All Education
Sexual abuse of students: What has Los Angeles done to stop it?A new sexual abuse case involving a longtime Los Angeles teacher and, allegedly, 20 young students renews focus on record of reform in the nation's second largest school district. The case signals progress in more timely reporting of such allegations and swift notification of parents.
Progress WatchHigh school graduation rate tops 78 percent 鈥� highest since 1976Some 78.2 percent finished in four years, graduating in spring 2010, a new report found Tuesday. Grim economic conditions and the need to be competitive in a crowded job market played a role.
New York school bus strike: sign of national pressure on unionsWhile New York City is seeking to bring down its highest-in-the-nation school busing costs by putting the contract out to bid, the union is demanding that drivers and matrons be protected.
Beyond gun control: Will Obama's plans make schools safer?In addition to his gun-control proposals, President Obama unveiled plans designed to make schools more secure. Education groups are largely supportive.
Standardized test backlash: Some Seattle teachers just say 'no'Resistance to standardized tests has been simmering for years, but now a group of Seattle teachers is in open revolt. No longer will they administer the tests, they say, citing a waste of public resources.
Police in schools 'not the answer,' coalition says, urging broader strategyCivil rights groups, educators, and law enforcement representatives say police in schools, 'while well-intentioned,' can end up causing other problems for students the police are there to protect.
Sandy Hook students return, putting spotlight on need to help children copeCounselors are at Sandy Hook Elementary School, but a survey finds that 93 percent of US teachers say they鈥檝e never received training on how to support students who have lost a loved one.
New school, new routines: what awaits Sandy Hook students ThursdayThe students of Sandy Hook Elementary will return to school 鈥� in a different building 鈥� Thursday morning. Many things have changed since the Dec. 14 massacre that killed 26 students and staff, but the school is trying to create as much continuity as possible for kids.
Unused school offers Sandy Hook a new home, and path forwardSandy Hook teachers are recreating classrooms, and parents and children are touring the unused school just six miles away that has rushed to get ready. Even the color scheme will be familiar.
New UC logo: Marketing blunder? Or is storm of criticism overblown?The venerable University of California traded in its traditional logo for something modern, eliciting a New Media blast of derision. Some experts say the storm over the new UC logo will pass.
How does US compare in math, science, reading? Younger students do better.Two international studies show fourth- and eighth-grade scores in math, science, and reading in 2011. In the US, there鈥檚 no cause for alarm, or celebration.
Vocabulary 'report card': 'Urbane' stumps 8th-graders, 'grimace' doesn'tA first deep look at vocabulary skills among America's students shows their vocabulary proficiency tracks closely with their reading ability overall. Racial gaps exist, but boys and girls performed about the same.- New push for two-year degrees could be smart move for US, report saysThe US ranks 5th in the world for the share of its adults with degrees, but only 18th when looking at the two-year programs that the study author says will be sufficient for many jobs in the future.聽
- Longer school day? How five states are trying to change education.Five states are participating in a pilot project designed to recast and improve education in low-income communities by leveraging a longer school day or year in innovative ways.
Judge blocks Gov. Bobby Jindal's signature school voucher programThe nation's boldest school voucher program made nearly half of Louisiana's students eligible for taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools. A state judge ruled the plan unconstitutional, setting up a funding fight in an age of austerity.
Not just 4 texting: 1 in 3 middle-schoolers uses smart phones for homeworkA new survey by the Verizon Foundation finds that middle-schoolers, across income levels, are using mobile apps to learn math, do 'virtual' labs, and collaborate with peers on projects.- Texas test case: Do school IDs with locator chips violate religious freedom?A Texas student has has sued her school district, which tried to transfer her when she refused to participate in program that introduced ID badges with locator chips.
- US appeals court strikes down Michigan ban on affirmative actionWhile the 8-7 ruling on affirmative action did not address the constitutionality of race-conscious admissions to college, the majority said Michigan's prohibition on the policy 'places special burdens on racial minorities.'
'Fiscal cliff': With cuts of $4 billion looming, educators sound alarmIf the US goes over the fiscal cliff, schools might see larger class sizes, fewer jobs, and less special-education funding, among other things. But not everyone sees a sky-is-falling scenario.
The untold story of Obama's youth vote victoryYes, the youth vote came out on Election Day and supported President Obama by a wide margin, but that's only half the story. Working-class youth mostly stayed at home.
