Education News: October 27, 2006

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending October 27, 2006.

Leaders aim to curb cheating on tests
(Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/26/06) Now that high-stakes standardized testing is a major aspect of K-12 education, a growing body of education experts and policymakers are wondering if safeguards against cheating, specifically cheating enabled or perpetrated by adults, should be written into No Child Left Behind when it goes up for renewal next year. Major cheating incidents or allegations have occurred in Chicago, Boston, and most recently Camden, New Jersey, in addition to other places. School funding and administrators’ jobs have increasingly come to depend on standardized test scores, a fact that many experts pinpoint as the reason for cheating.

Feds ease limits on same-sex schools
(Source: The Washington Times, 10/24/06) The Education Department has revised its rules regarding same-sex schools and classes in public schools. Since 1975, same-sex instruction was allowed only under limited circumstances, but now schools will be able to choose this option anytime it is likely to increase student achievement. The relaxed rules, however, do come with certain restrictions. Enrollment in single-sex instruction must be voluntary, and “substantially equal” instruction must be made available to students who are excluded from schools or courses on the basis of gender.

430 Detroit Public Schools teachers get layoff notices
(Source: The Detroit News, 10/24/06) In a move to eliminate six percent of its teaching staff, Detroit Public Schools sent layoff notices to 430 teachers. The layoffs come as a result of lower enrollments than anticipated. 119,000 students were expected to return to school this fall, when in fact only 115,000 students actually did.

Federal grants reward teachers
(Source: The Miami Herald, 10/23/06) The Education Department will provide grants for the implementation of merit pay. The 16 grants will total $42 million and will go to many states, though Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has formally announced only the first of the grants--$5.5 million to Ohio. Extra pay will be given to teachers who exhibit exceptional merit by raising test scores and receiving excellent evaluations. The grants will also be used to attract teachers in high-need curriculum areas like math and science. While the Education Department says the November elections have no bearing on the timing of the announcement, many speculate that the announcement was intended to come in the weeks preceding the elections.

Study takes a sharp look at New York City’s failing students
(Source: The New York Times, 10/22/06) A new study examining failing students in the New York City school system found that almost 140,000 people between the ages of 16 and 21 have either dropped out of high school or are so far behind they are unlikely to graduate. Interestingly, the study found that falling behind on course credits hindered more people from graduating than an inability to pass the Regents exam. An Education Department official said the city will look for better ways to serve the failing students as a means of improving city-wide graduation rates. The study was conducted by the Parthenon Group and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.