Education

Education Week Roundup, Oct. 31

October 31, 2007 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

For the first time in months, the current issue of Education Week doesn’t have an story describing the incremental progress (or lack thereof) on NCLB legislation. But the Education Week staff still managed to find several NCLB treats to share with you.

Christina A. Samuels delivers a front-page report on efforts to require “universal design for learning” in NCLB (‘Universal Design’ Concept Pushed for Education). A coalition of education groups wants states to create lesson plans that address a variety of learning styles. The language is in the discussion draft circulated by House members and in a bipartisan Senate bill (see this blog item).

Debra Viadero reports on a new study that suggests schools are working to improve achievement of students across the spectrum, not just those “on the bubble” of becoming proficient (Study Finds No ‘Educational Triage’ Driven by NCLB). Note that several researchers point out the limitations of the new study, including one scholar that has found contrary results.

New federal rules on racial reporting won’t require states to change the way they categorize students’ race under NCLB, Scott J. Cech reports (Ed. Dept. Holds Firm on Racial-Data Rules). States will be allowed to choose to align their racial classifications under NCLB with other reports required by the feds. But that could radically change their AYP results in racial subgroups.

On the Reading First beat, Kathleen Kennedy Manzo suggests that a new report shows that people in the field like the program (State, Local Officials Again Find ‘Reading First’ Useful). Despite implementation problems, she writes that “Reading First is worth preserving or expanding.”

In the Commentary section, sociologist Jennifer Booher-Jennings compares the results of NCLB’s accountability system with a federal program for hospitals (Closing the Measurement Gap). She points out less than 1 percent of hospitals fall under the federal accountability web, but 26 percent of public schools do. “How is it possible that education has so many more organizations on its failing list,” she asks. “It’s not that there is a performance gap between schools and hospitals. The trouble is the profound measurement gap between education and medicine.” That ought to give lawmakers something to chew on as they work on reauthorization.

A version of this news article first appeared in the NCLB: Act II blog.

Events

Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum Big AI Questions for Schools. How They Should Respond 
Join this free virtual event to unpack some of the big questions around the use of AI in K-12 education.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in Schools
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by Panorama Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Spark Minds, Reignite Students & Teachers: STEM’s Role in Supporting Presence and Engagement
Is your district struggling with chronic absenteeism? Discover how STEM can reignite students' and teachers' passion for learning.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education The Education Word of 2024 Is ...
Educators, policymakers, and parents all zeroed in on students' tech use in 2024, which prompted this year's winner.
5 min read
Image of a cellphone ban, disruption, and symbol of AI.
Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
Education Opinion The Top 10 Most-Read Opinions on Education of 2024
Look back at what resonated with readers the most this year.
1 min read
Collage illustration of megaphone and numbers 1 through 10.
Education Week + Getty
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Dec. 12, 2024
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Sets of hands holding phones. Scrolling smartphones, apps mail, applications, photos. cellphone camera.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + iStock/Getty Images
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Dec. 5, 2024
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump listens during a "National Dialogue on Safely Reopening America's Schools," event in the East Room of the White House, on July 7, 2020, in Washington.
President Donald Trump listens during a "National Dialogue on Safely Reopening America's Schools," event in the East Room of the White House, on July 7, 2020, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP