
Education does not end upon graduation, and workers of all ages who receive ongoing training will be productive and successful
We must support legislation that seeks to double the number of graduating scientists and engineers within 10 years.

News

Mar 13, 2010 Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Tom Barnidge column: Barnidge (Contra Costa Times) Policymakers control the throttle while educators steer the bus. The feds do a fine job with interstate highways and Medicare, and no one fights a better war than the Department of Defense. This encourages "teaching to the test," wherein teachers focus on likely questions and answers. more...

Mar 13, 2010 DISD's Hinojosa defends resignation policy (The Dallas Morning News) Also, a church where he works in a mentoring program for several DISD schools has suspended him while it conducts an investigation. DISD reported his case to the Texas Education Agency, which revoked his teaching certificate. District records described Finch as having behaved inappropriately with... more...

Mar 13, 2010 EDITORIAL: Put students first in contract negotiations (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) The HMO plan is like a BMW with roll-down windows. An arbitrator doesn't necessarily consider the financial woes of the district. But escalating health and other benefit costs -- including retiree health and pension benefits -- simply cannot be covered by cost savings elsewhere. more...

Mar 13, 2010 Tulsa World to receive freedom of information award (Tulsa World) ...of FOI Oklahoma. Pryor is deputy director and managing editor of OETA, the Oklahoma Network. "The World has a strong and significant tradition of protecting the public's right to know.'' Kristy Yager of the city of Oklahoma City won the organization's Sunshine Award for consistently working... more...

Mar 13, 2010 Schools seek input of parents (The Commercial Appeal) ..."parental involvement,'" Storer said. "That's a problem in a lot of places." Storer recommended the district find another district with high parental involvement and collaborate with that district to find strategies that work. Supt. Milton Kuykendall said Friday the district will take... more...

Mar 13, 2010 First GLBTQ high school opens online in Minnesota (Star Tribune) Paul, said the dearth of students results from its midyear start. Glick says that rate compares favorably to similar schools. Because it is private and online, the school is open to students nationwide. Glick and Doug Bright, dean of operations, live in Minnesota. more...

Mar 13, 2010 Riverside resident ranked among the top teachers in Duval County (The Florida Times-Union) It reinforces what classroom teachers are teaching in the academic areas, helps the child connect, makes it relevant. Two daughters: Morgan Helsabeck, 24, and Maggie Woodlief, 22. more...

Mar 13, 2010 Juniors To Be Tested on Same Days (Albuquerque Journal) It is also taken by third- through eighth-graders, but there is no set schedule for those students. more...

Mar 13, 2010 Cramming takes new meaning (Times Union) Budget cuts have reduced the number of SUNY professors even as the number of students enrolled has grown. SUNY campuses across New York are already suffering from course cancellations, larger class sizes and fewer full-time faculty, according to the faculty union. He said SUNY Old Westbury even... more...

Mar 13, 2010 Youth citation program at risk (Tampa Tribune) ...program offering public school students an alternative to a criminal record may soon disappear. The Hillsborough County chapter of the NAACP will meet with Hillsborough County school district officials at 9 a.m. today at Oak Park Elementary School, 2716 N. 46th St., to discuss the future of... more...

Mar 13, 2010 Appeals court rejects challenge to Pledge of Allegiance in schools (San Jose Mercury News) ...a decision from a Sacramento federal judge who ruled in Newdow's favor earlier in the case. "We find the pledge is one of allegiance to our Republic, not of allegiance to God or to any religion," wrote Judge Carlos Bea, joined by Judge Dorothy Nelson. "Congress' ostensible and predominant... more...

Mar 13, 2010 47 schools on state's official "lowest-performing" list (The Seattle Times) In brief, they can: close a school, replace its principal and at least half its staff, turn it into a charter school (which is not allowed under Washington law), or "transform" it. That happened Thursday afternoon, said Nathan Olson, spokesman for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. more...

Mar 13, 2010 Six months in (Richmond Times-Dispatch) There's more to CenterStage than the Carpenter Theatre. For Prine, she's expecting the 1,800 tickets to go fast. Ideally, we'll have 35 percent commercial bookings and 65 percent resident bookings. more...

Mar 13, 2010 Latino conference explores role in higher education (Richmond Times-Dispatch) ...that Hispanic students are new to public schools and higher education, state Secretary of Education Gerard Robinson said yesterday. In 1931, he pointed out, Mexican-American parents in Southern California fought a court battle to end separate-but-equal education for their children -- two... more...

Mar 13, 2010 2 Catholic schools serving blacks to close in Pittsburgh (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Agnes in the Hill -- into two schools. One of the two East End schools will close after this school year, and one of the Hill District schools will follow in 2011-12. Kris Stubna, secretary of education for the diocese. "We're facing rising costs and diminishing kids in both buildings. more...

Mar 13, 2010 Diocese to consolidate four schools into two (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Benedict the Moor in the Hill District, St. Benedict the Moor, had nearly stable enrollment, Father Stubna said. Extra Mile, the diocese and the parishes involved will form one education site in the East End effective for the 2010-11 school year, according to the diocese. more...

Mar 13, 2010 Montgomery, Md., pension deal eases sacrifice for unions (Washington Post) It will cost Montgomery at least $5 million a year for the next 40 years to pay for higher pension costs on raises that never happened. Police and general government employees got the same pension deal. School unions did not.Such arrangements are unusual. more...

Mar 13, 2010 Friends go to bat for Key Middle's ex-leader (Houston Chronicle) I certainly stand by her until I'm proven wrong." Galloway also stood by Caleb five years ago when then-Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra tried to demote her. Caleb," Dutton said. "Right now if you ask me whose side I'm on, I'm on Ms. Most of the junk food was bought by Caleb's niece, Elgie Wade,... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Jay Nixon proposes sweeping cuts, consolidations (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, offered support for the consolidations of departments. Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, said he believed Nixon was still "trimming around the edges" at the budget. It would merge a very small department with a very large one: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Marilyn Gittell, 78, Advocate for Local School Decisions, Dies (New York Times) The cause was cancer, her son, Ross Gittell, said. Professor Gittell’s husband, Irwin Gittell, whom she married in 1950, died in 2005. This did not sit very well with Professor Gittell. more...

Mar 12, 2010 MPS targets weakest schools in bid for federal funds (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) For example, Bay View High School has a relatively new leader, and the school is set to merge with Fritsche Middle School next year to make a sixth-through-12th-grade program. more...

Mar 12, 2010 Legislature rethinks rules for grad tests (Star Tribune) Those courses are required to graduate, and the new tests would be worth a quarter of the grade for the courses. Now, students can graduate if they've passed the test once or failed it three times. more...

Mar 12, 2010 Turlock High taken off state's list of poorly performing schools (The Modesto Bee) The State Board of Education unanimously approved the request Thursday morning. An e-mail sent to staff announced the decision. more...

Mar 12, 2010 Gibbons clears roadblock to education grants (Las Vegas Review-Journal) James Haug Mar. 12, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- In a signing ceremony at Wynn Elementary School, Gov. But Clark County School Board President Terri Janison wasn't complaining Wednesday. "You know, everything will help. more...

Mar 12, 2010 SCHOOL DISTRICT: Rulffes says layoffs likely: Memo (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Yealy said her union members are the employees who are bearing all of the pain. Many district employees and union leaders were visibly upset by the news. more...

Mar 12, 2010 HISD probe finds evidence of cheating, profiting off kids (Houston Chronicle) Students also were charged $2.50 or $3, plus $1 not to wear a uniform, to attend dances during the school day, the report said. According to the report, Caleb hired a niece, Elgie Wade, in 2004 as a non-instructional aide and later promoted her to a teaching assistant. more...

Mar 12, 2010 Connecticut Calls New U.S. Education Standards 'A Good Match' (The Hartford Courant) ...countries, and right now we have 50 different sets of standards. Countries across the world do not compete with 50 different assessment standards." Brenda Welburn, executive director of the National Association of State Boards of Education, said the proposed standards made sense in an age of... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Aledo schools to cut staff, salaries; hold tax rate election (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) ...the cuts, and that will rest with Aledo voters, Daniel said. The district will hold another tax ratification election in the fall, structured the same as an election that failed to pass last year. Once again, residents would not see their property tax rates increase even if the election... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Does the Size of a School Matter? (New York Times) In supporting large schools, economists argued that consolidation of schools would avoid duplication of principals and other school leaders. This presents one major reason why charter schools, which tend to be smaller than traditional neighborhood public schools, have attracted nearly a quarter... more...

Mar 12, 2010 8 of 12 races to be contested in voting for school boards (El Paso Times) Being part of a school board is one of the most important gateways into local politics." Ysleta is the largest district with an election this spring. more...

Mar 12, 2010 Detroit charter school seen as a role model: School leaders aim to replicate Edison's success (Detroit Free Press) Coalition leaders say the ultimate goal for these milestones is 90%. The 70 schools would be governed by their own public school district, charter school board or private school. Excellent Schools Detroit or its affiliates will have no control or power over the schools. The first seven high... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Eighteen East Bay schools land on low-performing schools list (Contra Costa Times) ...list, said Rachel Perry of the California Department of Education. Without the waiver, the list included two categories of schools: the bottom 5 percent of the state's Title I or low-income schools, and the bottom 5 percent of secondary schools that would qualify for Title I dollars, but... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Teacher, Principal Had 30-Year Career With APS (Albuquerque Journal) She also was director of elementary instruction from 1977-1978. more...

Mar 12, 2010 Allentown School District wary of charter expansion plan (The Morning Call) For them to open, they must receive approval by the regular school board or the state. It opened in September 2000 at 136 S. Fourth St. The 320 students in sixth through 12th grade wear uniforms. That decision also will be made in April. The presentations came nearly a month after the school... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Lawrence superintendent 'upset' by charges (Boston Herald) Authorities say Laboy enlisted school employees to do personal errands for him on school time over a six-year period. Blodgett declined to identify who did not know about the printing. Reyes, of Lawrence, is charged with two counts of larceny over $250. They were ordered to surrender their... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Raise taxes or cut education, Quinn says (Chicago Tribune) Ray Long, Monique Garcia and Bob Secter Mar. 11, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- -- Democratic Gov. I have made some difficult, painful choices in this budget. You must make some tough choices as well." Republican state Sen. more...

Mar 12, 2010 EDITORIAL (The Salt Lake Tribune) But $6.3 million siphoned out of school transportation was added back in. That alone will reduce the per-pupil spending figure even further. While it did increase the tobacco tax, other reasonable taxes were not even discussed. Legislators certainly might have done worse by public education. more...

Mar 12, 2010 School districts to get break on funding rules (The Salt Lake Tribune) The program has meant higher taxes for some districts. Alger, who has a daughter in kindergarten, started a Facebook page, "Jordan District for Quality Education," recently to rally parents and teachers. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City, who sponsored SB175, said he understands those concerns, but... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Teacher of Year honors go to three (The Spokesman-Review) George's School will perform the comedy "Figments" on Friday at 1 and 7 p.m. and again on Saturday at 7 p.m. The show will be held in Founders Theater at St. more...

Mar 12, 2010 Bill to remove growth cap on charters clears House (The Salt Lake Tribune) SB188 would remove that limitation and instead would base charter school enrollment growth each year on how much money lawmakers appropriate. Bill sponsor Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, has said he hopes the bill helps Utah qualify for federal Race to the Top money for schools. Utah had... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Will charters sink ed funds? (The Salt Lake Tribune) Districts now only pay about 25 percent of their revenues from certain taxes to charters, and the state pays the rest of the local replacement money. SB2, however, would slowly shift that entire cost to school districts over 13 years. Only school districts with students in charters would pay.... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Record number of families took part in D.C. schools lottery (Washington Post) The number of families placed in schools through the lottery grew by 1,300 over last year, to 3,365 from 2,056. more...

Mar 12, 2010 Chicago News Cooperative: Budget Woes Have Schools Expecting the Worst (New York Times) In Elgin, District U-46 officials were planning for a $15 million budget deficit for the 2010-11 school year. He is frustrated by school budgets getting caught up in politics. Westfall said, the district will have to cut another $30 million, or possibly 250 people. more...

Mar 12, 2010 FAME School Gets Extension of Its Charter Despite Audit (New York Times) Alaiwat bought the property, the woman said, she had told Ms. Ten former FAME employees interviewed described Ms. Alaiwat, said, “This woman was controlling this charter with an iron fist.” Ms. more...

Mar 12, 2010 Appeals court rejects challenge to Pledge of Allegiance in schools (San Jose Mercury News) ...a decision from a Sacramento federal judge who ruled in Newdow's favor earlier in the case. "We find the pledge is one of allegiance to our Republic, not of allegiance to God or to any religion," wrote Judge Carlos Bea, joined by Judge Dorothy Nelson. "Congress' ostensible and predominant... more...

Mar 12, 2010 China's migrant permits stir outcry (CNN) Residents get either a rural hukou or an urban hukou, depending on birthplace. That has forced the Chinese government to gradually relax the hukou restrictions to allow mobility among rural residents. In practice, the hukou system is no longer as strictly enforced as before. more...

Mar 12, 2010 EDITORIAL (The Oregonian) The teachers union has 48,000 members across the state. Bradbury also won endorsements Saturday from the American Federation of Teachers and the Oregon School Employees Association. No one running for elective office in Oregon speaks with more passion about public schools than Bradbury, a former... more...

Mar 12, 2010 BRIEF (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) ...-- Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said Thursday that he favored splitting Milwaukee Public Schools into smaller school districts. Speaking at Marquette University Law School, Walker suggested that the state's largest school district should be split into 10 to 12 smaller districts as... more...

Mar 12, 2010 Walker favors splitting MPS into 10-12 smaller districts (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Simple solutions will not address complex problems." Republican lawmakers introduced legislation in 2009 to dissolve MPS and divide it into eight school districts. more...

Mar 11, 2010 CONTRACT EXTENSIONS: School Board dismisses critics (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Board members under fire for awarding costly new perks to five executive staff members during an economic crisis are dismissing their critics as "erroneous" and disingenuous. Terse letters have been exchanged by School Board President Terri Janison and a Clark County School District... more...

Mar 11, 2010 First Coast school officials prepare public for more cuts (The Florida Times-Union) Plus, school board members recently began holding public workshops prior to monthly meetings. Superintendent Joseph Joyner has been regularly holding town hall meetings to discuss various issues, including the budget. Duval cut the school day for high schools by 45 minutes. Federal stimulus... more...

Mar 11, 2010 OPINION (The Florida Times-Union) At one time, Duval County schools received as much as $30 million in Lottery revenue. They make sure that all their students study the arts, history, literature, geography, civics, foreign languages, the sciences and other subjects. They do this because it is the way to ensure good education. more...

Mar 11, 2010 School Closings Show Board’s Long-Term Ineptness (New York Times) Close almost 30 schools, all at once?” said Ms. “The school board was dysfunctional for years. Students have been leaving the Kansas City public schools in droves. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Appeals court upholds Pledge of Allegiance recital in schools (San Jose Mercury News) Atheist Michael Newdow had argued that the pledge should be banned from public schools because he maintains the inclusion of the phrase "under God" violates the constitutional separation between church and state.The 9th Circuit ruling overturns a decision from a Sacramento federal judge who ruled... more...

Mar 11, 2010 Leaders welcome $200M plan to transform Detroit public schools (Detroit Free Press) ...public release today of $200 million plan that calls for the creation of 70 new Detroit schools and the removal of the Detroit Public Schools board of education attracted a wide array of community leaders who showed interest and support for the ambitious ideas. Local leaders from a new... more...

Mar 11, 2010 N.M. Set To Get 2nd Shot Of School Stimulus Funds (Albuquerque Journal) ...million into public and higher education, said Andy Lenderman, spokesman for the New Mexico Office of Recovery and Reinvestment. The first phase accounted for about two thirds of the money, while the second phase accounts for about a third. The bulk of the money -- $234 million -- is going to... more...

Mar 11, 2010 Head Of Charters Earns $204,000 (Albuquerque Journal) Across APS, that number is 58 percent. The charters also have a lower percentage of minorities -- who statistically score lower on standardized tests -- at between 30 and 35 percent. The districtwide number is 69 percent. Still, Glasrud's schools do outperform schools with similar demographics. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Web threats on Mpls. schools traced to Australia (Star Tribune) Paul police spokesman Paul Schnell says the department's computer experts have tracked the messages to servers in Australia. Paul Schnell. The threat against Cretin was posted on the Internet and said there would be a shooting, Schnell said. Paul Academy and Summit School, a few blocks from... more...

Mar 11, 2010 Ward 6 parents call for more middle school options in Capitol Hill (Washington Post) Miner would grow its popular Reggio Emilia program through the eighth grade. Stuart-Hobson would become a midsize middle school, with a second story built on top of a renovated gymnasium to allow expanded music and art programs. They said the chancellor has her own ideas about middle schools in... more...

Mar 11, 2010 'Lights out' urged for school personnel (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Many have programs in place, said Vic Morrone, wellness coordinator for the Allegheny County Schools Health Insurance Consortium. Gone are the days of special smoking rooms. Some districts give students an in-school suspension and send them to the local magistrate to be fined. more...

Mar 11, 2010 N.J. bill mandates public employees live in state (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester), among other political leaders. It also has attracted loud criticism from public employees. State Sen. Some states require a person to have lived in the state for a set period of time before being hired by the state. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Why take school choice away from the poor? (Washington Post) In Harlem, thousands of desperate parents every year apply on their children’s behalf to charter schools and are turned away. And I agree that some charter schools are bad and some charter schools are good. The evidence is incontrovertible that poor parents want options, too -- today. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Phila. principal defended; cartoon denounced (The Philadelphia Inquirer) The Inquirer should be ashamed of what it did to Mrs. Her son is doing better in school, Tillman said, and she thinks the school has improved. more...

Mar 11, 2010 A Gift for Teaching offers free supplies to teachers in Seminole's poorest schools (The Orlando Sentinel) The supplies come mostly from corporate donors and sometimes include materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill -- stationery with out-of-date letterhead, for instance. more...

Mar 11, 2010 28 schools closing in Kansas City, MO (CNN) After weeks of contentious debate and years of dwindling enrollment, a divided Kansas City Board of Education voted Wednesday night to approve what Covington calls the "right-size" plan. The plan will close 29 education facilities, including 26 schools, according to the district. Covington is... more...

Mar 11, 2010 Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Gail Rosenblum column (Star Tribune) Throughout the school year, about 6 percent of students are homeless, she said. In St. He's destined for great things." Garcia-Marin started drawing in first grade, crafting an eagle flying over a landscape. In fourth grade, a friend offered to buy one of his pencil sketches. "Why would I do... more...

Mar 11, 2010 Modesto City Schools asking for 16% pay cut (The Modesto Bee) ...bargaining proposal by the teachers union, however, called for a 0.2 percent raise. "I heard my union propose no cuts. I think that's shameful. But I think what the district proposed is even more shameful," said Marianne Villalobos, a foreign language teacher at Modesto High. Layoff notices... more...

Mar 11, 2010 A divided Kansas City board votes 5-4 to close 26 district schools (The Kansas City Star) The district's enrollment in 1889 was less than 18,000 -- the same as its current enrollment. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Dense fog prompts school delays, driving warnings (Detroit Free Press) ...thick and dense fog there. It depends on where you're at in the county." Addison Community Schools closed for the day, while 2-hour delays have been ordered for Britton-Macon Area School District, Clinton Community Schools, Crescent Academy, Hudson Area Schools, Ida Public Schools, Lenawee... more...

Mar 11, 2010 Plan for Detroit schools: Ambitious transformation (Detroit Free Press) The education plan, "Taking Ownership: Our Pledge to Educate All of Detroit's Children," is to be released to the public today. Engaging parents, said Sharlonda Buckman, executive executive director of the Detroit Parent Network, is crucial. Students in high school would be able to have... more...

Mar 11, 2010 Fairfax County community calendar, March 11 to 18, 2010 (Washington Post) Refreshments served. 2:30 p.m., Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church. COLVIN RUN COMMUNITY CENTER DANCE, dance to contemporary and classic dance music. Free, registration required. 703-324-5205 or caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Bill would tie teacher pay to performance, student test scores (Sun Sentinel) John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, said the bill seeks to "end the practice of granting lifetime guarantees of employment" for teachers. Florida is one of 16 finalists for a share of that money. Few states have successfully tackled teacher tenure. In California, voters rejected Proposition 74 in... more...

Mar 11, 2010 How Would You 'Sell' Your School to Potential Students? (New York Times) Espinal are being forced to compete for bodies or risk having their schools closed. They are revamping school logos, encouraging students and teachers to wear T-shirts emblazoned with the new designs. What aspects of your school might require some “spin” or explanation for skeptical parents... more...

Mar 11, 2010 Kansas City board OKs plan to close nearly half of schools (CNN) Superintendent John Covington called for the closing or consolidation of almost half of the city's public schools. A divided Kansas City school board voted Wednesday to approve the downsizing. The plan shutters 28 of Kansas City's 61 public schools, cuts 700 jobs and saves $50 million to help... more...

Mar 11, 2010 S.C. school officials demand end to cuts (The State) Bakari Sellers, D-Bamberg. Sellers said he would support changes to Act 388, a three-year-old law that exempted owner-occupied homes from property taxes for school operations. more...

Mar 11, 2010 School scrutinizes costs (Times Union) To carry all programs forward with no cuts, the budget would rise to $166.7 million, a 3.8 percent increase. That school has been recommended for closing by New York state. "Our state is in crisis in terms of the budget. It is just sad when you have to think the most vulnerable end up... more...

Mar 11, 2010 Natalie Randolph to coach Coolidge High School football team (Washington Post) That's going to be wild."Randolph, a 1998 graduate of Sidwell Friends and former sprinter at the University of Virginia, is hardly a football newbie. In 1985, Wanda Oates was named head football coach at Ballou. The Colts were 39-36 during the seven years of previous coach Jason Lane's tenure,... more...

Mar 11, 2010 National school standards outlined (Los Angeles Times) Math and English instruction in the United States moved a step closer to uniform and more rigorous standards Wednesday as a draft of new national guidelines was released. The effort is expected to lead to standardization of textbooks and testing and to make learning easier for students who move... more...

Mar 11, 2010 The fallout from teacher firings (The Boston Globe) She served in the first Bush administration's Education Department, fighting traditional public school educators. How does firing an art teacher improve poor math and science test scores? But now, the fallout goes beyond the union. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Support grows for limiting junk food in Mass. schools (The Boston Globe) It's a crisis.''The bill is one of two the Senate will debate today that aim to foster a healthier learning environment for students. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Judge overrules jury in Boston Latin teacher's bias case (The Boston Globe) The flier triggered an investigation by the School Department's Office of Equity and opened complaints about how teachers are assigned. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Debate on school reform - Our view: Unions protect bad teachers, harming kids' education (USA Today) Our view on school reform: Unions protect bad teachers, harming kids' education Mass firing in Rhode Island reflects need to shake up the status quo. Few public school principals in the country are able to dismiss an incompetent teacher without a protracted, expensive struggle, and therefore... more...

Mar 11, 2010 N.J. bill (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester), among other political leaders. It also has attracted loud criticism from public employees. State Sen. Some states require a resident to have lived in-state for a set period of time before being hired by the state. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Raise taxes or cut education, Quinn says (Chicago Tribune) Ray Long, Monique Garcia and Bob Secter Mar. 10, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- SPRINGFIELD -- Democratic Gov. I have made some difficult, painful choices in this budget. You must make some tough choices as well." Republican state Sen. more...

Mar 11, 2010 Fort Worth area sees flurry of last-minute filings for election (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) The Fort Worth educator filed Monday to run against incumbent Trustee Sherri L. Whiting and challenger Greg Kauffman. In Place 2, Tarrant County sheriff's Deputy Jimmy McDonald will take on incumbent Jerry Beck. In Place 3, incumbent Jesse Johnson faces builder James Dornan. Forest Hill Three... more...

Mar 11, 2010 16% rise in undergrads on California's state campuses predicted (Los Angeles Times) By 2019, demand for slots at California's community colleges is expected to rise by 313,253 students, according to the report. The commission is responsible for statewide education planning and coordination. The report projects increased enrollment demand by minority students who are considered... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Governors, state school superintendents propose common academic standards (Washington Post) We've made all of this progress in the last 15 years under the SOL program. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Kansas City Adopts Plan to Close Nearly Half Its Schools (New York Times) “We must make sacrifices,” said board member Joel Pelofsky, speaking in favor of the plan before the vote. For decades, national education experts said, the Kansas City schools had not responded to changes in demographics that would have spared them such a drastic one-time cut. “Where’s... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Shooting threats against Mpls. schools, Cretin could be related, police say (Star Tribune) Paul Schnell. The threat against Cretin was posted on the Internet and said there would be a shooting, Schnell said. Police were notified by a citizen who passed along an e-mail about the threat, he said. Paul Academy and Summit School, a few blocks from Cretin-Derham Hall, has increased... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Va. budget plan would shrink general spending to 2006 levels (Washington Post) The preschool program grew rapidly in the past four years. Without those federal funds, the program would probably enroll fewer children and pregnant mothers. In the past six years, eight Virginia hospitals have closed their maternity wings, which tend to serve an especially high percentage of... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Parents swat at student swap in Duval magnet middle schools (The Florida Times-Union) ...-- Parents and teachers on Tuesday questioned Duval County Public Schools' communication and reasoning of a plan to move students attending the dedicated magnet James Weldon Johnson Middle School to Paxon Middle School. The plan is an effort to maximize the available seats of middle schools... more...

Mar 10, 2010 First Coast school officials prepare public for more cuts (The Florida Times-Union) Plus, school board members recently began holding public workshops prior to monthly meetings. Superintendent Joseph Joyner has been regularly holding town hall meetings to discuss various issues, including the budget. Duval cut the school day for high schools by 45 minutes. Federal stimulus... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Kansas City to close 29 public schools (USA Today) KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City school board voted Wednesday night to close nearly half the district's schools in a desperate bid to stay afloat. Covington has stressed that the district's buildings are only half-full as its population has plummeted amid political squabbling and chronically... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Aging Sisters of St. Mary of Namur 'in a financial pickle' (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Mary of Namur. These nuns, their numbers dwindling, have devoted their lives to helping others. Mary of Namur pioneered Catholic education in North Texas. In 1885 the nuns established St. Mary. Unsworth was a poor student. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Study links soda tax and better health (The Philadelphia Inquirer) One is simply volume: Among adults, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has more than doubled in the last half-century. Eating dessert before dinner will dull your appetite, but drinking soda will not. Ludwig led a study that tracked drink consumption by 548 children in Massachusetts public... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Orange County, Calif., school district identifies $352 million in budget cuts (The Orange County Register) ...rough week ahead," said county Superintendent William Habermehl said. "School districts are going to be making some real tough decisions that are going to greatly impact education." Last year, school districts cut a combined $274 million from budgets, and reportedly laid off about 2,300... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Utah tuitions likely to rise 10 percent (The Salt Lake Tribune) We should be supporting students and give them an incentive," Kinsel said. "It's inseparable, the success of students and the success of the state. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Several low-performing area schools could face overhauls (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Louis. Illinois released its list earlier this school year, which included schools from East Alton-Wood River, Cahokia, East St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams echoed several administrators applauding the additional funding. The new plan, for instance, envisions low-performing... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Concocting a Cure for Kids With Issues (New York Times) With vision therapy, in most cases, these problems can be fixed, they say. He recently graduated from occupational therapy and from floor-time therapy. Are you going to deny your kid a therapy just to see if another therapy works? more...

Mar 10, 2010 Tougher new national math, English standards drafted (USA Today) Finn said the standards' authors have "imaginatively incorporated the reading sides of science and history as well as English per se. They've supplied plenty of compelling examples of what kids at various levels should be reading. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Grads rally for fired teachers (CNN) Ashley Delgado, 19, expressed her displeasure with President Obama's comments about the school. Ashley Delgado, 19, expressed her displeasure with President Obama's comments about the school. She said the union supports school reform. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Panel Releases Proposal to Set U.S. Standards for Education (New York Times) Culminating a year’s work, a panel of educators convened by the nation’s governors and state school superintendents released a set of proposed common academic standards on Wednesday. The standards adoption process varies greatly in complexity from state to state. Several major education... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Parents swat at student swap in middle schools (The Florida Times-Union) James Weldon Johnson Middle School to Paxon Middle School. The plan is an effort to maximize the available seats of middle schools in Northwest Jacksonville, where nearly 2,000 middle school seats are empty. More than 2,200 students would change schools and five middle schools would be affected... more...

Mar 10, 2010 New national math, English standards drafted (Los Angeles Times) Math and English instruction in the United States moved a step closer to uniform and more rigorous standards Wednesday as draft new national guidelines were released. One math expert who was not involved in writing the draft standards questioned the value of moving concepts earlier. Cathy Seeley,... more...

Mar 10, 2010 The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa., Paul Carpenter column (The Morning Call) Paul Carpenter Mar. 10, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The stars must be misaligned. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Salida schools to pay $102K (The Modesto Bee) Hatfield Mar. 10, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- SALIDA -- School district trustees have agreed to pay former Superintendent Doug Baughn $102,000 to settle his contract three weeks after he resigned. The payout frustrates employees and parents who are bracing for... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Making progress, West. Phila. High wary of district move (The Philadelphia Inquirer) But we're all working hard, together, now." Simon, the Penn professor, believes that West will continue to make progress. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Grads rally for embattled school (CNN) Ashley Delgado, 19, expressed her displeasure with President Obama's comments about the school. Ashley Delgado, 19, expressed her displeasure with President Obama's comments about the school. Her classmate, Sindy Alvisures, said, "The teachers are literally like our family. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Vernon Polite (Detroit Free Press) Polite died Monday of complications from pancreatic cancer at St. Polite was "a warm and caring person and an outstanding educator and leader." Before his tenure at Eastern, Mr. Polite was a professor and dean of the School of Education at Bowie State University in Maryland. A native of... more...

Mar 10, 2010 SUV hits school, 6 kids injured (Detroit Free Press) Often, "children are more resilient to emotional trauma than adults," Wayne State University chairman of psychiatry Dr. David Rosenberg said Tuesday. Police said their investigation might include advising the school to install a traffic barrier outside the preschool windows. The windows extend... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Graduates rally for embattled school (CNN) Ashley Delgado, 19, expressed her displeasure with President Obama's comments about the school. Ashley Delgado, 19, expressed her displeasure with President Obama's comments about the school. Her classmate, Sindy Alvisures, said, "The teachers are literally like our family. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Portland education leaders talk about barriers and keys to equity in schools (The Oregonian) Individual school funding in Portland largely follows the student. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Countdown begins for Portland Public Schools' high school redesign plan (The Oregonian) ...enrollment and transfer policy and a proposal for how to review and redraw high school attendance boundaries. Some parents in the Portland area will be busy during the next month and a half as well. A new group called the East-Side High Schools Coalition plans to create a community task... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Schools deal reached (The Salt Lake Tribune) Rural lawmakers feared it would prove especially damaging to students in their districts. It amounts to a reduction of less than 1 percent from the overall public education fund. However, there is no new funding to educate an estimated 11,000 new students who are expected to be enrolling in... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Parts en route for Balto. County water repairs (The Baltimore Sun) ...water. County officials said the following 11 public schools would be closed again today because of the water outages and restrictions: Franklin high, middle and elementary schools; Owings Mills high and elementary schools; New Town High School; Cedarmere Elementary School; Chatsworth... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Co-op creates community for home-schooled kids (Chicago Tribune) Participants are from Chicago, Oak Park, Berwyn and Palatine. Nance Zartman said coming to the co-op is important for her children's social development. It makes the week complete." Zartman's son Skylar attended public school until third grade and started fourth grade at home. Both Oak Park and... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Harvey's mayor in line to also be its schools chief (Chicago Tribune) He makes nearly $107,000 a year as District 152 assistant superintendent, while Bridges makes $202,000 a year. The meeting agenda did not say the school board would vote on Bridges' successor. The Tribune started asking questions and requesting public documents in January. The district posted... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Many Nations Passing U.S. in Education, Expert Says (New York Times) Schleicher’s comments came in testimony before the Senate education committee and in a statement he delivered. The blame for America’s sagging academic achievement does not lie solely with public schools, Mr. Schleicher said, is improving its education system most rapidly. more...

Mar 10, 2010 An education for all... (Star Tribune) That allows students with learning disabilities to absorb the material through as many different learning pathways as possible, Rooney said. In addition, students aren't grouped by grade level. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Va. Senate passes governor's plan to expand charter schools (Washington Post) Robert F. McDonnell's proposal designed to expand the number of the state's charter schools.The Democratic-controlled Senate passed the bill 27 to 12. Charters are freer to experiment with schedules and curricula than regular public schools. Since Virginia began allowing charter schools 12 years... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Kevin Johnson's winning streak: NBA, Sacramento City Hall, Michelle Rhee's heart (Washington Post) This is the way they roll, Johnson and Rhee. Although Rhee has been married before, Johnson's relationship with Rhee is his first truly serious one, says Mother Rose. Rhee considered herself familiar with the inner workings of St. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Perdue (The Charlotte Observer) Early budget planning has assumed no raises. Perdue's administration writes the first draft of the state budget every year, and lawmakers then make substantial changes before passing it. In this case, though, legislative leaders already agree with Perdue on forgoing raises. Cope and SEANC backed... more...

Mar 10, 2010 So who would want this job? Eight want a shot (Star Tribune) The current board members have led the district out of that trauma and helped establish a foundation for the schools to move forward. Public education is the best investment we can make. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Educator says he can lead schools (The State) Thompson said. In the June primary, Thompson faces Democrat Frank Holleman, a Greenville attorney. Also running are Columbia Libertarian Tim Moultrie, a Dreher High School teacher; and five Republicans -- Gary Burgess, former superintendent of Anderson 4; Elizabeth Moffly, a Mount Pleasant... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Grads rally for school, blast Obama (CNN) Her classmate, Sindy Alvisures, said, "The teachers are literally like our family. On the steps outside the school, George McLaughlin shrugged. She said the union supports school reform. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Patrick gets unions huffing and puffing (The Boston Globe) Mar. 10, 2010 (The Boston Globe delivered by Newstex) -- LABOR LEADERS are in a lather. Although private-sector unions are an important counterweight to corporate power, the dynamic is different, and sometimes dysfunctional, in the public sector. On the recent issues that have left labor leaders... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Schools chief warns of closings (The Boston Globe) Initially, Mayor Thomas M. Menino asked the School Department to cut spending for next year by 1 percent from this year's level. more...

Mar 10, 2010 Pension spike spurs senior initiative (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) When seniors get a tax bill that's $500-$1,000 more, they're going to be in for a shock. Ed Rendell agree soaring pension bills need attention now. Rendell's first calls for action several years ago went almost entirely unheeded. Last year, House Republican leaders lobbied unsuccessfully to... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Hempfield impasse heads to fact-finding (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Employees said it would cost $430 a month to provide health care for themselves and their families. Bus drivers earn hourly wages between $14.33 and $17.46. A second vote is held to confirm the initial vote. If either side changes its position, the report then can be made public. The rejection... more...

Mar 10, 2010 Money woes forcing more school closings, layoffs (Boston Herald) Boston Public School system will face more school closures, layoffs and other potentially crippling cuts under a bleak financial picture officials are blaming on plummeting federal and state aid, the Herald has learned. "It's inevitable that school closings and layoffs will happen. It's not a... more...

Mar 9, 2010 Judge to end oversight of city schools (The Baltimore Sun) Then-Mayor Schmoke agreed to give up some control of the schools to the state in return for an infusion of cash. Spending on special-education students had risen quickly and was draining funds for the rest of the system. In lieu of an education, special-education students were compensated with... more...

Mar 9, 2010 Scholar Diane Ravitch: 'We've lost sight' of schools' goal (USA Today) It may workCHARTERS: Can they succeed? Shanker, she says, envisioned charters as small "laboratories of innovation" within existing public schools. more...

Mar 9, 2010 After layoffs, Broward recruits teachers in N.Y. (The Miami Herald) ...area teachers has been dwindling." For the 2010-11 school year, the Florida Department of Education has designated eight fields as critical teacher shortage areas: secondary math, science and English; reading; exceptional student education; foreign languages; technology education/industrial... more...

Mar 9, 2010 Cuts to education protested (The San Diego Union-Tribune) About 400 teachers, administrators, students and others attended the Oceanside rally. Vista and San Marcos school districts face similarly sized deficits, at $18.3 million and $17.5 million, respectively. Palomar College in San Marcos cut 270 class sections last fall, and more cuts are expected... more...

Mar 9, 2010 Vista trustees cut away another $500,000 (The San Diego Union-Tribune) The cuts will reduce magnet school funding and various administrative services. But 61 teachers on one-year contracts will lose their jobs. But the district is also enrolling fewer students, and as a result taking in fewer dollars from the state. more...

Mar 9, 2010 Schools grapple with more budget cuts (The San Diego Union-Tribune) Officials said the district already has cut about 8 percent of its budget -- or $3.9 million -- and must cut more to eliminate a $6 million shortfall going into the next school year. Well, it's currently raining quite hard." The district agreed to begin spending down its reserve account of 12... more...

Mar 9, 2010 OPINION (The Baltimore Sun) The Basilica Historic Trust was funded with private money. In fact, in 2001 the Archdiocese closed a school near the basilica because of lack of funds for a renovation that involved asbestos removal. One point of fact: It isn't true that "no Archdiocese money" was used on the basilica. more...

Mar 9, 2010 FWCS doing math on cuts (The News-Sentinel) Outsourcing is one suggestion the district has for cutting costs. It also has public hearings planned on the possible closure of Elmhurst High School and Pleasant Center Elementary. Superintendent Wendy Robinson said at the board meeting that the district has about 70 employees leave per year. more...

Mar 9, 2010 IN BRIEF (Albuquerque Journal) School, Albuquerque Public Schools. Cindy Lee, seventh-grade science, CC Snell Middle, Cobre Consolidated. Christina Lytle, sixthgrade language arts, including classes that bring regular and special education students together, Mountain View Middle School, Rio Rancho Public Schools. Betsy Van... more...

Mar 9, 2010 Pressed by Charters, Public Schools Try Marketing (New York Times) As charter schools have grown in New York City, both in number and in popularity, public school principals like Ms. Moskowitz has helped run an education fair, akin to a college fair for high school students. Now, she is eager for Damian to attend a charter school. more...

Mar 9, 2010 EDITORIAL (San Jose Mercury News) State and federal education departments definitely could do more to help schools manage the fast-moving, complex application process. more...

Mar 9, 2010 Suit sheds light on school makeup courses (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Louis Public Schools did not admit any wrongdoing. The company works in school districts across Missouri, including St. Louis Public Schools, Hazelwood, Riverview Gardens and North Kansas City. ACE Learning Centers declined to comment about the lawsuit. more...

Mar 9, 2010 Seven South Bay schools ranked among lowest performers in the state (San Jose Mercury News) Two of the categories include elementary and middle schools that receive federal aid for poor children and that failed to get enough of their students proficient in math and English. Historically, the federal government has had no leverage over such schools. Schools must apply by June 1. Schools... more...

Mar 9, 2010 Broward School Board to weigh cuts to elective classes (The Miami Herald) Broward school district could save money next year is by having more elementary schools share art, music and physical education teachers and media specialists, a possibility School Board members will discuss at a workshop meeting Tuesday. They will also take up other unpopular cost-cutting... more...

Mar 9, 2010 State lists 13 underachieving Valley schools (The Fresno Bee) ...stimulus package and the School Improvement Grant program. The 188 schools include 13 in Fresno, Tulare and Kings counties. School officials sampled Monday didn't express surprise at the schools named, based on the state's methodology. State officials considered students' academic... more...

Mar 9, 2010 TPS workers ask board not to cut their positions (Tulsa World) Someone has to help them," Reyes said. "How can I give this up? How could I say diversity and equity we do not need? I couldn't give that up." Jeter, 47, has worked for the district since April 2006. more...

Mar 9, 2010 Modesto, Turlock schools options grim in wake of state designation (The Modesto Bee) Are we transferring students to another school?' " No decisions have been made, but officials must choose a remedy to speed academic improvements. Applications are due June 1, with the state Board of Education awarding the grants in July. Schools that get the grants must carry out their... more...

Mar 9, 2010 The Buffalo News, N.Y., Bruce Andriatch column (The Buffalo News) He was a school superintendent for 18 years --including a stormy tenure in Olean-- and has worked in schools for 30. Which makes the coming year decision time. Kerr puts his suggestions for budget cuts into three categories: immediate, intermediate and long-term. Lake Shore is considering... more...

Mar 9, 2010 Portland School Board takes big step toward high school redesign (The Oregonian) Right now, fewer than 60 percent of students graduate on time. Right now, the district's schools range in size from 176 students to 1,610 students. more...

Mar 9, 2010 Effective teachers plan gets rolling in Pittsburgh school district (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Part of that is the idea that efficient teachers create better learning environments. I don't think there can be one measure, but whatever we come up with can't be something we do to teachers. It has to be done with teachers," said Mr. more...

Mar 9, 2010 EDITORIAL: A Sterling example of leadership at the OPEA (The Daily Oklahoman) Edmondson, a longtime open records advocate, provided them for his employees. Oklahoma City Public Schools has been cooperative too. Edmondson's office will decide whether these employees are breaking ethics rules that prohibit using state resources to engage in political activity. more...

Mar 9, 2010 KC schools chief aims for cuts that make a difference 'once and for all' (The Kansas City Star) A lot of work needs to be done. Covington needs to develop the details and work with the school board, he said. He has a patient on life support ... (but) he's not using a scalpel. more...

Mar 9, 2010 House approves McDonnell plan on virtual classes (Richmond Times-Dispatch) The bill on virtual schools, House Bill 1388, passed yesterday 80-18. The bill on lab schools is set for a final vote in the House today. For virtual and charter schools, state education dollars follow the student. The General Assembly would direct funding to lab schools at its discretion. more...

Mar 9, 2010 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Eugene Kane column (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) ...who didn't support the mayoral control bill. That seems a bit unfair, considering what Wisconsin was up against. It seems Race to the Top funding was based on past performance, and many school districts in Wisconsin -- particularly Milwaukee -- don't have an impressive record of achievement.... more...

Mar 9, 2010 Decision delayed on closing 3 Suffolk schools (The Virginian-Pilot) ...city, Liverman said. Closing Florence Bowser, Mount Zion and Robertson elementary schools would save about $1.7 million and eliminate 37 positions. Board member Michael J. Debranski asked Monday if everyone at those schools would have jobs elsewhere in the division next school year. "I can't... more...

Mar 9, 2010 McDonnell school reforms advance despite opposition (The Virginian-Pilot) Bob McDonnell is gliding toward passage in the House of Delegates, despite strong opposition from the Legislative Black Caucus. Del. The laboratory schools bill, HB1389, sponsored by Del. Christopher Peace, R-Hanover County, gained preliminary approval Monday. McDonnell, a Republican, and his... more...

Mar 9, 2010 Fort Worth area sees flurry of last-minute filings for election (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) The Fort Worth educator filed Monday to run against incumbent Trustee Sherri L. Whiting and challenger Greg Kauffman. In Place 2, Tarrant County sheriff's Deputy Jimmy McDonald will take on incumbent Jerry Beck. In Place 3, incumbent Jesse Johnson faces builder James Dornan. Forest Hill Three... more...

Mar 8, 2010 Dem plan to twin healthcare and student lending complicates vote (The Hill) Ben Nelson (Neb.) have signaled in recent days that they would support passing healthcare adjustments with special budget rules. A spokesman for Nelson declined to say how adding the student lending provision would affect his vote.Other centrist Democrats who could reconsider support include Sens. more...

Mar 8, 2010 McDonnell school reforms advance despite Spruill's objection (The Virginian-Pilot) Bob McDonnell is gliding toward passage in the House of Delegates, despite strong opposition from the Legislative Black Caucus. Del. The laboratory school bill, HB1389, sponsored by Del. Do you care about them?" Spruill asked. "Gov. more...

Mar 8, 2010 House backs McDonnell on virtual schools, lab schools (Richmond Times-Dispatch) The lab school bill is slated for a final vote in the House tomorrow. In a passionate floor speech this afternoon, Del. Lionell Spruill Sr., D-Chesapeake, accused the Virginia Education Association and Gov. The General Assembly would also direct funding to lab schools at its discretion. more...

Mar 8, 2010 Union, school districts blast new teacher reforms (The Orlando Sentinel) But that's not a law problem, it's a management problem." Thrasher's bill is similar to the merit-pay provisions in Florida's Race to the Top application. more...

Mar 8, 2010 BRIEF (The Modesto Bee) Campuses that get the funding must start one of the sanctions by next school year. more...

Mar 8, 2010 Virtual school extends courses across Georgia (Chattanooga Times/Free Press) Catoosa uses the Apex Learning program that offers AP courses, core classes and credit recovery, said Trish Schimpf, system school improvement specialist. "We haven't had to rely too much on (Georgia) Virtual School this year to fill in any gaps," Ms. Schimpf said. But Catoosa reserves the... more...

Mar 8, 2010 Tens of thousands protesters, one voice (San Jose Mercury News) Enough is enough." To cut costs, schools have truncated the number of classes offered, furloughed teachers and cut everything from clubs to counseling. A group of six San Jose State Unified School District classified workers joined the protest in San Francisco to make sure the voices of support... more...

Mar 8, 2010 School superintendents split on levy bill (The Seattle Times) A number of school superintendents, including 33 in Northwest Washington, oppose a bill that would allow them to raise more money from their local taxpayers. The reason is equity. more...

Mar 8, 2010 Loupassi asks Cuccinelli about city charter school (Richmond Times-Dispatch) ...section of state law that Loupassi cites. Cuccinelli's opinion said it does not conflict. School organizers, since signing a contract in 2008, have struggled to raise enough money. The school is the subject of much political wrangling at a time when McDonnell is pushing his charter school... more...

Mar 8, 2010 Grizzlies deliver trophy: Wrestlers come home with first title since 1943 (Akron Beacon Journal) All 12 scored points. "Every point counted and the extra person counted," Gramuglia said. "We had four champions, [St. Edward in three head-to-head matches during the tournament. Wadsworth is the first public school to win a Division I wrestling state title since Nordonia in 1976-77. more...

Mar 8, 2010 Legacy doesn't concern Rendell (The Morning Call) Health care: We've doubled the amount of seniors in our PACE and PACENET program. I think what we should do with merit-based pay is what I've recommended: Base pay should remain the same or base pay should be negotiated. But many of our high school students don't achieve proficiency on those... more...

Mar 8, 2010 Bridge Gap For Vets In Private Sector (Politico) Unemployment hit a high of 10.2 percent in October 2009. On average, six unemployed Americans vie for every job opening today. There are nearly 185,000 unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans — almost as many as are deployed in the two wars. more...

Mar 8, 2010 HISD serving up far-ranging cafeteria cutbacks (Houston Chronicle) Aramark, the private company HISD pays to run food services, told district staff at an October meeting that school cafeteria workers' hours should be trimmed, but the cuts never happened, Grier said. HISD began cooking its food at a new $35 million centralized facility last year -- a move that... more...

Mar 8, 2010 Crucial vote Monday night on Portland high school reorganization plan (The Oregonian) The data included scenarios about what would happen if the district kept every neighborhood school open. Instead, each school would have about 1,000 students and provide reduced offerings. more...

Mar 8, 2010 Job offers dwindle for MBA and law school grads (The Sacramento Bee) Grads who received offers were often told the job wouldn't start for months. "For the class of 2009, the largest impact was the deferral phenomenon," Leipold said. more...

Mar 8, 2010 Bill would let city rent closed Catholic schools (The Baltimore Sun) One would ask Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien to appear before the council to discuss renting the buildings to charter schools for $1 a year. more...

Mar 8, 2010 Success adds up for D.C. schools' math program (Washington Post) Bill TurqueIt was fractions week in Camille Jackson's third-grade math class at Noyes Education Campus. The students' task: Pick out the vowels and determine what fraction of the whole name they represent."What's the fraction of vowels in Mr. At Noyes, math proficiency on DC-CAS standardized... more...

Mar 8, 2010 The hottest item on ice takes on a modern feel (Star Tribune) We had to bring it forward." Only four metro-area private schools play in Class 2A with the large public schools: Benilde-St. Larson said such a measure "is not even close to being needed" at Breck. As Hill-Murray's junior varsity coach in the early 1980s, Lechner worked with all 20 players on... more...

Mar 8, 2010 Unions' support is no lock for Patrick (The Boston Globe) Many teachers are upset by elements of a sweeping education law that could result in firings at underperforming schools. But union members may have difficulty finding a more palatable alternative in the race. Patrick's principal challengers - Republicans Charles D. Baker Jr. and Christy Mihos and... more...

Mar 8, 2010 Vann Elementary in Hill District again topic of closure talks (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) The Hill District Education Council, a community group led by former city councilman Sala Udin and the Rev. more...

Mar 8, 2010 The Kansas City Star, Mo., Jenee Osterheldt column (The Kansas City Star) Shorter educations mean less money to students, fewer jobs for teachers and a program that will benefit only certain students. Masking it as mastery of material doesn't make it so. At 15, you're still getting a handle on the highs and lows of your adolescent life. Those tests don't measure... more...

Mar 8, 2010 Palm Beach County schools defying the FCAT odds (Sun Sentinel) And these schools are poised to repeat their success. What's their secret? It starts with highly dedicated teachers, motivated students, concerned parents, and administrators that foster a solid foundation of learning, officials say. more...

Mar 8, 2010 Stressed eighth graders prepare for FCAT: Pity the stressed eighth-graders (The Miami Herald) Fifth-, eighth- and 11th-graders will also take science. That's in addition to last month's writing exam, which tested kids in fourth, eighth and tenth grade. Notice one group keeps popping up? Some students go to Saturday camps or, because the school is on a year-round calendar, sessions during... more...

Mar 7, 2010 Richmond County enrollment rises since end of Christmas break (The Augusta Chronicle) ...enrollment figure measured Monday -- 32,425 -- Svehla said the school system now has 13 students more than it had just prior to Christmas break. And the school system has gained 81 students since the break. During the same period last year, Svehla said, the system lost 148 students "which is... more...

Mar 7, 2010 Loudon County school notes (Washington Post) Loudoun student is up for Presidential Scholars award Sharon Yin, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, has been chosen as a candidate for the 2010 Presidential Scholars program. Yin attended Ashburn's Cedar Lane Elementary and Farmwell Station Middle schools before... more...

Mar 7, 2010 10 Dallas ISD high schools fail to make the grade time and again (The Dallas Morning News) No Child Left Behind includes two groups that the Texas system doesn't include when it comes to judging schools: special education students and "Limited-English Proficient (LEP) students. In 2009, only 38 percent of Adamson's LEP students tested under No Child Left Behind passed the state math... more...

Mar 7, 2010 The Sacramento Bee, Calif., Dan Walters column (The Sacramento Bee) While the reforms we passed did move our state forward, they did not go far enough because other states were more competitive." So was the Legislature snookered? more...

Mar 7, 2010 Danza says class act isn't just for show (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Danza was having a bad day. The laptop acted up. Northeast's squad took second place, and students were crushed. Danza, who often shows up at after-school events to support Northeast students, had attended. But on Danza's Facebook page, one did: "I attend northeast high school. more...

Mar 7, 2010 How state workers' pay really stacks up (The Seattle Times) So am I going to say they should look only at salaries? No," Shannon said. "If they think they want to keep salaries but really start trimming the benefits side ... then OK. Their 37,100 nonstate counterparts earned about 6 percent less. The opposite was true for the state's 1,200... more...

Mar 7, 2010 The Philadelphia Inquirer Kevin Riordan column: Kevin Riordan (The Philadelphia Inquirer) And less help will be coming for the 1,400-student district, if, as expected, state funding takes another hit next week when Gov. more...

Mar 7, 2010 Few students give up state school vouchers (The Columbus Dispatch) Now, one-third of private schools that take vouchers admitted at least 50 voucher students. In about two dozen schools, at least half of the students use vouchers. James the Less on the North Side has 273 voucher students, more than any other private school in Ohio. more...

Mar 7, 2010 TPS has used about half its stimulus cash (Tulsa World) Others include reading and math specialists and parent facilitators. more...

Mar 7, 2010 At least two Stanislaus County campuses slapped with state warning (The Modesto Bee) ...of English learners scoring as proficient on the tests, which is a tall task. The deadline to improve scores ends a year from now. Modesto high schools struggle with getting students into proficient categories on state tests. In 2009, only 14.5 percent to 31.8 percent of Modesto high school... more...

Mar 7, 2010 Study finds R.I. pension costs soaring (The Providence Journal) That's everything from 1936 to now that you didn't do studies on, early retirements and all that stuff," Karpinski said. "We are on the road to recovery. more...

Mar 7, 2010 Charter school pushes health sciences program (The Buffalo News) Sheridan Parkside Community Center in the Town of Tonawanda -- will include health care science, health care communications and medical psychology and ethics for health care professionals. Local employers will provide internships and mentors for students in their junior and senior years. The... more...

Mar 7, 2010 Medicine as an economic engine (The Buffalo News) One is to provide specialty care, as at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, that attracts patients from other communities. more...

Mar 7, 2010 Audit cites sloppy bookkeeping in Lake school ticket, candy sales (The Orlando Sentinel) ...schools have done a sloppy job tracking the money they collect for such things as yearbooks, candy sales and tickets to sporting events, an audit has found. The audit, which was recently made public, highlights dozens of examples of administrators, teachers and bookkeepers failing to follow... more...

Mar 7, 2010 Annapolis high school staff returns to 10-month schedule (The Baltimore Sun) The challenge now is to continue to shape a very bright future for Annapolis High School and transform it into the showcase that we all want it to be. more...

Mar 7, 2010 Marbella (The Baltimore Sun) For one thing, the church already was losing much of its free, or at least cheap, labor. With every school year, there were fewer and fewer nuns in my classrooms. Less than 5 percent of teachers at Catholic schools today are members of a religious order, compared to about 86 percent in 1950. It... more...

Mar 7, 2010 Minneapolis, St. Paul superintendents strike up alliance (Star Tribune) Paul public schools share a history as competitors and uneasy allies. Paul Superintendent Valeria Silva and the incoming Minneapolis Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson are old friends and colleagues, but newly minted leaders of their organizations. Paul schools didn't even know each other. Their... more...

Mar 7, 2010 Playing in the band (El Paso Times) We don't have any operating money, either." Lambrecht retired after 43 years as a music educator, some of that tenure at the university level. We're just trying to make music together. He is the band's librarian. "Mrs. more...

Mar 7, 2010 More state job cuts loom (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Timothy M. Kaine's proposed two-year budget for 2010-12. The overall figures of salaried employees are well below the cap or "maximum employment level" for state staffing. As for employees, it dropped from 13,759 authorized positions in 2008 to 12,939 in 2010. For example, McDonnell wants to... more...

Mar 7, 2010 Career, technical education broadens across Western Pennsylvania (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Students taking carpentry, cosmetology and culinary classes, for example, must have strong math and reading skills to complement their technical skills. more...

Mar 7, 2010 The soul of basketball can be found in the small towns of Kansas (The Kansas City Star) Linn Peterson once occupied the same gym as that first Olympic basketball team, whose roster was made up of six workers at McPherson's Globe oil refinery. If Bucklin High is winning, the town is jubilant. Even Claflin High School goes by the name Wildcats. more...

Mar 6, 2010 Bradbury picks up endorsement from Oregon teachers' union (The Oregonian) Kitzhaber noted both of his parents, now deceased, taught at the University of Oregon. more...

Mar 6, 2010 In Harlem, Epicenter for Charter Schools, a Senator Wars Against Them (New York Times) Perkins, whose district encompasses nearly 20 charter schools. Perkins had an early introduction to charter schools. Perkins said of the parents who yearn for more charter schools. more...

Mar 6, 2010 GAO: Appointees given employment may not be most qualified (The Hill) Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee; Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Frazier School District sets graduation for June 11 (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Martin said the change will not require hiring an additional math teacher. He said math classes may go from 18 to 21 students. The vo-tech is considering adding physical education in place of math, so students can still meet graduation requirements. Frazier's board has to approve the new... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Finding money to replace aging schools (Lexington Herald-Leader) House Bill 530 was passed by the House on Thursday. more...

Mar 6, 2010 A $200 million rebirth for Detroit education (Detroit Free Press) You wash it," he said. "It would attract new students and parents." DPS is on board with the part of the plan that calls for 35 new high schools. Michigan Futures Inc. already has $13 million in grants from four local foundations that will allow it to help launch seven new high schools over the... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Students' Facebook hoax leads to legal fight (The Fresno Bee) One entry, for example, told students that if they disliked the mega-hit vampire flick "Twilight," they should "get the hell out of Clovis West." Drati, however, was not amused. The response was "only if I'm drunk." That response, English said, came from a site visitor. more...

Mar 6, 2010 Detroit Federation of Teachers wants to open teacher-run school (Detroit Free Press) DFT and Detroit Public Schools representatives to visit the Boston Teachers Union School that opened in fall 2009. The Boston union hails it as the first traditional public school in the nation to be opened by a teachers union. "When you're talking about opening a new school, you have to make... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Granholm rips legislators who denied money for school changes (Detroit Free Press) Chris Christoff Mar. 6, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- EAST LANSING -- Gov. The Senate Appropriations Committee had approved the funding a day earlier. The House committee could reconsider. The new takeover plan was among the reforms the Legislature approved in... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Education funding demanded in 'Day of Action' (Contra Costa Times) Both systems have approved 32-percent tuition hikes in the past year to soften the blows of back-to-back budget cuts. more...

Mar 6, 2010 Student shares pills at school (Tulsa World) Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control. "There is a misconception among kids that it's safe because it's in their parents' medicine cabinet," he said. "Parents frequently watch their liquor cabinets, but they overlook the dangers in their own medicine cabinets or purses." Woodward... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Schools struggle to pay for program (Tulsa World) ...education cuts with federal stimulus money and some state reserve funds, school districts are still working to fill at least one budget hole left -- employee flex benefit allowance plan funding. While an agreement between Gov. Brad Henry and the Legislature would allow the use of some federal... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Report on teacher misconduct recommends changes (The Salt Lake Tribune) ...the review recommends a review of professional conduct standards for educators, "detailed training" for public school employees on professional conduct, the completion of an online course to teach professional and ethical conduct, the creation of a handbook to help school employees understand... more...

Mar 6, 2010 The Oregonian, Portland, Ore., Anna Griffin column (The Oregonian) But the state doesn't build classrooms, and David Douglas bulges at the cinderblocks. David Douglas has gained students and needs space. Neither trend happened by chance, and neither problem will be solved within the individual school districts. more...

Mar 6, 2010 Report: Too many students placed in special education (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) ...of special education students that stood out are those who are considered to have "emotional disturbance." Of the city's children in special education, 16.9 percent were classified as having emotional disturbance, compared to 9.2 percent statewide and 7.4 percent nationally. About one-third... more...

Mar 6, 2010 EDITORIAL (Los Angeles Times) They agreed to allow and create more pilot schools, which are similar to charter schools but employ district personnel. They formed partnerships and, with the help of their union, United Teachers Los Angeles, drew up their own, often strong applications for revamping schools. They met with... more...

Mar 6, 2010 House proposes $500 million in budget to replace aging schools (Lexington Herald-Leader) Rand said of KET. Rand said that the House is also still looking at restoring some funding to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for some programs that have been cut over the past few years. But Stumbo said Friday that the House will include language in its budget that will allow the... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Law halts charter school growth (Star Tribune) Paul, open for 10 years, is considered a charter school that works. In fact, it's possible that no new charter schools will open in Minnesota this fall. Charter school officials blame "unintended consequences" of a new charter school law. Leaders of KNOVA Learning Minneapolis Charter School say... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Gorman: Assaults on staff analyzed (The Charlotte Observer) ...school. The state requires public schools to report 17 types of acts, ranging from drug and alcohol possession to assaults and sexual offenses. West Meck's tally included 60 drug possessions, 21 incidents of weapons other than guns and 19 assaults on employees. Earlier this week, when the... more...

Mar 6, 2010 June tests up for cuts (Times Union) The state Board of Regents will consider eliminating more than a dozen of the high-stakes tests next week to save up to $13.7 million in preparation costs. David Paterson's budget proposal calls for cutting $4.7 million from the Education Department. more...

Mar 6, 2010 Loaded handgun found in backpack of student, 8, who threatened classmate (The Baltimore Sun) He told them not to pick up a gun, and to alert an adult if they see one. more...

Mar 6, 2010 A Veteran High School Counselor Responds to a Report Critical of the Profession (New York Times) By Robert BardwellThe Choice received 100 comments on a report by the research organization Public Agenda that described widespread dissatisfaction with high school guidance counselors. But student-to-school-counselor ratios have historically been completely out of line. With the average high... more...

Mar 6, 2010 In Pr. George's schools, anxiety after decision to cut Spanish parent liaisons (Washington Post) You're here to pick up your daughter for a doctor's appointment?" asked the Dominican-born Lorenzo in Spanish. They think it's an excuse to party or something," Lorenzo said. Lorenzo's absences "will significantly impact our ability to properly serve our Latino population," Golden said. "Am I... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Candidates to run Phila. schools cut to 6 (The Philadelphia Inquirer) ...a cyber charter school. Congreso de Latinos Unidos, a Latino educational and social services organization that operates a charter school in the city. The Johns Hopkins program, which runs three turnaround schools in Baltimore and one in Chicago using its Talent Development academic approach,... more...

Mar 6, 2010 EDITORIAL: A missed opportunity (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Another way of saying that good governance can beget meaningful reform. If reform was possible under the status quo, surely it would have occurred. The status quo amounts to a board that micromanages, preventing swift and broad reforms. Mayoral control would allow the mayor to knock any... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Teacher firings in R.I. show resolve to boost poor schools (The Boston Globe) Whether the firings lead to immediate improvements or not, they are a necessary tool to empower superintendents to break the educational logjams that hold back students. And while the fired employees can reapply for their jobs, only half can be brought back under Rhode Island law. Still, the... more...

Mar 6, 2010 They're fighting to stay on top at Latin (The Boston Globe) In 2002, parents and students protested the elimination of 10th-grade honors classes in English and modern languages. If you don't belong in AP calculus, you will struggle. more...

Mar 6, 2010 Fire teachers in failing schools? It may work (USA Today) But William Guenther, president of the Boston-based Mass Insight Education and Research Institute, estimates that mass teacher firings are tried in about 20 to 30 schools annually. The school's original staff had to reapply for their jobs; many simply left.Test scores have improved. During the... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Students face tests in, out of classroom (Tampa Tribune) Barbara Hancock, the district's general director of elementary education, said all of the charter school teachers impressed her with their compassion. Francis meets with the writing team regularly to review students' work, and school district employees sit in on classes. Nine-year-old Maddison... more...

Mar 6, 2010 HISD cheating inquiry stalls accreditation (Houston Chronicle) ...-- Houston ISD's accreditation will be withheld as multiple cheating claims are investigated in Texas' largest school system. Texas Education Agency officials announced Friday that HISD's status will be changed to "pending" when accreditations are released Wednesday for the state's 1,228... more...

Mar 6, 2010 Jordan School District seeks ruling on seniority layoffs (The Salt Lake Tribune) ...a teacher changes schools, whether to stay closer to home, change grade levels or open a new school," said Jordan Education Association President Robin Frodge. "We shouldn't be penalizing teachers for that." Furthermore, said Frodge, gauging seniority at the school level for the purposes of... more...

Mar 5, 2010 California misses out on Race to the Top funding for schools (San Jose Mercury News) ...education stimulus funding known as Race to the Top. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia made the final cut for the first round of stimulus money, offered as an incentive to improve education for the poorest and most lagging students. News of California's absence was an extra blow on... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Haitians in U.S. Double Up to Take In Their Own (New York Times) Their mother, Carmite Bretous Delva, has a green card. Erlusse hopes schools in Haiti will open by September. Lajoie, 53, a registered nurse, obsesses about the earthquake; her niece Laetitia Leonidas tires of describing it to curious new classmates at SS. more...

Mar 5, 2010 Students reinstated after creating prank Facebook page of their principal (The Fresno Bee) One entry, for example, told students that if they disliked the mega-hit vampire flick "Twilight," they should "get the hell out of Clovis West."Drati, however, was not amused. But after the district pressed for expulsion, they hired attorneys. more...

Mar 5, 2010 State vows to proceed with education reforms (The Indianapolis Star) All four are finalists. Grant award winners will be announced in April. more...

Mar 5, 2010 Pennsylvania makes cut for federal education funds (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) We're one of only a handful of states. more...

Mar 5, 2010 Hartford School Board Chips Away At $15 Million Deficit (The Hartford Courant) ...as preschool, kindergarten, elementary school counseling, athletics and adult education. The school board also could make smaller reductions in each of the suggested areas totalling $5 million. "What we are telling you with resolve is that we can't cut schools anymore than the additional $10... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Taking 'Action': Valley protesters join nationwide effort for schools (The Modesto Bee) High schools spread the word at open house nights this week. "It's not a protest against the (Modesto City Schools) district. It's a joint effort by all groups. We Say Fight Back!" and "Education Is a Right." Police and volunteers from campus law enforcement kept an eye on the proceedings, but... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Thousands protest California education cuts (Los Angeles Times) That's why I'm out here today to protest against that," said Cal State Long Beach art education student Jessica Naujoks, who joined an estimated 2,500 others at a campus rally. We've got the power," students and professors walked out of classes for the lunchtime protest. Later, a crowd of about... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Missouri will try again for Race to the Top money; Illinois a finalist in first round (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Another round of competitive applications are due June 1, and at least $2 billion is expected to be available for applicants in the second phase of the program. States that win money in the first round are not eligible for the second. They had at least 400 points out of 500, Duncan said. Some... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Navarrette: Firing teachers was justified (CNN) In a move that was bold but also justified, Gallo fired 77 teachers at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island, along with the school's principal, three assistant principals and other administrators. Central Falls High School is one of the lowest-performing schools in Rhode Island. In teachers'... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Florida a finalist in Race to Top grant (The Orlando Sentinel) The new merit-pay system, state educators say, would improve teaching and student achievement. But many teachers unions, including the state's largest, raised objections to those plans. The Florida Education Association called them "fatally flawed," and most local unions did not sign the Race to... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Kentucky makes first cut in national Race to the Top grant program (Lexington Herald-Leader) There were 41 applicants. Gov. He noted that every Kentucky school district signed off on the application. Holliday also cited the General Assembly's quick passage of House Bill 176 this year, providing new authority to reform failing public schools. more...

Mar 5, 2010 Finalists tout their ideas on running MJC (The Modesto Bee) I've spent 10 of my 53 years in the valley. At the time, his board of education at the Mt. She stressed the importance of planning, reviewing programs and measuring student learning. "It was a positive experience. more...

Mar 5, 2010 Rallying to fight Catholic school closings (The Baltimore Sun) He said the archdiocese is not abandoning Baltimore, despite closing 10 of the city's 30 Catholic schools. Joseph High School on the west side and Catholic High School of Baltimore on the east side. Katharine School, Queen of Peace Cluster; Mother Mary Lange Catholic; Our Lady of Fatima; St. more...

Mar 5, 2010 State Out in Bid For $160M Schools Grant (Albuquerque Journal) ...the Zuni district, Seboyeta Elementary in the Grants-Cibola district and Vaughn Elementary in the Vaughn district were removed because of the small number of students who took the annual state proficiency test. Taking their place on the list are Stagecoach Elementary in the Gallup-McKinley... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Firing RI teachers was justified (CNN) In a move that was bold but also justified, Gallo fired 77 teachers at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island, along with the school's principal, three assistant principals and other administrators. Central Falls High School is one of the lowest-performing schools in Rhode Island. In teachers'... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Navarrette: Firing all teachers justified (CNN) In a move that was bold but also justified, Gallo fired 77 teachers at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island, along with the school's principal, three assistant principals and other administrators. Central Falls High School is one of the lowest-performing schools in Rhode Island. In teachers'... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Ready for phase 2: Back to the drawing board (Tulsa World) I also want to thank the coalition of lawmakers, business leaders, education advocates and other stakeholders who have worked hard and contributed to this process. I think it addressed the components that Race to the Top was looking for. I would be very hopeful that we could be selected in the... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Education funding demanded in 'Day of Action' (Contra Costa Times) Both systems have approved 32-percent tuition hikes in the past year to soften the blows of back-to-back budget cuts. more...

Mar 5, 2010 KIPP helps worst students, study says (Washington Post) Be Nice," about KIPP co-founders Dave Levin and Mike Feinberg. The study found that among KIPP Lynn students, "score gains are largest for special education students and students with limited English proficiency."I visited KIPP Lynn last spring. The KIPP Lynn faculty seemed to me well-motivated... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Jim Stingl column (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Jim Stingl Mar. 5, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A petition is circulating through U.S. Grant School. Don Wojczulis, the principal of the MPS school at 29th and Grant streets on the south side, has made the tough budget-cutting decision. Support staff and security... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Coalition recommends shift from property tax (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Consider expanding sales taxes to current exempt services. Cut capital gains taxes. Business development: Energize business development through regional planning and tax incentives. Shift more K-12 school funding to the sales tax and state funding instead of property taxes. more...

Mar 5, 2010 Illinois could get $500 million in federal education money (Chicago Tribune) Those seeking funds must prove their willingness to adopt specific reforms. more...

Mar 5, 2010 Jordan School District seeks ruling on seniority layoffs could bring spate of lawsuits (The Salt Lake Tribune) ...lawsuits, the 3rd District Court complaint said. It names the Jordan Education Association (JEA) and the Jordan Classified Education Association, and has been assigned to Judge Joseph Fratto. Whatever the judge determines could well decide who among Jordan's teachers would be most vulnerable... more...

Mar 5, 2010 The Sacramento Bee, Calif., Dan Walters column (The Sacramento Bee) While the reforms we passed did move our state forward, they did not go far enough because other states were more competitive." So was the Legislature snookered? more...

Mar 5, 2010 State goes to face-off for $700M (Times Union) He said he will select less than 10 winners next month. Forty-one states applied for the $4.35 billion in funding and just 16 were chosen as finalists. more...

Mar 5, 2010 California disqualified from receiving federal school funds (Los Angeles Times) ...federal school improvement grants. State officials will decide which districts get the money, federal education spokesman Justin Hamilton said. Because the state won't receive feedback from the federal government on its application until April, education officials said they are unsure what... more...

Mar 5, 2010 School lottery makes a game out of education in D.C. (Washington Post) Or make your preference a safety school that isn't as stellar but better than your in-boundary school? It was more tense than our own college application process.Parents set up spreadsheets comparing the schools. And a lot of parents are just like me: wary of taking a leap of faith at the... more...

Mar 5, 2010 School violence rises in CMS (The Charlotte Observer) Statewide, there were 4.2 short-term suspensions per 10 black students, compared with 1.3 for Hispanics, 1.1 for whites and 0.4 for Asians. But CMS had a big enough drop in the relatively rare long-term suspensions to be mentioned. more...

Mar 5, 2010 Dropout rate down in CMS, state (The Charlotte Observer) CMS's was 5 percent, down from 5.9. Leaders of both districts say they're working on ways to cut the rate even more. Absolutely not." Statewide, ninth grade remains the most common point for students to drop out. Many weak students never get promoted past this point, even if they stay in high... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Maria Isaura Gonzalez, 1944 -2010 (Chicago Tribune) Gonzalez, 66, died on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at her home in Pilsen, said her brother Cecil. She retired from teaching in 2006. Ms. Gonzalez's father came to the U.S. as a migrant worker, and she was born in Bluetown, Texas, near the Mexican border. more...

Mar 5, 2010 Tutoring is only the beginning for Charlotte Empowerment Zone kids (The Charlotte Observer) He says Sugar Creek's involvement is still being explored, but one idea is to create a "fun" summer school program to be offered both at the school and at Pressley Ridge. more...

Mar 5, 2010 Families juggle schedules for schools' Saturday 'make-up' day (The Commercial Appeal) They also have a 3-year-old. Katherine Nelson, a spokesman for DeSoto County Schools, said the district sought everyone's input to make the Saturday decision as painless as possible. more...

Mar 5, 2010 EDITORIAL: Don't count state out in reform competition: OUR VIEWS (The Daily Oklahoman) Some states, he said, have already finished their legislative sessions for the year while others aren't meeting. Kathy Taylor, Gov. With the majority leaders of both houses and Henry facing term limits, they can push critical education reform because it's the right thing. It's because too many... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Dramatic shake-up planned at 12 Boston public schools Staff at 6 must reapply; 5 principals to be removed (The Boston Globe) I'm worried about the kids getting the resources they need.''Massachusetts could receive an infusion of $250 million from the federal government to help these schools and others. In November, Johnson unveiled a list of 14 schools she wants to overhaul. There's a lot more to be done.''Staff at... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Va. misses first cut for federal education funds (Richmond Times-Dispatch) ...-- Virginia leaders, awaiting feedback on the state's application for funding through the Race to the Top federal grant program, believe proposed education reforms could improve the state's future chances. State leaders learned yesterday that Virginia did not make the first cut in the Obama... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Fight adds to Woodland Hills' woes (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Swissvale police arrested 11 students Wednesday for fighting in the school's parking lot, bringing to 14 the number of felony arrests of Woodland Hills students this year, Manko said. He said the office might not be aware of incidents handled in juvenile court. The number of arrests belies an... more...

Mar 5, 2010 Pa. makes cuts for education funds (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Education's $4.35 billion Race to the Top competition, Secretary Arne Duncan announced Thursday. Forty states and the District of Columbia entered the first phase of the competition. Pennsylvania is one of 16 finalists. "Obviously, we're pleased that we made the cut," said Michael Race, a... more...

Mar 4, 2010 College students protest, block campuses over funding (USA Today) Protesters at the University of California, Santa Cruz surrounded the car while its driver was inside. Luljak says when police turned them away, some protesters threw punches and ice chunks. Protest actions were held at most of the 10 University of California campuses, 23 California State... more...

Mar 4, 2010 A multiple-choice answer to improving the schools (Washington Post) My third child now attends E.L. Haynes Public Charter School in the District. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Rallies across California protest cuts in higher education funding (Los Angeles Times) Demonstrators blocked access to the University of California, Santa Cruz and smashed the windshield of a car, triggering denunciations of such violence. At UC Berkeley, fire alarms were pulled in some classroom buildings, interrupting lectures. We've got the power!" students and professors walked... more...

Mar 4, 2010 L.A. school struggles under budget cuts (CNN) Reed attends Markham Middle School in the tough South Central Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts. You can bail out the children of Watts," he said. And we will have no choice but to lay off employees again." But if the ACLU lawsuit is successful, those layoffs won't be at Markham Middle School. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Rallies against education cuts begin; officials warn against violence (Los Angeles Times) A national day of protests against education funding cuts kicked off Thursday with generally peaceful rallies, walkouts and teach-ins at universities and high schools. But an incident of demonstrators smashing the windshield of a car trying to enter the UC Santa Cruz campus elicited a warning... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Archdiocese to face students, parents (The Baltimore Sun) Joseph High School on Frederick Avenue and the Cardinal Gibbons School on Wilkens Avenue. Bernardine Catholic School, Father Charles Hall Catholic Elementary and Middle School, St. Katharine School. The plan calls for expanding tuition assistance across the archdiocese. more...

Mar 4, 2010 15 states, D.C. named finalists for $4B 'Race to the Top' grants (USA Today) MIAMI (AP) The U.S. Department of Education named 16 finalists Thursday in the first round of its "Race to the Top" competition, which will deliver $4.35 billion in school reform grants. The grants are designed to reward states that have adopted and will continue implementing innovative reforms... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Education budget set (The Spokesman-Review) Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, and Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle -- joined with the committee's four Democrats to oppose the provision, but it passed. Said state Sen. The maneuver, she said, was "wrong." State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna said he was surprised by the proposal, and didn't know... more...

Mar 4, 2010 District grades school options (The Spokesman-Review) A remodeled Jefferson would include a loop where parents can drop off children safely, away from traffic. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Virginia not among education grant finalists (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Much of that has gone toward preventing teacher layoffs and addressing other budget concerns. The $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" fund is targeted specifically for education reform. Applications were read and scored by panels of five peer reviewers. Those with the highest average score were... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Washington and Jefferson joins program to educate underprivileged students (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Kamentz said. "It has a Midwest feel to it, and our students got along well with everyone. Newell, who hopes to welcome more prep students every year. Advanced classes and good grades ease students through the admissions process, but more important, Mr. Students have until May 1 to accept... more...

Mar 4, 2010 School districts handling snow days differently (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) ...--Avonworth: Scheduled make-up days during spring break --Baldwin-Whitehall: scheduling make-up days --Bethel Park: scheduling make-up days --Brentwood: scheduling make-up days --Carlynton: requested an exemption to the 180-day rule from the state, but scheduled make-up days --Chartiers... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Woodland Hills requests exemption from snow makeup (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) McCool said the requests were necessary because there is only room for two more snow days on the district's schedule. The minimum hours required will not include Act 80 exception hours. Ms. more...

Mar 4, 2010 15 states make cut in Race to Top (Washington Post) New York, which failed to pass a slew of reforms last month? Forty states and the District applied in January for a share of the funding, with possible awards of tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. Experts and former U.S. education officials say Duncan is the first... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Wisconsin passed over in bid for U.S. Race to the Top school funds (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) He also criticized the MPS board for inaction on critical issues. "The train is leaving the station. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has made it clear. The federal government will provide significant resources to states that are serious about reform. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Rulffes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) The 10-year program paid for 101 new schools, 11 replacement schools and renovations. Five new schools, the last funded with the 1998 bond, are set to open in the fall. The district still has $486 million generated by the 1998 program. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Fayette students get jump start on college (Lexington Herald-Leader) It allows juniors and seniors in Lexington public schools to take classes at BCTC while in high school. Fayette school system teachers go to the campus to teach the students' high school classes. Kentucky recently joined an eight-state program to allow students to graduate from high school after... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Gibbons proposing big changes in higher education system (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Currently, about two-thirds of that money goes into the state's general fund. -- Changing classified staff from state employees to employees of the higher education system. It was ultimately cut 12.5 percent. This year, as the crisis worsened, Gibbons proposed a 10 percent state funding... more...

Mar 4, 2010 EDITORIAL: FWCS makes a good start on finding cuts: Before it's over, everyone will have to make some sacrifices. (The News-Sentinel) And supporters can argue that Elmhurst students perform better than those at North and South Side high schools, where millions were spent to make them showpieces of urban education. Closing Elmhurst and moving students elsewhere makes sense. And before this is over, everyone will have to make... more...

Mar 4, 2010 California Students Protest Education Cuts (New York Times) Students took over buildings on the Berkeley and Santa Cruz campuses in protest. One of those was Rafael Velazquez, 23, a graduate student in the School of Education, who plans to be a public high school teacher. “My whole family went to California public schools,” said Mr. more...

Mar 4, 2010 The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind., Kevin Leininger column: Time for FWCS to confront fiscal facts (The News-Sentinel) For that reason, Tuesday's obviously difficult but forthright, well-scripted but professional presentation may have been among FWCS leaders' finest hours. As an employee of a financially struggling industry, I know how teachers feel. A new date will be set after the school board decides March 22... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Area students will protest higher education tuition hikes (Washington Post) Colleges there have raised tuition sharply, reduced enrollment and cut faculty pay.Students in California have declared Thursday as a Day of Action to Defend Public Education. Rallies are planned for nearly every college and university campus in the state, in addition to several K-12 schools. On... more...

Mar 4, 2010 College Degrees Without Going to Class (New York Times) Are online classes as educationally effective as in-classroom instruction? For institutions like my own that offer online education to students, the infrastructure requirements are still extensive. Done properly, online learning can provide benefits to students in terms of access, satisfaction,... more...

Mar 4, 2010 D.C. makes first cut in Race to the Top school reform contest; Va. out (Washington Post) They will in all likelihood join Maryland and several others in applying for a share of the money in a second round. Forty states and the District applied in January for a share of the funding, with possible awards of tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. Experts and... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Dropout rate down in CMS, state: But CMS losing more students than most districts (The Charlotte Observer) CMS's was 5 percent, down from 5.9. State education officials today presented the N.C. Board of Education an annual report on dropouts, suspensions and school crime and violence. One is tallying the number of ninth-graders who earn diplomas four years later. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Neighborhood wonders what will happen: Sacred Heart of Mary has anchored Graceland Park for decades (The Baltimore Sun) For decades, even as enrollment slid, people felt they could count on the school's being there. It was a dependable neighborhood anchor. "It's just a shame; it was a good school," said Marie Hunger, who lives across the street from the parish rectory. Nearby Fort Holabird closed; production fell... more...

Mar 4, 2010 A homegrown goal (Akron Beacon Journal) And that is closer than most public schools come. The last public school to win a Division I state team title was Nordonia in 1976-1977. Edward is the New York Yankees, Wadsworth just might be the Tampa Bay Rays. Youth programs make a big difference." The comments echo throughout the team. more...

Mar 4, 2010 13 Catholic schools to shut in June: 2,152 students affected by cost-cutting moves (The Baltimore Sun) Bernardine Catholic School, Father Charles Hall Catholic Elementary and Middle School, St. Katharine School and Queen of Peace Cluster, Mother Mary Lange Catholic School, Sacred Heart of Mary School, Our Lady of Fatima School, St. Rose of Lima School, Shrine of the Sacred Heart School, St. more...

Mar 4, 2010 San Diego teachers, school board reach agreement (The San Diego Union-Tribune) However, the contract requires the district to rescind the furloughs and raise teacher pay by 7 percent by the 2013-14 school year. "This is historic. But we can live with this." The contract still must be ratified by more than 50 percent of teachers. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Fairfax County community events, March 4-11, 2010 (Washington Post) FAIRFAX BINGO, no smoking permitted, dinner available for purchase, sponsored by the Arlington-Fairfax Elks. OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, monthly meeting. 1:30-3:30 p.m., Inova Fairfax Hospital, Physicians Conference Center, 3300 Gallows Rd., Falls Church. COLVIN RUN COMMUNITY... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Education plans advance in House, panel votes (The Virginian-Pilot) Bob McDonnell's education measures. In a 60-35 vote, the full House gave preliminary approval to a measure aimed at encouraging more charter schools to open in Virginia. HB1390 would give the Virginia Board of Education a broader role in the approval of a charter school. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk,... more...

Mar 4, 2010 District celebrates results in bond vote: The $354 million package approved by TPS patrons is a record. (Tulsa World) In the end, I think people saw what a really good proposal this was. Do you want to see some back flips by an old lady?" said Principal Suzette Huggins. "The kids are extremely excited. We had a discussion a week or so ago about what this meant to us and how they were going to completely redo the... more...

Mar 4, 2010 OPINION (Detroit Free Press) Nearly a tenth of all high school students were absent more than 100 days. The school year is 183 days. Because school funding is tied to enrollment, truancy has a dramatic impact on district revenues. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Power struggle could cost Detroit schools (Detroit Free Press) Bobb, state Superintendent Michael Flanagan said DPS is eligible for a "significant portion" of $115 million in grants for low-achieving Michigan schools. He said a requirement for applying for the funds is a school redesign plan approved by both Bobb and the school board. "It is my expectation... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Mt. Diablo school board to consider special education cuts next week, consultant's report criticized (Contra Costa Times) Theresa Harrington Mar. 4, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- CONCORD -- The Mt. The report by MGT of America, Inc., which cost the district $99,000, recommends nearly $6 million in cuts annually, or about $30 million over five years. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Silver Spring students enjoy free extracurricular activities (Washington Post) Jason TomassiniEight-year-old Joshua Jackson likes country music and hip-hop, not the plinking piano keys and maudlin strings of ballet compositions. Whole Foods offers a cooking class to students. The school's younger teachers volunteered to teach karate and cheerleading, as well as French and... more...

Mar 4, 2010 O'Malley's school reform plan debated before Senate panel (The Baltimore Sun) Among her suggestions were adding incentive pay for teachers in critical subject areas such as math and making the state more hospitable for charter schools. Frederick County's school board and teachers are opposed to the proposals. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Homeowner pact may end Little Neck impasse (The Boston Globe) Little Neck is expected to be sold as a single 27-acre parcel, as required by condominium law. The School Committee filed a counterclaim to the lawsuit in Probate Court, seeking to change the governance structure of the feoffees. We're going to move slowly.''The School Committee also formed a... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Archdiocese to close 13 schools in city, county (The Baltimore Sun) Charles Hall Catholic Elementary and Middle School, St. Rose of Lima School, Shrine of the Sacred Heart School, St. Last August, for instance, the archdiocese hired 145 teachers and 150 staff. more...

Mar 4, 2010 For one Baltimore school, sighs of relief (The Baltimore Sun) While 13 schools in the archdiocese would close, St. Ambrose was named as one of three recommended "receiving schools" for a group of schools slated for closure: Fr. Ambrose alumna, said the school has made a big difference in the life of her nephew, Kenard Herbert, a third-grader. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Public schools expect to be able to take in displaced Catholic students (The Baltimore Sun) Clare School in Essex -- and it will be Catholic. "There are two public middle schools in our area. But the city's student population is now growing, rising by 680 this school year. Roland Park Elementary, Mt. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Neighborhood wonders what will happen (The Baltimore Sun) George Gannon, could not be reached for comment, leaving area residents to wonder, at least for now, what will become of the three-story edifice. It was a dependable neighborhood anchor. "It's just a shame; it was a good school," said Marie Hunger, who lives across the street from the parish... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Chinese classes thrive despite suburban school district cutbacks (Chicago Tribune) At Maine West, just two students enrolled in Chinese the first year and neither continued, said Alan Matan, chair of the foreign languages department. more...

Mar 4, 2010 CPS offers elite spots to best students in worst elementary schools (Chicago Tribune) And more than a few of the 87 sending schools said that they already encourage their students to apply to the selective schools. A federal court order that forced racial balancing in the schools was scrapped last year, forcing the district to devise a way to maintain diversity without using race... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Hub School Committee tables controversial Roslindale plan (The Boston Globe) But I want to emphasize the work the Roslindale parents have done is commendable.''Some members peppered Johnson with questions about the broader implications of the plan. The committee then approved a motion to delay a vote until next week's meeting.Afterward, several parents expressed... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Debate continues to stir as school districts start new construction (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Labalme favors the plan to provide a "like new" renovation to most of the current high school and construction of a new athletic building. Another $16 million will be spent on the current renovation and expansion of Highcliff Elementary, and a projected $21 million could be spent on Ross... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Darwin Foes Add Warming to Targets (New York Times) Last year, the Texas Board of Education adopted language requiring that teachers present all sides of the evidence on evolution and global warming. In South Dakota, a resolution calling for the “balanced teaching of global warming in public schools” passed the Legislature this week. Yet there... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Some push to keep School of Excellence open (El Paso Times) Laird has been diagnosed with hyperactivity, Council said. Adam's grades shot up when he went to the El Paso School of Excellence. Then in January, the school closed its middle school because of low attendance. Now in its last semester, the school has about 400 students and 45 employees. Among... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Pact to help Minneapolis black students falters (Star Tribune) But the district has since worked with an "advisory council" to determine how to proceed. It's run by the We Win Institute, a north Minneapolis nonprofit founded by Bediako. Is it because it's hurting children? ... This is a program that's been in Minneapolis schools for 12 years." Alleyne said... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Campaign kicks off for Norman schools (The Daily Oklahoman) He will take over as president of Oklahoma City University later this year. Henry encouraged people to continue their support of education during the current down economy. A continuing investment in the educational system is needed to making things better, Henry said. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Louis E. DeVicaris, coach at Gratz, principal at King (The Philadelphia Inquirer) DeVicaris, 79, of Levittown, died Feb. 23 of complications from congestive heart failure at St. DeVicaris retired in 1993. Born in Philadelphia, Mr. DeVicaris' allegiance to King High. In 2004, he was among those at a School Reform Commission meeting who opposed the conversion of King into an... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Senate panel weighs education agenda today (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Olympia Meola Mar. 4, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The future of Gov. L. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William, one of the bill's sponsors in the House. He said there was no hidden agenda. The Senate also is scheduled to vote this morning on two other... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Thursday key for McDonnell's education reforms (Richmond Times-Dispatch) L. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William, one of the bill's sponsors in the House. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Apology issued for message on Penn Hills school sign (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) The decision to display the message was made by the school district's contract negotiating committee. The district's 415 teachers went on strike Feb. 4-11 over salary and benefits. This is a dispute between a union and a district. more...

Mar 4, 2010 Pittsburgh special education restructuring advised (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Patricia Gennari, assistant superintendent for support services and special schools. For the 2009-10 school year, 24 students with emotional and mental health problems at the privately run Holy Family Institute returned to regular classes, said Mary Jane Conley, a senior program officer for... more...

Mar 4, 2010 Cheating allegations tighten TAKS test security (Houston Chronicle) ...punishments, the more cheating," said Bob Schaeffer, public education director for the National Center for Fair and Open Testing. "It's just incredible to hear problems cropping up in Houston again." In January, six HISD employees were reassigned after allegations of TAKS cheating at Key... more...

Mar 4, 2010 School closes -- week before FCATs (The Miami Herald) ...school year. The school system will provide transportation from North Dade Middle to the old North Miami Senior High, a district spokesman said. The students at the North Dade Center for Modern Languages, which shares a campus with North Dade Middle, will stay on campus, but avoid the... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Liberty school board looks to cut budget by $3.8 million (Contra Costa Times) ...-- BRENTWOOD -- Everything from salary reductions and larger classes to layoffs of guidance counselors and librarians is on the chopping block as Liberty high school district trustees prepare to slash $3.8 million from next year's budget. At a study session Feb. 24, the school board again... more...

Mar 3, 2010 No-Child Law Is a Highlight of Hearing on Education (New York Times) The current law requires states to certify that all teachers are highly qualified, based on their college coursework and state-issued credentials. The administration hopes to refocus that section away from paper credentials to teacher effectiveness, in part by asking states to devise better... more...

Mar 3, 2010 More private tuition vouchers on tap, as public schools face cuts: Critics (The Orlando Sentinel) Jeb Bush, NAACP leaders and powerful legislators back the heftier vouchers, which more often are used by minority students. It is a tax credit," said Rep. Step Up For Students writes checks to parents who endorse them to schools to cover tuition. Weatherford agrees, though, that state tax... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Former Julienne High School avoids demolition (Dayton Daily News) Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the school also served as Dayton Christian School and as temporary home to Stivers School for the Arts. more...

Mar 3, 2010 McDonnell's education reforms get scrutinized (The Virginian-Pilot) Deirdre Fernandes Mar. 3, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Two of Gov. Virtual schools already exist and some Virginia students are either taking their entire coursework online or one class over the computer. more...

Mar 3, 2010 IPS staffers, parents sound off on cuts (The Indianapolis Star) Plain and simple." White dismissed the salary cut as a bad idea, saying that district pay lags other nearby districts. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Idaho lawmakers back school funding cuts (The Spokesman-Review) Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, and Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, joined with the committee's four Democrats to oppose the motion, but it passed. Said Sen. The move, she said, was "wrong." State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna said he was surprised by the move, and didn't know about it before this... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Seattle Times Danny Westneat column (The Seattle Times) And praised Monday by President Obama himself. People thought Bush could be simple-minded. Business-style school reforms, with standardized-test results as their lifeblood, are soaring in popularity. Wouldn't it be easier to fire somebody? Danny Westneat's column appears Wednesday and Sunday. more...

Mar 3, 2010 House panel advances virtual schools bill (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Olympia Meola Mar. 3, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A measure backed by Gov. Lab schools would be public schools that accept students through a lottery. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Who's afraid of the big bad charter schools? Not St. Mary's. (Washington Post) To most public school employees, charter schools are the enemy. Traditional public school people say charters are stealing funding and students. Charter school people say traditional schools are crippled by unresponsive bureaucracies. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Illinois schools chiefs' growing salaries (Chicago Tribune) Rick DeVries, District 93 school board president, said Gmitro's salary was market-driven. "In my opinion, Dr. Ron Huberman, Chicago Public Schools chief, earned about $237,000, ranking him 59th. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Aging Sisters of St. Mary of Namur 'in a financial pickle' (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Mary of Namur. These nuns, their numbers dwindling, have devoted their lives to helping others. Mary of Namur pioneered Catholic education in North Texas. In 1885 the nuns established St. The average monthly benefit for the Sisters of St. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Student accused of bringing explosives to Detroit school (Detroit Free Press) The device was apparently a plastic bottle containing home cleaning supplies, according to school officials. A middle school student at the pre-kindergarten-Grade 8 school was taken into custody. Students were evacuated by Detroit Public Schools Student Transportation (OOTC:STUXF) (TSX:STB)... more...

Mar 3, 2010 School district's perks face review (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Let's look at the big picture and not just my little piece of it." Rulffes said the district will comply with the legislative resolution. more...

Mar 3, 2010 EACS board eyes $4M in budget cuts (The News-Sentinel) I don't know that that's the change we need to make. I'm not about closing a high school. Mitch Daniels sliced $300 million from K-12 spending statewide -- would ease the district's now-strapped general fund, which sits at $9.6 million and which provides salaries and benefits for all employees. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Closing 2 schools not enough for FWCS (The News-Sentinel) But FWEA UniServ Director Steve Brace said Tuesday that negotiating any such concession "would be a long and arduous process" and could not be done by March 22. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Columbus schools union OKs contract (The Columbus Dispatch) That means that many routine checkups and preventive measures will be free, she said. The vote averts a potential strike by bus drivers, cooks, custodians, mechanics, teaching assistants and others. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Bomb detonated in Detroit school; no injuries (USA Today) A school employee at Clemente said parents can pick their children up there.The student who brought in the device is in custody. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Knox school safety report expected next month (The Knoxville News-Sentinel) Foster had just learned his teaching contract wouldn't be renewed. Luna and Brace survived, but Luna continues to be treated for spinal injuries. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Junk food ban vs. First Coast schools' soda deals (The Florida Times-Union) Johns schools. "They would have to have major fundraising events to overcome that." St. Johns received $491,000 from its current Pepsi contract, which ends in June. That's based on my feedback from other school districts." Weiss says progress is being made: Students are using vending machines... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Bus Bans Boy Over $40 Fee (Albuquerque Journal) He was banned Monday after he ripped a bus seat. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Graduates Fault Advice of Guidance Counselors (New York Times) Most people who graduated from high school in the last dozen years believe that their guidance counselors provided little meaningful advice about college or careers, a new study has found. The study was sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has sought to shed light on low... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Three Seattle schools on list of state's lowest-performing (The Seattle Times) ...-- Cleveland High, Hawthorne Elementary and West Seattle Elementary are the Seattle schools on the state's lowest-performing list, making them eligible to apply for three-year federal grants of up to $2 million a year. Seattle Public Schools released the names Tuesday and sent a letter home... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Scholar's School Reform U-Turn Shakes Up Debate (New York Times) Ravitch was born in Texas and graduated from Wellesley. Finn had become critical of the No Child law, he remained an advocate of charter schools and school choice. Finn has reached sharply different conclusions from Dr. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Filler-Corn apparently wins Virginia House race in Fairfax (Washington Post) Virginia law permits a losing candidate to request a recount if the difference is less than 1 percent.Bolognese said he had not conceded as of late Tuesday night. Marsden' s state Senate race brought out about 18 percent of voters. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Survey: Supportive leadership helps retain top teachers (Washington Post) Among the foundation's priorities, she said, are common standards, stronger data systems and compensation linked to performance. Melinda Gates is a member of The Washington Post Co. board of directors.Please follow the Post's Education coverage on Facebook, Twitter or our Education and Higher... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Voters OK TPS bonds (Tulsa World) RESULTS The Tulsa Public Schools Bond Package had four parts. Proposition 1 $261.4 million facilities bond Passed 19,042 to 6,486 Proposition 2 $19.6 million libraries bond Passed 19,219 to 6,304 Proposition 3 $61.3 million classroom bond Passed 18,074 to 6,822 Proposition 4 $11.7 million... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Part of Tulsa precinct eerily quiet (Tulsa World) Tulsa County Election Board, said school systems are required to give the Election Board 60 days' notice of a school bond election. The resolution, or notice, includes a list of precincts that are not required to be open. "But you can register to vote up to 24 days before the election," Boggs... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Modesto high schools must deliver at test time (The Modesto Bee) Those could include requiring a new staff at some high schools, turning some sites into charter schools and taking over the operation of campuses. "All are options. It's important to note that they failed and why they failed." Joining Modesto in California's bottom 10 are districts in Monterey,... more...

Mar 3, 2010 The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa., Paul Carpenter column (The Morning Call) The adults participating in the poll, however, proclaim that it all makes perfect sense to them. They mean taxpayers will be forced to pay the salaries of more teachers, which means more union dues, which means more money in the pockets of union bosses. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Manchester 2010-11 Budget Proposal Includes 3.4 Percent Tax Increase (The Hartford Courant) The tax rate, currently at 26.8 mills, would increase to 27.72 mills. The switch, he said, would save the town $258,000. Municipal spending under Shanley's proposal would increase by $784,438, or 1.3 percent. Shanley said that town officials are speaking with town employees about how to lessen... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Connecticut Joins Effort To Boost College Graduation Rates (The Hartford Courant) ...53 percent. Michael P. Meotti, Connecticut's commissioner of higher education, said that the focus in Connecticut will be less on helping students gain access to college -- the number of students starting college is strong -- and more on increasing graduation rates. "The real problem is that... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Detroit Public Schools gets $4 million for 11 properties (Detroit Free Press) Independent movies are shown there now on Wednesdays and weekends. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Seven show interest in two School Board seats (The Buffalo News) ...candidates may indicate some dissatisfaction with the city's public school district. Candidates have until April 28 to file nominating petitions with School District Clerk Ruthel D. Dumas at the district's administration building, 630 66th St., leaving plenty of time for more candidates to... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Pittsburgh schools propose overhaul of career, technical education (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) All CTE students would be able to take classes in health careers, information technology and business finance or culinary arts. It would have career and technical education programs in building and trades, health careers, information technology, business and finance, culinary arts and cosmetology. more...

Mar 3, 2010 School bills would lead to dramatic changes (The Orlando Sentinel) Many local teachers unions voiced similar concerns, mindful of Florida's past failures trying to tie pay to performance and doubtful there is a fair way to use test scores to judge teaching quality. more...

Mar 3, 2010 CPS halts spring sophomore sports (Chicago Tribune) The memo, which some coaches called confusing, comes at the last possible moment for sophomore coaches. Lock said that at Whitney Young, 18 players were picked for their sophomore team at Monday tryouts. In light of Tuesday's decision, Lock said the school will have to decide what to do with... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Hopkins University workers encouraged to volunteer in city schools (The Baltimore Sun) The program matches community members with volunteer opportunities within the school system. More than 40 schools have already posted more than 200 volunteer opportunities. Barclay's close proximity to work -- a five-minute drive -- made it ideal for Bennett's hectic work schedule. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Helping the youngest readers (The Baltimore Sun) The program matches community members with volunteer opportunities within the school system. More than 40 schools have posted more than 200 volunteer opportunities. Barclay's proximity to work -- a five-minute drive -- made it ideal for Bennett's hectic work schedule. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Illinois schools chiefs' supersized salaries (Chicago Tribune) Rick DeVries, District 93 school board president, said Gmitro's salary was market-driven. "In my opinion, Dr. Ron Huberman, Chicago Public Schools chief, earned about $237,000, ranking him 59th. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Mississippi eyes shorter school year (The Commercial Appeal) ... DeSoto County 2010-2011 school year calendar Aug. 2: Teachers' first day Aug. 5: Students' first day Sept. 6: Labor Day Oct. 11-12: Fall break Nov. 2: Professional Development Day (student holiday) Nov. 24-26: Thanksgiving Dec. 20-31: Christmas break Jan. 3: Teachers return Jan. 4:... more...

Mar 3, 2010 City eyes tech education overhaul (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) ...magnet at Pittsburgh Allderdice High School. Here is a breakdown of the proposed clusters and programs: East Cluster -- Allderdice: Keeps engineering magnet. Possibility of robotics program if Peabody becomes the home of the Obama International Studies Academy. -- Milliones (University... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Oklahoma City OKs truancy ordinance (The Daily Oklahoman) If the student is unexcused, the officer can write the student a ticket and detain them. more...

Mar 3, 2010 Hold up on cuts to special needs (The Boston Globe) The budget would shrink reimbursements to school districts that send students with complex educational needs to specialized private schools. Private specialized schools complement public schools by serving those who need intensive training from highly skilled professionals. Some public schools... more...

Mar 3, 2010 In appeal, lawyer asserts genocide teaching skewed (The Boston Globe) Armenian community and deleted ``contra-genocide'' views from an advisory curriculum guide in June 1999.``They were deprived of two sides of the controversy,'' Silverglate said of students. ``It was very irregular.'' Silverglate is among a team of lawyers representing students and teachers and... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Richmond councilman lends support to charter school (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Without it, parents will continue to seek schools outside the city, he said. Patrick Henry spokeswoman Kristen Larson said the school's organizers are grateful for Jewell's support. Bob McDonnell's office confirmed yesterday that the governor will co-host an invitation-only event at the school... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Ratliff holds narrow lead over McLeroy in tight Texas ed board race (The Dallas Morning News) Ratliff held a narrow lead Tuesday over veteran State Board of Education member Don McLeroy in the GOP primary for the board seat that represents Collin County and much of Northeast Texas. The fiercely contested race pitted McLeroy, a dentist from College Station and member of the board's social... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Officials of KC's Afrikan Centered Education campus seek to prevent the closings of two buildings (The Kansas City Star) The school district maintains the buildings, and hires and pays the teachers and building principals. ACE's contract covers extra costs in advancing the African-centered model. more...

Mar 3, 2010 State investigating alleged leak of TAKS test (Houston Chronicle) Scores on the high-stakes exams factor into a school's state accountability rating -- low marks can lead to public embarrassment and sanctions. That was short of the minimum 70 percent passing standard, but the north Houston campus was able to avoid an "unacceptable" rating thanks to the state's... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Broward School Board seeks to revamp investigations policy (The Miami Herald) Maxwell, executive director of the Broward Principals' and Assistants' Association. She implored the board not to send the changes "to the bowels of bureaucracy," where she said they have languished in the past. Maxwell's union -- along with the Broward Teachers Union and the Federation of... more...

Mar 3, 2010 Pupils want University of Miami scholarship named for late principal (The Miami Herald) He retired in 1988 and was given a key to the city of Hialeah. The retirement was short lived. More than 35 former students signed. The following year, Burck's name was among five considered for a school in northwest Dade. That would enable them to award a $5,000 scholarship annually. Diaz has... more...

Mar 2, 2010 BRIEF (The Oregonian) Statewide, just 14 percent of primary school students were Hispanic. Just 2 percent were Asian. Flash forward to this school year. According to new figures reported today by the Oregon Department of Education, white non-Hispanic students now constitute less than two of every three students in... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Chicago schools cut spring sophomore sports (Chicago Tribune) Lock said that at Whitney Young, 18 players were picked for their sophomore team at tryouts yesterday. In light of today's decision, Lock said, the school will have to decide what to do with those payers. more...

Mar 2, 2010 Illinois schools chiefs' salaries keep supersizing (Chicago Tribune) Rick DeVries, District 93 school board president, said Gmitro's salary was market-driven. "In my opinion, Dr. Ron Huberman, Chicago Public Schools chief, earned about $237,000, ranking him 59th. more...

Mar 2, 2010 Federal ban on junk food, sodas in schools could impact local deals (The Florida Times-Union) Johns schools. "They would have to have major fund-raising events to overcome that." St. Johns received $491,000 from its current Pepsi contract, which ends in June. That's based on my feedback from other school districts." Weiss says progress is being made: Students are using vending machines... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Judge (The Orlando Sentinel) Those findings are expected to be filed with the court before the May hearing. Attorneys provided some clues last month when they announced the proposed settlement. more...

Mar 2, 2010 Oregon school enrollment down for second straight year (The Oregonian) The number of Hispanic students surged 13 percent from last year. One of every five Oregon students now identifies as Hispanic. Oregon has six majority-Hispanic school districts, most located in rural agricultural communities. They are Woodburn, Gervais, Nyssa, Umatilla, Ontario and... more...

Mar 2, 2010 3.4 Percent Tax Hike Proposed In Manchester (The Hartford Courant) The tax rate, currently at 26.8 mills, would increase to 27.72 mills. But heading into 2012, the deficit is expected to top $3 billion. more...

Mar 2, 2010 Workers tweet as part of their job:: (Sun Sentinel) It's not hitting (customers) with offers, but to give them information. This will usually be the Internet sales manager or another worker who has online experience and interest. She also trains workers on how to respond online to customers: "You want to identify who you are so the fan or customer... more...

Mar 2, 2010 EDITORIAL (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Well . . . . "I am very happy that these funds will provide immediate jobs," said Gov. Bob McDonnell's effort to strengthen public charter schools, the most centrist and mainstream education reform one could think of. Here's historian Robert Norris on the inaccuracies in a newly published tome,... more...

Mar 2, 2010 EDITORIAL: Public Square (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Tax incentives for businesses that create jobs in Virginia. And people wanted to come to Virginia just because it was Virginia. Virginia has a lot to offer. Bolling: We want to grow Virginia businesses. more...

Mar 2, 2010 City students, parents, teachers protest proposed education cuts (The Baltimore Sun) Krawczyk, an organizer with Baltimore's Child First Authority, as city lawmakers gathered at the rally, which was organized by the Baltimore Education Coalition. Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden, a city teacher for four decades, said education had saved his family, "coming out of the projects to... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Training for life (Albuquerque Journal) You can't create a one-size-fits- all." Carl Glaspie, an 18-year-old Cibola High senior, wants to be a diesel technician. He says his students are heavily recruited for training programs in the automotive industry, and sometimes in aviation. more...

Mar 2, 2010 Turkish scholars excel with charter schools that emphasize science, math (The Dallas Morning News) The schools enrolled about 7,520 students at 19 campuses in grades K-12 last year. The system is run by the Houston-based nonprofit Cosmos Foundation. Fourth- and fifth-grade students learn from instructors trained in math or science in addition to their classroom teacher. more...

Mar 2, 2010 Board to support Trimble (Tulsa World) We've taken every directive that the OSSAA has given us and tried to meet and exceed what it is that they expect of this school district. more...

Mar 2, 2010 A record TPS bond package vote today (Tulsa World) ...all school bonds in Oklahoma. The TPS bond package is designed to continue the 20-year plan for capital improvements established by the school district's Citizens Bond Development Committee in 1995. It also would provide every school with updated textbooks, learning materials, library books,... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Voters to decide TPS bond issue today (Tulsa World) ...libraries at Celia Clinton, Jones, Lindbergh, MacArthur and Salk elementary schools and Foster Middle School. --The $61.3 million classroom bond would fund the purchase of new textbooks, music and art equipment, science lab and safety equipment, P.E. and health equipment, computers and other... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Modesto schools board members vote 6-1 to warn hundreds (The Modesto Bee) Teachers, parents and a student said Monday the layoff notices run counter to the direction trustees received from the public. Modesto High School junior Jasmine Martinez urged trustees to keep teachers. Schwarzenegger releases revised funding numbers for the 2010-11 year. Trustee Gary Lopez... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Modesto high schools need to ace spring exams, or else (The Modesto Bee) She works with Modesto City Schools on its improvement plan. "People need to be aware of how the district is scrutinized. It's getting very serious very quickly." Students take the tests in the next two months, but officials vented that many high-schoolers don't take them to heart. more...

Mar 2, 2010 OPINION (Detroit Free Press) By large margins, the people want to buy out older, expensive public employees and require those who remain to pay a heftier share of their health care costs. Jennifer Granholm spent seven years resisting dramatic changes to the cost of public employee benefits, saying essentially that she... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Ohio athletics need change, leaders agree (Akron Beacon Journal) About half -- 319 -- responded, representing 82 of Ohio's 88 counties. What's the problem with high school sports? Why should the majority get hurt?" The committee was made up of every superintendent in Wayne County and one in Medina. more...

Mar 2, 2010 Ads Polish Teacher Image As Budget Season Opens (The Hartford Courant) They'll make connections and form new bonds." The camera glides over a book report and a row of paper banners before it finally zooms in on a teacher. For every challenge facing our public schools today, there's a family and a teacher working together to meet it. They don't mean to single out... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Obama Courts Chamber On Education (Politico) ...the Education Department if legislation is approved this year.In a statement, the Business Coalition for Student Achievement, coordinated by the Chamber and the Business Roundtable, an association of corporate leaders, applauded Obama’s efforts.“As we work towards reauthorization of the... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Obama Backs Rewarding Districts That Police Failing Schools (New York Times) Obama for “condoning the mass firing” of teachers at the Rhode Island school. In their efforts to overhaul failing public schools, Mr. Obama said he was particularly troubled by the dropout rate. more...

Mar 2, 2010 Albany airs needs for public access TV (Times Union) ...-- ALBANY -- Community activists warned city lawmakers Monday night that if paid staff is not included in plans for the city's new public access television studio, the enterprise may be doomed to fail before it ever debuts. As the proposed agreement with Time Warner (NYSE:TWX) Cable currently... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Letting kids play pays off (The Baltimore Sun) And we are accelerating learning." Playworks doesn't end with daily recess. Only schools where 50 percent of the students receive free and reduced-price meals are eligible to participate. The program costs $55,000 a year to run in each school. These students proudly wear boldly colored purple... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Advocates hope Catholic school closings will give urgency to legislation (The Baltimore Sun) ...support private and public education hope that the Archdiocese of Baltimore's plan to announce school closings this week will heighten the sense of urgency about the legislation before the General Assembly. Supporters of the tax credit bills will rally outside the State House in Annapolis on... more...

Mar 2, 2010 School closings add urgency (The Baltimore Sun) She said the bill has "broad bipartisan support," but is being blocked by the House Ways and Means Committee, which has never voted on it. Democratic Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr. is the chief sponsor of the Senate bill, which has eight backers. more...

Mar 2, 2010 Wayzata student arrested after gun is found in backpack (Star Tribune) A school staff member noticed the backpack in a hallway near the theater about 10:10 p.m. and checked it to determine who it belonged to. There was nothing suspicious outwardly about it, he said. more...

Mar 2, 2010 $15 million school bonds win approval to finish construction at DeSoto schools (The Commercial Appeal) DeSoto County school board members on Monday approved the sale of the final $15 million of $60 million in general obligations bonds approved by voters nearly two years ago to finance school construction in the growing district. The last of the bond money will be used to wrap up construction at... more...

Mar 2, 2010 More schools add online class options to traditional schedules (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Long term, we want to learn how to build our own courses and host them internally." Challenges exist as schools expand to include online class offerings. In MPS, Lexmond said, the classes are currently more expensive to offer than a face-to-face instruction. more...

Mar 2, 2010 Obama plan excites S. Florida educators (The Miami Herald) ...for students at risk of dropping out. However, Carvalho, the Miami-Dade superintendent, cautioned against enacting major education reform in times of constricting budgets. "It's all very exciting and comes with a great deal of promise," Carvalho said. "Unfortunately, it comes at a time when... more...

Mar 2, 2010 Insurers getting more personal (Tampa Tribune) The result is savings for the employee and the insurer. For Tampa's employees, incentives come in the form of free services and screenings, risk manager Michael Laperche said. Through Humana, the city began offering six major cancer screenings a year, free. Some employees have been startled by... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Nebraska man selected new Centennial superintendent (The Oregonian) ...-- Steve Rector, superintendent of the South Sioux City Community Schools in Nebraska, has been selected as Centennial's superintendent, effective July 1. "The School Board is confident that Steve Rector is the right leader to serve our community," School Board Chair Shar Giard said. "Steve... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Tulsa school bond vote is Tuesday (Tulsa World) MacArthur and Salk elementary schools and Foster Middle School. --The $61.3 million classroom bond would fund the purchase of new textbooks, music and art equipment, science lab and safety equipment, P.E. and health equipment, computers and other learning technology, and furniture for every... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Residents weigh academic control of embattled schools (Detroit Free Press) Two bills that would give emergency financial managers more academic powers have been introduced and sent to the committee for consideration. Rep. more...

Mar 1, 2010 Modesto author's book tells of segregation, family and finding faith (The Modesto Bee) Nearly every able-bodied black person in Modesto went to work for them. Charlie agreed, and tried to find a better job. In 1966, I put in applications all over Modesto -- U.S. Postal Service, Modesto Police Department, Fire Department. Really, there are very few black people going to white... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Slain Tacoma teacher had been harassed by gunman for years (The Seattle Times) He emerged from the car firing a handgun, Troyer said. The deputy returned fire and killed the man. The school has about 400 students in grades K-5. Paulson had been employed by the district since 2004 and had been at Birney since 2007. We are proud to remember Jennifer as an SPU student and... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Infatuated man shoots, kills teacher (The Seattle Times) I heard the teacher screaming," he said. Moreno then looked outside and saw an armed man fire an additional gunshot at another man who had apparently witnessed the shooting. Waits emerged from the car firing a handgun, Troyer said. The deputy returned fire and killed him. more...

Mar 1, 2010 Idaho Guv (The Spokesman-Review) ... Hammon said his proposed revisions to the bill move the ban to the PERSI statute, rather than the state employee statutes. He said the revisions were drafted and sent to the co-sponsors, the House Commerce and Human Resources Committee chairman, and the speaker of the House over the weekend.... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Schools struggle with new budget reality (The San Diego Union-Tribune) Also, when the loss of students is distributed across grade levels, districts can't readily lay off teachers -- as if, for example, the decline is limited to kindergarten. If teachers agree to salary cuts equal to 7.28 percent, the district might have to lay off only 29 teachers, according to... more...

Mar 1, 2010 House committee supports McDonnell's charter school bill (The Virginian-Pilot) Deirdre Fernandes Mar. 1, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- RICHMOND -- The House Education Committee overwhelmingly supported Gov. Bob McDonnell's charter school bill this morning. HB1390 is aimed at increasing the number of charter schools in the state. more...

Mar 1, 2010 District can avoid mass teacher layoffs, official says: Administrator (Las Vegas Review-Journal) He will request that cuts be spread "proportionately" among the colleges and universities. In April, he expects college and university presidents to report to regents what will be cut. The money is to be used to reduce teacher layoffs. State support accounts for about half of public school... more...

Mar 1, 2010 SPECIAL SESSION: Tentative budget deal reached; education spending would be cut 6.9 percent (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Casinos would not have to pay any new taxes or fees, but new licensees would be charged for investigations, according to the document. The plan still must be approved by the state Senate. Prison employees would work 12-hour shifts of three days one week and four days the next. more...

Mar 1, 2010 SPECIAL SESSION (Las Vegas Review-Journal) He proposed limiting tax deductions for mining to raise revenue, while threatening to veto taxes or fees unless the industries volunteered to pay. The K-12 system and higher education could have been hit with 22 percent cuts if the governor and legislators had backed spending reductions equal to... more...

Mar 1, 2010 First Coast Community Music School puts you in tune with your inner musician (The Florida Times-Union) He's a senior at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and has attended FCC Music School since its inception in 2006. And even arts schools can't offer one of the most important parts of music education: private lessons. Scott Gregg, the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra's music director and... more...

Mar 1, 2010 New Mexico's (Albuquerque Journal) Even slick, icy and snowy conditions in Clovis did not bring a Connect New Mexico session in late January to a halt. Leadership New Mexico started with the Core Program. Rare sights Each of the six Core sessions starts with an optional tour. A committee decides subtopics and speakers for each... more...

Mar 1, 2010 FFA program surviving at Turlock High School, despite cuts (The Modesto Bee) ...a Turlock High sophomore. "I'm taking a welding class and ag mechanics and ag science and ag biology." FFA is closely tied to high school ag departments. They are feeling some of the same pinch as education in general, but some of their income comes from specific state and federal sources... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Schools to set rules for social media use (Chattanooga Times/Free Press) Smith's sophomore biology class and there's a chatroom to discuss a homework assignment. That's clearly an extension of the classroom," Mr. There needs to be a policy," she said. "I have friends who have posted pictures and stories about their students on Facebook. more...

Mar 1, 2010 Schools face more tough choices (Detroit Free Press) Officials in the Huron Valley and Waterford districts are to vote Thursday on whether to close schools. more...

Mar 1, 2010 'Invasive' questions help companies cut health costs (Tampa Tribune) The result is savings for the employee and the insurer. At the city of Tampa, incentives come in the form of free services and screenings, Risk Manager Michael Laperche said. The tests can help identify disease earlier and thus reduce subsequent medical costs, he said. And Pepin is seeing a... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Legislature opens session Tuesday looking at budget shortfall (Tampa Tribune) Federal health care legislation, in which the provision also appears, is stalled. The gaming compact that Crist signed with the Seminoles last year deviates from the terms the Legislature approved. At the time, House lawmakers warned they would not tolerate substantive changes to those terms,... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Texting, Facebook can give teachers struggles with virtual boundaries (The Orlando Sentinel) Now, he rarely texts or e-mails students. "I only respond if it's dealing with sports itself," said Wilson, 29. "And I save them [correspondence] now. Anything I receive and send, I save." Some scholars say they're not surprised that digital media have evolved this way. He misses being someone... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Drug sweeps curb use of narcotics in area schools (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Despite the large number, only two students were arrested. The low number of arrests "is not telling you that there's nothing on campus," said Henrico police Lt. more...

Mar 1, 2010 UMass leader to step down (The Boston Globe) He also brought a business background, having started a company selling training software to corporations.Here, Wilson became the founding chief executive of UMassOnline, the system's online education program. Now, the five chancellors work closely together, a partnership that has helped the... more...

Mar 1, 2010 Texas requiring course for aspiring drivers 18 to 24 (The Dallas Morning News) Those teenagers have to take a 32-hour driver education class, along with seven hours behind the wheel. It costs up to $400. The classroom component often is free at high school, if taught during the day. more...

Mar 1, 2010 Chesapeake likely to hire firm to aid in superintendent search (The Virginian-Pilot) A few applied, the School Board conducted interviews and one of them ended up being W. Randolph Nichols. At one point, the school system was gaining students at the rate of more than 1,000 per year. It now has 38,500 students, making it a larger school system than Norfolk. more...

Feb 28, 2010 Granted Political Asylum to Learn at Home (New York Times) Romeike said, were just as bad or even worse. Months of research followed: the Romeikes read articles, sat in on court cases and talked to other home-schoolers in Germany. Romeike said he would like to return to Germany if the laws became more amenable to home schooling. more...

Feb 28, 2010 In Middle School, Charting Their Course to College and Beyond (New York Times) “You should have really figured that out sooner.” In a Linwood social studies class recently, 21 sixth graders were taking an online quiz called Matchmaker. “Here’s the walkie-talkie,” Pete Clark, the Linwood principal, told Rossanny as he passed by the classroom. This year, all 267... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Lobbyists running in Tuesday's election for Va. House seat (Washington Post) Mark Warner's four-year term, ending in 2005.Bolognese, who will turn 56 on Election Day, ran unsuccessfully against Marsden in November, losing by about 200 votes. As of last week, Filler-Corn had received nearly $136,000 in cash contributions, along with nearly $122,000 of in-kind donations.... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Loudoun County school notes (Washington Post) Last year, Harmony's Empty Bowl Project raised $1,640 for the Western Loudoun Food Pantry. County seeking judges for annual science fair Judges are needed for the 29th annual Loudoun County public schools Regional Science and Engineering Fair on March 18 at Briar Woods High School. Judges are... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Prince William County school notes (Washington Post) Parents should contact their school for specific registration times. County schedules school food tastings Prince William County public schools' annual food shows will be held at C.D. Hylton Senior High School on March 16 and 18. Workshops planned for parents of disabled students The Prince... more...

Feb 28, 2010 'The Death and Life of the Great American School System' by Diane Ravitch (Los Angeles Times) Ravitch's critical guns are still firing, but now they're aimed at the forces of testing, accountability and educational markets, forces for which she was once a leading proponent and strategist. When No Child Left Behind was first proposed, Ravitch writes, she was "excited and optimistic." But... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Sixth-graders may move to primary school (Seattle Post Intelligencer) There?s just no way,? he said.Despite the intended focus of the meeting, much talk revolved around the fate of LMS. The middle school, I thought, was very courageous last year by saying, we?ll give up our building if you let us keep our programs. more...

Feb 28, 2010 District May End N.C. Economic Diversity Program (New York Times) He said the board still valued diversity but thought busing had become an impediment to learning. In 2002, the Charlotte school system eliminated busing for diversification, leading to rapid repolarization of schools by race and income. Orfield of U.C.L.A. Wake’s diversity requirement is hardly... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Deep budget cuts approved for Prince George's schools (Washington Post) State funding has also been lowered because of a controversial state formula that allocates money based on the county's income tax returns. They would give county governments the ability to cut education funding further.At a budget hearing Thursday, cuts to the parent liaison program prompted the... more...

Feb 28, 2010 HONING SKILLS (Albuquerque Journal) Attendance at one eligibility workshop is then required. This workshop is held at 8:30 a.m. Fridays at Workforce Connection. The next step would be to meet with a career councilor at Workforce Connection to determine if the work skills class is needed. more...

Feb 28, 2010 Modesto author's book tells of segregation, family and finding faith (The Modesto Bee) Nearly every able-bodied black person in Modesto went to work for them. Really, there are very few black people going to white churches right now, and even fewer white people going to black churches. I think the Fair Housing Act was accepted very well by people in Modesto. more...

Feb 28, 2010 School puts you in tune with your inner musician (The Florida Times-Union) He's a senior at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and has attended FCC Music School since its inception in 2006. And even arts schools can't offer one of the most important parts of music education: private lessons. Scott Gregg, the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra's music director and... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Plano looking forward to first magnet school (The Dallas Morning News) Paul to New York, suburban school districts are building magnet schools, usually in poorer parts of town, to attract a mix of low-income to middle-class students. While still defined by its affluent subdivisions, the Plano district has grown patches of poverty. Last fall, district leaders... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Public gives school-budget options an F (The Morning Call) ...cuts will increase class sizes in Bangor next year, the most unpopular of all the outcomes, according to the poll. The negative response is probably the result of years of educators' emphasis on the importance of small class sizes, Borick said. Respondent Lynn Geary of Pittsburgh, who put her... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Bonds let schools catch up (Tulsa World) Even our circulation desk is from the bond. more...

Feb 28, 2010 35 area seniors among top in state (Tulsa World) They all will be recognized at an awards banquet on May 22 at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel. more...

Feb 28, 2010 EDITORIAL: Vote of confidence (Tulsa World) In Tulsa and Oklahoma City, incumbent school board members got bounced. Using money from a previous bond issue, the district is at work on a security camera system and entry door access at high schools. At Eugene Field Elementary, for example, new principal Cindi Hemm has helped foster a huge... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Portland School Board approves new contract with district teachers (The Oregonian) At the same time, these changes do not require teachers to work beyond their 7 1/2-hour workday. For this school year, they will receive no increase. For both years, teachers will receive annual step increases. more...

Feb 28, 2010 Catholic school closings loom (The Baltimore Sun) Ambrose Catholic School has fallen by more than half. Ambrose, where her two grandsons attend fourth and first grade. Ambrose than at the public school he left three years ago, Reynolds said. Like nine of 10 St. more...

Feb 28, 2010 13% of seniors may miss out on high school diplomas (Star Tribune) For the writing tests, students have to compose an essay. more...

Feb 28, 2010 A push for better workforce training (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Last month, it opened the STEM Center, 105,000 square feet of science, engineering, and math laboratories and classrooms. more...

Feb 28, 2010 EDITORIAL: Plan can put district on path for improvement (The Daily Oklahoman) But Springer said he'll still take the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools, which spearheaded the report, up on its offer to get the district outside assistance. Piecemeal, incremental efforts won't get the job done. And the alternative education programs must get the attention they... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Thefts by employees a big problem made bigger in hard times (The Kansas City Star) A former employee is suspected of stealing more than $300,000 in goods from a Target store in Kansas City. Two years ago, she pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. She is eligible for parole in April. Last year, a Johnson County jury convicted salesman... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Morrison rooted in civil rights (The State) Sometimes, the two prepared for debates using index cards, the father poking holes in his son's theories. His mother Ginny put aside a journalism career to be a homemaker. It includes big corporations and the richest people and it includes the public schools and the poorest people. They are avid... more...

Feb 28, 2010 The heaviest hand (The Boston Globe) Getting weighed - whether at school, the doctor's office, or the weight-height-and-horoscope machine at the service plaza - is no great trauma for a beanstalk of a boy. The heavy hand of the obesity police is upon us, and it wants to know the circumference of our waists. Obama and the public... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Budget cuts painful for many rural school systems (Richmond Times-Dispatch) In a program focused on dropout prevention, relationships between students and teachers are essential to the success of the class, said Wendell, who is one of the New Beginnings teachers being let go. Do I want my special-education daughter to get special-education services? Additionally, all... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Little dead schoolhouse (The Boston Globe) Yet after half a century of government reports, polemical bestsellers, data-driven miracle cures, and alphabet-soup programs, why aren't our perpetually failing public schools fixed? One, especially popular with business leaders, philanthropists, and the media, is that data and testing can and... more...

Feb 28, 2010 eMentoring lets students get career advice from working adults (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) These are 10th-, 11th- and 12th-graders, so they've never been out in the work world before. more...

Feb 28, 2010 Plano looking forward to city's first magnet school (The Dallas Morning News) Paul to New York, suburban school districts are building magnet schools, usually in poorer parts of town, to attract a mix of low-income to middle-class students. While still defined by its affluent subdivisions, the Plano district has grown patches of poverty. Last fall, district leaders... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Challengers question Fort Worth school district's performance (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) FORT WORTH -- Two challengers have filed against school trustees, saying they are concerned about the district's academic and financial performance. Tobi Jackson filed to run against longtime Trustee Jean McClung, who has represented parts of east Fort Worth for 20 years, for the District 2... more...

Feb 28, 2010 Portsmouth reading program works to build success (The Virginian-Pilot) T -- are enrolled in a fourth-grade reading intervention initiative, launched this school year in Portsmouth public schools. Speller thinks the disruption affected Dae'Sha's desire to learn. Other fourth-graders at Brighton change classrooms. Because his class is so small, Mr. more...

Feb 27, 2010 'Power Struggle' for Records (Albuquerque Journal) APS Superintendent Winston Brooks this week threatened to close those three schools, along with Amy Biehl Charter School. more...

Feb 27, 2010 Overhaul of state pension system looks like a done deal (The Salt Lake Tribune) They affect every financial decision we make as a Legislature," said House Majority Whip Brad Dee, R-Ogden. "If we do not change the direction, we are going to go broke. Those hired after July 1, 2011, would no longer be eligible for the defined-benefit pension. The changes are prospective and... more...

Feb 27, 2010 Idaho weighs school budget cuts (The Spokesman-Review) Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, said Friday he's undecided about whether to propose a lower budget for schools on Monday. more...

Feb 27, 2010 Vote on education cuts Monday (The Spokesman-Review) Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, said Friday he's undecided about whether to propose a lower budget for schools on Monday. more...

Feb 27, 2010 Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va., Michael Paul column (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Richmond's schools resegregated faster than they desegregated. Rosalyn Dance, D-Petersburg, is a co-patron of the charter schools bill. Currently, school boards control the charter schools application process. Not coincidentally, there are only three charter schools operating in Virginia --... more...

Feb 27, 2010 Online skills added to curriculum (The Columbus Dispatch) The software lets teachers monitor the e-mail. The Fairfield County district recently signed a $16,750 contract with Gaggle for next school year. Those that do include Circleville in Pickaway County, Greenon in Clark County, West Muskingum in Zanesville, and Dayton. Public accounts are free,... more...

Feb 27, 2010 Antioch trustees require uniforms for all students (Contra Costa Times) Deer Valley and Antioch will work together on possible school attire ideas, Isadore said. Before the board's decision, about a dozen students and parents spoke against the uniform policy. Many cited poor enforcement at middle schools with dress codes. more...

Feb 27, 2010 33 Troy teachers accept buyouts (Times Union) None of the administrators accepted the retirement incentive. At the end of the 2008-09 school year, the district laid off 40 teachers, nine teaching assistants, three CSEA members and two administrators due to budget constraints. more...

Feb 27, 2010 Shooting scare stirs panic at Oklahoma City Community College (The Daily Oklahoman) While they were sweeping the building, a campus security guard accidentally fired his unholstered weapon. Details as to how the weapon fired were not immediately available. more...

Feb 27, 2010 Hands-on nature (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Does anyone know what organic means?" Brows furrow. But in the past year, Bishop said, budget cuts have prompted some schools to cancel, which has created openings. Most of the teachers stick around for a couple of years; Oyama, with four years, is considered a veteran. more...

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