December 19, 2007
Education Week, Vol. 27, Issue 16
Education Funding
Philanthropies Launch Teacher-Training Fellowships
The $17 million program is described as a “Rhodes scholarship” for teaching.
Teaching Profession
Report Roundup
Student Motivation
Motivating students is a key element of effective teaching that is largely dependent on the teacher, concludes a position paper.
Federal
Report Roundup
School Breakfast
About 8.1 million low-income children participated in the federal school breakfast program in the 2006-07 school year, an increase of 5 percent over the prior school year, but still a lower participation rate than it should be, concludes an analysis.
Curriculum
Report Roundup
Academic Achievement
Low proficiency rates on national assessments, for example, do not spell the failure that many observers claim, says a study.
Ed-Tech Policy
Report Roundup
Online Learning
A new guidebook by the U.S. Department Education’s office of innovation and improvement explores the benefits of using online courses to deliver advanced content for secondary school students.
Education
Report Roundup
Providing State Pre-K in Child-Care Centers
In New Mexico, child-care centers are required to provide services such as health screenings and parent gatherings for pre-K students, but those centers aren’t paid for by the state.
Student Well-Being
Social-Skills Programs Found to Yield Gains in Academic Subjects
A forthcoming research review analyzes school-based programs designed to foster children’s social and emotional skills.
Teaching Profession
News in Brief
Tracking Teacher Compensation
The National Education Association reported last week that the average percentage change in teachers’ salaries from the 2004-05 to the 2005-06 school year was 2.9 percent.
School Choice & Charters
News in Brief
Whittle Aims to Open Private Schools With International Theme, Locations
Edison Schools Inc. founder Christopher Whittle hopes to convert a 35-acre property in suburban Washington into a private school to help jump-start his latest venture: a globe-spanning network of private schools.
Education
Book Review
New in Print
The highs and lows of teaching, religion in secondary schools, summer opportunities for teens, and more.
School Choice & Charters
Rhode Island Coalition Aims to Start Network of Regional Charters
If Rhode Island town leaders have their way, they’ll ditch public education’s current bureaucracy and start over with a clean slate.
Federal
Space Agency Urged to Step Up K-12 Education Projects
The report by the National Research Council says that NASA lacks a coherent overall plan—or adequate budget—for evaluating its elementary and secondary projects.
Federal
Opinion
Why We Need to Save (and Strengthen) Social Studies
Judith L. Pace examines how the "social studies squeeze" disproportionately affects students in the lowest-performing schools.
Education Funding
2008 Budget for Education Awaits Outcome of Tussles
Federal lawmakers and the Bush administration were still working late last week on final details of a package of bills that would fund programs in the Department of Education.
Accountability
Opinion
Accounting Is Not Accountability
Norm Fruchter asks: Can school improvement result from audit efforts?
School & District Management
Minneapolis Aims at New Start for District
The system has been struggling in the past few years with low student achievement, declining enrollment, money shortages, and frequent leadership changes.
Classroom Technology
Software Group Aims to Help Ed. Tech. Startups Grow
A software group recently highlighted fledgling educational technology “innovations” at a New York City gathering designed to help their developers connect with potential backers.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Online Profiles a Factor in College Admissions
Applicants use new Web tools to sell themselves, as some colleges scan students’ social networks.
Teacher Preparation
Reports Renew Debate Over Alternative Preparation
Only half the teachers in high-needs schools trained via alternative routes said they were prepared for the first year of teaching, according to survey findings.
Student Well-Being
NFL Effort Builds Middle School Football Programs
Since it was launched in 1998, the NFL’s Junior Player Development program has grown to serve more than 21,000 middle school boys at 160 sites nationwide, for free.
Education
Letter to the Editor
N.Y.C. Reforms Rely on ‘Insecurity and Fearfulness’
That your article’s author and I should travel around to city schools and discover such different systems is thought-provoking.
Federal
Impact Is Slight for Early States Using ‘Growth’
Growth models don’t appear to be making a big difference in the proportion of schools meeting annual goals under the No Child Left Behind Act, a new analysis concludes.
Federal
‘Growth Models’ Gaining in Accountability Debate
As the U.S. Department
of Education opens the
alternative measuring stick to
all states, some educators call
for the models to take center
stage under a renewed
No Child Left Behind Act.
Federal
Opinion
The What Works Clearinghouse: Time for a Fresh Start
It's not too late for the clearinghouse to fulfill its promise, Robert E. Slavin argues.
Ed-Tech Policy
News in Brief
Online-Course Provider K12 Inc. Goes Public to Expand Reach
The online course provider K12 Inc. became a public company last week, issuing 6 million shares at an initial share price of $18.
Education
Letter to the Editor
A Vote for Head Start’s Academic Component
I am heartened by the rising level of education credentials required of Head Start teachers, and am happy to say that they already far exceed those of teachers in private preschools.
School & District Management
News in Brief
Six L.A. Schools Vote to Join Mayor’s Effort
In Dec. 11 voting at the campuses, teachers and parents approved plans for two high schools and four middle schools to join the Partnership for LA Schools. Ballots were still being counted at a third high school.
Federal
Federal File
Education Odds and Ends Before the Voting Starts
Candidates from both parties seem to be sharpening their focus on what might fix the ills of American public education.
Student Well-Being
School, Team Names Remain Thorny Issue for Many in Oregon
Are high school sports teams that use names, mascots, or logos inspired by Native American images respectful? Or are they offensive? Oregon education officials will get back to you on that.