May 16, 2012
Education Week, Vol. 31, Issue 31
School & District Management
Report Roundup
Evaluating Principals
The National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality has released a guide designed to help create meaningful principal evaluation systems.
Federal
Report Roundup
Research Report: English-Language Learners
Children with parents who speak little to no English reap important benefits by participating in one year of center-based care before starting kindergarten.
School & District Management
Report Roundup
Discipline Disparities
A report examining discipline practices in Colorado adds to a growing string of findings pointing to patterns of disparity in school discipline procedures.
School & District Management
Report Roundup
Preschool
Prekindergarten participation in West Virginia has more than doubled since the state started a voluntary preschool program in 2002.
Federal
Report Roundup
Research Report: Immigrants
A new U.S. Census Bureau report notes that the population of foreign-born people living in the United States has reached an all-time high.
Special Education
Report Roundup
Disabilities
Unprecedentedly high numbers of American children are being identified with special medical and educational needs.
College & Workforce Readiness
Report Roundup
Panel Calls for Remaking Student-Aid Programs
States should rethink the way financial aid is given to college students so it is simpler to access and used more effectively, says a report.
Teaching Profession
Hawaii Keeps Race to Top Grant, 'High Risk' Status
Federal officials balk at pulling the $75 million award, but a deal on teacher evaluations remains elusive.
Reading & Literacy
Obituary
Renowned Children's Author Sendak Dies
Maurice Sendak, the groundbreaking children's author and illustrator died May 8. He was 83.
Student Well-Being
News in Brief
Schools Called Key Tool in U.S. Obesity Fight
Schools should become a major focal point for preventing the spread of obesity in the United States, suggests a new report.
School & District Management
News in Brief
Catholic-School Heads Express Challenges
Many principals of Roman Catholic schools are struggling to keep up with the financial and administrative demands placed on them, according to a report.
School Choice & Charters
News in Brief
Fla. Overrides Districts on Charter Schools
The Florida board of education overruled local school boards and decided that five charter schools should be allowed to open.
Families & the Community
News in Brief
Tenn. Signs Off On Parent Report Card
The measure asks parents to grade themselves on report cards.
English Learners
News in Brief
Puerto Rico Governor Proposes English Plan
Gov. Luis Fortuño hopes to make Puerto Rico a full-fledged bilingual society.
Student Well-Being
News in Brief
More Children in South Said Living in Poverty
A report from the Southern Regional Education Board shows an increase in the number of children living in poverty in the board's 16 member states.
Federal
News in Brief
Federal Officials Target E-rate Compliance
A compliance meeting for telecommunications companies was expected to include a discussion of E-Rate pricing rules.
Federal
News in Brief
Connecticut Education Overhaul Is Approved
Connecticut legislators have approved major changes to the state's public education system.
Assessment
8th Grade Scores Inch Upward on National Science Assessment
Though most students improved and achievement gaps narrowed, fewer than a third of 8th graders reached proficiency in science last year on "the nation's report card."
School & District Management
Universities Generate Ideas, Support for K-12 Startup Companies
As technology brings venture capital and startup culture into K-12 education, ideas hatched in academia are making their way into the marketplace.
School & District Management
Calif. K-12 Funding, Governance Still Troubled, Report Says
Five years after a blue-ribbon group urged major changes, fundamental problems remain, a follow-up report contends.
Federal
Calif. Aims to Go Own Way in NCLB Waiver Bid
The state board approves a waiver request that departs from the Education Department’s model.
Education Funding
Latest Round of NCLB Waiver Bids Critiqued
The Education Department presses states seeking NCLB flexibility for more-ambitious goals in their applications.
Federal
Gifted Programs Aim to Regain Budget Toehold
But efforts to restore federal funds for a long-running gifted education program lack Obama administration support.
Student Well-Being
Studies on Multitasking Highlight Value of Self-Control
Researchers say the ability to resist the temptation to multitask may be a bellwether of students' academic success.
College & Workforce Readiness
Joplin Poised to Rebuild Tornado-Damaged Schools
A year after a tornado destroyed six of its schools, a Missouri district is building schools that match its new vision for education.
Professional Development
Letter to the Editor
Successful Training Needs Buy-In From Teachers
To the Editor:
I agree with Tom Loveless ("Does the Common Core Matter?," April 18, 2012) that the Common Core State Standards will not matter for the reasons he cites, especially as I review my own 50-plus years of experience with educational change initiatives.
I agree with Tom Loveless ("Does the Common Core Matter?," April 18, 2012) that the Common Core State Standards will not matter for the reasons he cites, especially as I review my own 50-plus years of experience with educational change initiatives.
Families & the Community
Letter to the Editor
Parental Involvement Is a Bonus, Not a Given
To the Editor:
Regarding the article "Parental Engagement Proves No Easy Goal" (April 4, 2012), I believe that if we are a profession, we must succeed with every child regardless of parental involvement.
Regarding the article "Parental Engagement Proves No Easy Goal" (April 4, 2012), I believe that if we are a profession, we must succeed with every child regardless of parental involvement.
Federal
Letter to the Editor
ALEC Responds to Ravitch Blog Post
To the Editor:
As the director of the education task force at the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC—the organization singled out in a recent edweek.org blog post by Diane Ravitch, "What You Need To Know About Alec" (May 1, 2012)—I felt compelled to respond. Ms. Ravitch would like you to believe that all of the education reforms that have happened in the past few years are because of ALEC. In reality, we are far from alone in this effort. There are dozens of organizations on both sides of the political spectrum that have spent decades promoting the policies we support. In fact, President Barack Obama has done more for charter schools and teaching-profession reforms than any other administration. Apparently, our ideas are only acceptable if they stay confined to think tanks, books, and intellectual debates. Now, as decades of work are paying off in policy changes, the other side is crying foul.
As the director of the education task force at the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC—the organization singled out in a recent edweek.org blog post by Diane Ravitch, "What You Need To Know About Alec" (May 1, 2012)—I felt compelled to respond. Ms. Ravitch would like you to believe that all of the education reforms that have happened in the past few years are because of ALEC. In reality, we are far from alone in this effort. There are dozens of organizations on both sides of the political spectrum that have spent decades promoting the policies we support. In fact, President Barack Obama has done more for charter schools and teaching-profession reforms than any other administration. Apparently, our ideas are only acceptable if they stay confined to think tanks, books, and intellectual debates. Now, as decades of work are paying off in policy changes, the other side is crying foul.
