Education News: September 23, 2005

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending September 23, 2005.

Initiatives target math, science instruction
(Source: eSchool News, 9/19/05)
In an effort to remain globally competitive with the likes of Bangalore and Beijing the IBM Corporation has announced its plan to financially back workers who want to be science and math teachers. A trial group of 100 aspiring teachers will be transitioned from IBM employees to science and math teachers to help compensate for the growing overwhelming need for qualified teachers in these subjects.

Is AP too good to be true?
(Source: USNews.com, 9/19/05)
In the increasingly competitive world of secondary schools, critics are growing leery of the quality of advanced placement classes. College hopefuls with AP saturated schedules are becoming more prevalent. Across America in 2005, 1.2 million students participated in AP courses causing universities to question their validity and be reluctant to award college credit for the courses completed. Some of the state's most exclusive schools have dropped the AP curriculum completely.

Schools in Norfolk, Va., get $500,000 prize for student gains
(Source: The New York Times, 9/20/05)
The Nobel prize of Education, the prestigious Broad Prize was awarded to the public schools in Norfolk, Virginia. The award is given annually to the urban school making the most significant gains toward closing the educational achievement gap. Norfolk also displayed exceptional gains in raising test scores in math and reading among both black and white students. Boston and New York schools were among the finalists for the award.

Hurricane Rita Prompts School Closure
(Source: Education Week, 9/22/05)
While the aftermath of Katrina ensues, gulf coast schools will once again be interrupted as they prepare their staff and students for Hurricane Rita. Over a dozen schools in the region have been closed at least until the end of the week. Many of these schools graciously accepted displaced Katrina students but now are hoping for refuge of their own. More than a million people in the region are attempting to relocate to more secure areas.

Schools ordered to spend equally
(Source: Chicago Tribune, 9/23/05)
On Thursday a Federal Judge in Chicago passed a mandate to ensure equal resources and extra academic aid for all students in Chicago’s public schools. Judge Charles P. Kocoras ruled that the school district would have three weeks to decide upon an amount allocated to racially isolated and under resourced areas. Judge Kocoras stated, “There needs to be more balance, if not a one-to-one parity.”