Education News: April 6, 2007

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending April 6, 2007.

Special Education Tests Are Expanded
(Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/5/07): New regulations related to No Child Left Behind will allow thirty percent (as opposed to ten percent currently) of special education students to be given tests that differ from standard tests during NCLB exams. Educators across the board support this new development because it gives students with disabilities a fairer shot at success and schools a better chance to pass the test overall.

Detroit to Close 34 Schools in ‘07
(Source: The Detroit News, 4/5/07): In a raucous meeting on Wednesday, the Detroit School Board voted 6-5 to close 34 schools in 2007 to address the current $200 million deficit and the rapidly declining numbers of students in schools. During the hotly contested decision, the board vice-president was assaulted with an object from an audience member who was then ejected from the session.

Wealthy Connecticut School District Starts to Grapple with Racial Imbalance
(Source: The New York Times, 4/4/07): The Greenwich, Connecticut school district is facing the state’s warning list for a third year in a row because of racial imbalance in its schools. The district, divided between more and less affluent neighborhoods, contains unbalanced schools, which goes against the state law that schools reflect diversity of town inhabitants. Busing and planned integration have some parents up in arms.

Texas Lawmaker Wants Bible to be Used as Textbook in State’s Public Schools
(Source: Fox News, 4/4/07): Republican Warren Chisum of the Texas House of Representatives is sponsoring a bill that would allow public school classes in Texas to study the Bible as an historical and literary document. Opponents of the bill say that classes will inevitably end up being taught from a Protestant perspective.

High Court Ruling Brings Huge Change for Girls Sports
(Source: The Detroit News, 4/3/07): Communities for Equity won against the Michigan High School Athletic Association in a landmark refusal by the Supreme Court to re-hear the case this week. The decision to support a lower court’s pronouncement is being lauded by many people across the state of Michigan for allowing girls more resources and better schedules, despite the fact that this will take some resources away from male sports.

Alabama Dropout Initiative Struggling
(Source: MSNBC, 4/3/07): A program run by the National Guard in Alabama is smarting from a 70% drop-out rate and a high turnover in administration. The program seeks to instill military discipline in students while helping them achieve their high school equivalency degree. The second session of the program opens in July.

Contractor Evaluating Own Reading Program
(Source: CNN, 4/1/07): RMC Research Corp., the company that helped design the Reading First program that is used as part of the No Child Left Behind Act, was recently discovered to be a part of the panel reviewing the effectiveness of the program. Congress is opening an inquiry into the issue.

How Much School Does $154.6 Million Buy?
(Source: The Boston Globe, 4/1/07): Newton North High School in Massachusetts is constructing a new building to replace the one that is currently there—at a total cost of over $150 million dollars. While the school will have state-of-the-art features, it is being criticized by some town residents as being too showy and expensive.