Education News: October 28, 2005

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending October 28, 2005.

A disconnect on school Internet funds
(Source: The Washington Post, 10/28/05)
A congressional report has found that the federal program that has given more than $10 billion to schools and libraries to link to the Internet has wasted millions of dollars since its inception nine years ago. The E-Rate program, which is managed by the Federal Communications Commission, is inefficiently run and prone to waste, fraud, and abuse, according to the report, which was authored by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s oversight subcommittee.

Evolution debate in Kansas spurs battle over school materials
(Source: The Washington Post, 10/28/05)
The National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Teachers Association have announced that they will not allow the state of Kansas to use their copyrighted science education materials because of the State Department of Education’s new standards that overstate uncertainties in the theory of evolution and fail to say that supernatural concerns are not part of science.

Parents told how to make reading tests kid-friendly
(Source: St. Petersburg Times, 10/27/05)
As federally mandated tests become increasingly important, some Florida schools are enlisting parents to help students attain success. In information sessions, parents are given education materials, test-taking resources, and books in order to prepare their kids more thoroughly for year-end testing.

Leeway for teacher quality deadline
(Source: CNN.com, 10/27/05)
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has assured schools that funding will not be denied them if they do not meet their goal of having highly qualified teachers in each core class in time for the deadline this year. Schools that offer a detailed plan for meeting the guidelines will be granted a one-year extension in good faith.

Teaching tips are exported
(Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/27/05)
As bilingual classes become increasingly common in the U.S. and Mexico, border states are attempting to bridge the cultural gap with education. Bilingual education teachers from both countries met at the second-annual Bilingual Biliteracy Conference at California State University San Marcos. The educators collaborated on best practices in bilingual education.

Man’s best friend also a good listener
(Source: Chicago Sun Times, 10/27/05)
An unlikely literacy program aimed at improving reading fluency for Chicago elementary school students has proven successful, despite initial skepticism. “Stay Sit Read” pairs students and dogs as reading partners in weekly sessions. Students in the program increased their reading fluency by 24 words per minute, while students in other classes improved their reading fluency by 9.2 words per minute over the same time period. The improvement is largely attributed to increased motivation for the students.

American high schoolers receive help from India
(Source: CNN.com, 10/26/05)
Virtually non-existent three years ago, e-tutoring is now a fast-growing industry in India, thanks in large part to the stringent testing requirements of No Child Left Behind. In a typical tutoring session, an American student and an Indian tutor both use e-tutoring software while talking on headsets, instant messaging, and working on problems with digital pencils and highlighting tools. So far about a dozen Indian e-tutoring firms pair tutors in math, science, and English with American students.

Charter schools urged for New Orleans district
(Source: The New Orleans Times Picayune, 10/25/05)
Cecil Picard, the Louisiana Superintendent of Education, has stated that New Orleans should not open any public schools this year unless they are opened as charter schools as a result of finance and leadership problems. Mayor Ray Nagin agreed with this evaluation.