Education News: May 4, 2007

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending May 4, 2007.

Seeing No Progress, Some Schools Drop Laptops
(Source: The New York Times, 5/4/07): Many schools that instituted student laptop programs several years ago are now discontinuing the programs due to expense of repairs, a lack of evidence that the programs increase academic achievement, and other problems. The schools had originally sought to better prepare their students for life in a technology-driven world, but were displeased with the results.

Grasmick Urges Expanded Use of Comics in Reading
(Source: The Baltimore Sun, 5/3/07): Maryland Superintendent Nancy Grasmick is encouraging elementary and middle schools to use comic books as another medium to educate students. She feels that comic books reach out to a core segment of students whose reading skills stand to benefit from more practice.

Jarvis Exits School District
(Source: The Times-Picayune, 5/2/07): Robin Jarvis, the superintendent of the Recovery School District in Louisiana, announced her resignation on Tuesday, leaving many to speculate that Paul Vallas, the superintendent of Philadelphia schools, will be tapped to fill the job.

Yield Documents, Lawmaker Tells White House
(Source: The New York Times, 5/2/07): Representative George Miller, the House leader of the education committee, asked the White House to turn over documents that pertain to the Reading First scandal in the ongoing investigation. Miller stated that senior officials overlooked a serious number of problems related to the program.

N.C.A.A. Cracks Down on Prep Schools and Angers Some
(Source: The New York Times, 5/1/07): The N.C.A.A. has passed a new rule that will allow students only one core course of study after four years in high school. The rule is intended to keep students from staying in high school to better their GPA’s, but many prep schools across the country are taking offense to this latest development.

Wisconsin Offers Guarantee of Higher Education
(Source: CNN, 4/30/07): Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle is touring the state to promote a plan called the Wisconsin Covenant. The Covenant stipulates that students earn at least a B average, prepare for college, and act as good citizens. In return, the government guarantees them a spot at a state school and a combination of financial aid, loans and work study.

How’d You Do in School Today?
(Source: The Washington Post, 4/30/07): Edline, an online program many schools are using to track grades and allow parents access to information about how their children are doing, has strong supporters and staunch detractors. While the flow of information has increased, some students feel that parents are now micromanaging their grades.

Chicago Schools Cut 775 Teachers
(Source: The Chicago Tribune, 4/28/07): Roughly 775 probationary teachers (full-time substitutes and non-tenured teachers) were fired from the Chicago school district on Friday. Under the current union contract, principals are able to fire probationary teachers with relative ease, but those interviewed said all the fired teachers were let go for just cause.