Education News: September 19, 2008

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending September 19, 2008.

Professor Suggests Affirmative Action Hinders Those It Means to Help
(Source: San Francisco Chronicle, September 14th, 2008)  Two years ago, Richard Sander, a law professor at UCLA, published controversial research suggesting that diversity seeking practices employed by law firms lead to higher failure rates of black lawyers when compared to those of white lawyers.  Now, Sander is preparing to conduct further research investigating whether affirmative action practices in law schools place beneficiaries into environments where they do not have sufficient preparation to succeed.

College Professor Puts Economics Textbook Online For Free
(Source: New York Times, September 14th, 2008)  While textbooks may often be vital to a class’ curriculum, teachers often forget about the exorbitant costs placed on their students.  To combat this moral hazard, one economics professor at Cal Tech has found various ways to avoid monopoly pricing of his new textbook. 

“No Child” Law Left Behind By Presidential Candidates
(Source: Washington Post, September 15th, 2008)  With the election drawing near, neither candidate has come out with a definitive plan regarding the “No Child Left Behind” law.  The law’s unpopularity and the candidates’ avoidance of all unnecessary risk have tabled discussions regarding McCain or Obama’s strategy for No Child’s future.

Parents of Students with Numerous Absences May Find Themselves in Court
(Source: Boston Globe, September 15th, 2008)  In Waterbury Connecticut, parents of chronically truant students are being forced to explain the absences in front of a probate judge.  The judge then determines the most effective action and can order various solutions such as extra tutoring or counseling.

Preparatory School in Yonkers Offers Hope to Disadvantaged Students
(Source: New York Times, September 16th, 2008)  Yonkers’ school district and the College Board have partnered to create a public school with a private school feel in an attempt to elevate the education level of the district, which had a history of financial trouble and underperformance.

Schools in Idaho Rely on Chess to Improve Reading and Math Skills
(Source: USA Today, September 19th, 2008)  A program called First Move, developed by America’s Foundation for Chess, has been adopted on a state-wide level in Idaho in an effort to improve reading and reading.  The program teaches chess to second- and third-graders with an aim to improve critical thinking skills, teach X and Y coordinates, etc.

In Denver, Mile High Parents Program Calls for Increased Parental Involvement
(Source: Denver Post, September 18th, 2008)   As part of a reform package in Denver, which has consistently stressed community involvement in schools, parents are now being urged to spend 5,280 minutes every school year with their kids doing some intentional activity such as reading or going to a museum.  Known as the Mile High Parents Program, families are encouraged to apply online where they can track the minutes they spend with their child and can earn prizes.

Chicago Students Use $157 Mil. in Scholarship Funds to Attend College
(Source: Chicago Tribune, September 18th, 2008)  Due to stepped up efforts to use scholarship money, Chicago’s public school spring graduates received a reported $157 million in college scholarships this year, nearly double the $82 million received last year.