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More Class Time Equals Better Math Skills
A study by the Brookings Institution may show that more class time does pay off. The study found that adding just ten minutes of math instruction to an eighth-grader's day translated into a jump in math skills. 12/13/07
Before-School Reading Program Draws Parents
Moore Elementary School in Ft. Collins, Colorado, has started before-school reading programs called "Doughnuts with Dad" and "Muffins with Mom" to encourage parents to read with their children. 12/12/07
Parents Protest Report Card Ads
Some parents in Orlando, Florida, are complaining about McDonald's ads on report card covers. Some of the ads promise children free Happy Meals for good grades, attendance, and behavior. 12/11/07
Province Plans to Ban Trans Fats in Schools
Ontario (Canada) Premier Dalton McGuinty has introduced legislation to ban all trans fats and junk food in school cafeterias and vending machines. The ban will apply from pre-K to grade 12. 12/10/07
H.S. Students Try Teaching
Students from Agua Fria Union High School in Avondale, Arizona, are helping in elementary school classes twice a week to get a taste of the teaching profession. 12/07/07
Union Proposes More Teacher Authority
A proposal from the Los Angeles teachers' union calls for more local, grass roots control over schools and hiring principals and would allowing instructors more flexibility to develop curricula. 12/06/07
Teachers' Union Pulls Out of Affordable Housing Plan
The New York City teachers' union plans to pull out of a development project that would have built moderately priced housing for teachers because the developers would not promise to use union labor. 12/05/07
H.S. Educator Lives for Science
West Salem (Oregon) High School teacher Michael Lampert keeps his students enthralled with demonstrations that show different types of propulsion and the effects of liquid nitrogen on substances. 12/04/07
Teen's Suicide Spurs Anti-Cyberbullying Law
The town of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, passed a law to prevent cyberbulling in response to the suicide last year of a 13-year-old girl. The child killed herself after receiving hurtful messages on MySpace. 12/03/07
Parents Rank Student Satisfaction Over Teacher Performance
When it comes to choosing teachers, parents often are more concerned with a teacher's ability to satisfy their children than to raise academic achievement, according to a new study. 11/30/07
Reading Screenings Often Misapplied
Popular screening tests used to identify children with reading problems are being misapplied, landing students in the wrong instructional level and delaying interventions for their actual difficulties, a study says. 11/29/07
A New Recipe for Dropouts: Cooking
A new school scheduled to open in the Chicago school district in fall 2008 is being designed to teach at-risk 11th and 12th graders to become chefs or hotel and restaurant managers. 11/28/07
Three-Year Brain Lag Found in ADHD Kids
The brains of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) develop more slowly than those of other children but eventually catch up, according to a new study. 11/27/07
Parents Ordered to Court for Not Vaccinating Kids
The Prince George's County (Maryland) school system ordered hundreds of parents who had failed to have their children vaccinated to appear in court. More than 2,000 students lacked the required immunizations. 11/26/07
Teens Reading Less Often, For Shorter Periods
Teenagers are reading less often and for shorter periods of time, according to a report from the National Endowment for the Arts. Less than one-third of 13-year-olds are daily readers, the report noted. 11/21/07
Harry Potter Theme Turns School Around
A British primary school that had been struggling posted higher scores and had fewer behavior problems after it adopted a Harry Potter theme that covers everything from how classes are set up to the curriculum. 11/20/07
Pharmacy Students Deliver Meth Warning to Middle-Schoolers
Some pharmacy students from the University of Montana are developing a course for middle-school students about the dangers of methamphetamine. The course includes scientific information and true-life stories. 11/19/07
Agriculture Education Goes High-Tech
Students at Oconomowoc High School in Wisconsin interested in agriculture can take courses in greenhouse production and management, for which college-bound students can receive technical-college credit. 11/15/07
Study: Early Bad Behavior Does Not Hurt Pupils Later
A new study shows that poorly-behaved young children will not necessarily struggle in school as they get older. Children who had behavior problems in kindergarten did as well academically in elementary school as their peers. 11/14/07
Students Join Fight Against Global Warming
Teachers, parents, and volunteers helped organize assemblies and participated in skits at Rancho Elementary School in Novato, California, to help raise student awareness about global warming. 11/13/07
Report: Abstinence Education Not Curbing Teen Sex
Although sex education programs that focus on abstinence are eligible for federal grants, they have not affected teen sexual behavior, according to a study by a nonpartisan group seeking to reduce teen pregnancies. 11/12/07
Voters Defeat Voucher Measure
More than 60 percent of voters in Utah rejected a comprehensive education voucher program. The Utah program would have provided tax-funded subsidies to any student, rich or poor, to enroll in a private school. 11/09/07
Teachers Use iPods in Class
Eighteen staff members at Ervin C. Whitt Elementary School in Grand Prairie, Texas, including the principal and librarian, are using iPods to teach students subjects they might otherwise find unappealing. 11/08/07
Teacher Protests Testing for NCLB
Wisconsin middle-school teacher David Wasserman refused to administer the first part of a required standardized test because of moral objections. He reluctantly was at his desk for the second round to save his job.11/07/07
District Plans to Install Face-Recognition Cameras
The Nashville, Tennessee, school district plans to become the first in the U.S. to install security cameras with face-recognition software to spot intruders. The program will start in three schools and an administration building. 11/06/07
12 Percent of U.S. High Schools Are 'Dropout Factories'
At more than one in ten high schools across the U.S., no more than 60 percent of the students who start as freshmen make it to their senior year, according to a study by Johns Hopkins University. 11/05/07
Most Public School Students in the South Are Poor
For the first time in more than 40 years, the majority of children in public schools in southern states in the U.S. are poor, according to a report from the Southern Education Foundation. 11/02/07
School Board Mulls Report Cards for Parents
A school board member in Manchester, Connecticut, has proposed that schools evaluate parents and guardians on whether their child gets to school on time, with homework completed; and is well-fed and dressed for the weather. 11/01/07
Law Denies Truants Learner's Permits
A Maryland state law that took effect October 1 prohibits students younger than 16 who have more than ten unexcused absences during the prior school semester from receiving a permit to learn to drive. 10/31/07
Elementary-School Science Almost Extinct
Most elementary-school students in the San Francisco, California, area are spending less than an hour a week learning science, according to a recent study. Teachers have been focusing more on math and reading skills. 10/30/07
Schools' Environmental Efforts Prompt Criticism
While many schools across the U.S. are involving students in environmental programs, some critics say these efforts are a distraction at a time when many students struggle to master basic skills. 10/29/07
Marching Bands Could Cause Hearing Damage
Marching band, which exposes young ears to loud sounds, can cause irreparable hearing damage, according to Brian Fligor, director of diagnostic audiology at Children's Hospital in Boston. 10/26/07
Good Behavior Can Earn Students Laptops
Sixth graders in the Miami-Dade County (Florida) Public Schools with above-average attendance, good grades, and excellent manners can expect to be rewarded with their own laptop computers. 10/25/07
Students May Have to Apply to College to Get H.S. Diploma
Maine's education commissioner is proposing that high school seniors be required to apply to a college in order to get their diplomas. The change could take affect with the class of 2009. 10/24/07
Report: Only States With Low Standards Will Meet Proficiency Goals
Some education experts fear that allowing states to set their own proficiency standards for reading and math tests will mean that only the states with the lowest standards will meet NCLB proficiency goals by 2014. 10/23/07
Vocal Cord Injuries Plague Teachers
Teachers make up only 4 percent of the U.S. workforce, yet have the highest percentage of voice box injuries, according to leading vocal researchers. Experts are calling for more research into vocal cord injuries. 10/22/07
Middle School to Offer Birth Control to Students
The Portland, Maine, school board voted to allow pupils at King Middle School to get birth control pills and patches at their student health center. Condoms have been available since 2002 to King students. 10/19/07
Failing Schools Struggling to Make the Grade
With the No Child Left Behind Act now in its fifth year -- the one in which more severe penalties are scheduled to take effect -- many failing schools see no way to prevent restructuring. 10/18/07
Study: Teachers Spend about $475 on Supplies
A recent study shows that on average, U.S. K–12 teachers spend $475 of their own money annually for classroom supplies. About 12 percent of teachers spend $1,000 annually on supplies. 10/17/07
Student's Free Speech Case Draws Supporters
Friends and family have rallied around Avery Doninger, a Burlington, Connecticut, student barred from running for senior class office after calling district officials names on a personal blog. 10/16/07
ACLU: Banning T-Shirt in School Not Censorship
Banning a Smyrna (Tennessee) High School student from wearing a "Free the Jenna 6" T-shirt did not qualify as censorship, because school officials had reasonable concerns about disruptions to school, the ACLU said. 10/12/07
Suspended Student Shoots Five at High School
A 14-year-old suspended student, dressed in black, opened fire in his downtown Cleveland, Ohio, high school Wednesday, wounding four people before killing himself. The student had been suspended for fighting. 10/11/07
Students Try to Set Twister Record
About 450 North Dakota high school students at a conference played Twister on 180 mats in an attempt to set a world record for the largest Twister game board. The mats formed a Twister board measuring 4,699 square feet. 10/10/07
More Parents Deciding Class Placement of Siblings
A new Texas state law allows parents of multiple-birth siblings to decide whether or not they are assigned to the same class. The law also allows school officials to voice their opinions on parents' decisions. 10/09/07
School Buses to Get GPS Tracking Devices
New York City school buses soon will be outfitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices as part of a pilot program aimed at tracking their routes and stops, leading to more efficient routes. 10/08/07
School Bans Hugging
Administrators at Oak Park's (Illinois) Percy Julian Middle School have banned hugging among students within the building. Hallway hugging was creating bottlenecks and making students late for class, the principal said. 10/05/07
Text Messages Spread Word on Teen Dating Violence
Students at Arizona's Coronado High School took part in a regional "textathon," using their cell phones to raise their peers' awareness about dating violence. The messages included a link to a supportive Web site. 10/04/07
Teacher Blows Whistle on Public Displays of Affection
Michigan math teacher Colin Nelson got tired of the student make-out sessions in the hall outside his classroom, so now every time he spots a public dispaly of affection, he breaks it up with a blast from a whistle. 10/03/07
Students Go to the Mat for Yoga
Students at Colfax Elementary School in Denver, Colorado, now practice yoga twice a week in their gym classes, learning to stretch, balance, and relax. A non-profit group gave the yoga curriculum to the school. 10/02/07
H.S Principal Tackles Summer Reading List
Cherry Hill High School West (New Jersey) principal Joseph Meloche had his summer reading mapped out. He read all the selections on the summer reading list for every grade, a total of more than 15 books. 10/01/07
More Schools Consider Supervised Recess
A recent report puts school recess at the top of the class among opportunities to make students' school days more active, and urges adults to supervise fun recess activities that involve all children. 09/28/07
Schools Adopt Mexican Curriculum
Some Oregon high schools are adopting Mexico's public school curriculum to help Spanish-speaking students learn math, science, and even U.S. history. The Mexican government provides free textbooks, DVDs, and CDs. 09/27/07
Education Secretary Cites Gains Under NCLB
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said that gains in reading and math scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed that NCLB mandates are working. 09/26/07
Bookseller Starts Foundation to Benefit School Libraries
After a retired school librarian told Canadian bookseller Heather Reisman about book shortages in Canadian school libraries, Reisman not only donated books but started a foundation to raise money for school libraries. 09/25/07
School Surveillance Cameras Rankle Teachers, Parents
Teachers and parents in many Long Island, New York, schools are protesting the use of surveillance cameras in school classrooms, auditoriums, and gyms. Schools installed them for security purposes. 09/24/07
NYC Schools Win Top Education Prize
The New York City public schools won this year's $500,000 Broad Prize for Urban Education, which honors large urban school districts that improve student achievement while reducing the achievement gap. 09/21/07
Academic Cheating Rampant, Accepted
Academic cheating has reached an all-time high, and today's cheaters are more likely to be the students with top grades who are feeling the pressure to keep their high grade point averages. 09/20/07
H.S. Students Create Alcohol Warnings for Middle Schoolers
A competition called Courageous Persuaders seeks high school students to produce commercials to convince middle school students not to drink alcohol. The Detroit Auto Dealers Association funds the contest. 09/19/07
School Backpack Awareness Day Sept. 19
Educators are asked to remind students September 19 of the safe ways to load and carry school backpacks. Heavy backpacks were blamed for more than 7,000 emergency room visits in 2001. 09/18/07
Professor to Rate Anti-Bullying Efforts
Twelve Tennessee middle schools are in a program to create "cultures of kindness" to discourage bullying. A Vanderbilt University professor will measure a school's social climate each year to see if efforts are working. 09/17/07
Schools Fail to Take Restructuring Action
Schools are reluctant to make major changes even after failing to reach student-achievement targets under the No Child Left Behind Act for five consecutive years, according to researchers. 09/14/07
Double-Vision in Children Often Undetected
Convergence insufficiency, an eye condition that causes double-vision at close range, often is overlooked in children, and it can be the source of learning and behavior problems. 09/13/07
More Merit Pay Going to Affluent Schools
A study of the distribution of merit bonuses to 3,911 Orange County, Florida, teachers and administrators showed that educators in more affluent schools were twice as likely to get bonuses as those in schools in low-income areas. 09/12/07
Schools Get Stuck With Lunch Tabs
Some districts are losing thousands of dollars a year because parents fail to reimburse schools when children without lunch money charge meals. 09/11/07
Structure, Consistency Help ADHD Preschoolers
Stressing consistent rules and routines and using more praise for good behavior than punishment for bad has been found in a study to help preschoolers who demonstrate early ADHD behavior. 09/10/07
Billions Pouring into Public Preschool
U.S. states now are investing $4.2 billion in public preschool programs that serve almost 1 million children nationwide. Research showing that the programs are cost-effective and may help boost test scores is spurring the investments. 09/07/07
Schools Offer Bonuses to Cut Teacher Absenteeism
To reduce the number of teacher absences, some schools in Florida are offering a bonus to staff members if the number of absences is lower than the previous year or allowing teachers to cash in unused sick time when they retire. 09/06/07
District Pays for School Uniforms
The Elizabeth, New Jersey, school system not only requires students to wear uniforms -- it buys them. Since January 2006, the district has spend more than $2 million to buy navy blazers, khaki pants, polo shirts, gym shorts, and even socks. 09/05/07
Study: Up to 2.4 Million Kids Have ADHD
About 2.4 million U.S. children ages 8 to 15 have ADHD, according to a recent study, but fewer than 40 percent of those children are taking medication for it. But some experts still believe the condition is diagnosed too often. 09/04/07
ADHD Drug Ads Part of Back-to-School Pitch
Some critics say that back-to-school-themed ads for ADHD medications for children prey on parents' concerns about their children's school performance. Drug makers argue that they are educating the public. 08/30/07
SAT Scores Drop for Second Year
SAT scores dropped for the second straight year nationwide, raising suspicions that students could be suffering "test fatigue" from the expanded, 3 3/4-hour standardized exam. 08/29/07
School Top Cause of Teen Stress
Academic performance is the top cause of stress among 13-to-17-year-olds in the U.S., according to a recent poll, and girls feel more stressed than boys. Girls also are less likely to feel safe in their schools and neighborhoods. 08/28/07
Suit Claims DOE Is Violating Teacher Quality Provision
A coalition has filed suit against the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings for violating the teacher quality provisions of No Child Left Behind by defining teachers still in training as "highly qualified." 08/27/07
Online Tool Measures School Safety Plans
An online safety assessment tool gives school leaders a benchmark they can use in comparing their physical and information technology security plans with those of other schools or districts across the U.S. 08/24/07
More Students Taking Longer to Finish High School
Faced with 70,000 students or more who are years behind in earning the required credits to graduate from high school, New York City school officials have set up programs to help older students catch up and graduate. 08/23/07
Districts Offer Bonuses to Subs
Movie passes, store gift certificates, and cash bonuses are just some of the incentives school districts are offering substitute teachers these days to lure them to their schools. 08/22/07
Tonsillectomies Could Cure ADHD Behavior
Doctors are finding that the behavior of some hyperactive children improves after their tonsils are removed. Once the swollen tonsils are gone, children are able to sleep better and so are less irritable and distractible. 08/21/07
Kids Use Social Networking for Education
A recent study showed that about 60 percent of students who use online social networking sites discuss education-related topics while online. The study suggests social networking sites could play a greater role in education. 08/20/07
U.S. Turns to Britain for School Improvement Ideas
Sir Michael Barber, a senior adviser to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has been talking to school officials in the U.S. about school improvement strategies. Barber's top suggestion: Improve teacher quality. 08/17/07
Governor Calls for Internet Safety Training for Teachers
New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine has called for Internet safety training for teachers and has asked the state attorney general and education commissioner to begin the process this school year. 08/16/07
Teachers Could Earn More for Police Training, Carrying Guns
Education officials in Nevada have proposed giving bonus pay to teachers -- from kindergarten to college -- who undergo training to serve as armed reserve school police officers. 08/15/07
Students to Talk With Shuttle Crew
Twenty students are slated to ask questions during a live downlink scheduled for August 16 with Endeavour mission specialists Barbara Morgan, a former teacher, and Richard Mastracchio. The downlink will be live on NASA TV . 08/14/07
Unclaimed Property Auction Raises $817,000 for Schools
An auction in Florida of unclaimed property from abandoned safe deposit boxes yielded $817,000 for the state's public schools. The state's Bureau of Unclaimed Property schedules such auctions periodically. 08/13/07
Gestures Help Students Learn
Studies show that teachers who use gestures as they explain a concept do better at getting their ideas across, and students who gesture as they process new ideas tend to remember them longer. 08/10/07
Teacher Astronaut Blasts Into Space
Barbara Morgan, the former teacher turned astronaut, blasted into space Wednesday aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. Morgan is scheduled to talk with some students during the mission. 08/09/07
Four District High Schools Going Green
In what may be the largest solar power and energy-efficiency program in U.S. K-12 education, the San Jose school district is installing solar panels on four of its high schools and adding environmental studies to the curriculum. 08/08/07
H.S. to Test Students for Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Starting this fall, the York City (Pennsylvania) School District will provide sexually-transmitted-disease testing for all students at William Penn Senior High School. 08/07/07
Schools Urged to Connect Curriculum to Nature
Spurred by the national group Leave No Child Inside, more school districts are looking to connect their curriculum to outdoor activities, to encourage children to spend time away from the television and computers. 08/06/07
Program Teaches Parents to Help Children
Parents in many communities are learning how they can help their local schools and own children excel through a parent leadership institute called Parents for Public Schools. Graduates of the program help to mobilize other parents. 08/03/07
Kids' Letters Get Green Beans off Lunch Menu
Second graders from William V. Wright Elementary School in Las Vegas, Nevada, learned the power of the pen when their letters to the school lunch lady asking for different vegetables got green beans off the lunch menu. 08/02/07
Poll: Schools Spend More Time on Math, Reading
In response to the No Child Left Behind Act, schools are spending more time on math and reading and less time in elementary schools on social studies, science, art, music, and gym, a poll showed. 08/01/07
Students Helping to Recruit Teachers
The Prince George's County, Maryland, school system is using appeals from its students in an ad campaign to lure teachers for the nearly 800 jobs the district needs to fill before school reopens. 07/31/07
School District Striving to Go Paperless
Officials in the Dallastown (Pennsylvania) Area School District are moving as many memos, minutes, and notices as possible to the Internet in an effort to save paper and money. 07/30/07
Boys Face Charges for Slapping Backsides
Two Oregon middle-school students are facing possible time in a juvenile jail and may have to register as sex offenders for swatting girls on the backside at school. The two boys said the swats were a type of greeting many students used. 07/27/07
Online Summer School a Hit With Teens
More school districts are allowing students who failed a course to "attend" summer school online, giving youngsters the flexibility to study as well as work, attend camp, or go on vacation. 07/26/07
Want to Drive? Stay in School
An Illinois state law that went into effect July 1 allows the state to revoke the drivers' licenses of students who have more than 18 unexcused absences from school, are expelled, or drop out. 07/25/07
Father's Math Books Get High Marks
A Michigan father determined to help his sons' math grades improve rewrote their math textbooks, and then went on to write a math curriculum that has grown to 14 textbooks. 07/24/07
Kids, Parents Learn Together
Harborside Elementary School in Chula Vista, California, "enrolls" parents of Spanish-speaking students so parents and children can learn to read and speak English together. 07/23/07
Fewer Children Walking, Biking to School
Fewer than half of U.S. children who live close to school regularly walk or ride a bike to classes, a new study says. Safety concerns and the increase in the number of kids commuting by car to school are partly behind the trend. 07/20/07
Teacher Who Sold Drugs Gets License Back
A Connecticut teacher who lost his license four years ago for selling a small amount of cocaine was reinstated, after the state's board of education reviewed his record and heard positive testimony from colleagues. 07/19/07
Student Files Suit Over Blog Entry
A high school student barred from running for class office after she called administrators a derogatory term on a non-school-related blog is accusing school officials of violating her free speech rights. 07/18/07
Schools to Give Lessons in Feelings
Officials in Great Britain plan to offer students lessons in how to manage their feelings and resolve conflicts without fighting as part of broader initiatives to improve classroom behavior. 07/17/07
Nutrition Education Has Little Influence on Kids' Eating Habits
While the U.S. government will spend more than $1 billion this year on nutrition education to encourage children to eat better and lose weight, studies show the programs have little effect. 07/16/07
Former Students Salute Retiring Teacher
When Jim Burns retired after 40 years of teaching fifth and sixth grades in three Philadelphia schools, more than two dozen former students came to his retirement party to thank him for believing in them. 07/13/07
'Pay-to-Plug' Rules Gaining Ground
Several Michigan school districts are requiring employees who bring in fans, space heaters, refrigerators, and other small devices to pay a fee to offset the electricity those appliances use. 07/12/07
Summer Science Attracts Scholars
About 200 Shelby County (Tennessee) students are immersing themselves in math and science this summer, through the two-week-long Shelby Scholars Summer Institute. 07/11/07
Cosby Tells Teachers-to-Be: 'You Hold the Key'
Bill Cosby told aspiring teachers in Philadelphia that molding children in the classroom and giving them the skills to be upstanding citizens helps ensure that they do not get caught up in the city's cycle of violence. 07/10/07
More Schools Adopt Growth Models
A movement is growing to amend the federal No Child Left Behind Act to allow alternative assessments of student progress such as growth models. About 24 states have moved to growth models. 07/09/07
Spellings Calls for Flexibility in Assessing Schools
U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has proposed differentiating under NCLB between schools that are close to meeting state standards and those that are "...chronic underperformers." 07/06/07
Debate Grows about Separating Twins in School
While assigning twins to separate classes in school was standard practice for years, many educators and parents now are questioning whether separate classes are best for the children. 07/05/07
Education Department Awards Teacher-Training Funds
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $22.1 million for 41 grants through the Transition to Teaching program to increase the pool of qualified teachers in high-need schools by recruiting non-traditional teacher candidates. 07/03/07
Report: Bullies May Have Sleep Disorder
Children who bully other children may have a sleep disorder, a study says. The study found that bullies were more than twice as likely to have sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD), which can disrupt sleep. 07/02/07
Supreme Court Rejects School Diversity Plans
A divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that race cannot be a factor in the assignment of children to public schools. The ruling could affect existing school-desegregation programs. 06/29/07
School District Brings College to High Schools
To encourage more students to attend college and help make it more affordable, the Arlington (Texas) school district will be offering college-level courses in modular centers at each of its six high schools. 06/28/07
Student Gives Home-Buying Seminar for Teachers
After hearing some teachers say that they couldn't afford to buy homes in the Oakland, California, area, Huber Trenado, 18, organized a seminar on home-buying tools for teachers as his senior project at MetWest High School. 06/27/07
Kids Race to NASCAR Math
Fourth grade teacher Tom Baughman decided to capitalize on his students' interest in racing and developed a program called NASCAR Math. Students "race" to complete tasks involving calculations and measurement. 06/26/07
Parents, Teachers Want NCLB Fixed
Despite criticisms, parents and educators would rather fix than nix the federal No Child Left Behind law, which in part requires all children to be academically "proficient" by 2014.06/25/07
Thousands of 'Failing' Schools Face Restructuring
About 2,300 U.S. schools are either in restructuring under the federal No Child Left Behind Act or are a year away and are planning for such drastic action as firing the principal and moving many of the teachers. 06/22/07
Schools to Pay Cash for Good Grades
Some New York City students could receive as much as $500 a year for good grades, attendance, and behavior next year, as part of a proposed cash incentive program under review by school and city officials. 06/21/07
Summer Reading Lists Draw Fire
As schools roll out their summer reading lists, some of the choices are prompting complaints from parents and students, who say that the material in some books is too graphic for teens. 06/20/07
Backlash Grows Against 'Zero Tolerance'
Lawmakers in several states are saying that strict "zero tolerance" policies for certain offenses in schools have resulted in many punishments that lack common sense, and they are seeking to loosen the restrictions. 06/19/07
Middle-School Class Teaches Baby Care
A six-week class called Crib Notes at Lincoln Middle School in Pontiac, Michigan, teaches students how to keep babies alive through healthful and proper eating, sleeping, and living habits.06/18/07
Canceled Student Play about Iraq Draws Attention
After the principal of Wilton (Connecticut) High School canceled a performance of a student- written-and-performed-play about the Iraq war, several professional theater companies offered to host the production. 06/15/07
Students Fill In for Guidance Counselors
A shortage of guidance counselors at Oakland (California) Technical High School prompted some students to train as peer counselors. They talk to classmates about the college application process. 06/14/07
More Schools Adopt Fitness Breaks
To meet a federal mandate for increased supervised physical activity in schools, more schools are scheduling fitness workouts between lessons. Some students work out to exercise videos. 06/13/07
Parents Seek Classroom Webcams
Some parents in the United Kingdom said they wished their children's classrooms had Webcams so they could monitor their children and gain a better understanding of what they are learning. 06/12/07
Report: State Standards Vary Widely
What students must learn to be deemed academically proficient varies drastically from state to state, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Education. Critics say common standards are needed. 06/11/07
Teacher Cleared of Exposing Kids to Porn
A substitute teacher who faced up to 40 years in jail for not shielding her students from pornography on her computer has been granted a new trial. The computer was infected with spyware that caused pop-up ads to take over the screen. 06/08/07
Students Denied Diplomas after Graduation Cheers
Five Galesburg (Illinois) High School seniors who were denied their diplomas because audience members cheered for them during graduation ceremonies are trying to reach an agreement with school officials. 06/07/07
Mixed Reviews for Early Reading First
The federal Early Reading First program has had a positive effect on preschooler's print and letter knowledge, but no impact on phonological awareness, according to a recent study. 06/06/07
Bill Would Ban Sugary, Fatty Snacks from Schools
A bill in the Massachusetts legislature would prohibit the sale of fatty and sugary foods from school vending machines, bake sales, and fund-raisers. The bill also would ban corporate food and soda advertising in schools.06/05/07
Students Learn to Plan for Future
Michigan students are planning for their futures through mandatory Educational Development Plans. The program involves exploring careers, choosing a broad "career pathway" of possible occupations, and working on a portfolio that shows their achievements. 06/04/07
WiFi in Schools Generates Concern
The chairman of Britain’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) is calling for an investigation of potential health risks linked to radiation from wireless Internet networks in schools. 06/01/07
Dads Enlisted to Help Girls With Bullying
The Canberra (Australia) Girls Grammar School is reaching out to fathers to get them more involved with their daughters' lives and to encourage fathers to talk with their daughters about issues such as bullying. 05/31/07
Memorial Fund Pays for Students to Visit Arlington
The parents of Steven Szwydek, a Marine killed in Iraq who attended high school in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, established a fund in his memory to pay for area high school students to visit Arlington National Cemetery. 05/30/07
U.S. Spends Average of $8,701 Per Student
The U.S. spent an average of $8,701 per student to educate its children in 2005, according to the Census Bureau. New York spent the most per pupil, $14,119. 05/29/07
'Gradcasts' Bring Graduation to You
More schools are making arrangements to broadcast events such as high school graduations -- known as "gradcasts" -- via live streaming video. The technology allows more people to view the event. 05/25/07
Global Warming Project Connects Students Worldwide
Students from around the world collaborated on possible solutions to global warming through the Global Challenge, a Vermont-based contest that paired U.S. students with pupils from Japan, China, India, and Mexico. 05/24/07
Parents Don't Need Lawyers to Sue for Kids' Needs
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that parents of special education students do not have to hire lawyers in order to sue their school districts to ensure their children's needs are met. 05/23/07
Students Help Create Black History Book
Several students from Doris M. Johnson High School in Maryland researched local and state black history and wrote a paperback book about their findings. Several state and local agencies helped fund the project. 05/22/07
Students Build, Launch Rockets into Space
Students in Fredericksburg (Texas) High School's principles of technology class learn to build and launch rockets. This year students planned to launch two rockets to the edge of space with research payloads. 05/21/07
Study: Students Show Little Gain from Tutoring
While the Chicago Public Schools spent $50 million in federal money on after-school tutoring for 56,000 students last year, students showed very small gains on state tests. 05/18/07
Students Feast on Food Grown at School
Students in the Bloomfield, Connecticut, school district are eating a variety of fresh foods, some which they are helping to grow, as part of a program to use locally-grown food in schools. 05/17/07
Teacher Focuses Students on High ACT Scores
Tennessee math teacher J.R. Sparks formed the Whitehaven 30+ Club to motivate his students. To join, a student must score at least 30 out of 36 on one or more parts of the ACT college entrance exam. 05/16/07
Teachers, Students Share Web Space
Some teachers in Delaware are communicating with students through MySpace and Facebook about school activities and assignments. Sometimes teachers and students connect just to chat. 05/15/07
Internet Safety High Priority for Parents
Keeping their children safe while using the Internet is now among the top ten concerns of parents, according to a recent poll. Twenty-six percent of parents cited Internet safety as their top child-rearing problem. 05/14/07
Study: Too Much TV Detrimental to All Age Kids
Two new studies in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine say that many very young children are watching TV regularly and teens who watch too much TV are more likely to be poor students. 05/11/07
Court Upholds School Cell Phone Ban
A New York state court upheld a New York City school system regulation banning students from having cell phones in public schools. Several parents had sued to have the ban overturned. 05/10/07
Concerns Grow Over School Bus Fumes
States are seeking funds to replace or retrofit the diesel engines on many of their school buses. Congress had promised $1 billion over five years to help states clean up diesel fleets, including school buses, but the money has yet to appear. 05/09/07
State Urges Expanded Use of Comic Books in Class
Maryland's top educator is encouraging teachers to use comic books to inspire students to read. The state has been working with Disney, which took Maryland's reading standards and created comics-based lesson plans.05/08/07
Registration Opens for Summer Workshops
Teachers can register for the U.S. Department of Education's fourth annual summer workshops, where teachers share successful strategies with other teachers. The free workshops are held in different parts of the U.S. 05/07/07
House Approves More Funding for Head Start
The U.S. House approved $7.4 billion for Head Start in 2008, up from this year's $6.9 billion allocation. Democrats also voted down a proposal to allow religious groups to take religion into account in hiring Head Start staff. 05/04/07
Parents to Grade Schools
The New York City Department of Education plans to send surveys to the families of the 1.1 million students in the public school system so that the children and their parents can rate school performance. 05/03/07
Districts Privatizing Substitute Services
Several school districts in Michigan are privatizing their substitute teaching services by hiring a company to recruit and assign substitutes. 05/02/07
Schools Banning iPods
A growing number of schools are banning digital media players because students can download information onto the devices and access the material during tests. 05/01/07
Billionaires Commit $60 Million to Raise Education Awareness
Billionaires Bill Gates and Eli Broad plan to commit $60 million to raise awareness of education issues during the 2008 presidential campaign through an effort Called Strong American Schools. 04/30/07
Nine States Could Craft Common Math Test
Nine states have agreed to develop common standards and a common exam for a high-school-level algebra II course. They are Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. 04/27/07
Hispanic Children Less Prepared for Kindergarten
A new study indicates that Hispanic children significantly lag behind white children in terms of kindergarten readiness, and because of that, achieve at lower levels throughout school. 04/26/07
No "F" Rule Benches More Kids
Nearly three times as many high school athletes and music students were sidelined after the fall marking period under Iowa's "no pass, no play" law than a year ago. 04/25/07
Secondary Schools Go Green
About 200 new British secondary schools will be "green" under a new government plan. In addition, all secondary schools would be in line for renovations to work toward achieving carbon-neutral standards by the end of the next decade. 04/24/07
Small Schools Require More Hours
As small high schools become increasingly popular in the U.S., many educators say the model does not work without teachers willing to shoulder 60-to-70-hour weeks. 04/23/07
Teachers Propose Merit Pay Plan
A year-long study by a group of 18 master teachers concluded that it is time for meaningful performance pay incentives for teachers. 04/20/07
Paige Book Critical of Teachers’ Unions
Former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige writes in his new book, The War Against Hope: How Teachers' Unions Hurt Children, Hinder Teachers, and Endanger Public Education, that unions are "arrogant" and "destructive." 04/19/07
Bush: NCLB Meant to Help, Not Punish Schools
President Bush, acknowledging public frustration over the No Child Left Behind Act, said the point of the law is not to punish struggling schools, but to help them. 04/16/07
Portables Face Test Under Noise Law
Portable classrooms in the Colchester, Connecticut, school district are the first to face scrutiny under the state's new noise standards for classrooms.04/13/07
Students Sue Antiplagiarism Web Site
Four students from McLean (Virginia) High School are suing the antiplagiarism Web site Turnitin, arguing that they shouldn't have to surrender their rights to their homework. 04/12/07
Principals' Salaries Fall Behind Cost of Living
Salaries for U.S. principals and assistant principals continue to rise, but they still do not keep pace with increases in the cost of living, according to a report from Educational Research Service (ERS). 04/11/07
H.S. Students Teach Elementary Lessons in Spanish
Once a month, about a dozen Spanish language students from duPont Manual High School in Kentucky come to Hawthorne Elementary School and conduct lessons about different subjects with the younger students in Spanish. 04/10/07
Study: Software No Help for Reading, Math Scores
A study on the effectiveness of education technology found achievement scores were no higher in classrooms using reading and math software products than in classrooms without the new products. 04/09/07
New Testing Standards for Students With Disabilities
New regulations under NCLB will allow states to test certain students with disabilities using an alternate assessment that more appropriately aligns with students’ needs and yields more meaningful results for schools and parents. 04/06/07
Students Get Laptops Instead of Books
As part of Bolton (Louisiana) High School's push to an all-digital curriculum, many of the students next fall will be getting laptops instead of textbooks. 04/05/07
Are Children Praised Too Much?
Trying to bolster children's self-esteem with too much praise can give children a sense of entitlement and make them self-centered, some experts warn. 04/04/07
NCLB Taxing Testing Companies
Delays and errors in scoring state tests are likely to get worse as a handful of testing companies struggle to meet the demands of the No Child Left Behind Act. 04/03/07
Pay-for-Performance Adopted for Principals
All principals in the Pittsburgh Public Schools will be on pay-for-performance contracts at the start of the next school year, as part of the superintendent’s plan to make employees more accountable. 04/02/07
Daycare Affects Later Vocabulary, Behavior
A child care study concluded that children in quality child care before kindergarten had better vocabulary scores in the fifth grade than did those who did not. But the more time that children spent in child care, the more likely their sixth-grade teachers were to report problem behavior.03/30/07
Grants Would Boost Adolescent Literacy
A proposed federal bill calls for providing grants to states and districts to create literacy programs specifically for middle and high school students. The bill would help ensure that students at risk of dropping out because they read below grade level receive help to earn a high school diploma.03/29/07
More Struggling Schools Extend the Day
Facing low test scores and the threat of federal sanctions, more struggling schools are extending the school day and year to help students meet standards. 03/28/07
School Uses Humor as a Learning Tool
A program at the Melbourne (Australia) Girls' College uses a comedian to learn what makes ninth-grade girls laugh and to teach them how to use humor as a survival skill. 03/27/07
State Takes Over St. Louis Schools
The Missouri State Board of Education voted to take control of the St. Louis Public Schools because of the district's financial, administrative, and student achievement failures. The district's cumulative debt in 2006 was almost $25 million. 03/26/07
States Note Benefits of Pre-K
Research highlighting the importance of early learning is prompting more and more states to add pre-kindergarten programs. While many states offer free pre-kindergarten to low-income children, some are considering expanding the programs to all families.03/23/07
Music Improves Language Sensitivity
Playing a musical instrument at a young age significantly enhances the brainstem's sensitivity to speech sounds, according to a study by Northwestern University researchers. 03/22/07
Are Schools Becoming Too Restrictive?
The number of rules banning, limiting, or deterring potentially inappropriate or dangerous actions in schools is steadily growing, some students, and even administrators, complain. School officials say they have become more cautious in a security-and-lawsuit-conscious society. 03/21/07
Students Step to Success
Some schools in Maryland are using stepping -- a combination of dance, cheerleading, and military marching -- to encourage African-American youngsters to excel academically, appreciate their history, and inspire them to go to college.03/20/07
What Are the Benefits of Many Hands Clapping?
Some second- and third-grade students at the Montessori Community School in Salt Lake City, Utah, are learning the Chinese exercise qigong, which involves vigorous hand clapping. Teachers reported that students who tried it performed better and behaved better.03/19/07
Students Get Hands-On Lessons on Solar Power
Entheos Academy in Utah has been teaching its students about renewable energy sources since officials installed solar panels on the school roof. Students can monitor how weather and other factors affect energy generation throughout the day. 03/16/07
Is NCLB's Goal Unreachable?
As Congress debates renewing the No Child Left Behind Act, some are questioning whether to abandon the law's goal of having every child proficient in reading and math by 2014. 03/15/07
Top Court to Hear Landmark Student Speech Case
The Supreme Court is due to hear the most important student free-speech case in more than 30 years. At issue is the slogan "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" a student held during a parade. 03/14/07
Schools Targeting Sleep Habits
More schools are working to educate parents about the importance of children getting enough sleep and the negative impact of sleep deprivation on schoolwork. 03/13/07
Parents Pay to Pull Kids from School
School officials in the Scotts Valley, California, district grew weary of parents taking children out of school for vacations, and now charge parents $36.13 for each missed school day. 03/12/07
Doctors Oppose Drug-Testing Kids
The American Academy of Pediatrics has said it opposes schools and parents testing children for drug use because testing can erode trust and the results are not always reliable. 03/09/07
Senate Leaders Seek Math, Science Education Funds
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has proposed a bill designed to bolster American "competitiveness" by increasing federal investments in math, science, and technology education and research. 03/08/07
Suburban Kids Tutor Urban Students
Tutors from suburban Farmington (Connecticut) H.S. spent one day a week for two months tutoring students at Hartford's McDonough Elementary School for the state's high-stakes tests. 03/07/07
Schools Cutting Out Homework
Some San Francisco Bay (California) Area schools are reducing or eliminating homework, citing concerns that too much homework is causing students stress and not contributing to student achievement. 03/06/07
High School Students Report Boredom
A majority of U.S. high school students report they get bored in class every day, and more than one out of five has considered dropping out, according to a recent survey. 03/05/07
Study: Sixth Graders Do Better in Elementary School
Sixth graders perform better in elementary schools than middle schools, according to a recent study. Sixth graders in middle schools had more discipline problems and lower test scores than sixth-graders in elementary schools.03/02/07
Apple CEO Blasts Teacher Unions
Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs blasted teacher unions, saying pubic schools have become "unionized in the worst possible way" and the key to improving schools is giving principals the authority to fire bad teachers. 03/01/07
District Using Lunch Stats to Balance Schools
In a process Boulder Valley (Colorado) District officials are calling de-stratification, they are aiming to have 20 percent of each school's enrollment be free-and-reduced-price lunch students. 02/28/07
New Warnings for ADHD Drugs
Drugs prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) soon will include guides to alert patients and parents of the risks of mental and heart problems, including sudden death. 02/27/07
States Weigh Longer School Day
With more to do and federal requirements to meet, some states and districts have increased the length of the school day, an idea catching the attention of Congress. 02/26/07
Bill Would Prohibit Teachers from Airing Views
A bill proposed in the Arizona legislature would forbid instructors in public schools or colleges from advocating or opposing a political candidate or one side of a social, political, or cultural issue that is part of a partisan debate. 02/23/07
Are U.S. High School Grades Inflated?
While 12th grade reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress continue to decline, grade-point averages for seniors are increasing, according to a study. 02/22/07
District Tests Students' Tech Literacy
Williamson County (Tennessee) School officials have implemented a technology literacy test for eighth graders, to ensure students have the necessary skills for high school work. 02/21/07
Panel Calls for Tougher NCLB Standards
A bipartisan panel is calling for NCLB to judge teachers and principals by their students’ test scores and to prevent chronically ineffective educators from working in high-poverty schools. 02/20/07
Teacher’s Web Content Scrutinized
A San Diego Unified School District investigation into a middle school instructor's personal Web content has raised debate about teachers' right to privacy and what districts can or cannot do to regulate their online activities.02/16/07
Role-Playing Game Hooks Kids on History
A Chicago’s teacher built lessons around a role-playing game that enables students to create digital characters and work together to re-create the Roman Empire and the historical Chicago neighborhood of Bronzeville. 02/15/07
Bilingualism Sharpens Brains
People who are bilingual are better able to focus and ignore distractions, according to a recent study. Bilingualism also can help delay the onset of dementia as people age. 02/14/07
State Approves Vouchers for All Students
The Utah legislature approved one of the nation's broadest voucher programs, allotting up to $3,000 for any public school student to put toward private school tuition. 02/13/07
Parents Could Face Fines for Skipping Teacher Meetings
A bill proposed in the Texas legislature would charge parents of public school students with a misdemeanor and fine them for missing a scheduled parent-teacher conference.02/12/07
Proposal Would Link Diplomas, Voter Registration
A California state assemblyman is proposing that high school students be required to register to vote in order to receive a diploma. If this becomes law, starting with the class of 2010, students who are 18 and U.S. citizens would be required to submit proof of registration to the school.02/09/07
Spellings Calls for NCLB Expansion
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings wants Congress to broaden the No Child Left Behind Act in high schools when lawmakers vote later this year on whether to reauthorize the plan. Such an expansion would represent an unprecedented federal role in public education.02/08/07
Higher Salaries Led to Higher Scores
When several Maryland districts used some of their state aid to raise teachers' salaries over a three-year span, student test scores increased as well. 02/07/07
States Turn to Mentoring Programs to Keep Teachers
States all across the U.S. are considering spending millions of dollars on mentoring programs for new teachers, aiming to prevent many educators from leaving the profession after a few years. 02/06/07
Parents Could Face Fines for Skipping Teacher Meetings
A bill proposed in the Texas legislature would charge parents of public school students with a misdemeanor and fine them for
missing a scheduled parent-teacher conference. 02/05/07
Department of Ed Puts Check Register Online
In a move to encourage financial transparency, the Texas Education Agency, the state's department of education, decided to post its check register online.02/02/07
Popular Reading Program Under Fire
Some parents are criticizing the popular Accelerated Reader program for providing more incentives for students to read popular novels than classic literature. In one Maryland middle school, students could earn more points for reading a Nancy Drew mystery than Macbeth.02/01/07
School to Test for Weekend Drinking
Officials at Pequannock (New Jersey) Township High Schoolplan to start administering random alcohol tests to students that can detect if someone consumed alcohol as much as 80 hours earlier. 01/31/07
Team Sports Vanishing from PE Classes
More schools are shifting the emphasis in physical education classes away from team sports to physical fitness, in the hope that students will find activities they like and will continue to do to stay fit as they get older. 01/30/07
Teachers' Bonuses Raise Ire
The first round of teacher bonuses in the Houston (Texas) Independent School District left many teachers angry and confused about the criteria for determining who received bonuses and how much. 01/29/07
Struggling Principals Face Dismissal
Under a plan proposed by the Chicago Public Schools’ system, struggling principals would receive help, and if their performance did not improve in a year, they could face dismissal. 01/26/07
Wealth Is Tops on Youth Priority List
A recent survey of college freshmen in the U.S. indicated that about 75 percent of those polled thought it was essential or very important to be very well off financially. 01/25/07
Helping Special Ed Students Adapt to Mainstream Classes
Parents, teachers, and others at a Manchester, Connecticut, school work together to make a fifth grade special education student's transition to a mainstream class successful. 01/24/07
District Pays Students for Reaching Proficiency
Students in grades three to six in the Coshocton, Ohio, school district earn monetary rewards for reaching proficiency on state assessment tests. 01/23/07
Fifth, Ninth Graders Get Mental Health Screenings
Beginning this month, fifth and ninth graders in Cortland County, New York, schools will be screened for mental health problems. Parents must give permission for the screenings. 01/22/07
Bedtime Stories Help Reading Skills
Continuing to read stories to children at bedtime -- or anytime -- after they start school improves their reading skills, according to a study by the United Kingdom’s National Literacy Trust. Often parents spend less time reading to children once they enroll in school.01/19/07
Study Raises Doubts about K-8s
Just as many urban districts are weighing eliminating middle schools, a study by researchers at John Hopkins University concluded that expanding elementary schools to sixth, seventh, and eighth grades does not help adolescents do better academically. 01/18/07
Call for 'Marshall Plan'for Middle Schools
A coalition of community groups is calling for the New York City Department of Education to develop a “Marshall Plan for middle-grade schools,” saying that often the sixth through eighth grades become “pathways to failure.” 01/17/07
Class Preps Kids in Life Skills
Students at U.L. Light Middle School in Barberton, Ohio, learn to set goals and analyze obstacles in a life-skills character education class. 01/16/07
H.S. Physics Enrollment at Record Level
More U.S. high-school students are taking physics than ever before, and the number of physics bachelor's degree recipients has increased 31 percent since 2000, according to a recent report. 01/15/07
Teens Rediscover Third-Grade Perspectives
A group of Huntington (New York) High School seniors got a blast from the past when they read letters they had written to themselves in third grade. Their third grade teacher made a surprise visit to the high school to deliver the letters.01/12/07
Cocoa and Cramming Eases Freshmen Into Midterms
To help ease freshmen into midterm season, Middletown (Connecticut) High School hosted a Cocoa and Cramming event, where students snacked, studied, and met with teachers for extra help. 01/11/07
Changes Coming to Military Database
The Department of Defense has agreed to change the database it uses for military recruitment efforts to better protect the privacy of millions of U.S. high school students. 01/10/07
Report Calls for Cutting Teacher Provisions
A report from the Education Sector says that cutting provisions in teachers' contracts, such as seniority pay raises, could free up more money for student instruction. 01/09/07
More Mayors Seek Control of Schools
With many urban schools continuing to struggle and politicians under increasing pressure to improve them, more mayors are seeking to take control of their local school systems. 01/08/07
Bush Seeks Talks on NCLB
President Bush plans to meet with legislators next week to kick off talks over the renewal of the No Child Left Behind education law. The law is five years old this year. 01/05/07
School Shooting Leaves One Dead
A student at Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington, was shot dead Wednesday morning. Another student was arrested in connection with the shooting. Classes were canceled for the rest of the day. 01/04/07
Punctuation Playtime Hooks Kids
Punctuation Playtime, an interactive assembly program aimed at first- through fourth-graders, helps students learn how to use correct punctuation in sentences for their corresponding skill level.01/03/07
Break Extended to Accommodate Immigrants
The Santa Ana, California, district has added a week to its December break, to make it easier for the district's many Hispanic families to visit relatives over the holidays. 01/02/07
