Education News: December 9, 2005

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending December 9, 2005.

Longer school year sought
(Source: twincities.com, 12/09/05) In an effort to combat a declining international education status, Minnesota officials are attempting to increase the school year by five weeks. Combined with the initiative for a longer school year for students, is a 230-day school year for teachers. The extra days would be used for professional development and student evaluation. The eventual goal is a 200-day school year, but there are many financial issues to be addressed before this plan could be feasibly implemented.

Florida school board eyes fundamentalist high school
(Source: sptimes.com, 12/09/05) Plans are underway in Pinellas County to open the first fundamentalist high school in St. Petersburg. It will be operated with a strict regulations and a rigorous curriculum. Previously this style of institution had only been implemented in a middle school setting but officials believe this type of school is just what secondary education needs. The school will be run on a college prep curriculum with stricter disciple, dress code, and overall achievement expectations.

City schools end final exams
(Source: buffalonews.com, 12/09/05) Buffalo public schools are finished with the crunch of final exams. No longer will students be judged on a single test but rather will be graded on their overall performance throughout the semester. State and district tests will be administered throughout the year to track student achievement and address any areas of concern.

Program motivates kids to keep fit, have fun
(Source: The Miami Herald, 12/08/05) General Mills and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek are out to encourage students to get moving. With an increase in childhood obesity across the country General Mills Box Top promotion is aimed at getting kids motivated to be active and healthy. Rep. Meek expressed the importance of a healthy lifestyle and how important it is to develop good habits early. The winning classroom of the Box Top Competition will get their picture on a box of Wheaties cereal.

20 county teachers receive elite certification
(Source: washingtonpost.com, 12/08/05) With the call of No Child Left Behind being heard across the country most believe the best answer is the training and retaining of exceptional teachers. The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards recognized twenty of these exceptional teachers this week in Prince George County. Many agree that the difference between success and failure in our nation's schools is due largely to the quality of teachers in the classroom.

Lines are drawn for big suit over sodas
(Source: The New York Times, 12/07/05) Soft drink machines in schools are coming under heavy scrutiny due to the rise in obesity of America's youth. Machines are in 75 percent of high schools, 65 percent of middle schools, and 30 percent of elementary schools nationwide. While the main objective of machines is fundraising, schools are realizing that they are not providing healthy options for their student bodies. They are also receiving only a minor part of the machine's profits (about 6 percent) that are collected by beverage manufacturers from school vending machines.

School behavioral programs may improve grades
(Source: CNN.com, 12/06/05) Researchers at the University of Washington are finding that instruction in emotional and social issues can affect student academic progress. Early intervention into behavioral and social interaction issues has been shown to correlate with future success in school. The research effort in the age of high-stakes testing is meant to show that other non-academic areas can affect a student's educational achievement.