Happy Monday (or at least pretend to be happy, soon it’ll be over). Here are the top headlines in education news. Enjoy!
The Chicago Tribune reports that the cash-strapped Chicago Public Schools is racing to spend about $16 million in federal tutoring grants by the end of the summer to avoid losing the money in a program plagued by dwindling participation and financial missteps.
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According to US News & World Report, most high school districts offer some sort of dropout prevention program. A new report released last week by the National Center for Education Statistics shows a majority of high schools (approximately 8 in 10) offer services such as tutoring and remediation classes for students who have fallen behind, but less than half of school districts offer an after-school program for high school students at risk of not graduating.
The New York Times report if no deal is reached by Friday, 716 of New York City’s lowest-paid workers — school aides, parent coordinators and other members of school support staffs — will lose their jobs, the latest victims of budget cuts to the public schools. Nearly 350 schools will be affected, in a scattered pattern, according to a list of layoffs by school, which was obtained and analyzed by The New York Times. The newspaper found the poorest and most struggling schools will be hit the hardest.
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In his address before Congress yesterday evening, President Barack Obama laid out a jobs plan that included plans for $30 billion in new money to stave off teacher layoffs, along with another $30 billion to revamp decaying school facilities and community colleges. The proposals are a part of the Americans Jobs Act – a $447 billion legislative package expected to be introduced into Congress next week – that Obama told lawmakers to pass “right away.” According to Education Week, K-12 schools could get up to $25 billion for renovations, which administration officials estimate could pay for makeovers of at least 35,000 public schools. That construction money could be used for emergency repairs and renovations, energy efficiency updates, and asbestos removal. Schools also could use the money to build new science and computer labs, and to update technology. These proposals have greatly pleased America’s two largest teachers unions, according to the Huffington Post. Read Entire Post
The New York Times reports on Fern Creek Elementary School in Florida where more than 20% of students are homeless. According to the article, “There are 2,953 homeless students attending Orange County Public Schools, up from 1,463 in 2008.”
For one North Carolina school district, the stimulus money has run out and its affecting special education, Education Week reports.
The Los Angeles Times reports on two families in Los Angeles that have chosen very different paths for their children to achieve academic success.
Read Entire PostGovs. Bush and Wise announce the 10 Elements of High Quality Digital Learning, a roadmap, a roadmap of reform for local, state and federal officials to advance digital learning. The announcements was covered in Education Week, CNN, and the National Journal. District Administration discussed teacher attrition rates and reports that 50 percent of all certified public school teachers permanently leave the teaching profession before the end of their fifth year of teaching. The New Hampshire Union Leader cites a new report finding that New Hampshire and Vermont are the only two states without a "dropout factory" school, according to a new report studying trends in dropout rates.
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