Education News: July 13, 2007

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending July 13, 2007.

Rendell Touts Funding for Early Education
(Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/13/07): Speaking at the 2007 National Forum on Education Policy, Pennsylvania governor Edward Rendell announced his goal to enroll 100% of the state’s kindergarten students in full-day programs and to greatly increase the scope of state-funded pre-kindergarten programs by the end of his term in 2010. The governor said that good early childhood education is an essential component of producing competitive graduates.

New-Teacher Salaries Break $40,000 Mark
(Source: The Arizona Republic, 7/13/07): Alhambra Elementary District in Central Phoenix has raised its base pay rate for first-year teachers to $40,000. The teachers will also be able to earn up to $2800 extra for reaching student achievement benchmarks or tutoring. The change was made in an effort to recruit new teachers to fill vacant positions.

D.C. Council Approves Rhee as Schools Chief
(Source: The Washington Post, 7/11/07): The D.C. Council has unanimously approved Michelle Rhee as D.C. public schools chancellor, despite initial concerns about her qualifications and the proposed salary. Known for founding the New Teacher Project, Rhee will receive a $275,000 salary, in addition to a signing bonus and the capacity to earn additional performance-based bonuses.

Scholarships for Disabled Are a Hit
(Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/11/07): A new scholarship program, which will allow Georgia parents to send their special-needs children to other private or public schools, has already attracted over 3200 applications. While the program’s creators are thrilled at the enthusiastic response, they caution that not all applicants are eligible and that spaces will not be available to all eligible children at the approximately 120 participating private schools. They said, however, that the program will grow in coming years and that interested parents should have patience.

Taunting May Affect Health of Obese Youths
(Source: The Boston Globe, 7/11/07): A new study from Yale University indicates that the taunting and social isolation of obese children cause emotional and physical damage beyond the health problems directly resulting from being overweight. The research shows that obese children who are ridiculed by their peers are more likely to develop eating disorders, contemplate suicide, and have high blood pressure.

State to Test Students’ Fitness
(Source: The Dallas Morning News, 7/11/07): A new state law will make Texas the first state to comprehensively test students’ fitness levels. Created to improve student health and combat obesity, the law will measure endurance, strength, flexibility, and body fat. Students must score in the 80th percentile to pass, though students who do not pass will not be penalized. The state will use the results to better understand and address children’s health.

Cash-strapped Big Hollow Schools Cut Art, Music Classes
(Source: The Chicago Tribune, 7/10/07): Forced to make big budget cuts, the Big Hollow School District of Ingleside, Illinois, will eliminate all art and music classes for the 2007-2008 school year. The cuts will save the school district approximately $245,000.