Issues

February 11, 2009

Education Week, Vol. 28, Issue 21

Vice President Joe Biden looks on as President Barack Obama signs the economic stimulus bill during a ceremony on Feb. 17 at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver.

Federal Obama Signs Economic-Stimulus Package

School districts and states will share in some $115 billion in aid to precollegiate and higher education, including in direct grants.

Alyson Klein & Michele McNeil, February 12, 2009

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5 min read

Federal Report Roundup High School Dropouts

As high school students progress through each grade, the gap in credits accumulated toward graduation grows larger between students who eventually drop out and those who graduate on time, according to a statistical brief published by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences.

Mary Ann Zehr, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

School & District Management News in Brief Mich. Governor Names Detroit Manager

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm of Michigan has named Robert C. Bobb, a former member of the District of Columbia school board and city administrator in Oakland, Calif., as the emergency financial manager of the 94,000-student Detroit public schools.

Ann Bradley, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

Education Funding News in Brief Survey Finds State Budgets Grim

Budget conditions in states have gone from bad to worse, the Denver-based National Conference of State Legislatures reported last week.

Michele McNeil, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

School & District Management Report Roundup Lead and Children

A change in the process to disinfect water in the District of Columbia led to a spike in lead blood levels in many city children, says a report to be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Lead exposure in children has been linked to lower IQ tests and behavioral problems.

Christina A. Samuels, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

School & District Management News in Brief Houston Leader to Retire

Abelardo Saavedra, the superintendent of the 200,000-student Houston Independent School District, says he will retire in the spring of 2010. He has led Texas' largest school district since 2004.

The Associated Press, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

Education Funding News in Brief W. Va. District Cuts Incentives for Teachers to Come to Work

Kanawha County, W.Va., teachers who come to work every day will soon have to make do with the satisfaction of a job well done, rather than up to $1,050 in incentive pay.

The Associated Press, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

Education Funding News in Brief Wis. Groups Form Coalition on Funding

School groups in Milwaukee announced last week they have formed a coalition to propose a new school funding system. The Wisconsin School Finance Network includes the Wisconsin Education Association Council, which is the state teachers’ union; the Wisconsin PTA; and groups representing school administrators and school boards.

The Associated Press, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

Law & Courts News in Brief Court Sides With Miami Board On Removal of Book About Cuba

The Miami-Dade County, Fla., school board did not violate the First Amendment when it removed a children’s book about Cuba from the shelves of school libraries, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Mark Walsh, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

School & District Management Report Roundup Studies Suggest School Cafeterias Still Need to Trim the Fat

School lunches and breakfasts are getting more healthful, but they still contain too much fat and too many calories, according to the latest national evaluation of the federal government’s school-meals program.

Debra Viadero, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

Curriculum News in Brief New Partnerships Funded

In a bid to put a new vision of out-of-school time into practice, the C.S. Mott Foundation has announced plans to provide $4 million in support to community-school district partnerships in 10 cities.

Catherine Gewertz, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

School & District Management Report Roundup Grading Disparities in Georgia

A state study in Georgia shows that teachers in some high schools there are awarding passing grades to students who can’t pass an end-of-course exam.

The Associated Press, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

School & District Management News in Brief Vallas Making Political Plans

Paul G. Vallas, the leader of New Orleans’ state-run school district, says that he’s considering a run next year for president of the Cook County board in Illinois. Mr. Vallas said he plans to stay with the Recovery School District through the 2009-10 school year.

The Associated Press, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

School & District Management Report Roundup Student Government

A study examining the structure and governance of high school student councils found such government associations at private schools tend to have the most active memberships, with broad functions and high levels of faculty engagement and oversight.

Dakarai I. Aarons, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

School Choice & Charters News in Brief More Georgia Districts Considering Change to All Charter Schools

As the economy worsens, more Georgia school districts are considering converting entirely to charter schools to take advantage of the budgeting flexibility that comes with such a change.

The Associated Press, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

School & District Management Report Roundup Science Skills in China and the U.S.

First-year college students in China outperformed their American counterparts in a test of their knowledge of specific scientific concepts in mechanics, electricity, and magnetism, says a study in the journal Science.

Sean Cavanagh, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

Federal News in Brief U.S. Says Schools Got Tainted Peanut Foods

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said last week that potentially contaminated peanut butter and roasted peanuts processed by the Peanut Corp. of America were sent to schools in California, Idaho, and Minnesota for the free school lunch program in 2007.

Catherine Gewertz & The Associated Press, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

Federal Senate Cuts Education Aid in Stimulus

The U.S. Senate’s plan would pour more than $80 billion into education, but differs from the House version on school construction and aid to states.

Alyson Klein, February 10, 2009

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4 min read

Law & Courts News in Brief Christian School in Texas Appeals Decision on Joining Athletic League

Christian school in Texas that was barred from joining the state’s athletic league for public schools has asked a federal appeals court in New Orleans to revive the lawsuit it filed over its exclusion, accusing the league of religious discrimination.

The Associated Press, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

School & District Management Urban Districts Compare Notes on Operation

Benchmarking project allows leaders to fine-tune core business practices.

Dakarai I. Aarons, February 10, 2009

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7 min read

Federal Career Skills Said to Get Short Shrift

Calls to ensure that graduates are prepared for both college and work too often overlook the “work” part, business groups say.

Scott J. Cech, February 10, 2009

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7 min read

School & District Management Civil Rights, Policy Leaders Named for Ed. Dept

Obama also names communications and outreach director.

Michele McNeil, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

Early Childhood Kiddie Algebra

Teachers are introducing algebra concepts to pupils in the early grades by tapping their intuitive math skills.

Sean Cavanagh, February 10, 2009

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7 min read

The NASA Jet Propulsion Lab offers a virtual tour of its robotics program.

Teaching Virtual Field Trips Open Doors for Multimedia Lessons

Electronic visits grow as schools cut back on off-campus excursions to save money during tough economic times.

Kathleen Kennedy Manzo, February 10, 2009

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6 min read

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan addresses the audience during a press conference to announce the release of the National Staff Development Council report on professional development in Washington on Feb. 4.

Federal Staff Development for Teachers Deemed Fragmented

The time American teachers spend in professional development largely continues to take place in isolation, rather than in school-based settings.

Stephen Sawchuk, February 10, 2009

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6 min read

Federal Insurance Access Linked to Scores

Eligibility for health coverage is associated with higher reading scores.

Christina A. Samuels, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

First lady Michelle Obama greets employees at the U.S. Department of Education.

Federal A Pep Rally Feeling to First Lady's Visit

First lady Michelle Obama dropped by the U.S. Department of Education last week to honor career employees, the first in what’s supposed to be a series of such sessions at various Cabinet agencies.

Alyson Klein, February 10, 2009

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1 min read

The doors of the Missouri House of Representatives chamber open as Gov. Jay Nixon is introduced before his first State of the State address, which he delivered Jan. 27. Gov. Nixon, a Democrat, said he intends to fully fund planned spending increases for education, despite the state’s budget troubles.

States State of the States State of the States 2009: Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania

Here are summaries of recent annual addresses by governors around the country.

February 10, 2009

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5 min read

Federal Opinion Congress: Spread the Wealth to Charters

"In spite of breakthroughs by charter schools, and the spinoff lessons for traditional schools, there’s a chance the massive stimulus bill will bypass charter schools," writes Richard Whitmire.

Richard Whitmire, February 10, 2009

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4 min read

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