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In the News the Week of June 30-July 3, 2008
AZ Supreme Court OKs school vouchers * Study says OK is making progress in reading and math achievement in grade schools but needs to increase its number of college graduates * More GA pupils expect to receive free tutoring because of new NCLB flexibility * Education has "reached a really important crossroads" according to Education Secretary
July 3, 2008
State Roundup
LA Department of Education finalizes grant program for ’ public
school students who qualify for the recently enacted tuition grant program
Federal/NCLB
U.S. Department of Education turns down AK's request to have
flexibility in meeting terms of NCLB
Other News
The U.S. Department of Education releases the first guide to
the evaluation of online-learning programs in K-12 education
The NEA will decide whom to endorse in the presidential
race, what position to take on revisions to NCLB and how to react to state and
local proposals for merit pay, private school vouchers and public charter
schools
July 2, 2008
School Funding Litigation/Policy
AL may have to tap into savings to fund schools next year
State Roundup
AZ Supreme Court OKs school vouchers
Study says OK is making progress in reading and math
achievement in grade schools but needs to increase its number of college
graduates
WV takes action as schools spend more for bus fuel
Federal/NCLB
More GA pupils expect to receive free tutoring because of
new NCLB flexibility
IN is one of six states to test revamped NCLB
MD gets leeway under NCLB
OH will try a new system to improve poor schools
Other News
NYC parents, teachers and students who responded to a
Department of Education survey said they are satisfied with their schools
Education has “reached a really important
crossroads” according to
Education Secretary
July 1, 2008
School Funding Litigation/Policy
PA legislature seems to take steps toward increasing state
funding for school districts by $2.6 billion over the next six years
State Roundup
GA school districts spend thousands of dollars more than
expected on summer school this year after failing math test scores sent
students scrambling for extra help
MN students score slightly higher on statewide achievement exams
this year, but nearly two-thirds of high school juniors still failed to meet
state math standards
For the first time, TX eighth-graders must pass standardized
exams in math and language arts to be promoted to high school automatically
Federal/NCLB
Six states get an OK to write their own prescriptions for
ailing schools under NCLB
Federal regulators hold NC to tougher academic requirements
that probably will force more public schools to face costly penalties for
failing to meet NCLB goals
June 30, 2008
School Funding Litigation/Policy
State-mandated school finance
changes, fierce competition for good teachers and soaring gas prices are
combining to squeeze TX public education budgets this summer
State Roundup
Education officials in districts throughout take aggressive steps to keep students in the
classroom
Some TX schools and districts raise
their academic rankings without actually improving student scores
Federal/NCLB
Nearly all states continue to struggle in meeting NCLB’s
academic targets for English-language learners in mathematics and reading, says
Department of Education
Other News
Senate Appropriations Committee approved a spending measure
to eliminate funding for the Reading First program, and provide modest
increases for other programs serving disadvantaged students and those in
special education
Teacher quality in disadvantaged schools has improved over this
decade, largely because the district has focused on hiring inexperienced
teachers with stronger academic backgrounds, says report
Published Monday, Jul. 7, 2008