National News

California to use new type of nationwide school tests
READ! With a federal award of $330 million, California and 43 other states joined Thursday to replace the much-maligned year-end English and math standardized tests with new nationwide tests that could better measure student learning and teacher performance. Also Thursday, the Los Angeles Board of Education formally directed its superintendent, for the first time, to include student test score data as part of teachers' evaluations. That change would have to be negotiated with the teachers union. [ View Article ] Sep 3, 2010, 08:31

Some State Board of Ed members want broader health care resolution
Some Nebraska State Board of Education members Wednesday balked at a resolution calling for repeal of the "unfunded mandates" in federal health care reform, saying it pitted education against health care. But most did support a resolution addressing all unfunded mandates, and expressing the board's commitment to education. "This pits one institution against another," board member Joe Higgins said of the resolution. "We shouldn't say we can only provide for medical care at the expense of education." Instead, he said, the board should step back and look at what it wants to say about all mandates. He noted that the Legislature imposes unfunded mandates on the state board and the state board does the same to local districts. [ View Article ] Sep 3, 2010, 08:31

Can teachers run a school with no principal?
The idea has gained currency as debates rage over the best ways to ensure that teachers can bring up student achievement. The drumbeat of "teacher accountability" is getting louder – with everyone from President Obama to district leaders calling for teachers to meet high standards or risk being removed. [ View Article ] Sep 3, 2010, 08:06

President Obama to make second Back to School address
Hopefully you filed your procedures and parent communications from President Obama’s national address to students last year, because we’ve received confirmation that the president is planning to make another address on TUESDAY, SEPT. 14, 2010. Click here to read the full statement released by the Press Secretary. [ View Article ] Sep 1, 2010, 08:31

Education secretary hits the road
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan opened the second leg of his "Courage in the Classroom" bus tour Monday with a stop at the state Capitol in Albany, New York. [ View Article ] Aug 31, 2010, 07:50

Arizona: School requires proof of residency to ride bus
It's the first day of school here in Ajo and everything is pretty much status quo, but there's one big difference in the policy regarding student residency. [ View Article ] Aug 30, 2010, 08:13

Dewhurst chides education bill
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst added his views to the continuing Washington D.C.-vs.-Texas dispute during a brief stop in San Angelo Thursday. Talking about the controversial federal education funding bill that singled out Texas with special spending restrictions, Dewhurst said some schools in Texas may still be able to receive funding from the bill. He and Gov. Rick Perry say the Texas requirement in the bill conflicts with the Texas Constitution. [ View Article ] Aug 27, 2010, 08:31

Poll shows Americans pleased with local schools, not so with Obama's education plan
A new Gallup Poll has found fewer Americans approve of the job President Barack Obama is doing in support of public education, but they continue to have a highly favorable opinion of their local schools. The education poll released Wednesday was paid for by Phi Delta Kappa. [ View Article ] Aug 26, 2010, 08:31

Remarks in Little Rock
Secretary Duncan discussed his Back to School Tour and the Obama Administration's education agenda, and he thanked America's teachers -- "our unsung heroes" -- in Little Rock, AR [ View Article ] Aug 26, 2010, 08:10

Opinion: Dues-paying school employees used as special interest 'shields'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi deserves a swift rap on the knuckles for hiding underneath the desk of the American schoolteacher. In a cynical ploy to evade accountability for the Democrats’ continued fiscal recklessness, Pelosi accused opponents of the $26 billion public employee union bailout bill of “demeaning” teachers and nurses, police officers and firefighters. [ View Article ] Aug 23, 2010, 08:34

Teachers find selves in unfamiliar place: Among the jobless
CHICAGO Four years ago, Peter Robertson thought he was leaving the uncertainty of a freelance writing career for the stability of teaching. He’d always wanted his own classroom, and the 52-year-old was pretty sure he’d get hired schools were eager for male teachers with life experience. But that was in 2006, when he was completing his teacher training. A lot has happened to the profession since then. [ View Article ] Aug 23, 2010, 07:50

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