This Week In Education: Best of the Week Archives

Lost in the hubbub surrounding the release and interpretation of this year's NAEP scores (yawn) is a fascinating and powerful story in the Chicago Tribune about what happens when researchers analyze another kind of performance -- suspension rates -- by race and poverty groups.

The fact that black kids --especially boys -- are disproportionately affected is vivid but not surprising. (Even though the suspension rates are double and even triple what they should be.) The fact that black middle class kids are suspended at higher rates, too, is a little more eye-opening. (Black students are no more likely to misbehave than other students from the same SES background.) And the reactions of schools with these different outcomes is perhaps the most interesting of all. (Many defend the differences because they are applying a uniform discipline standard.)

Are discipline codes being applied uniformly in schools? Does it make sense to use them if their real-world results are so skewed? What about some "differentiated" discipline to go along with all the adjustments and tailoring that is being done on the instructional side? We know that kids don't all benefit from uniform instruction. Check it out here.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Week Ahead In DC

There's not much on the Secretary's public schedule, but tomorrow the NAEP reading and math scores come out -- so much fun -- and it's rumored that a Kennedy discussion draft might come out soon. Less likely for this week, but something to look for, is the next iteration of the Miller reauthorization proposal. I read that there were 3,000 comments submitted on the draft, most of them negative.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Big Labor Day Roundup

Away from it all for a few days or even more these past few weeks? Me, too. To get you caught up in no time, here's a brief and highly selective guide to what you missed (not that much, actually):

Back To School
It's that time of year.

NCLB Reauthorization
Wall to wall coverage of the Miller proposal.

Urban Education
Where the action's at -- or at least the kids.

Teachers & Teaching
Can't live with 'em, can't do much without 'em.

Books, Journalism, Blogs
Lots about Linda Perlstein's book, and good blogging tips.

School Life
Not just the news of the weird.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Labor Day Roundup: Back To School

Tips for starting the school year rightChristian Science Monitor
Veteran teacher and author Coleen Fitzpatrick has advice for teachers and parents.

Record Enrollment Is Projected, But Trend VariesEdWeek
Schools in the West and the South will receive more students, while schools in the Midwest and the Northeast will experience a decline. PIC

Trials and Tribulations of the New School YearCarnival Of Education
Mrs. Bluebird spent a chunk of her third full day of school outside the building. Fire drill? Nope, real emergency.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

NCLB Implementation Roundup

Hawaii Gets No Break on School Test Scores HonoluluAdvertiser.com
Hawaii wanted to join seven states that are now evaluated under the so-called "growth model," which measures how much progress individual students make, rather than whether they hit arbitrary score levels in the federal No Child Left Behind program.

Schools hit penalty phase of NCLB Herald Tribune (Fla.)
While many educators are quick to point out the shortcomings of the law, Wakeland Elementary School Principal Chuck Fradley credits it for forcing his school to make necessary changes, even though his school also faces penalties.

Where's the support for NCLB? Tucson Citizen (opinion)
You might think that the Democrats running for president, who rarely miss an ethnic celebration and who claim to have the best interests of African-Americans and Latinos at heart, would rush to defend No Child Left Behind - especially since the candidates who were in Congress in 2001 voted for the legislation. You know better.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cheating In The News

Fascinated or appalled at all the cheating that seems to be going on these days? Check out Caveon Security's email "Cheating In The News," which showed up in my inbox this morning, including all the latest cheating news:

Oakland charter school director resigns amid cheating scandal Inside Bay Area
Tougher catching cheating with online test takers, educators say Naples Daily News
Cheating on standardized tests isn't fleeting -- it's predictable SF Chronicle

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Week Ahead

Though it's starting off slowly, the week ahead could be busy:

EdWeek says that the Miller education bill could come out (see below).

AEI's got an event today: The Impact of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) . Participants: Derek Neal, University of Chicago; Katherine Haley, Office of Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI); Charles Murray, AEI; and Henry Olsen, AEI.. Time and Location: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Wohlstetter Conference Center, Twelfth Floor, AEI. Diana.steinmeyer@aei.org for more information.

New America has a thing tomorrow: "Child Well-Being in America and Abroad: How Do American Children Fare in Comparison to Children in Other Countries?" Time and Location: 10:30 a.m.; NAF, 1630 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 7th Floor, Washington. Liz Wu, 202.986.2700 ext. 315, wu@newamerica.net.

Michelle Rhee makes her Hill debut on Thursday: D.C. Public School System Reform (E&S). Subject: The Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia Subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on "Great Expectations: Assessments, Assurances, and Accountability in the Mayor's Proposal to Reform the District of Columbia's Public School System." Time and Location: 2:30 p.m.; 342 Dirksen SOB. Contact: 202.224.2627.

No word on what the EdSec is up to. She must be still recovering from all the Bastille Day celebrating over the weekend.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Week Ahead

If it's not about Iraq, health care, the campaign, or the environment, it doesn't seem like there's that much going on in DC these next few days. Fresh off her weekend in Aspen, the EdSec is going to Crystal City this afternoon to to talk about investing in children at the White House Conference on the Americas. Mysteriously, it's not open to the press. The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up the Labor-HHS-Education bill on Wednesday. That same day, Secty Spellings flies up to Albany to give a commencement speech for the A Brighter Choice charter schools (single sex, BTW). Next Monday, AEI has an event on NCLB.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Best Of The Week (June 25-July 2)

NCLB News
Over-Reaching On NCLB Predictions At The Washington Post
Reauthorization? We Don't Need No Stinking Reauthorization.

Urban Education
CCCR: Deseg Not Outlawed
Cristo Rey Schools Take Over The World

Teachers & Teaching
America's Most Wanted: Teachers
TAP For TIF: More On Merit Pay Models
"Help Wanted - Chinese Teachers Need to Meet New Craze"

Students
Students Explain Torture Letter Delivered To President Bush
High School Student Takes On Fiery Newscaster Over Sex Ed Talk

Media Watch
Two Good "Time-Lapse" Education Stories
Is Student Violence Necessarily School Violence?
Online Bullying Goes Big Time, Depending How You Define It

The Education Business
Here Come Consulting Firms (Again)
Gates Foundation Advocate Over-Involved In Texas Contracts, Report Says
Raking In The Online High School Sports Dollars

Foundation Follies
Fordham For, Then Against Muslim Charter Schools
Scandalous Mead Video Surfaces On The Internet

School Life
¡Ask a Mexican!
Roller Shoes: Lawn Darts Of The New Millennium
Worst Security Guard Ever

Site News
Blogging...On Facebook

Posted by Alexander Russo at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today & Later This Week

There's something on the EdSec's schedule today about "President Bush’s remarks on reauthorization of No Child Left Behind" at the White House. Then later this week on Wednesday there's the USDE's SES summit. And, on Thursday, NCTQ's Teacher Policy Handbook rollout.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Best Of The Week (June 19-26)

Campaign 2008
Bloomberg Candidacy Would Bring Education Up

The Education Business
High-Tech Paycheck & Report Card Problems In LA and Chicago
NCLB Tutoring: Not Working, Or Just Not Working Miracles?
PLUS: Sylvan Sued

Policy Watch
What Do People Really Think About NCLB?
Internal Differences: Preschool, Choice, and More
Jay Mathews On Michelle Rhee: Didn't I Just Say That?
PLUS: "What’s this Korean lady doing here?"

Foundations & Think Tanks
"Designated Survivors" At School Reform Confabs
Sara Mead: Out Of The Frying Pan And Into The Fire
Charter School Smarick Wins White House Fellows Spot
PEN NewsBlast Guru Rides Off Into The Sunset

Urban Education
Merit Pay Model Not Ready For Prime Time?
Franchising Magnets (Just Like Charters)
Boston Gets Memphis Chief; Balto Gets NYC #2
Severance Pay For Vallas Might Be $500K
PLUS: Vallas Ditches Own Going-Away Party

Media Watch
Colbert Loves NCLB -- Better Than Jon Stewart
"My Name's Emmet And I'm An Eduholic."
Mainstream Blogging's Perils & Pleasures
The Times Vs. The Post: Education's Weekly Showdown

School Life
High School Sophomore Marries Coach -- Parents Sign Off
When Celebrities Have Opinions (John Travolta Edition)
Top 10 Party High Schools In America
Parents, Kids, Librarians Get Ready (Potter Book Out 7/21)
The Worst Cheese Sandwich Ever

Posted by Alexander Russo at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Best Of The Week (June 4-11)

Campaign 2008
Santa Fe Reporter Challenges Richardson's Education Claims
Richardson "Wins" Nonexistent Education Portion Of Dem Debate

On The Hill
"Finding, Grinding, & Minding:" How Ocean Spray Gets In The Schoolhouse Door

Policy Watch
Extending The Day Without Breaking The Bank
Cheating, Charters, And More Cheating
Teachers Threatened With Job Loss For Supporting Charter
Everything I Needed To Know...I Learned From This Article

NCLB News
Achievement Up, Gaps Narrowed Since 2002
USA Today Overviews States' Testing Games
What To Make Of The IES Comparability Report
Lots Of New Details, Not So Many New Ideas

Foundation Follies
The Multiple Providers: The Sanjaya Of School Reform?
Somewhat Annoying Latecomers
John Bailey At SchoolNet Conference

Media Matters
Time To Update The Map Of Education Blogs
New Stats On Internet Dangers Dispell Many Myths
Chicago Paper Reinforces Depleted Education Team
Freedman Vs. Mathews, The College Admissions Showdown
15 Journos Get Hechinger Fellowships
Bad News, Good News

School Life
Kid Didn't Get Into Private School? We'll Help You
What's Wrong With This Picture?

Posted by Alexander Russo at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Best Of The Week (May 28-June4)

Best Of The Month
The Month In Review: Secrets, Missed Stories, & More
More "Rolling Water Jugs" In Education
Getting Ready For The Obama Switcheroo

USDE
EdSec Spellings Playing The "Girl" Card
See also: A Bush Brother Spreads His Vision NYT

NCLB News
Guest Commentary: Kevin Kosar On Muddled AYP Fixes
Kennedy Began Immigration Push At NCLB White House Meeting
Teacher Firings: Still A Myth

Urban Education
Breakaway LA Teachers Want To Go Charter
What People Mean When They Talk About Human Capital
See also: U.S. Data Show Rapid Minority Growth in School Rolls NYT
Charter Schools Look to Address Educational Woes NPR

Media Watch
When A "Congressional Report" Is Not A Congressional Report
Educating Journalists: The Best Of Both Worlds
Taking The Pulse Of The EduSphere

Foundation Follies
Who's Paid What In The Nonprofit World.

School Life
To Sir, With Sarcasm
Booze-Filled Flip-Flops

Posted by Alexander Russo at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Week In Review (May 21-28)

On The Hill/Campaign 2008
Early Childhood Proposals, Realistic and Otherwise
Why Are Miller & Kennedy Not Calling Beth Ann Bryan?

USDE
Spellings Is To Gonzales As "I Don't Recall" Is To Lunchables
Five Questions For Jon Stewart To Ask Spellings Tonight
The Secretary's Necklace: Too Bad It Wasn't Larimar
Spellings Suck-Up, Part 234

NCLB News
Growth Models For Everybody!
How NCLB Is Like A Russian Novel
Does More Reading Make For Better Social Studies?
The "Lost Teacher Jobs" Myth

Policy Trends
Check Registers: Do They Help?
I Find It, You Read It: The Failed Takeover Story In LA
Utah Puts Seven K12 Admins On HIgher Ed Boards

School Life
Now They're Outsourcing Your Kids' Fast Food Jobs, Too
Finding The Hidden Gems In The System

Media Watch
Snap Judgements In Education Reporting
Watch Out, Cambridge
Now I Know Your Home Phone Number

Site News
More Misogyny And Anger (And Irony, Too) At The HuffPo
Mother Jones Mention
The Worst Blog On EdWeek

Posted by Alexander Russo at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Utah Puts Seven K12 Admins On HIgher Ed Boards

Here's an interesting and apparently newfangled way to get your PK-16 system integrated: put lots of K-12 folks including your state supe on the state board of regents and the college board of trustees. That's what Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has done with seven state higher ed spots, according to this Deseret News article (School Chiefs To Join Regents, College Boards). "The idea is to make for a seamless education system for kindergartners through college graduation."

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)