Ed World tracks down education news from across the nation and around the world. Some sites credited in this article
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Math,
Science Results Mixed for U.S. Schools
While U.S. eighth graders showed improved math and science skills on the latest international test, fourth graders'
results were stagnant. 12/16/04
Can
I Have a Snake to Go to the Nurse?
To cut down on paperwork and trips out of class, some Missouri high schools are replacing traditional hall passes
with items including life preservers, rubber snakes, and dolls. 12/15/04
Frequent P.C. Users
Score Lower on Tests
Students who use computers several times a week at school tend to perform worse on math and reading tests than
peers who use them less frequently, according to a recent study. 12/14/04
Aid for Vice-Free
Students
Colorado's governor has proposed a program to provide low-income students with college scholarships, but in
order to qualify, they must not use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. 12/13/04
Nun Brings Computers
to Needy Families
Sister Patsy Harney, a nun from the Sisters of Mercy in San Francisco, California, brought computer labs to
low-income housing complexes in the city, allowing children and other residents to expand their skills.12/10/04
Grants for Hybrid High
Schools
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation plans to spend another $30 million in the U.S. to create 42 hybrid high
schools in which students spend significant time in college classes. 12/09/04
NCLB
Takes Root
Even before President Bush was re-elected, the federal No Child Left Behind Act was taking root in most states,
and the number of states meeting the law's requirements continues to grow. 12/08/04
U.S. Students
Lag in Math
International test results show that U.S. 15-year-olds are below average when it comes to applying math skills
to real-life tasks. White students scored above average on the test, while blacks and Hispanics scored below
it. 12/07/04
Students Sample
Opera
Some Chicago, Illinois, schoolchildren viewed and enjoyed performances of the opera "The Magic Flute" in their
schools, as part of a program to introduce children to the art form.12/06/04
Foundation
Supports Innovative Education
The Somers (Connecticut) Education Foundation is funding innovative projects for the schools, such as supplying
an abandoned room that was set ablaze by firefighters so a forensics class could investigate the fire. 12/03/04
Promoting Tuition-Free
Education
An ad campaign encouraging families to stay in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) Schools boasts a quality
education with enriching opportunities -- that is tuition-free. 12/02/04
Study: Drop in
School Violent Crime
Violent crime against students in U.S. schools decreased by 50 percent between 1992 and 2002, according to a
federal study. Some critics say, though, that the report relies on outdated and underreported information. 12/01/04
Brain
Abnormalities, ADHD Link
Brain scans of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show irregularities on the pathways
along which brain signals pass. The differences could affect communication among key areas of the brain.11/30/04
E-Rate
Funds Flowing
After a four-month hiatus due to a cash crunch, the federal E-Rate program has resumed operating. The program
helps schools and libraries, particularly in poor and rural areas, connect to the Internet.11/29/04
Schools Teaching Chinese
A gift of Chinese textbooks to some Chicago, Illinois, schools has resulted in thousands of students studying
Chinese language and culture. School and city officials want to continue to expand the program.11/24/04
Special Ed Bill Passes
Updates to the U.S. special education law give state and school officials more power to shape the terms for
providing services to disabled children. Some argue the bill takes away rights from the disabled.11/23/04
Pocket Guide to NCLB
The U.S. Department of Education has released a new pocket resource, "A Guide to Education and No Child Left
Behind." This guide provides helpful information and budget facts regarding key aspects of No Child Left Behind.
11/22/04
Spellings is Ed Secretary Nominee
Margaret Spellings, President Bush's nominee for U.S. secretary of education, has a long history of working
with Bush and crafting education policy. Spellings helped write the No Child Left Behind Act. 11/19/04
Congress
to Update Special Ed Law
The U.S. Congress is on the verge of approving the first major changes to the special education law in seven
years. The vote will end nearly two years of debate on the revisions. 11/18/04
District Orders
Teaching Intelligent Design
Dover, Pennsylvania, may be the first school district in the U.S. to require the teaching of intelligent design
in addition to evolution. Intelligent design claims that the universe must have been created by an unspecified
higher power. 11/17/04
Private
Donations Reshape Public Schools
Private giving to public schools is continuing to increase, providing many students with extras they might not
have. But some worry the trend widens the gap between rich and poor schools. 11/16/04
Ed
Secretary Paige to Step Down
U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige plans to step down, and is talking with the White House about the best
time to leave, according to an official. Paige is the first African-American to serve as secretary of education.11/15/04
Internet
Brings Courses to Rural Alaska
Thanks to Internet videoconferencing, students in remote Alaskan villages can tune into courses previously unavailable
to them.11/12/04
Canadian
Vets Meet Kids from War-Torn Nations
As Canadian World War II veterans visit high schools across the nation, talking about their wartime experiences,
many are hearing the perspectives of immigrant children from war-torn countries.11/11/04
Schools Should
Seek More Teachers of Color
A coalition of school groups maintains that the lack of cultural and ethnic diversity in the U.S. teaching ranks
is hindering the success of minority students. 11/10/04
Minority
Aides Bring Diversity to Classes
Minority paraprofessionals are valuable assets in urban districts, and while many would like to become teachers,
they do not get the support they need to become certified. 11/09/04
Preschools
Build Vocabulary
More preschool teachers are finding that children have limited vocabularies, and are introducing children to
more words and complete sentences in preparation for learning to read. 11/08/04
Research
Papers in Spotlight
While most high school teachers agree that students should write at least one in-depth research paper before
they graduate, most do not assign them because they take time away from other instruction and take a long time
to grade. 11/05/04
Teachers
Need to Talk Slower, Less
A four-year Australian study showed that many young children have trouble understanding their teachers because
they talk too fast and their sentences are too long.11/04/04
Lawsuits May Target NCLB
As school districts face sanctions under the No Child Left Behind Act, some are planning lawsuits to challenge
the law, saying it sets unreachable benchmarks. 11/03/04
Parents
Use Test Scores to Buy Houses
Some California parents are hunting for houses only in districts where students scored high on standardized
tests. 11/02/04
Students Want
to End Slur Use
Some students at Rutland (Vermont) High School are urging their peers to stop using slurs based on race, creed,
home life, or sexual orientation. 11/01/04
Too Much, Too
Soon in Kindergarten?
The shift in the purpose of kindergarten, from a place where children get used to school, to teaching basic
math and reading skills, has some educators concerned. 10/29/04
Stress Can Affect Exam Performance
Stress can negatively impact students' test performance, according to a recent study. Students did better at
simpler tasks, such as memorizing numbers, while under pressure, but their ability to deal with complex questions
declined. 10/28/04
Kindergartners Help Sick Kids
Kindergartners in Akron, Ohio, are collecting tabs from cans for Akron Children's Hospital. The hospital sells
the tabs to a recycling center, and uses the money for videos and other entertainment for the pediatric dialysis
center. 10/27/04
Kids Thrive
at Aquarium School
An alternative high school program at the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration in Mystic, Connecticut,
gives students hands-on experience with marine life and research. 10/26/04
School District
Bans Halloween
The Puyallup (Washington) School District has cancelled all Halloween celebrations this year, saying they take
time away from learning. 10/25/04
Flu-Fighting Tips
for Schools
Because of a flu vaccine shortage, the U.S. Center for Disease Control is urging students and staff to wash
their hands frequently and stay home if they are sick, to avoid large flu outbreaks in schools. 10/22/04
Schools
Running Safety Drills
Reminding some of the air raid drills of the 1960's, many Canadian schools now are holding safety drills, so
students and staff know how to respond if there is an armed intruder in the school. Some worry the drills instill
fear in youngsters. 10/21/04
Teachers
Relearning Playground Games
In an effort to keep children active at recess, many Canadian teachers are relearning playground games such
as hopscotch, four square, and wall ball so they can teach them to their students. 10/20/04
Tax Break for Educators Extended
The U.S. Congress has extended the $250 tax deduction for out-of-pocket classroom expenses incurred by teachers
and paraprofessionals for the 2004 and 2005 tax years. 10/19/04
PE Goes High Tech
Some British schools are using technology in their physical education classes, so students can see how they
improved at a certain skill or how they did compared with their peers. 10/18/04
School
for Athletes Planned
Canada is planning to open a high school for athletes, called the Region School for Healthy Active Living, north
of Toronto, by 2007. The school is being designed as the sports version of high schools for the performing arts.
10/15/04
Charter School
Rejects Lottery Money
The North Star Public Charter School in Idaho turned down $10,000 because it came from the Idaho State Lottery,
and staff members thought that taking gambling money would set a bad example.10/14/04
Comic Books Draw Kids to Reading
Comic books, or graphic novels, are turning up in classrooms as a way to reach reluctant adolescent readers.
Not all educators agree on their value. 10/13/04
Millions
Donated to Public Schools
More public schools, such as a number in Missouri, are receiving donations -- some totaling more than $1 million
-- from alumni and the community to pay for programs and construction. 10/12/04
Teachers
Dropping Red Pens
More teachers are opting to use purple rather than red pens to grade papers, because a theory states that red
is a more stressful color and demoralizes students. 10/11/04
Schools Advised on
Preventing Terrorist Takeover
U.S. officials have sent out advisories to local law enforcement and homeland security officials about preventing
terrorist takeovers of schools, like the one that occurred last month in Russia.10/08/04
Holding Recess
Before Lunch Has Pluses
Some schools are finding that switching recess and lunch can have numerous benefits, such as children being
quieter when they return to class and a tendency to waste less food at lunch. 10/07/2004
Minority Kids
Get Less Sleep
African American children, particularly boys, get less sleep each night than white children, according to a
new study. Lack of sleep can make children vulnerable to learning and behavior problems. 10/06/04
E-Rate Grants
Halted
The U.S. government has halted E-Rate program payments to public schools and libraries for high-speed telephone
and Internet access, while it considers new regulations for the program. 10/05/04
Hurricane-Hit
Florida Schools to Re-Open
Most of the Florida schools damaged by one or more of the four hurricanes that recently hit the state are set
to reopen this week. Some Florida schools have been closed for a month.10/04/04
Schools Ease Cell Phone
Bans
Many schools are relaxing their bans on cell phones in schools, in response to parent desires and the explosion
of cell phone ownership. Most schools still prohibit students from using phones in class. 10/01/04
Overweight
Kids Drain School Finances
The growing number of overweight and unfit children is costing school districts money, because these children
miss school more often, according to a study. Districts with higher absentee rates can lose state funding.09/30/04
Schools Seek Links to Houses
of Worship
Paul Vallas, the CEO of the School District of Philadelphia, wants every one of the district's 276 schools "adopted"
by a local church, synagogue, mosque, or temple, to bring volunteers and moral grounding to the schools.09/29/04
Newspapers Providing
Lessons to Florida Students
Students in the Escambia County (Florida) School District, which is closed for two weeks because of damage from
Hurricane Ivan, are getting lessons sent home thanks to a partnership between the schools and the Pensacola
News Journal. 09/28/04
Gifted Kids Benefit from Skipping Grades
A study by the University of Iowa concludes that highly gifted children can benefit academically and socially
from skipping a grade. 09/27/04
House Parties
Seek Support for Schools
Educators and community members held house parties across the U.S. Wednesday, to brainstorm ways to increase
attention for education issues at the national level. 09/24/04
Holocaust Project
Touches Survivors, Others
Students at Whitwell Middle School in Tennessee wanted to collect six million paper clips -- one to remember
each person killed in the Holocaust. People sent so many paper clips that the school has collected 30 million
since beginning the project in 1998. 09/23/04
School
Party Welcomes New Kids
Students who transfer to Anasazi Elementary School in Scottsdale, Arizona, are welcomed with a New Kids on the
Block party, sponsored by the school's parent-teacher group. 09/22/04
High School Weather
Station a Hit
A new weather station at Dixie Heights High School in Ohio has piqued students' interest in their own weather
and forecasts across the U.S. 09/21/04
Pushing
for Smaller Learning Communities
New Jersey state officials are urging urban districts to create smaller, more personalized programs for high
school students. The proposal also demands more individualized and rigorous academic programs. 09/20/04
Public,
Private School Partnership Benefits Both
Students from St. Paul's Preparatory Academy in East Phoenix, Arizona, earn community service credit tutoring
students from Larry C. Kennedy Elementary School in math, reading, and writing.09/17/04
Teachers Lose
Tax Breaks for Buying Supplies
A $250 federal tax deduction that reimbursed educators for out-of-pocket expenses for school supplies expired
this year. Teachers often spend hundreds of dollars of their own money on class supplies.09/16/04
Another State to Try Merit Pay
Schools in two Minnesota school districts are scheduled to test a performance-based teacher pay system. The
state will use an $8 million federal grant to fund the test program. 09/15/04
Tablet PC's Find
Way Into Classrooms
Some schools are opting for tablet PC's over laptops, saying tablets are more practical because they are smaller
and have handwriting capabilities. 09/14/04
What's
Behind the Rise in ADHD?
Researchers are taking note of the correlation between the increase in children's TV programming and the rise
of ADHD. Genetics and overdiagnosis of the condition also may contribute to the surge in ADHD cases. 09/13/04
More Physical Activity Can
Mean Higher Achievement
Some California researchers found higher achievement on state reading and mathematics tests was associated with
higher levels of fitness at each of the three grade levels measured. 09/10/04
Parents
Confused About NCLB
Some educators are concerned that parents' misconceptions about the No Child Left Behind Act could hinder schools'
ability to meet federal mandates. Some parents in Hartford, Connecticut, thought NCLB meant a child could never
be retained in a grade. 09/09/04
Going
Door-to-Door to Get Kids in School
Chicago, Illinois, school officials went door-to-door in some neighborhoods to urge families to have their children
in school opening day, September 7. Last year, 48,619 students were missing on the first day. 09/08/04
More
States Require Dissection Alternatives
Starting this year, a Virginia law allows students to opt out of dissecting animals. Teachers must provide students
who choose not to do dissections with alternative learning tools, including computer programs, Internet tutorials,
and plastic models. 09/07/04
Collapse
Raises Concerns About School Roofs
The collapse of a school roof in Washingtonville, New York, that used a common construction design has raised
concerns about the safety of school roofs across the U.S. 09/03/04
Rise in Minority Test
Scores
SAT scores for several minority groups in the high-school Class of 2004 showed some improvement. Overall scores
remained the same from 2003, but a record number of students took the test. 09/02/04
"Green" Schools Save Money, Energy,
the Environment
Clearview Elementary School in Hanover, Pennsylvania, a "green" or energy-efficient school, includes recycled
material and saves the district about $18,000 a year in energy costs. 09/01/04
Teachers' Wages
Lose Ground
A new book by the Economic Policy Institute, How Does Teacher Pay Compare?, shows that from 1993 to 2003,
teachers' weekly wages fell behind those of other workers with similar education and experience. 08/31/04
New Teachers
Face Competency Tests
The Alabama Board of Education is proposing that new teachers pass competency tests in the subjects they expect
to teach. The tests could be ready by late 2005 or early 2006. 08/30/04
Grumblings
Over Summer Assignments
Some parents are starting to grumble about the summer assignments required by their children's schools. But
educators say the work is important to keep student skills sharp. 08/27/04
Public Gives
Contradictory Views on Testing, NCLB
While 68 percent of poll respondents said they knew little about the No Child Left Behind Act, about half of
those who answered said it will improve achievement. Two out of three adults said they oppose using test scores
to judge schools, but almost the same number said schools give the right emphasis to testing. 08/26/04
Students
Given Chance to Recapture Grade
Starting this year, high school students in the Beaumont (Texas) Independent School District who fail a core
course one semester will be given a chance to "recapture" a passing grade by studying and taking a retest. 08/25/04
Kids Prefer Typing to
Writing
Only one out of five children believe handwriting will be useful 50 years from now, according to a recent survey.
Most children said computers and the Internet would be used for all homework in the future. 08/24/04
System
Ties Teacher Evaluations to Test Scores
While Delaware's State Board of Education approved a prototype for the nation's only teacher accountability
system tied to student test scores, teachers say they will not participate. 08/23/04
Using Web Logs
in Class
More teachers are using class Web logs, or blogs, to allow students to express themselves. Teachers say students
often write more than in journals, and teachers can respond to entries more quickly. 08/20/04
Teacher Opens Door
to Classics
Rhode Island high school teacher Kurt Wootton developed a program called ArtsLit that helps urban students to
appreciate classic literature by having them read and then stage the work. 08/19/04
Teachers
Go Online for Professional Development
Teachers in Baltimore County, Maryland, are going online for professional development. The school district offers
30 free, year-round online courses that can help teachers get graduate school credits and gain and maintain
their certification. 08/18/04
Tracking Down
Truants
More U.S. schools, particularly in urban areas, are stepping up efforts to keep children in school. States now
are required to report truancy figures for each school, not just for the district or area. 08/17/04
New
High School Will Have No Textbooks
School officials in Tucson, Arizona's Vail Unified School District plan to open a high school next year that
will not have textbooks. Students instead will be given laptops. 08/16/04
Grant
Helps Improve Science, Math Instruction
A state grant is allowing Hofstra University professors to work with Roosevelt, N.Y., teachers improve their
instructional skills in areas such as physical science, math, and using graphing calculators. 08/13/04
Schools Raising
Meal Prices
After years of holding the line on school lunch and breakfast prices, many districts are increasing prices this
year, because of higher food, transportation, and labor costs. 08/12/04
Fourth Graders Publish Book
A dozen fourth graders at an elementary school in Sebastian, Florida, wrote and researched a travel guidebook
called "Fun in the Sun - a Kid's Guide to Indian River County ... and Beyond!" with help from a teaching assistant.
08/11/04
New NCLB Guidance for Charter
Schools
The U.S. Department of Education has released two new documents on charter schools, one providing guidance on
the department's Charter Schools Program and the other No Child Left Behind's Title I accountability requirements
and charter schools. 08/10/04
Students
Do Better in Immersion Classes
Arizona students in structured English immersion classes mastered material more quickly and scored higher on
standardized tests than those in bilingual classes, a recent study said. 08/09/04
Battle Over
Sex-Ed Textbooks
The Texas Board of Education is considering adopting sex education texts that only discuss abstinence. This
could affect the rest of the country, since books approved by the Texas board typically are marketed nationally.
08/06/04
Teacher
Quality Rules Challenge States
Some Southeastern U.S. states are focusing more on content knowledge in licensing teachers and less on pedagogy,
to ensure they meet the No Child Left Behind standards for highly qualified teachers. 08/05/04
Schools
Weigh Banning Camera Phones
The Palm Beach County (Florida) Board of Education is considering banning camera cell phones from school campuses
because of improper use by some students. 08/04/04
Building Positive
Psychology Into the Curriculum
A trial curriculum in a Pennsylvania high school is helping teens deal with adversity. Through psychological
exercises and discussions around literary themes, students learn to use their personal strengths to enhance
everyday life. 08/03/04
More Teens
Fearful of Going to School
The number of U.S. teenagers who skip school because they fear getting hurt has increased over the past ten
years, even though violence in schools has decreased, according to a survey. 08/02/04
Helping Teachers Connect With
Urban Students
The Summer Institute for Urban Educators, a program sponsored by a Washington, D.C. advocacy group, is helping
urban teachers learn how to communicate better with their students. 07/30/04
Music
Lessons Boost IQ
Children who start music lessons before the age of six tend to score higher on intelligence tests than their
peers, according to a study by the University of Toronto, Canada. 07/29/04
Public Pitches in to Save
Japanese Class
When administrators in Shelbyville (Indiana) Central Schools proposed cutting a high-school Japanese course,
community members raised money to help pay the teacher's salary. 07/28/04
Fewer
Taking GED
Fewer people took the new U.S. high school equivalency exam in 2002, but they passed at a higher rate than in
the past. The new test is considered more difficult than the prior one. 07/27/04
Teachers Join Scientists
in Labs
Some Washington middle and high school science teachers are working with scientists in labs this summer, to
learn more about scientific technology and topics. 07/26/04
Colleges
Wary of Senior Slump
More U.S. colleges are cracking down on high school seniors accepted to college whose grades drop or who take
easier courses their last high school term. Some colleges even will revoke acceptances. 07/23/04
FCC to Document Best
eRate Practices
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is planning meetings this fall that highlight federal eRate
plan successes. The program recently has come under criticism. 07/22/04
State
to Build Student Data Base
The New Hampshire Department of Education has begun building a universal student data base to allow it to track
individual's progress over time. Students will be assigned identification numbers. 07/21/04
Teachers Attend Research-to-Practice
Summit
About 150 U.S. teachers attended the National Research-to-Practice Teacher Summit in Washington, D.C. Researchers
and teachers demonstrated strategies teachers could use in classrooms. 07/20/04
Expenses
Outpace Teacher Raises
While U.S. teachers received modest raises last year, the salary gains often were eaten away by increases in
health insurance and other costs, according to a report. 07/19/04
Magnet
School Diversity Plan Upheld
A federal judge has okayed the procedures Kentucky's largest school system uses to ensure racial diversity at
its magnet schools. 07/09/04
3,000-Plus Teachers Attend
Writing Sessions
More than 3,000 U.S. teachers are attending National Writing Project summer institutes at 185 universities.
Teachers study strategies to help all students become effective writers. 07/08/04
Court
Bars Enforcement of Child Protection Act
The U.S. Supreme Court has barred enforcement of the federal Child Online Protection Act, because it likely
violates free-speech rights. The law's intent is to keep online pornography away from children. 07/07/04
Cheating
Hits New Heights
From notes on hatbands to student Web sites offering test answers, cheating has reached unparalleled levels
in U.S. schools. A 2001 study revealed that 74 percent of high school students cheat. 07/06/04
Fewer H.S. Students Smoking
The number of U.S. high school students lighting up has dropped to the lowest level in ten years, according
to the Centers for Disease Control. Educational programs and a 90 percent rise in cigarette prices between 1997
and 2003 have deterred teen smoking. 07/02/04
Graduation
Rates Rise in U.S.
More U.S. residents than ever have earned high school and college diplomas, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus.
Minorities still lag behind whites in diploma-completion rates. 07/01/04
Voucher
Program Ruled Unconstitutional
The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that a K-12 school voucher program, expected to be the largest one in the
U.S., is unconstitutional because it diverts money and control from local school boards. 06/30/04
Retiring
Teacher Asks to See Former Students
When a brain tumor forced Carrie Kolder to retire after 31 years teaching English in Illinois, she asked former
students to attend her retirement party, each bringing an essay describing how Kolder's class help shape their
lives. 06/29/04
Bible Class Ban
Upheld
A ruling arguing that weekly Bible classes are unconstitutional in the public schools of Rhea County, Tennessee,
was upheld by a federal appeals court. 06/18/04
Team
Technology Training
"Teach to the Future," a pilot program offered by Intel, encourages Australian teachers and students to work
together on complex issues through computer-based activities. 06/17/04
Educator Astronauts
Begin Training
The three newest educator astronauts began training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The three
-- Richard Arnold, Joe Acaba, and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger -- could be scheduled for space flight by 2009.
06/16/04
Lessons
About Civil Rights, Justice
A theater program is teaching Boston, Massachusetts, students about justice and civil rights issues in the U.S.
Topics have included the Salem witch trials and the rights of runaway slaves. 06/15/04
Study: More Preschoolers
Need Eye Exams
More preschoolers need eye exams; although as many as 20 percent of preschoolers have vision problems, few receive
eye check-ups that could detect and lead to correction of the problems. 06/14/04
Reagan's
Death a "Teachable" Moment
The death of former President Ronald Reagan is prompting many teachers to suspend the curriculum this week and
talk about Reagan's policies, times, and personality. 06/11/04
School Districts
Sue to Equalize Funding
More low-income school districts are suing their states for additional funding, saying they need additional
money to meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. 06/10/04
Students Work to Expectations
A recent Gallup Youth Survey of U.S. teenagers showed that students appreciate creative lessons and know when
teachers care about them, and will work harder to please those teachers and meet their expectations. 06/09/04
Computers Help
Early Learning
Preschool children who use computers seem to acquire better learning skills than children who don't use computers,
according to a recent study. 06/08/04
Principal
Teaches Kids to Lose Weight
After principal Yvonne Butler nearly suffered a stroke because she was overweight, she decided it was time to
improve her eating habits and those of her students. 06/07/04
Group
Lobbying Against NCLB
Citizens for Quality Education, a new lobbying group, is using Florida teachers to speak out against the federal
No Child Left Behind Act. The NEA and the Florida Education Association support the group. 06/04/04
Court: School Fees Unconstitutional
An Indiana court has ruled that mandating parents of public school students to pay fees to cover the costs of
counselors, librarians, nurses, and after-school programs is unconstitutional. 06/03/04
So Long, Snacks
Nutritionists are recommending that the Boston, Massachusetts, school system cut back on the number of sugary
and high-fat snacks in school vending machines. 06/02/04
Boys Shine in Single-Sex Schools
Boys tend to perform better on tests when they attend boys-only schools, according to some overseas studies.
All-male schools allow boys to concentrate more on academics and personal development. 06/01/04
District to End Paddling
The Indianapolis (Indiana) Public School Board recently voted to end corporal punishment in its 79 schools.
The district had allowed teachers to paddle students since 1970. 05/27/04
Retiring
Teacher Reflects on Life-Changing Event
Ron Cushman lost his right hand while serving in Vietnam, but that event helped lead him to his wife and a career
as a kindergarten teacher. After 29 years, he retired after one last "lollipop tree." 05/26/04
More Teens Earning GEDs
The number of teenagers in the U.S. turning to the GEDs for a high school diploma is increasing. In 2002, 49
percent of those earning GEDs were teenagers. Some say youths are avoiding new high school requirements. 05/25/04
Schools' Chief Calls
for Staff Dress Codes
The chief executive officer of the Philadelphia public schools has suggested that the district establish a dress
code for teachers and other staff members. 05/24/04
Kids
Call Parents Heroes
More pre-teens and teenagers are naming their parents as their heroes and role models than ever before, according
to recent studies. 05/21/04
Soldiers to Watch
Graduations Via the Internet
Several Central Texas school districts plan to broadcast high school graduations over the Internet so deployed
U.S. soldiers from Ft. Hood can watch the ceremonies, and arrange video conferencing between parents and children.
05/20/04
Behavioral Meds Sales for Kids Skyrocket
Spending on behavioral medications for children has surpassed sales of all other medications for children, according
to a study. Contributing to that spending is a 49 percent rise in the last three years in the use of ADHD drugs
by children under 5. 05/19/04
Parental
Encouragement Helps Struggling Students
A study published in Child Development notes that struggling students do better when parents encourage
them, rather than do the schoolwork for their children or punish them for low achievement. 05/18/04
Attorney:
NCLB May Be Unenforceable
The attorney general of Wisconsin has issued an opinion that states cannot be required to comply with the No
Child Left Behind Act unless the federal government fully funds it. 05/17/04
District
Weighs Smoking Ban
Clark County, Nevada, school officials are considering banning all tobacco products from all school properties
and from district-sponsored events. Employees currently are allowed to smoke in designated areas. 05/14/04
Students Must
Choose Between Old, New SAT
This year's class of U.S. high school juniors must decide between taking the current SAT this spring, or waiting
for the new version, which will be available in the fall and includes a timed essay. 05/13/04
Unruly Students
Wear Down Teachers
Most middle and high school teachers report that continuous misbehavior by a few students is undermining academic
achievement in their schools, according to a report by Public Agenda. 05/12/04
Teacher-Student
Communication Core of Achievement Program
Achievement First, a school reform initiative in some Kansas City, Missouri, schools, stresses building relationships
between teachers and students as a way of improving student performance. 05/11/04
The Return
of Segregation
Fifty years after the U.S. Supreme Court ended legal segregation in public schools, racial balance in schools
is the worst it has been since 1968. 05/10/04
Three Teachers in Newest Astronaut "Class"
Three teachers are among the 11 new candidates for astronauts. The teachers were selected from among 1,000 applicants,
and will train at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. They could be scheduled for spaceflight before
2009. 05/07/04
Homework Starting
Earlier
More kindergartners are receiving homework as the pressure mounts on schools to teach children to learn to read
earlier. Some say children are too tired at the end of the day to do more schoolwork. 05/06/04
Seeking
"Sweatshop-Free" Uniforms
Roman Catholic students in Toronto, Canada, want the Toronto Catholic District School Board to ensure that their
school uniforms are not made in sweatshops. 05/05/04
Obesity, Bullying
Linked
Adolescents who are overweight are more likely than average-weight youngsters to be bullies or victims of bullying,
according to a recent Canadian study. 05/04/04
Morning
Workouts Energize Kids
Students at a Tolland, Connecticut, elementary school have been coming to school early to exercise, under the
guidance of fitness experts. Students report having more energy during the day. 05/03/04
Notebook Computers Replacing Texts
Beginning this fall, about 100 fifth and sixth graders in Forney, Texas, are slated to receive notebook computers
that will contain numerous texts and thousands classic works of art and literature. 04/30/04
School
Soda Bans Help Lower Obesity
A British study indicates that eliminating soda from schools can help reduce obesity among children. The percentage
of overweight and obese children dipped by 0.2 percent among those who were in the program. 04/29/04
Aggressive
Tutoring "Rewires" Dyslexic Brains
A study slated for publication in May in the journal Biological Psychiatry indicates that when dyslexic children
receive aggressive, systematic reading help, they make larger reading gains and the word-form region of their
brains are activated. 04/28/04
Ensuring
Art Education
Concerned about the lack of school arts programs, New Mexico recently passed a law earmarking $4 million to
help create elementary school programs in dance, music, theater, and visual arts. 04/27/04
More Sin Taxes to Fund Education?
Texas governor Rick Perry is calling on the state legislature to revamp education funding by cutting property
taxes to the more affluent and raising taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, topless bar patrons, and legalized gambling.
04/26/04
Martial
Arts Program Combats Gangs, Bullies
A martial arts program at Longwood High School in Middle Island, New York, is teaching students to defend themselves
-- and how to stay out of trouble. Teaching self-respect can help students reject gangs, school officials hope.
04/23/04
Teachers Helping Teachers
The U.S. Department of Education has launched the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, which recruits the nation's
best teachers to share effective teaching practices with other teachers during summer workshops and roundtable
discussions. 04/22/04
"Running" Restaurant Teaches
Life Skills
Some fifth graders from Oak Park Elementary School in Minnesota spent weeks training for a stint running a restaurant
for a night. Students employed math and interpersonal skills. 04/21/04
Monitoring
Children's Media Usage
The National PTA and Cable in the Classroom issued a report, "Navigating the Children's Media Landscape: A Parent's
and Caregiver's Guide." It includes tips for supervising children's media usage. 04/20/04
Gifted
Students Use Both Sides of Brain Better
The right and left halves of the brains in teens with above-average math skills are better at integrating information
than brains of average students, according to a new study. 04/19/04
Students,
Parents, May Rate Teachers
The Nashua, New Hampshire Board of Education is considering reinstating a program that allows students and parents
to submit anonymous written evaluations of teachers. 04/16/04
What
is Finland's Secret?
International educators are visiting Finnish schools to learn their recipe for success. Finnish students outscored
those in 31 countries in mathematics, science, and reading, test results released last year showed. 04/15/04
Holocaust
Denial Lesson Honored
Connecticut history teacher Patrick Richardson's lesson about Holocaust denial has earned an award from the
University of Hartford. Students use primary sources, such as eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust, in considering
Holocaust denial arguments. 04/14/04
Students "Celebrate
Generations"
Eighth graders at Rapid Run Middle School in Ohio researched their family histories and shared them with relatives
during a "Celebration of the Generations" day at school. 04/13/04
Teacher
Spreads Passion for Historical Awareness
Robert Rinehart, a social studies teacher at Southampton Middle School in Maryland, shares his passion for the
American Civil War and historical awareness with his students. Rinehart's great-great-grandfather was a Union
soldier. 04/12/04
Districts
Opt for Portfolio Assessments
Nebraska education officials have convinced the U.S. Department of Education to allow districts to use portfolios
to measure student progress, rather than statewide tests. 04/09/04
Kennedy Seeks More NCLB
Funding
Democratic U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy said the Bush administration misrepresented its position on financing
the No Child Left Behind Act, and called for more funding. Kennedy supported NCLB when it was signed in January
2002. 04/08/04
Second-Grader Foils
School Shooting Plan
An 8-year-old Montana boy foiled a potential school shooting when he told a teacher that a friend had buried
a handgun in the playground and planned to use it to shoot a third-grade girl in the leg during recess. 04/07/04
ADHD
Drugs Could Stunt Growth
Stimulant drugs such as Ritalin, used to treat attention deficit disorders, can stunt children's growth, according
to new research. The study does not address whether the effect on growth is permanent. 04/06/04
Study
Links TV, Attention Disorders
Viewing TV at ages 1 and 3 raises the risk of children developing an attention disorder by age of 7, according
to a study in the journal Pediatrics. For every hour of TV watched per day, the risk of having an attention
problem increased by 9 percent. 04/05/04
Tips for Reading Tutors
Be positive. Be attentive. Be precise. These are just some of the suggestions for reading tutors included in
the free U.S. Department of Education publication, Tips for Reading Tutors. 04/02/04
Boys' Book Club Spawns
Readers
To entice more boys to read, Delhi Middle School in Ohio formed the "All Guys Book Club", which also
lures boys in with pizza and ice cream. About 55 boys have participated this year; the school now has book clubs
for girls and teachers. 04/01/04
Students
Show Gains With Peer Tutors
Many struggling students show improvement with peer tutoring. Belzer Middle School in Indianapolis, Indiana,
trains students to tutor their classmates; it is the only peer tutoring program in the U.S. certified by the
National Tutoring Association. 03/31/04
Dept. of Ed. Announces New
Testing Exemptions
Seriously ill students can be exempt from high stakes testing and schools can average three years of student
test participation figures, rather than using one to meet the required 95 percent participation rate, according
to changes in the No Child Left Behind Act. 03/30/04
Impact
of Pre-School Unclear
While poor children who attend high-quality pre-school programs do better in school, the affects of large-scale
preschool on a variety of populations is still uncertain, according to some researchers. 03/29/04
Retention Benefits
Some Students
Summer programs and repeating a grade can help some young, disadvantaged students, according to researchers
who studied a program in Chicago, Illinois. Some educators argue that retention does more harm than good. 03/26/04
Pay-for-Performance
Plan Passes
The Denver (Colorado) Classroom Teachers Association became the first teachers' union in the U.S. to approve
a pay-for-performance salary system. Voters still need to approve spending an extra $25 million a year for the
plan to be implemented. 03/25/04
Women's History Class
Draws Mothers, Daughters
To mark Women's History Month, Ursuline Academy, an all-girls Roman Catholic school in Ohio, invites mothers
and daughters to attend an elective course, Women in American History. Each week, one or two mothers share information
about their lives. 03/24/04
Urban
Schools Show Gains Under NCLB
Students in the largest urban school districts in the U.S. showed significant gains in reading and mathematics
after a year under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, according to a study by the Council of the Great City
Schools. 03/23/04
More States
Adopt Anti-Bullying Laws
More U.S. states are using the legal system to try to curb bullying in schools. Seventeen states have passed
anti-bullying legislation, and 11 other states considered proposals this year. 03/22/04
Lights Out for
Naps?
Some Washington, D.C.-area pre-kindergarten programs are discussing eliminating nap times for 4-year-olds, because
school officials say more time is needed for academics. Children usually nap for 45 minutes. 03/19/04
Challenge to Exit Exam
A class-action lawsuit was filed against the Alaska Board of Education by disabled children and their parents,
who claim requiring students to pass an exit exam to earn a high school diploma discriminates against students
with disabilities. 03/18/04
Chess,
Anyone?
The Seattle, Washington-based America's Foundation for Chess has provided in-class chess instruction to 15 schools
in Washington and hopes to branch out. The foundation promotes the educational benefits of learning chess. 03/17/04
Highly Qualified Teacher
Rules Eased
The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that teachers in rural areas who teach multiple subjects will
be given more time to meet the No Child Left Behind requirements for highly qualified teachers in all the subjects
they teach. 03/16/04
Curbing Bus Exhaust Hazards
As evidence mounts of the hazards of diesel fuel exhaust, more schools are limiting the time school buses spend
idling near schools, and upgrading or replacing older, diesel-driven vehicles. Most school buses still use diesel
fuel, leading to student exposure to fumes and soot. 03/15/04
Bye,
Bye Britannica?
Long the foundation of libraries and many homes, encyclopedias soon could be driven to extinction by the Internet's
easy access to information. Some teachers now require students to use an encyclopedia for some assignments,
just so they know they exist. 03/11/04
Historical Ignorance
Nothing New
While many today bemoan U.S. students' ignorance of American history, tests given to students in the early 1900's,
on the eve of World War II, and in 1976 showed wide gaps in students' historical knowledge. 03/10/04
Kids
Earn Points for Eating Healthy
Middle school students in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, earn points for choosing more healthful lunches such as
low-fat chicken nuggets and green beans. The points can be redeemed for prizes, such as T-shirts and skate boards.
03/09/04
NCLB Revolt Grows
The Indiana State Board of Education voted Thursday to add its name to a letter to lawmakers and the U.S. Department
of Education seeking changes in the No Child Left Behind law. Officials in Arizona, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico,
Utah, and Wyoming have proposed or passed legislation that would allow them to opt out of NCLB and forfeit federal
funding. 03/08/04
Computers Help Hire Teachers,
Principals
Starting in May, the Wake County, North Carolina, school system is planning to have prospective teachers and
assistant principals complete an online test to see how they stack up to the school system's profile of the
ideal teacher or school administrator. 03/05/04
Easing Regulations on
Single-Sex Classes
The U.S. Department of Education is proposing regulations that would make it easier to establish single-sex
schools and classes. The department is seeking public comment on the proposed regulations. 03/04/04
Leaving Gifted Children
Behind
Cuts to school budgets and pressure to meet No Child Left Behind mandates are prompting many districts and states
to eliminate programs for gifted students. NCLB does not address education for gifted children. 03/03/04
Getting
Men Involved at School
The Jefferson Parish public school district in Louisiana is recruiting and training men to volunteer in local
schools. The men tutor and supervise students and also help with projects in the buildings and on school grounds.
03/02/04
Dropouts to Sign
Out
The Chicago, Illinois, school district now requires students dropping out of high school and their parents to
sign a consent letter listing possible negative consequences of quitting school. 03/01/04
Mobile
Learning Lab to Roll
The Christina, Delaware, School District plans to roll out a "World of Wonder" bus, a mobile learning lab that
will park at shopping centers on weekends. Kindergarten through sixth graders will be able to practice reading,
language, and mathematics skills while parents run errands. 02/27/04
Mariachi
Bands Engage Students
Bedichek Middle School in Austin, Texas, is one of several in the state with a student mariachi band. Offering
the traditional Mexican music is a nod to the growing Hispanic population in the schools, and also spurs student
interest in music. 02/26/04
NEA Wants Paige
Fired
The National Education Association has asked President Bush to fire Secretary of Education Rod Paige for calling
the NEA a "terrorist organization." Paige apologized for his word choice, but said the NEA uses "obstructionist
scare tactics" to oppose the No Child Left Behind Act. 02/25/04
Dept.
of Ed Rallies Support for NCLB
Bush administration officials, including Secretary of Education Rod Paige, are traveling around the U.S. To
clarify the federal No Child Left Behind Act to local school officials. Many educators say the law is underfunded.
02/24/04
Students Prep
for New SAT
The debut of the new SAT may be more than a year away, but already U.S. Students are practicing for the timed-essay
section of the test. The latest version of the SAT launches in spring 2005. 02/23/04
Testing Policies
Eased for Limited-English Students
The federal government is allowing schools more flexibility in testing and assessing the progress of limited-English
students under the No Child Left Behind Act. The changes could help schools make adequate yearly progress goals.
02/20/04
Teacher's Paper
Clip Chain Secures World Record
California high school math teacher Dan Meyer is certain he broke the world record for the most paper clips
strung together. With help from volunteers, Meyer created a chain more than a mile long in 24 hours. 02/19/04
A
New Way to View, Appreciate Art
Students in a San Francisco elementary school study and discuss art using visual thinking, through an arts education
program developed by Visual Understanding in Education. The group studies children's cognitive development as
they interact with art. 02/17/04
Celebrating
Presidents' Lives
First graders at Franklin Elementary School in Kirkland, Washington, became a living U.S. "presidential wax
museum." The students dressed as U.S. presidents came to "life" when someone touched a dot on their hands, and
talked about the president's life. 02/16/04
Students Use
Foreign Language Skills Creating French Valentines
Students at Rapid Run Middle School in Ohio recently put their foreign language skills to work by writing valentines
in French and sending them to children in a Canadian hospital. 02/13/04
Could Gum Chewing Boost
Achievement?
A dentist found that students who chewed (sugarless) gum while learning new material scored higher on a test
than non-gum chewers. Some studies show that continuously chewing increases oxygen to the brain. 02/12/04
High
School Diplomas Losing Meaning
Earning a high school diploma no longer means that a student is ready for work or college, according to a report
from the American Diploma Project. States are urged to toughen curriculums. 02/11/04
Genetic
Link Among Diverse Students
Students in a biotechnology class at a San Jose, California, high school learned through research that more
than half of them are linked by their DNA to the same ancestor, born more than 100,000 years ago in central
China or Taiwan. 02/10/04
"Evolution"
To Return
Georgia's state school superintendent, Kathy Cox, is recommending that the word "evolution" be restored to the
state's teaching standards and textbooks. Cox had suggested that "evolution" be replaced with "biological changes
over time." 02/09/04
Training Preschoolers
to Watch Less TV
Preschool children can be taught to watch less television, by encouraging them to think of other activities
and rewarding them for cutting back on TV viewing, according to a recent study. 02/06/04
Federal Budget Shows Education
Increase
Education is the only domestic program besides national security getting an increase in President Bush's proposed
2005 budget. While Bush is proposing an additional $1 billion for the poorest schools, he is recommending cuts
to 38 other education programs. 02/05/04
Talking, Not Technology,
Key to Stemming School Violence
Despite guards, metal detectors, and surveillance cameras at many Washington, D.C., schools, a student was fatally
shot this week. Educators say schools have to teach students mediation skills to curb violence. 02/04/04
State Weighs
Rejecting NCLB
Utah legislators are advancing a bill that calls for rejecting the requirements of the federal No Child Left
Behind Act, which would mean turning down $103 million in federal education aid. 02/03/04
School Leaders
Seek NCLB Changes
Administrators from 17 school districts in the Washington, DC, area, and two Roman Catholic school systems have
proposed changing the No Child Left Behind mandates for students with limited English skills who are just starting
school and special education students. 02/02/04
Schools
Weigh Banning 'Evolution'
Georgia's state school superintendent has proposed removing the word 'evolution' from the state's science curriculum,
and replacing it with the phrase "biological changes over time." The concept of evolution still would be taught.
01/30/04
Teaching Spelling Making a Comeback
After decades of being deemphasized in schools, spelling is making a comeback in U.S. schools. Research is showing
that good spellers are made, not born, and practice is the key to spelling success. 01/29/04
Study: States Make Progress on
NCLB
The Center on Education Policy reviewed the second year of the implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind
Act, and found that most states and districts are trying hard to meet the mandates and agree with the law's
goals, some of the requirements are unworkable. 01/28/04
School District Bans Honor
Rolls
Nashville, Tennessee, schools have stopped publicizing school honor rolls, after some parents complained that
their children could be ostracized for not making the list. Schools also may stop displaying high-scoring work
in the halls. 01/27/04
Republicans
Criticize NCLB
Members of Virginia's Republican-dominated House of Delegates recently blasted the federal No Child Left Behind
Act, voting 98-1 to ask Congress to exempt states like Virginia that have established testing programs. 01/26/04
Prepayments End Lost Lunch Money
Some North Carolina schools are allowing parents to prepay for their children's lunches over the Internet, which
eliminates the risk of students losing their lunch money. 01/23/04
Schools Teach
Flu-Fighting Skills
Some schools are bringing the war on influenza to the classroom, stressing to students the importance of covering
coughs and washing hands, while school staffers spend extra time disinfecting desks and doorknobs. 01/22/04
Long-Term Subs
Could Hurt Student Performance
A Florida study found that students assigned substitute teachers for more than four weeks -- especially substitute
teachers with only a high school diploma -- don't perform as well on state tests. 01/21/04
"Backpack Buddies" Bring
Learning Home
Students at L'Anse Creuse Elementary School take turns bringing home "Backpack Buddies," backpacks filled with
projects to do with their families. The program encourages parental involvement. 01/20/04
New Course Combats
Science Illiteracy
British students soon will be taking a perspectives in science course, designed to involve them in discussions
of the ethics, history, and philosophy of science. Educators hope the course will spur more students to study
science. 01/19/04
Study:
Laptops Can Improve Writing
Some Canadian students who used laptops for their writing assignments boosted their English test scores by 30
percent, according to a report. The study involved sixth and seventh graders in British Columbia. 01/16/04
Report Recommends
Performance Pay for Teachers
Paying teachers based on student performance is among the recommendations of The Teaching Commission, a nonprofit
group formed in 2003 to improve the public teaching ranks. 01/15/04
Parents Run School
Help Desks
The Philadelphia School District is recruiting and training parents to work as volunteers at help desks in some
schools. The volunteers will greet and assist parents and other visitors. 01/14/04
Mars Mission Launches
Lessons
Schools around the U.S. and the world are following the progress of the Mars rover Spirit and launching space-related
projects of their own, including building replicas of the Martian landscape. 01/13/04
Healthful
Snack Program Bears Fruit
A U.S. government pilot program that supplies fruits and vegetables to schools for snacks is winning over students
to the idea of more healthful eating, participating schools say. 01/12/04
School-Business
Partnerships Flourish
Shrinking school budgets in the Des Moines, Iowa, area are leading to more school-business partnerships. More
businesses are donating money, time, or materials to public schools. 01/09/04
Canada Bans
Soda in Schools
Citing health concerns, Canadian officials are banning the sale of soda in elementary and middle schools starting
next year. Vendors will replace soda with water and fruit juice. Soda still will be available to high school
students. 01/08/04
Bush
Marks Two Years of NCLB
Two years after the signing of the No Child Left Behind Act, President Bush is defending the law against critics
who say it is too rigid and underfunded. 01/07/04
Student
Portfolios Go Digital
Some Connecticut students are capturing their high school careers in digital portfolios. While some will use
the portfolios to meet graduation requirements, others aim to impress colleges. 01/06/04
Taking Aim at School
Bullies
The departments of Education and Health and Human Services have announced plans to launch a $3.4 million campaign
to put an end to bullying in U.S. Schools The program, which is expected to begin next year, will identify bullying
as a public health issue. 01/02/04
