May 16, 2012
Education Week, Vol. 31, Issue 31
Mathematics
Letter to the Editor
Algebraic Thinking Should Be Taught Early, Often
To the Editor:
Some thoughts in response to "Researchers Suggest Early Algebra Harmful to Struggling Students" (April 25, 2012): In our extensive work with algebra-readiness programs across the country, we believe that preparing students for success in algebra is more important than pushing students to take the Algebra 1 course as early as possible.
Some thoughts in response to "Researchers Suggest Early Algebra Harmful to Struggling Students" (April 25, 2012): In our extensive work with algebra-readiness programs across the country, we believe that preparing students for success in algebra is more important than pushing students to take the Algebra 1 course as early as possible.
Special Education
Letter to the Editor
Training Is Crucial to Protect Students in Crisis
To the Editor:
A recent article, "Restraints on Pupils Variable" (March 14, 2012), shares several reports that offer various points of view regarding the use of restraint and seclusion. I would like to share mine, garnered from my 27 years of experience as a public school teacher and building administrator, and my 11 years at the Crisis Prevention Institute, or CPI, training and working with educators from around the world.
A recent article, "Restraints on Pupils Variable" (March 14, 2012), shares several reports that offer various points of view regarding the use of restraint and seclusion. I would like to share mine, garnered from my 27 years of experience as a public school teacher and building administrator, and my 11 years at the Crisis Prevention Institute, or CPI, training and working with educators from around the world.
Curriculum
Letter to the Editor
Research Skills Need to Be Taught
To the Editor:
During the past few years, the practice of asking high school students to interview experts in connection with school projects has become commonplace. I am an academic psychologist who studies adolescent development. In a typical week, I receive multiple requests from students who are writing papers on the topic. The emails I receive from students are always courteous, and many are thoughtful. But given their number, it is simply not possible to respond to all of these students' inquiries with the care they deserve.
During the past few years, the practice of asking high school students to interview experts in connection with school projects has become commonplace. I am an academic psychologist who studies adolescent development. In a typical week, I receive multiple requests from students who are writing papers on the topic. The emails I receive from students are always courteous, and many are thoughtful. But given their number, it is simply not possible to respond to all of these students' inquiries with the care they deserve.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
Push Back High School Start Times
The high school day should start later for public health and learning reasons, Terra Ziporyn Snider says.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Opinion
The Legal Cost of Improper Internet Censorship
Schools cannot block access to nonpornographic websites that deal with homosexuality, the ACLU's Joshua Block writes.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
The Ed.D. Dilemma
Harvard's move to a Ph.D. in education holds implications for the field, Ted Purinton writes.
Education
The Changing Face of Education Advocacy: Political Capital in Colorado
Colorado’s largest teachers’ union and two of the education advocacy organizations profiled in this Education Week series made significant political contributions and endorsed candidates in state elections in 2010.
Education
The Changing Face of Education Advocacy: Trickle Down
A number of prominent foundations have supported the charitable wings of national education advocacy groups. The engagement of philanthropies in policy advocacy is a relatively recent phenomenon that roughly parallels such education groups’ expansion over the past decade. This list details three foundations’ investments; it is not a comprehensive list of all private foundation contributions, nor does it include local,
public, or community charities’ contributions.
School & District Management
Opinion
States Lack Capacity for Reform
Michael D. Usdan and Arthur D. Sheekey write that state education agencies are ill-equipped to handle reform, but the process of reauthorizing the ESEA could change that.
Federal
New Advocacy Groups Shaking Up Education Field
The organizations' influence over policy and politics appears to be growing, especially at the state and local levels.
Education Funding
New K-12 Advocacy Groups Wield State-Level Clout
New organizations are making their impact felt in statehouses on issues such as teacher evaluation and charter schools.
Education Funding
Foundation Cash Boosts Education Advocacy Groups
Grants to prominent K-12 groups often helps underwrite activities touching on sensitive areas of education policy.
Education
An Overview of Campaign Finance and Lobbying
An influx of money from the financial industry to single-issue advocacy groups threatens to challenge the hegemony of unions in political lobbying.
Education
An Education Campaign-Finance Primer
Act as an individual or organization advocating for a specific effort related to education. Navigate the myriad of options you have to fund your cause.
Standards & Accountability
Public Gets Glimpse of Science Standards
An ambitious effort to refocus K-12 science education across the nation enters a new phase today with the release of the first public draft of voluntary, "next generation" standards in the subject.
Student Well-Being
Groups Offer Ways for Feds to Improve Student Well-Being
Recommendations include appointing new federal staff members to shepherd school health efforts and undoing Medicaid red tape so schools can be reimbursed for health services.
Science
2011 NAEP Science Scores, Achievement Levels, and Achievement Gaps
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." Data charts illustrate the latest state average scores, achievement levels and the narrowing of achievement gaps.
Assessment
Most 8th Graders Fall Short on NAEP Science Test
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."
