Education News: September 8, 2006

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending September 8, 2006.

No Child Law Near Perfect? Blagojevich Begs to Differ
(Source: The Chicago Sun-Times, 09/08/06) Governor Blagojevich of Illinois has spoken out against Secretary Spelling’s comment that the No Child Left Behind Law was near perfect.  Spellings was recently quoted as saying the law was 99.9% effective.  Blagojevich’s response was written in conjunction with the Illinois state department of education.  He takes issue with the state’s stringent requirements:  "The current NCLB rigidity intrudes on state processes and stifles innovation at the both the state and local level."

Governor Vetoes Bill to Prohibit Anti-Gay Bias in Textbooks
(Source: The Sacramento Bee, 09/07/06) Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill prohibiting the use of textbooks that discriminate against gays, saying that the legal system already prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.  Senator Sheila Kuehl originally sponsored a bill that made teaching about homosexual contributions to society mandatory, but during the legislative process the bill became focused on textbook language.  Schwarzenegger termed the new bill confusing, saying “We have laws to protect people, and I think we don't need to have any additional laws for that.”  Proponents of the bill argue that Schwarzenegger is using this bill to posture for his conservative supporters.

Ready or Not, Future Learning Has Arrived
(Source: Philly News, 09/06/06) Philadelphia’s first School of the Future has arrived, complete with wireless laptops for each student and interactive whiteboards (but no physical textbooks).  The school, built through collaborative efforts between education officials and Microsoft employees, uses technology to expand the possibility of learning.  Students will have the internet at their fingertips.  (Lest people consider stealing laptops from the students of the future, the machines come equipped with tracking devices so police can track stolen laptops.)  The school has admitted 170 students for its inaugural year, and it plans to eventually house 750 total students.  Admittance was based on a lottery system and it was not based on test scores but rather on serving the needs of students in the area surrounding the school.

Back to School in a System Being Remade
(Source: The New York Times, 09/05/06) New York City schools open today under the watchful eye of Mayor Bloomberg, who has introduced significant changes in hopes of effecting greater successes.  321 principals will be going back to school without a superintendent shepherding them, allowing the principals more leeway and cutting administrative costs.  Jobs in the bureaucratic regional offices that Bloomberg created have also been reduced.  New, smaller schools have opened in New York, including twelve new charter schools this year.  These changes are going to be scrutinized carefully.  Principals in particular are given two years to effect sweeping change or be shown the door. 

States Turn to Teacher Bonuses
(Source: The Baltimore Sun, 09/06/06) As students head back to school for the 2006-2007 year, states are becoming more willing to pay individual teacher bonuses based on student performance.  Programs are popping up in states including Colorado, Maryland, and Minnesota.  Not everyone is warming to the idea of merit-based pay; some people see it as divisive.  Others find it to be an innovative way to encourage teachers to raise the test scores of their students.  The individual merit-based pay is replacing merit pay that included every educator in each particular school.