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In the News on May 1, 2008
Federal report says Reading First program has had no measurable effect on student reading * CA residents are divided over whether they would support higher taxes for schools * ME's use of the SAT college entrance exam as the state achievement test gets fed approval * TX campaign is afoot to scrap a key part of the state accountability test: the pressure
Federal/NCLB
National teacher of the year tactfully suggests that the
president rethink his landmark No Child Left Behind Act during honor event at
the White House
Other News
Children participating in Reading First initiative have not
become better readers than their peers, says federal study
School
Funding Litigation/Policy
NE school districts that recently dropped their school
finance lawsuit will receive $28.4 million more in state aid next school year
NH School Finance Committee approves amended school funding
plan, but House Finance Committee Chairwoman is waiting for “the end of the
game”
NJ will expand its powers over how all schools spend their
money with new regulations; according to state Education Commissioner, the goal
is greater fiscal accountability
NJ Education Department releases 205-page rulebook on how
districts must craft their budgets, hire and fire top administrators and handle
shared-service agreements
Abbott Attorneys urge NJ Supreme Court to deny effort to end
the long-running Abbott v. Burke lawsuit because “callous formula” will limit
kids’ education
State Roundup
CA residents are divided over whether they would support
higher taxes for schools, according to a poll
FL Senate finally puts together a bill that would change the
state’s high stakes exam, but the same legislation would also expand a
controversial private school voucher program
HI state budget gives money for university and public school
improvements while falling short of administration requests for welfare and
public charter schools
ME's use of the SAT college entrance exam as the state
achievement test, a state effort to get more high school students to think
about college, gains final federal approval
NC education committee urges changes to public school
testing program and teacher bonuses
In the News on April 30, 2008
Trend of improving achievement in the largest public school
districts continues as urban students post gains on their states’ reading and
mathematics exams in 2007
Advocates say state policymakers could help alleviate rural
education challenges by equalizing the teacher-salary structures of urban,
suburban, and rural districts
Rep. George Miller says the 25th anniversary of “A Nation at
Risk” should give federal policymakers the opportunity to reconsider its
current federal approach to education
Advocates of universal schooling hope to persuade federal
lawmakers to increase the United
States’ contribution to the international
effort “Education for All”
Gifted education advocates say changes to a grant notification have
allayed fears that money designated for high-achieving students was being
diverted to other needs
Commentary – “The Teaching Penalty:” Analysis shows public
school teachers earn considerably less than comparably educated and experienced
people, and less than people in occupations with similar educational and skill requirements
Commentary – “The End of School Finance as We Know it”
School Funding Litigation/Policy
AK overhauls school funding system and supporters predict
the change will provide much-needed financial help to rural schools and those
serving students with disabilities
Hundreds of AZ students, teachers and parents rally to urge
governor and lawmakers to spare distance-learning schools from budget cuts
NH Finance Committee recommends more school funding changes;
House Finance Chairwoman says "not one dime will be spent before
commission meets and reports back"
Repeal of VT’s controversial school-spending law now seems
unlikely and critics say it will have severe consequences on public education
in the state
State Roundup
Every six weeks black students in CA school take home a
letter documenting their achievement, simply because of the color of their
skin; the purpose is to raise expectations and achievement
KS governor asks Legislature to spend $27 million extra on
early childhood learning
New Orleans experiments with educational
superstructures assembled from abroad; academic experts cannot recall any
campaign this “radical”
MD Department of Education launches an awards program to
recognize parents who have made significant contributions to the schools in
their community
MD school officials approve plans to overhaul nine failing
schools in the state
ME school districts say recent changes to state law to
remove financial barriers to consolidation aren’t making the process any easier
NE looks at some big changes in education policy and those
who set it
25% of TX eight-graders fail high-stakes math exam on first
try
In the News on April 30, 2008
Federal/NCLB
Judge dismisses the last of CT’s challenges to NCLB, in
lawsuit claiming the federal law is unconstitutional
because expenses outweigh federal reimbursements
VT students struggle on NCLB assessment; 38 percent of
schools did not meet federal academic standards in reading and math this year
Other News
U.S. Department of Education pushes to elevate the role of
rigorous research in public education, which sometimes conflicts with politics,
policy and public opinion
California Dropout Project will be featured at
community-based forums in all 50 states over the next three years, in an effort
to tackle the high school dropout rate
Opinion – “It’s a relief to know that honest graduation
rates are on the way”
State Roundup
Editorial – Vouching for
vouchers in D.C.
Baltimore schools use cash to teach class and boost attendance
and scores; some are concerned about school-sanctioned bribery
The American Federation of Teachers says NE’s academic
standards fail to clearly define what students are expected to learn in school;
report says state scores 0 out of 12
Federal appeals court affirms dissolution of NE small school
districts
Despite roadblocks, TN
governor still hopes to expand Pre-K funding
In the News on April 28, 2008
Standardized formula for graduation rates may soon pair with
tests; proposal wins applause from education experts who say it will shed light
on the dropout problem
Opinion – Twenty-five years later, a nation still at risk
State Roundup
AZ lawmakers consider elevating recess to the same level as
readin', writin' and 'rithmetic as required subjects
Survey finds that Los
Angeles students are frightened by school violence,
dissatisfied with choices of college preparatory classes, and exhibit symptoms
of clinical depression
CO lawmakers consider education reform and curriculum
standards and debate over using traditional coursework and paper-and-pencil
tests, or nontraditional forms of instruction and testing
HI will take the first step toward greater state involvement
in preschool education; report says less than 18 percent of children enter
kindergarten with the necessary literacy standards to succeed
IL is considered a model for preschool education for
children 3 years-old and younger
Published Monday, May. 5, 2008