Education News: June 25, 2010

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending on June 25, 2010.

School Librarian Jobs at Risk
(Education Week, June 24th) As the school budget crisis continues, many school librarians find themselves unemployed. With administrators facing huge budget cuts across the country, librarians have been branded as “luxuries.” Based on a survey administered by the American Association of School Administrators, it is expected that about 19 percent of school districts will have fewer librarians next year. School advocates are concerned about the impact of the cuts, stressing the importance of “information literacy” to student success in college.

Smaller Schools Help New York City Students Graduate
(USA Today, June 23rd) Under New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, many of the city’s large failing schools have been replaced by smaller institutions. Advocates of the overhaul have argued that the smaller schools provide the one-on-one attention that struggling students need. With a recent study by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation showing improving graduation rates in the city, proponents of the overhaul say that they now have proof of its success.

Maryland Adopts Common Core Standards s
(Washington Post , June 22nd) On Tuesday, the Maryland Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the common core standards. The standards, released early this month, are part of a state-driven movement to create a set of national expectations for math and reading. The common core standards have received support from all states, with the exception of Texas and Alaska.

Unanimous Decision Results in San Francisco School Cuts
(San Francisco Chronicle, June 23rd) Facing a $113 million dollar spending gap, the San Francisco School Board announced the approval of several budget cuts and layoffs. Following months of public debate, the decision came after a unanimous vote on Tuesday. With rising schooling costs and limited funding, the board said that they made a tough but necessary decision.

Report Shows Drop in California’s Graduation Rates
(San Francisco Chronicle, June 21st) Despite a 3.1% increase in the national graduation rate from 1997-2007, California’s graduation rate dropped significantly during that period of time. The data, part of Education Week's recent "Diplomas Count" study, has Californians concerned about their children’s future in a struggling economy.

Illinois Board in Favor of Cuts
(Education Week, June 24th) On Wednesday, the Illinois Board of Education voted in favor of nearly $300 million in school budget cuts. Originally facing cuts of up to $480 million, the board was relieved when Governor Pat Quinn offered an addition $194 million to prevent significant layoffs in childhood and bilingual education.