May 25, 2011
Education Week, Vol. 30, Issue 32
Education Funding
Stimulus Aid: State Data Systems
As one condition of sharing in more than $40 billion from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, states agreed to improve their educational data systems. This interactive shows how each state used that money.
School & District Management
States: Stimulus Aid Sparked Progress on Goals
States made use of ARRA funds to boost school data systems and make improvements in other areas, a first round of reports say.
Teaching Profession
How Do Teachers Use Technology to Facilitate Student Learning?
This table includes data from a cohort of 35,525 teachers, who were asked how they use technology in their classrooms.
Education Funding
'Perfect Storm' Ahead for Summer Youth Programs
With planned cuts in both summer-job and summer school programs, young people in some large cities may have plenty of time on their hands in the months ahead.
Standards
Report Roundup
Challenges Outlined for Common Standards Tests
Three new papers highlight some of the challenges two consortia of states face as they design tests for the new common-core standards.
Curriculum
News in Brief
Scholastic Gets Heat for Offering Materials Backed by Coal Group
In the face of sharp criticism, the educational publisher Scholastic Inc. indicated earlier this month that it would no longer distribute a package of curricular materials on energy issues developed with financial support from the American Coal Foundation.
Accountability
News in Brief
Ga. District Closes Chapter on Accreditation Troubles
The Clayton County, Ga., school district, one of the first districts to lose its accreditation in nearly 40 years, is running well enough now to not require any special oversight, its accrediting agency says.
School & District Management
Report Roundup
Instructional Style
A study in the May issue of Science suggests that, even in classes exceeding 250 students, interactive learning can be more effective than lecturing.
Education Funding
Report Roundup
Value of College
Just 5 percent of the public says students get excellent value for the money they spend on college, according to a new survey.
Teaching Profession
News in Brief
Union Dues Under Fire
Republican state senators on a North Carolina legislative committee voted to strip the state's top teacher lobbying group of the ability to have voluntary membership dues deducted directly from teachers' paychecks.
Education
News in Brief
Idaho Schools Chief Warns Teachers on Political Actions
Idaho state schools chief Tom Luna has warned teachers and other school employees not to engage in political activity on school grounds.
School & District Management
News in Brief
Duncan Calls Board Members About Choice for La. Chief
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has inserted himself into Louisiana's debate over who should replace Paul Pastorek as state schools superintendent.
School Climate & Safety
Report Roundup
Research Report: Bullying
Long after students leave school, the effect of bullying or even casual negative references to being gay can affect their mental and physical health.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Obama Tells Memphis Grads Their Success Inspires Him
President Barack Obama hailed the transformation of a once struggling but venerable Memphis, Tenn., high school, telling its graduates: "You inspire me. That's why I'm here."
Federal
News in Brief
Kansas Rebuffed on AYP Waiver
Kansas will not be able to sidestep the requirement under the federal No Child Left Behind Act that 100 percent of students reach proficiency in reading and math by 2014, state officials have announced.
School & District Management
News in Brief
'Chiefs for Change' Issues Principles for ESEA Revision
A coalition of 10 current and former state schools chiefs unveiled a list of principles last week for revamping the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Teaching Profession
News in Brief
AFT Takes on Pension Spiking
The executive committee of the American Federation of Teachers, the nations second-largest teachers union, with 1.5 million members, called for an end to pension spiking and double-dipping in recommendations released last week.
Teaching Profession
News in Brief
Gov. Cuomo Proposes Tougher Evaluations
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is proposing tougher criteria to evaluate teachers, including greater use of student test scores, and more rigorous observation in the classroom.
College & Workforce Readiness
Report Roundup
Research Report: Absenteeism
By controlling for differences in family environments, a new study further bolsters the belief that frequent absences from school hinder academic achievement.
Science
Report Roundup
STEM Education
A new set of reports shows that many states are reporting far higher proficiency rates on their own tests than NAEP shows.
Reading & Literacy
Report Roundup
Rural Students
Rural 3rd graders' reading levels are falling short of their urban and suburban peers' reading levels, according to a brief released this month by the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire.
School & District Management
News in Brief
N.Y. Education Commissioner Brings Charter Background
New York state's next commissioner of education is a 36-year-old former teacher, charter school leader, and deputy education commissioner.
School Climate & Safety
'Green Schools' Benefit Budgets and Students, Report Says
The American Institute of Architects and the Green Building Council detail what local leaders can do to advance the movement for environmentally friendly schools.
Law & Courts
Georgia Ruling Leaves Charters' Fate Uncertain
Georgia's high court rules a panel set up to create and overssee charter schools is unconstitutional.
School & District Management
Opinion
School Boards Must Prioritize Student Equity
School boards must set policies that distribute resources fairly among poor and affluent schools, Edwin C. Darden says.
School & District Management
Opinion
Why Educators Must Become Political Animals
School leaders must learn to tame the political forces that play a major role in education policy, writes Mary Esther Van Shura.
Teaching
Opinion
When Students Are Silenced
Student agency is critical for teaching young people "responsible autonomy," writes Joan F. Goodman.
Special Education
Districts Hire Outsider to Trim Special Ed. Costs
A private Massachusetts company specializes in showing districts how to rethink the way they staff and deliver special education services.