In the News on June 2-6, 2008
Analysis of a long-running early-childhood-education program
for children of low-income families in
suggests economic payoffs continue well into adulthood
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/11/41early.h27.html
School Funding Litigation/Policy
CO Republican leaders demand that the governor immediately
start cutting the budget to cover the $118 million collected from an education
tax that a district court ruled unconstitutional
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/05/gop-leaders-demand-budget-cuts-in-light-of-of/
MD senator tells educators to not bet on slots for schools
because the state has too many needs
http://gazette.net/stories/060608/polinew210644_32372.shtml
MD education is compared to Eisenhower’s concept of a
“military industrial complex;” governor says education spending is the main
contributor to the state’s $1.5 billion budget gap
http://gazette.net/stories/060608/polinew210642_32371.shtml
MI House starts voting on how much money to spend on
education in the new budget year, but it's not yet clear if there will be
enough tax revenue to pay for the proposals
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080606/NEWS06/806060449/1008/NEWS06
State Roundup
GA schools have a better chance of meeting
NCLB testing goals because fewer students must pass math exams than previously
expected, says State Superintendent of Schools
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/06/05/math_waiver.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
Parents of MI special-education students can request a
modification to the state's new graduation requirements
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080606/NEWS06/806060336/1008/NEWS06
NC Board of Education approves changes to testing system
used to measure students' skills, based on suggestions of teachers and school
officials
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/jun/06/states-student-skills-tests-be-revamped/?news-ncpolitics
NYC parents are frustrated by school admission process
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/education/06schools.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
SC officially eliminates its standardized student testing system
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/426048.html
In the News on June 5, 2008
Diplomas Count 2008 Executive Summary
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/05/40execsum.h27.html
Teachers report that training programs did not prepare them
adequately to teach ethnically diverse students and students with special needs
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/04/39report-5.h27.html
Education officials in states with large
English-language-learner populations say U.S. Department of Education proposal
for ELL guidelines is too rigid
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/11/41interpret.h27.html
Study suggests parental involvement in school pays off by
about $1,000 per student
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/04/39report-1.h27.html
House commits more than $20 billion over the next five years
to help states build and renovate schools to make them more energy-efficient
and good for the environment
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/04/112348congressgreenschools_ap.html
School Funding Litigation/Policy
NH lawmakers vote to give more state-aid to charter schools
struggling to stay open, bringing their total state aid to $5,000 per pupil
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2008/06/04/lawmakers_approve_more_money_for_nh_charter_schools/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Education+news
NH governor is pressed for a decision on school funding bill
http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080605/NEWS01/806050309/1043/NEWS01
State Roundup
AK will now regulate in-district and statewide
correspondence programs with the same criteria
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/jun/04/state-sets-equal-limits-district-statewide-corresp/
Poll says FL voters will likely spend public money on
private and religious schools
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/557241.html
Despite complaints, LA legislators vote to preserve a state
test that public school fourth- and eighth-graders have to pass for promotion
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/politics/19554169.html
NC Board of Education considers tying teacher bonuses to high
school graduation rates as part of an overhaul of the state’s school testing
program
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1096850.html
ND advances in the creation of a four-tier system for high
school diplomas and an assessment system to determine if 9th- and 10th-graders
are on track to graduate
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=203844§ion=News&freebie_check&CFID=42749688&CFTOKEN=32830483&jsessionid=88305d775c4966203697
NJ schools lead in graduation rates, according to study
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080605_Study__N_J__schools_lead_in_graduation_rates.html
TN parents are notified that their children won't attend
state-funded pre-kindergarten this fall because of an abrupt freeze on a
planned $25 million program expansion
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080605/NEWS04/806050357/1018
In the News on June 4, 2008
Federal/NCLB
Research offers no definitive answers for the
effect of federal Reading First program
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/04/39read.h27.html
School Integration
Commentary – An emerging consensus on the black-white
achievement gap: how racism is advancing under the guise of equity
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/04/39holzman.h27.html
After integrating its schools through busing, Seattle Public
Schools, like many districts across the nation, have steadily re-segregated
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/01/110694bcwresegregatedschools_ap.html
Other News
Education officials nationwide seek a design to drive
pre-collegiate and higher education toward a common goal
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/05/40overview.h27.html
School Funding Litigation/Policy
AR legislative committee develops a new funding mechanism
for school transportation and recommends increased funding for salaries and
instructional materials
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2008/06/04/News/346407.html
“Going aggro on the state of schools:” CA fights back budget
cuts
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-lopez4-2008jun04,0,1127969.column?track=rss
NV university system
chancellor warns that the prospect of deep budget cuts would be
"devastating" for the state’s K-12 and higher education systems
http://www.lvrj.com/news/19521564.html
NY Assembly Speaker says he will not support a school
property tax cap unless the state commits to greater funding of education
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080604/NEWS01/806040369/1003
State Roundup
GA lawmakers approve bills aimed at giving charter schools
some financial help and easing some of the barriers to the approval of new
charters
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/04/39recaps-1.h27.html
New Orleans has come a long way in rebuilding public schooling, but fundamental operational
questions remain as the 2007-08 academic year comes to an end
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/04/39nola_ep.h27.html
School systems nationwide are tweaking their curricula to
make students more college-ready, but one study shows fewer are actually moving
on to higher education in MD
http://gazette.net/stories/060408/potonew195345_32368.shtml
ME’s school reform effort is flagging but could be revived
through a new focus on incentives for consolidation, says report
http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=165190&zoneid=500
MS schools and districts will not get ratings based on test
scores because of new tougher curriculum
http://www.sunherald.com/278/story/603370.html
In the News on June 2, 2008
Department of Education expects enrollment and diversity in
public schools to reach a milestone in 2009-10
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/04/39condition.h27.html
School Funding Litigation/Policy
A $59.2 billion spending plan that boosts IL’s education
funding without raising state taxes clears the General Assembly, but leaves few
happy
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=201361&src=109
State Roundup
HI schools in areas with declining enrollment could face
possible closure or merger with nearby schools
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080602/NEWS07/806020353/1001
New Orleans voucher plan clears another hurdle
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/05/30/39nolavoucher_web.h27.html
OK teachers are frustrated over what they see as a pattern
of protection of unqualified educators
http://newsok.com/teachers-fight-union-policies-over-retention/article/3251248/?tm=1212355937
Published Monday, Jun. 16, 2008