May 15, 2013
Education Week, Vol. 32, Issue 31
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
School Safety Requires More Than Punishment
The attorneys general in Illinois and Colorado write about the importance of mental-health services for troubled students.
Federal
States' Teacher-Exam Bar Set Low, Federal Data Show
The passing score on licensing tests is lower in every state than the mean score of the pool of aspiring teachers taking the tests.
Standards
Common Science Standards Face Capacity Issues
Investment needs for teacher training, curriculum materials, and assessments are likely to slow the pace of implementation.
Classroom Technology
MOOCs Provider in Higher Ed. Targets K-12 Teacher PD
In attempting to bring "MOOCs" to the world of teacher training, Coursera and its university partners are courting a new and potentially vast audience.
IT Infrastructure & Management
E-Rate Needs Overhaul for Digital Era, Experts Argue
The federal program is in danger of becoming as outdated and insufficient as a sputtering dial-up connection in a Wi-Fi world, many ed-tech leaders say.
Standards
Informal Science Sector Aims to Play Standards Role
Institutions such as zoos and museums, as well as after-school programs and science competitions, could relieve capacity concerns.
Federal
Impact on Waivers, Grants Mulled in Common-Core Pushback
As states weigh dropping the common core, policymakers must consider whether that would jeopardize federal NCLB waivers and competitive grants.
School & District Management
Mobile Apps Make Field Trips More Interactive
With "augmented reality" technology, teachers can transform a pond or an empty lot into a vibrant classroom.
Federal
Ariz. ELL Dispute Continues, Despite Federal Ruling
Plaintiffs in a long-running lawsuit challenging Arizona's practice of educating ELL learners in separate English-language classes for four hours a day are appealing a federal court ruling that upheld the practice.
Standards
Common Core Supporters Firing Back
Backers of the common core intensify their efforts to tout the standards in the face of high-profile opposition in some states.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
We Must Create Opportunities for STEM Learning
Our country is in trouble. That's the key takeaway from Sara Martinez Tucker's experience as the undersecretary in the U.S. Department of Education.
Early Childhood
Children's Spatial Skills Seen as Key to Math Learning
All that time cutting paper and tracing shapes helps young pupils master math later on, according to new research.
Education Funding
News in Brief
School Days Canceled by District Cash Crisis
An ongoing budget crisis in Buena Vista, Mich., has resulted in school closings for the past few days, and will not reopen for the rest of the school year unless the state intervenes, the district's website says.
College & Workforce Readiness
News in Brief
ACT Admissions Test to Be Given Digitally
Starting as early as spring 2015, the ACT college-admissions exam will go digital, reflecting students' tech savvy and the demand for quicker results.
School Climate & Safety
Report Roundup
School Environment
Researchers continue to strengthen the link between positive school climates and student achievement.
Early Childhood
Report Roundup
Graphic Comprehension
New research shows engaging graphics can reduce students' understanding of chart data.
Teaching Profession
Report Roundup
Teacher Pay Hikes Found to Falter
While teacher salaries continued to increase on average during the economic downturn, they did so at a much slower pace, according to a new study from NCTQ.
College & Workforce Readiness
Report Roundup
Ready for College
Thirty-eight states assess juniors for college readiness, and 21 offer structured interventions to get high school students up to speed for crediting-bearing postsecondary work.
Equity & Diversity
Report Roundup
Latino Students
The proportion of 2012 Latino high school graduates who enrolled in college outpaced that of their white counterparts, says a new study.
School Climate & Safety
Report Roundup
School Sports
A majority of high school football players believe it's OK to play through concussion symptoms despite knowing the risk of serious injury, finds a new study.
Science
Report Roundup
Students' Misconceptions
A new study of middle-school science teachers finds that understanding common student misconceptions is a key ingredient to improved student learning.
Law & Courts
News in Brief
Funding for La. Voucher Program is Declared Unconstitutional
The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled that the current method of funding the state's far-reaching voucher program is unconstitutional.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Pa. District Rejects Charter Conversion
School officials in York, Pa., rejected a plan that would have converted the entire district to charter schools in favor of one that sets strict performance measures while maintaining a school board.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Mich. Court Permits Dues-Deduction Ban
A federal appeals court reinstated a Michigan law last week that bars school districts from deducting teachers' union dues for their employees.
Special Education
News in Brief
Wis. Private Schools Warned About Access
Wisconsin private schools that accept publicly funded vouchers must not discriminate against students with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Justice says in a guidance letter.
Federal
NSF's Peer-Review Process on GOP Radar
Congressional Republicans may eye changes to the National Science Foundation’s grant review process.
Teaching Profession
News in Brief
State Sets Deadline For N.Y.C. Evaluations
A deadline has been set for New York City to finally reach a deal on teacher evaluations.
Law & Courts
News in Brief
Texas Judge Allows Religious Messages
The display of religious messages on banners at football games is not an unconstitutional government establishment of religion, ruled a Texas state judge.