Education News: July 27, 2007

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending July 27, 2007.

Making a Hard-Life Story Open a Door to College
(Source: The New York Times, 7/27/07): College Summit is a program that reaches out to at-risk and minority students to help them craft essays that will win them acceptance to colleges that otherwise would not think twice about them. The program, run by a former Harvard Divinity student, helps students who have lived through challenging life circumstances find their voices.

TEA Hears Lancaster’s 4-Day School Plan
(Source: The Dallas Morning News, 7/27/07): The Texas Education Agency is considering a proposal to shorten the school week to 4 days for the Lancaster Independent School District this fall. If the proposal is enacted, the district will have less than 180 days in its calendar year and special funding will need to be added to the regular state funding. Most district officials support the measure.

Some Say Schools Giving Muslims Special Treatment
(Source: USA Today, 7/26/07): Some public schools across the United States (in addition to some universities) are granting Muslim students foot baths and prayer rooms to accommodate their religious needs. Proponents of other religions and proponents of freedom from religion are complaining about these accommodations, calling them preferential.

Study: Rural Students Better in Science
(Source: The Boston Globe, 7/25/07): A new federal study shows that students in rural districts tend to outperform their peers in urban districts in science. Other interesting facts revealed during the study showed that rural students also did better in math than their urban peers.

Cleveland Students Get New Dress Code, Single-Gender Schools
(Source: The Plain Dealer, 7/25/07): The Cleveland school district is instituting a mandatory dress code for its students who are returning this fall. The dress code for high schoolers consists of solid colored collared shirts and solid colored pants or skirts. Five single-gender schools will open this fall as well.

Students, Schools Fear End of Racial Diversity
(Source: The Washington Post, 7/24/07): The Supreme Court’s ruling last week that planned integration in schools is unconstitutional will affect school districts that currently use busing and other means to ensure a racially diverse student population. Those who are against this new ruling cite the fact that poor neighborhoods beget poor-quality schools, which can contribute to increasing racial tension.

Poll: Education is Top Issue for Hispanic Voters
(Source: The Miami Herald, 7/24/07): Out of 1,000 Hispanic voters polled across the United States, 41% said that education is their top priority when thinking about the upcoming presidential elections. Both the war in Iraq and healthcare were placed lower on the priority list for the fairly diverse mix of voters that were polled.

Physicians Urge Ban on Soda in Schools
(Source: The Chicago Sun-Times, 7/23/07): The American Osteopathic Association voted to ban carbonated drinks from schools in a meeting over the weekend. Citing the harmful effects of soda on weight, bones, and teeth, the association urged schools to stop selling it.