Education News: October 5, 2007

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending October 5, 2007.

City Will Help Pension Plans Build Housing for Teachers
(Source: The New York Times, 10/5/07):  New York City’s Teacher Retirement System is financing the construction of two Bronx buildings, which will be made available exclusively to teachers and educators.  The buildings will feature affordable monthly rents and are part of an effort to recruit and retain teachers for the city’s public schools.

Easley Pushes Web-based Early College Initiative
(Source: The (Raleigh) News and Observer, 10/5/07):  North Carolina governor Mike Easley has announced an expansion of the Learn and Earn Initiative, which allows students to attend high school for five years, while simultaneously taking college courses in person or online, and graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree.  The launch of the Learn and Earn website and the online courses option will allow many more North Carolina high schools to participate.

Students Withdraw As Deportation Fears Reach Irving Schools
(Source: The Dallas Morning News, 10/4/07):  In the midst of a crackdown by police on illegal immigrants in Irving, Texas, over 90 children have withdrawn from area public schools because their parents fear deportation.  School officials are concerned that the children’s parents will not enroll them in other schools due to lingering fears.

Spreading Homework Out So Even Parents Have Some
(Source:  The New York Times, 10/4/07):  Damion Frye, an English teacher in Montclair, New Jersey, has taken a truly novel approach to homework.  In an effort to keep parents involved in their children’s education, Mr. Frye gives weekly assignments to his students’ parents.  The parents must read some of the material their kids are reading and comment on the class blog.  Non-compliant parents may endanger their children’s grades.

District Report a Study in Disarray
(Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/3/07):  The Philadelphia School District spent nearly $700,000 on a management report but terminated the project early and did not read the results.  A district official said the consultants had not done a satisfactory job, but one of the consultants said the report indicated that the district was very disorganized and made recommendations that would save $150 million.

Team Forms to Analyze City Schools
(Source: The New York Times, 10/3/07):  New York education experts have long hoped for an organization that would collect and analyze data from New York City’s public school system.  Now, social scientists from several of the city’s colleges and universities are filling that need, having formed the Research Partnership for New York City Schools.  The group will analyze data concerning student performance, teacher employment trends, school expenditures, and other matters.

Keeping Young Pedestrians Safe
(Source: The Baltimore Sun, 10/04/2007):  As part of International Walk to School Month, Baltimore celebrated its 10th Annual Walk to School Day this week.  At William Paca Elementary School, the festivities included a walk on Baltimore’s Lakewood Avenue with police officers, volunteers, city officials, and over 250 students.  The event is designed to promote healthy habits and pedestrian safety.

Accounts of Other Shutdown Proposals Are a Mixed Bag
(Source: The Rocky Mountain News, 10/2/07):  The Denver school board is currently considering a proposal to close eight schools in an effort to improve school quality and save money.  Pittsburgh Superintendent Mark Roosevelt spoke to the Denver school board about his city’s schools shutdown experience, which had an ultimately positive outcome but was messy in the process.  A main problem with school shutdown plans in Pittsburgh and other cities is the political controversy they cause.