December 14, 2010
Fiscal home rule in Nevada’s school districts is just an "illusion" because the Legislature exerts so much control over education funding, according to a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce report released Monday. Legislators have "substantially more control over school funding than do the locally elected school boards," which limi ts the ability of public school […]
December 13, 2010
Throughout the state, thousands of children with disabilities are studying modified curriculum in one or more of their classes, often because it is thought the general education material is too difficult for them to master. But state officials believe that’s untrue and that most children with disabilities – except in rare cases – are capable […]
December 13, 2010
A potentially contentious battle between education reform groups and Illinois teachers’ unions could ignite this week as a House committee begins hearings on possible changes to the state’s education laws. Reform groups are pushing for changes to teacher tenure, performance evaluations and restrictions on strikes, which they contend will improve student and school performance. Teachers’ […]
December 13, 2010
Teachers’ effectiveness can be reliably estimated by gauging their students’ progress on standardized tests, according to the preliminary findings of a large-scale study released Friday by leading education researchers. The study, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, provides some of the strongest evidence to date of the validity of "value-added" analysis, whose accuracy […]
December 13, 2010
Education officials across the country have replaced the principals and at least half of the staff in about 150 struggling schools to obtain federal aid, the Obama administration disclosed Thursday. In several hundred other cases, principals have been replaced and other major steps taken as part of the administration’s unprecedented $3.5 billion campaign to rejuvenate […]
December 13, 2010
Texas school districts are ready to sue the state again over funding but likely will wait to see what the state Legislature does this spring. "School districts are so disgusted and fed up with this funding situation because it’s the same thing year after year after year. We’re ready to go," said John Folks, past […]
December 13, 2010
The Obama administration could not have set the stage for a better demonstration of the power and priorities of Wisconsin’s teachers unions. With its Race to the Top competition, the federal government dangled the prospect of a share of $4.35 billion for those states ready to enact reforms, especially related to improving teacher and principal […]
December 13, 2010
The Albany school district has to find $5 million in savings before the end of the school year. The gaping midyear budget hole is the result of the state Legislature’s failure to reinstate a charter school funding freeze, as many expected would happen last week. Because the freeze was not restored, charter schools will get […]
December 13, 2010
Georgia’s Department of Education is pouring millions into a program for the most emotionally disturbed students, but there is little evidence the special attention is helping, according to a state audit. The state spent $64 million last year on the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support, a special education program that serves students age […]
December 13, 2010
On October 29, 2010, the U.S. Department o f Education Office of Civil Rights issued an investigation finding regarding the use of temporary aides for special education. We are publishing it here in the hopes that the information can provide a constructive heads-up to other Local Education Agencies (“LEAs”) and empower parents facing similar situations. […]