All Education
Karen Lewis: Fiery Chicago Teachers Union chief takes on wrath of RahmAn Ivy League union organizer with deep ties to Chicago's community activists, Karen Lewis is emerging as the new face of resistance to a national education reform movement. She's a match for Mayor Rahm Emanuel's storied temper, backers say.
Chicago teachers strike: Illegal under Illinois law?Illinois state law could bar teachers from striking on anything except pay and benefits, but the Chicago teachers strike is also about class size, job security, and teacher evaluations. Mayor Rahm Emanuel can take the union to court 鈥� but at a risk.
U.S. News college rankings: not the only way to judge schoolsThe U.S. News & World Report annual ranking of colleges is out. But there are other rankings available, giving prospective students and their families information that may be more useful.
Why Obama wants Chicago teachers strike to go away 鈥� fastThe Chicago teachers strike, which exposes a Democratic Party rift between support for unions and for the education reforms backed by Obama, could hardly come at a worse time for the president.
In Chicago strike, teachers draw a line on education reformA key question聽in Chicago's first teacher strike in a generation is whether teachers will accept new rules on education reform issues ranging from teacher evaluations to seniority.
Chicago teachers strike: Is Rahm Emanuel's test a challenge for Obama?The Chicago teachers strike takes the struggle over union demands to a bastion of Democratic control, a concern for Mayor Emanuel and President Obama, who will need union support in November.- Pioneering way to fight sexual assault on campus: phone appsSeveral new smart phone apps designed to help prevent sexual assault at colleges 鈥� and even high schools 鈥� are coming online. They've had some surprising results.
FocusIs top-ranked Massachusetts messing with education success?Massachusetts public schools produce students who are top in the nation in reading and math. Here's what the state did to get there, and here's why its shift to the new Common Core standards worries some experts.
FocusOne tactic to shrink achievement gap: tackle 'summer learning loss'Sailing, marine life, and field trips are part of a program to prevent a summertime loss of reading and math skills among low-income students in Boston. Its aim is to help close the achievement gap.
Cheating at Harvard: probe focuses on plagiarism in era of blurry ethicsHarvard investigates possible cheating on take-home exams. The publicity could resonate nationwide as colleges grapple with differing generational perceptions of what鈥檚 acceptable.
Judge stops W. Va. single-sex classes: Were they a success or pseudoscience?A federal judge prevented a West Virginia public school from proceeding with its single-sex classes, saying parents didn't get a fair chance to withdraw their kids. But the question of whether single-sex classes work or are built on unhelpful gender stereotypes gathers pace.聽- Do private school vouchers help? New study offers data.African-American students who used private school vouchers were 24 percent more likely to go on to college than blacks in a control group, the study says. But debate over vouchers has followed.
Poll: Americans favor Obama over Romney for strengthening public schoolsIndependent voters, however, think Mitt Romney is better suited for that job. The Gallup and Phi Delta Kappa poll also found that Americans identify funding as the biggest problem facing public schools.
Almost 1 in 5 teens smokes or uses drugs at school, US students reportMost high school students say teen use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs occurs during the school day, often on campus, according to an annual survey. They estimate that about 17 percent of their classmates do so.聽
The Beloit College Mindset List for the class of 2016 Every year, Beloit College in Beloit, Wis., releases its Mindset List to give a snapshot of how the incoming freshmen class views the world.
How not to be an old fogy when face to face with Class of 2016To bridge the generation gap, you might want to drop references to Mrs. Robinson, car radio, and even, perhaps, Bill Clinton. The Mindset List, produced yearly, is now out with the cultural touchstones of new college freshmen.
College students: high in self-confidence but low in basic work skillsFor today's college students 鈥� facing a tough economy and diminishing prospects 鈥� the goal of education is earning power, according to a new national study. But employers say some college graduates are not well prepared for the world of work.
Cover StoryBack to school: How to measure a good teacherBack to school: Perhaps the most controversial education reform is how to measure a good teacher. As the trend to overhaul teacher evaluations catches fire, some teachers find that new feedback and mentoring programs can lead to 'incredible' results with their students.
Progress WatchSmoking bans: Tobacco-free college campuses on rise in USMany US college campuses are becoming tobacco-free as US schools institute total bans, indoors and out, on cigarettes and related products. Some smokers say the bans infringe on their choices. 聽 聽
Progress WatchKids Count report: America's children are advancing despite the economyThe widely-watched Kids Count annual survey on the state of America's children shows gains in health and education despite the poor economy. But advocates say raised poverty rates merit more attention from lawmakers.
