Education News: March 2, 2007

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending March 2, 2007.

Report: [Philadelphia] District Losing Control
(Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/2/07): A new report has unearthed major dysfunction in the Philadelphia School District’s student disciplinary system. The report, which was prepared by independent consultant Ellen Green-Ceisler, said that the disciplinary system was troubled by high personnel turnover, inconsistencies, and a lack of staff, training, and resources. Many of the teachers Green-Ceisler talked to estimated they spent 40-50% of their time handling student misbehavior. The report was completed last summer, but was not publicly released until this week—following an incident in which a teacher’s neck was broken when two students attacked him after he had confiscated an iPod.

Only 68% Graduate on Time in N.C.
(Source: The News and Observer, 3/1/07): Despite years of claiming that almost all of North Carolina’s high school students successfully graduated in four years, the state has released figures indicating that the correct percentage is actually 68.1%. The state’s previous calculation methods for the on-time graduation rate had been criticized as deceptive by education advocacy groups.

Dramatic Rise in California Schools Falling Behind on ‘No Child’ Goals
(Source: The San Francisco Chronicle, 2/28/07): A new study examining the effects of No Child Left Behind in California shows that only 10 of the hundreds of struggling schools in the state improved enough to be removed from the state’s watch list this year. Additionally, the number of schools added to the watch list for not making adequate improvements in student test scores increased by nearly 75% last year. The study concluded that some of the states’ schools simply did not have the resources to meet No Child Left Behind’s stringent requirements for yearly progress.

$1.2 Billion More For Education Sought
(Source: The Seattle Times, 2/27/07): The Washington State House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education put forth a proposal budgeting an additional $1.2 billion for spending on education in the state over the next two years. The committee’s budget plan is largely in agreement with the governor’s proposed plan.

Failing Schools Face Big Changes
(Source: The Baltimore Sun, 2/27/07): Failing schools in Baltimore are being eyed for takeover by local universities and other organizations. The proposed idea would allow Johns Hopkins University and Towson University, along with organizations such as New Leaders for New Schools, to administer the schools. This would include measures such as intensively training principals and overhauling the academic system by implementing measures such as concentration in area of interest in high school.

Length of School Day Under Review Across Nation, In Congress
(Source: CNN, 2/25/07): Multiple school districts across the United States are seriously considering implementing a longer school day to better meet the needs of students. Districts that incorporate extra hours into the day and extra weeks into the year can fit in up to fifty percent more content instruction per year. Students also get to choose electives in the longer school day system, studying subjects such as cooking and forensics. Test programs around the country are currently being funded by federal grants.

Teens Can Multitask, But What Are [the] Costs?
(Source: The Washington Post, 2/26/07): Today’s teenagers are masters of multitasking. They do homework while using instant messenger, listening to music and answering text messages from their friends—all at the same time. Parents, raised before the advent of cell phones, texting and widespread personal computer use, find this behavior overwhelming. Some behavioral scientists worry that multitasking while studying is having a detrimental effect on the ability of young people to concentrate.

Federal Supervision of Race in Little Rock Schools Ends
(Source: The New York Times, 2/25/07): Friday, February 23, the Little Rock School District in Arkansas was released from 50 years of supervision of desegregation efforts. The 1957 battle of wills between Arkansas Governor Faubus and President Eisenhower immortalizes the standoff over racially integrated schools. In 1957, the school was forcibly integrated and monitored by federal troops. Judge Wilson of the Federal District Court declared that the school district had gone beyond the requirements and now deserved to be granted autonomy in the matter.Education Headlines