Angry teachers and school administrators in VT vent about the federal NCLB Act
http://burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071128/NEWS01/711280308/1009

Parents of special education students push for segregated teaching environments, including separate schools
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB119610348432004184-lMyQjAxMDE3OTI2NzEyMDczWj.html

Democratic candidates share their views on merit pay for teachers in debate
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13fedfil.h27.html

Report concludes that states are making steady progress building data systems to collect student-achievement data, but they need to do a better job analyzing and using the data to improve education systems; group urges state-level longitudinal data systems
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13report-4.h27.html

Students in urban districts inch forward on NAEP tests; educators say it’s because they have gotten better at using data and strategies for turning around low-performing students
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13naep.h27.html

Report says 40 states have official K-12 online-learning programs, and in almost half those programs student enrollments are growing at a rate of 25 percent annually
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13report-7.h27.html

School Funding Litigation/Policy

IN teacher’s union argues that reducing property tax bills could hurt school funding
http://www.fortwayne.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/SE/20071128/NEWS/711280317

Panel wrestles with the nitty-gritty of a proposal that would abolish VT’s education property tax and instead rely on income taxes to fund schools
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071128/NEWS02/711280323/1007

State Roundup

Report singles out AL for presenting the most inflated view of educational progress and having lowered its standards annually since NCLB was passed
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13report-6.h27.html

CA is poised to adopt the nation’s first set of statewide academic standards devoted to preschool English-language learners, according to education officials
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13ell.h27.html

Los Angeles school board members vote to spend up to $18 million to retain current teacher staffing at schools with declining enrollment
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-lausd28nov28,1,6611240.story?track=rss

CO education panel presents 15 recommendations it hopes will lead to higher teacher pay, provide full-day kindergarten, decrease dropout rates and better prepare students for life after high school; Gov. cautions that not all of them can be implemented immediately
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_7575253

Only 5 percent of GA’s special education students eligible for private school vouchers are using them this school year, according to a state report
http://www.macon.com/198/story/197953.html

MA schools are urged to toughen curriculum and the state adopts college preparatory guidelines
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/28/schools_are_urged_to_toughen_curriculum/

MA selects schools to be considered for school construction money now that the new building authority is up and running
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2007/11/28/83_schools_make_1st_cut_for_state_building_funds/

Falling between two worlds: NC immigrants face troubles at school and in their communities
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/immigration/story/792847.html

Report says that state government does little to help NJ's 616 school districts share services, despite recent laws meant to encourage cooperation that might save money
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071128/NEWS0301/711280323/1007/NEWS03

NV proposes a $9.5 billion building proposal to underwrite construction of 73 new schools and prevent double school sessions
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/27/13apbond_web.h27.html

Campaign for Fiscal Equity urges immediate action to reduce class sizes in NYC schools
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/education/28class.html?ei=5088&en=1fc549c8b02a4163&ex=1353992400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1196262224-7gXUBlBjUIb6X4bPkVLKdQ

WA schools face diploma dilemma because of the number of students who may not graduate because of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2004039456_waslenglish28m.html