Education News: July 19, 2010

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

Education Secretary Duncan Calls for Action on School Funding
(USA Today, July 12) On July 9th, Secretary Arne Duncan pleaded with Congress to increase funding for schools before the beginning of classes in the fall. Without the increased funds, Duncan believes, schools may resort to firing thousands of teachers. Vehicles for finding and spreading the money have been few and far between. The House of Representatives proposed a cut to President Obama’s Race to the Top program in order to free up $10 billion to allocate to states and save nearly 140,000 teaching positions.

Teaching Jobs to be Cut in 75% of School Districts Nationwide
(Education News, July 15)  Coined as the ‘funding cliff,’ educators and administration officials fear the absence of money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funds were allocated during the previous year primarily to create new jobs while maintaining existing positions. However, even with the federal dollars, many districts were forced to fire teachers while limiting spending on academic materials. A new report conducted by the Center on Education Policy found that 75% of the country’s districts will be cutting teaching positions in coming 2010-11 academic year without additional funds.

Performance-based Employment Renders Uneven Response in Teaching Community\
(NPR, July 15) Numerous states have passed legislation that will make teacher’s job dependent on the collective performance of his/her students. While some in the profession believe the policy will bring about better results in the classroom, many are reticent about—and angered by—the regulation. Under a new Colorado law that will take effect in 2014, half of a teacher’s performance will be evaluated by his/her student achievement rates. Teachers around the country are voicing their struggle with education reform, especially when their jobs may be on the line.

New Lawsuit Requests Billions in Budget Increases for CA Schools
(L.A. Times, July 12) Education equality groups in California filed a lawsuit against the state and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Seeking billions of dollars in improvement, the groups claim that a vast under investment in the school system is leading to a decline in the quality and effectiveness of children’s education. The suit also mentioned specific ways to spend the money, suggesting an improvement in teacher training and early education for low-income students.

Controversy in N.C.: Improved Test Scores Challenges Diversity Policy Change
(Education Week, July 15) A new increase in test scores throughout Wake County, N.C., provided evidence for opposition to a new policy shift in school diversity. Supporters of diversity say that the scores prove that learning rates are improving in the current system. The School board majority, which voted last spring to do away with the diversity model, say that the test scores do not prove the current model works, but rather confirms the quality of teaching in the schools. 84.9 percent of students passed state end-of-course exams. In the 2008-09 school year 80.1 percent passed. Without the diversity placement program, advocates say students will miss out on the teaching that has improved the scores. The school board majority, however, maintains that the students can excel in schools closer to their homes.

In D.C., Elementary Test Scores Drop While Secondary Scores Rise
(The Washington Post, July 14) New data released in Washington D.C. showed that elementary students scored lower on math and writing tests than in recent years, presenting a setback in School Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s initiatives to improve testing in D.C. area public schools. However, middle and high school students’ scores did improve in similar subject areas. The progress is part of a three year trend in which secondary school testing results showed significant improvement. Rhee promised to examine the issue and work to address the setback in the elementary school scores.

Harlem Children’s Zone shares Education models with Camden Principals
(Philadelphia Inquirer, July 14) The group, which promotes family values, higher education and career-mindedness for inner-city students, recently signed on with South Jersey officials to help re-shape Camden schools. The agency will help to train teachers and provide support for school and local officials. Camden officials will implement the plan over the next 10 years.

Facebook Helps Former Students Reconnect and Give Thanks (New York Times, July 13)The social media giant Facebook provides former students, the majority of whom are at least 30 years out of high school a forum to simply say thanks. Old classmates are also creating appreciation groups on the site. Prior to his passing, alumni of Intermediate School 70 in New York City memorialized Jerry Sheik, a unique band teacher, with a Facebook group entitled “Sheiks Freaks Reunite: A Celebration for Jerry Sheik.” Researchers at Columbia University suggest that these pages epitomize the deep and lasting connections that are essential to the complete education of a young adult