July 3, 2008

State Roundup

LA Department of Education finalizes grant program for ’ public school students who qualify for the recently enacted tuition grant program
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1215063593122540.xml&coll=1

Federal/NCLB

U.S. Department of Education turns down AK's request to have flexibility in meeting terms of NCLB
http://www.adn.com/education/story/454339.html

Other News

The U.S. Department of Education releases the first guide to the evaluation of online-learning programs in K-12 education
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/07/16/43edonline_web.h27.html

The NEA will decide whom to endorse in the presidential race, what position to take on revisions to NCLB and how to react to state and local proposals for merit pay, private school vouchers and public charter schools
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/02/AR2008070203531.html?nav=rss_education

July 2, 2008

School Funding Litigation/Policy

AL may have to tap into savings to fund schools next year
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/121498661250840.xml&coll=2

State Roundup

AZ Supreme Court OKs school vouchers
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0701vouchers0701.html

Study says OK is making progress in reading and math achievement in grade schools but needs to increase its number of college graduates
http://www.news-star.com/statenews/x2010601395/Education-report-mixed-on-Oklahomas-progress

WV takes action as schools spend more for bus fuel
http://www.dailymail.com/News/200807020189

Federal/NCLB

More GA pupils expect to receive free tutoring because of new NCLB flexibility
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/070208/met_464241.shtml

IN is one of six states to test revamped NCLB
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/LOCAL04/807020338/1002/LOCAL

MD gets leeway under NCLB
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/01/AR2008070101460.html?nav=rss_education

OH will try a new system to improve poor schools
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/07/02/accountability.ART_ART_07-02-08_A1_I8AKVH9.html?sid=101

Other News

NYC parents, teachers and students who responded to a Department of Education survey said they are satisfied with their schools
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/education/02survey.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Education  has “reached a really important crossroads” according to Education Secretary
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA.070208.1B.no-child.3c7ca9f.html

July 1, 2008

School Funding Litigation/Policy

PA legislature seems to take steps toward increasing state funding for school districts by $2.6 billion over the next six years
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080701_Rendell_gets_education_increase_in_budget.html

State Roundup

GA school districts spend thousands of dollars more than expected on summer school this year after failing math test scores sent students scrambling for extra help
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/30/124582bcgsummerschool_ap.html?levelId=2300&

MN students score slightly higher on statewide achievement exams this year, but nearly two-thirds of high school juniors still failed to meet state math standards
http://www.twincities.com/ci_9738797?nclick_check=1

For the first time, TX eighth-graders must pass standardized exams in math and language arts to be promoted to high school automatically
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5865084.html

Federal/NCLB

Six states get an OK to write their own prescriptions for ailing schools under NCLB
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2008/07/01/6_states_to_design_own_plans_for_fixing_schools/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Education+news

Federal regulators hold NC to tougher academic requirements that probably will force more public schools to face costly penalties for failing to meet NCLB goals
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1126255.html

June 30, 2008

School Funding Litigation/Policy

State-mandated school finance changes, fierce competition for good teachers and soaring gas prices are combining to squeeze TX public education budgets this summer
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/063008dnmetskulbudgetcrunch.3dfc481.html

State Roundup

Education officials in districts throughout take aggressive steps to keep students in the classroom
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/29dropoutli.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Some TX schools and districts raise their academic rankings without actually improving student scores
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/062908dnmetratingloopholes.436a052.html

Federal/NCLB

Nearly all states continue to struggle in meeting NCLB’s academic targets for English-language learners in mathematics and reading, says Department of Education
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/07/16/43ell_web.h27.html

Other News

Senate Appropriations Committee approved a spending measure to eliminate funding for the Reading First program, and provide modest increases for other programs serving disadvantaged students and those in special education
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/27/43supplemental_web.h27.html

Teacher quality in disadvantaged schools has improved over this decade, largely because the district has focused on hiring inexperienced teachers with stronger academic backgrounds, says report
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/25/43chicago_web.h27.html?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss

Published Monday, Jul. 7, 2008