Education News
Board leader: Howard U. remains strong
The chairman of Howard University’s Board of Trustees declared Monday that the school’s future is bright, rebutting concerns raised in another trustee’s scathing critique of the university’s leadership.
Read full article >>Pastry gun case: Request to clear school record turned down
Anne Arundel school officials turned down a request to expunge school records for a second-grade boy disciplined for chewing his Pop-Tart-like pastry into the shape of a gun, according to the family and a lawyer.
Read full article >>The bottom line on student tracking
In recent days I have published two pieces on the practice of grouping students by ability in schools, one post against and one post in favor of it. Here is a new piece on the subject in the form of a response to a story in Monday's New York Times, titled, "Grouping Students by Ability Regains Favor in Classroom." This post was written by Kevin Welner, director of the National Education Policy Center, housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education.
Former D.C. charter school employee pleads guilty to embezzling $75,000
A former temporary employee of a D.C. charter school pleaded guilty Monday to stealing more than $75,000 from the school, according to federal prosecutors.
Darlene Ford, 46, worked for three months in 2010 as an accountant in the finance department at César Chávez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Read full article >>Texas governor signs legislation to reduce standardized testing
Bending to popular outrage over high-stakes standardized testing, Gov. Rick Perry signed school reform legislation Monday that revamps high school graduation requirements and cuts the number of mandatory end-of-course exams from 15 to 5.
Record number of twins found in a single grade at one school
A little diversion from the school reform fare: An Illinois school has 24 sets of twins in a single grade.
This Associated Press story reports that the discovery was made by 11-year-old twins Luke and Ryan Novosel, who attend Highcrest Middle School in Wilmette, a northern suburb of Chicago, when they were looking around for a way to get into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Read full article >>Fairfax schools discipline changes follow steady decline in such cases
New discipline policies approved last week by the Fairfax County school board follow a steady decline in the number of such cases considered by the school district in recent years.
The substantial policy changes, the latest effort by the school system to address the evolving discipline process, are expected to reduce the number of suspensions and possible expulsions students face every year for the most serious offenses.
Read full article >>The Learning Network Blog: Year-End Roundup 2012-13 | Social Studies, History, Geography and Civics
A letter of critique from a Howard U. trustee
Editor’s note: Following is the text of a letter written by Howard University trustee Renee Higginbotham-Brooks. In the letter, disclosed Friday, she charges that the historically black university in Northwest Washington is “in genuine trouble” because of fiscal and management issues. Higginbotham-Brooks confirmed to The Post on Saturday that she wrote the letter, but declined further comment.
Read full article >>The Learning Network Blog: Found Poem Favorite | ‘I Cannot Tell’
Loudoun high-school graduate makes documentary about childhood cancer
Along with her maroon graduation gown, Taylor Klein planned to wear her most prized possession when she accepted her diploma from Broad Run High School on Sunday night — a blue-and-yellow bracelet honoring her neighbor, a little girl who fought two different cancers before she turned 5.
Read full article >>How cookie-cutter school reforms cement class, race divisions
Here is an insightful look at the consequences of corporate-influenced school reform on class and race divisions in this country. It was written by Natalie Hopkinson is a contributing writer to The Washington Post. You can reach her at NHopkinson@hotmail.com. Join her, Allison Brown Consulting and The Root DC for a discussion on race and class in D.C. public schools at noon on June 15 at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE in Washington D.C. This appeared on The Root DC.
Read full article >>Rival Proposals Show No Clear Path to ESEA Rewrite
