Daily News Roundup—March 1, 2010

National

The Associated Press and the Washington Post report on President Obama's plan to outline a get-tough strategy for turning around persistently struggling schools; offering increased federal funding to local school systems that shake up their lowest-achieving campuses.

Today, the Aspen Institute's No Child Left Behind commission and the Alliance for Excellent Education released a report entitled ‘Don’t Leave Accountability Behind: A Call for ESEA Reauthorization,’ which argues that improvement can only be sustained if Congress and the Administration update and improve the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Click here to watch the formal Commission Kickoff Hearing, featuring the President and CEO of UNCF and EEP Co-Chairperson, Dr. Michael Lomax.

The Harvard Crimson reports on the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan speaking at the Harvard Graduate School of Education this past Friday discussing his RTTT competitive grant program; emphasizing the message that “children without those [educational] options are basically condemned to poverty.”

Watch Education Secretary Arne Duncan makes his case for the federal direct student loan program, arguing the government should end $9 billion in subsidies to banks to guarantee student loans.

The NY Times reports on the growing trend of individualized learning plans that has proven to better prepare students for college, and motivate low achievers to work harder by showing them that what they want matters as well.

From The States

Connecticut

This New Haven Register editorial attempts to understand why despite the flood of more than $7 million annually in state, local, and federal money spent on CT’s schools, the state continues to have some of the nation’s widest achievement gaps amongst rich and poor districts and between minority and white students.

Illinois

The NY Times Chicago Cooperative reports on the new wave of Chicago school closings and the uncertainty amongst parents that the new schools may or may not be better than the schools that were closed.

Louisiana

Nola.com reports on the Achievement Network that has brought together 10 diverse New Orleans charter schools to share data and test score results during the school year, with the goal of better gauging their strengths and weaknesses.

Maryland

The Baltimore Sun reports on MD lawmakers, more seriously than ever, looking for ways to impose cuts to school funding.

New York

The NY Post reports New York City Public Schools Chancellor and EEP Co-Chairperson, Joel Klein calling for lawmakers and unions to stop political bickering and give students more education choices.

Marcus Winter, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, writes for the NY Daily News highlighting a new report that shows how NYC charter schools are thriving despite receiving fewer public dollars than other public schools get.

North Carolina

The NY Times reports on the Wake County school board scheduled vote tomorrow on whether to support the creation of “community assignment zones” to restrict the distance that students are bused. The Wake County school district is the largest in America to consider family income in school placements.

Rhode Island

The Providence Journal reports on RI’s Education Commissioner (and EEP Signatory), Deborah Gist efforts to create better schools for the 150,000 students in the state and the battle that is currently ensuing by those trying to protect the status quo.

South Carolina

The Post and Courier reports on the expectation of South Carolina learning this week whether it is a finalist for the RTTT competition for phase 1.

Washington DC

Jay Mathews, education columnist for the Washington Post, recognizes the progress that the new DC teacher evaluation system is making, but believes it still has a long way to go.

Wyoming

Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports on mounting pressure for the state legislature to allow more charter schools.

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Categories: Daily News RoundUp