January 18, 2012
Education Week, Vol. 31, Issue 17
Education
Texas School Gets Reprieve
More than half of Americans believe that teachers are underpaid, according to a national telephone survey by Poll Position. The survey was conducted in December, about a month after the American Enterprise Institute released a controversial study saying teachers are overpaid.
Federal
Advocates, Policymakers Split on House ESEA Draft
The House GOP's bare-bones approach to federal K-12 policy draws polarized reviews in the NCLB renewal debate.
School & District Management
Mixed Results Seen for Charter Networks
Half the charter school networks in a study significantly improved their students' high school graduation rates—and half did not.
School & District Management
Report Estimates Cost of Virtual Education
A new analysis found that the per-pupil cost of educating a student through virtual education is significantly less than for a traditional brick-and-mortar education.
School Choice & Charters
Supreme Court Backs Church in Teacher Case
A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision that the Constitution bars employment-discrimination lawsuits against churches by their ministers holds major implications for religious schools.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Schools Tackle Teacher-Student Online Conversations
Sacramento school officials are coming up with their own guidelines for what kind of online and electronic communication is acceptable between teachers and students.
Teaching Profession
High Court Weighs Relaxation of Union 'Agency Fees'
The Supreme Court last week heard arguments on whether unions should give nonmembers more chances to object to extra fees or dues.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
We Can Overcome Poverty's Impact on School Success
Through policy and investment, schools can erase poverty's impact on learning, Michael A. Rebell and Jessica R. Wolff say.
School & District Management
Opinion
What Works in School Turnarounds?
Alan M. Blankstein and Pedro Noguera share insights on effective school turnaround strategies.
Education Funding
Reports Detail Race to Top Winners' Challenges
States have similar challenges in executing dramatic change and transforming teacher-evaluation systems.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Author of Essay on NAEP Responds to Criticism
To the Editor:
I was pleased to see that the Dec. 14, 2011, issue contained a response by Cornelia Orr, a noted assessment expert who serves as the executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, to my earlier Commentary ("NAEP's Odd Definition of Proficiency," October 26, 2011).
I was pleased to see that the Dec. 14, 2011, issue contained a response by Cornelia Orr, a noted assessment expert who serves as the executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, to my earlier Commentary ("NAEP's Odd Definition of Proficiency," October 26, 2011).
Education
Letter to the Editor
Uniform Standards Needed For Child-Abuse Reporting
To the Editor:
The recent article ("Penn State Scandal Shines Light on Laws for Reporting Abuse," December 7, 2011.) summarized the need for strengthened legislation to protect children from possible abuse. The sex-abuse scandal at Pennsylvania State University should provide impetus for all states to require more uniform reporting.
The recent article ("Penn State Scandal Shines Light on Laws for Reporting Abuse," December 7, 2011.) summarized the need for strengthened legislation to protect children from possible abuse. The sex-abuse scandal at Pennsylvania State University should provide impetus for all states to require more uniform reporting.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Jacobson Got It Right in Commentary On Flaws in SES Tutoring Program
To the Editor:
Thank you, Joan Jacobson, for shedding a truthful and critical light on one of the most ineffective and highly privatized components of the No Child Left Behind Act, supplemental educational services, in the ("Federal Tutoring Program Is Deeply Flawed," December 14, 2011.) Commentary on that subject.
Thank you, Joan Jacobson, for shedding a truthful and critical light on one of the most ineffective and highly privatized components of the No Child Left Behind Act, supplemental educational services, in the ("Federal Tutoring Program Is Deeply Flawed," December 14, 2011.) Commentary on that subject.
Student Well-Being
Letter to the Editor
Jacobson Essay Misses the Mark on Tutoring
To the Editor:
In a recent Commentary ("Federal Tutoring Program Is Deeply Flawed," December 14, 2011.), Joan Jacobson accuses a program that provides tutoring to low-income children trapped in low-performing schools of being ineffective and lacking proper oversight.
In a recent Commentary ("Federal Tutoring Program Is Deeply Flawed," December 14, 2011.), Joan Jacobson accuses a program that provides tutoring to low-income children trapped in low-performing schools of being ineffective and lacking proper oversight.
School & District Management
Letter to the Editor
Addressing Individual Needs Crucial for Middle School Students
To the Editor:
("Study Links Academic Setbacks to Middle School Transition," December 13, 2011) was a painful read. Painful because the remedy to ensure better middle school education is continuing to focus on surveying individual student need, rather than teaching the material and expectations vital to success.
("Study Links Academic Setbacks to Middle School Transition," December 13, 2011) was a painful read. Painful because the remedy to ensure better middle school education is continuing to focus on surveying individual student need, rather than teaching the material and expectations vital to success.
States
State of the States
State of the States 2012: Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia
Education Week's coverage of the governor's addresses in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
Education Funding
Illinois Merger Plan Could Be Casualty of Sticker Shock
Merging the 800-plus Illinois school districts into a more manageable number could cost nearly $4 billion, according to a recent report that may kill any chance that a commission looking for ways to improve Illinois education will recommend a major consolidation.
Teacher Preparation
Obituary
Advocate for Access to Quality Teaching Dies at Age 79
Martin Haberman, a professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's school of education, died Jan. 1.
Education Funding
Report Roundup
Disengaged Youths
Young people who are neither employed or enrolled in school will cause a $1.56 trillion tax burden and a social burden of $4.75 trillion.
Equity & Diversity
Study Shares Newcomer Schools' Best Practices
Schools that serve adolescent immigrants have a short time to help students master English, academics, and American culture.
School & District Management
News in Brief
Phila. Catholic Schools to Close, Reorganize
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia plans to shutter about a quarter of its Roman Catholic high schools and close or combine nearly 30 percent of its elementary schools mainly because of rising costs and low enrollment, officials say.
School Choice & Charters
Report Roundup
Charter Managers
More than 300 private organizations—both for-profit and nonprofit—are running public school programs across the country.
School & District Management
News in Brief
Colo. Approves Rules for Online Schools
The Colorado board of education has voted unanimously to approve rules establishing new quality standards for online schools and make them subject to the same scrutiny as traditional schools when they miss those standards.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Chicago to Reward Schools for Smart Use of Longer Day
The Chicago school district, which has handed out more than $7 million in incentives to teachers and schools willing to lengthen their days this year, will distribute another $3 million in grants to schools showing ingenuity in how they use the extra 90 minutes.
School & District Management
Report Roundup
Principals
The Wallace Foundation has distilled lessons from school leadership projects into five "key functions" that effective principals must have.
Education Funding
Report Roundup
School Funding
The short answer to the perennial question of whether "money matters" in education is "yes."
School & District Management
Report Roundup
Study Tracks a Rise in Rural Enrollment
Enrollment in rural schools is growing faster than in cities and suburbs, and rural students are becoming poorer and more racially diverse.
School & District Management
News in Brief
S.C. Board Ends Lawsuit Threat Against State Superintendent
The South Carolina board of education has rescinded a rule requiring the elected state superintendent to provide a monthly report on multimillion-dollar grants available to schools. The vote last week ends the threat that the state board will sue Superintendent Mick Zais.
