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December 10, 2008

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News for the Education Profession

Eye on Curriculum

U.S. students still behind in math, science
U.S. students improved this year on international math exams but remain behind many other countries, according to the quadrennial Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. Meanwhile, U.S. science scores have stagnated in the past decade while other countries continue to show improvement. The Washington Post (12/10) , The New York Times (12/9)

Gates Foundation to research cash incentives for students
Low-income college students who stay on track will receive cash payments of $1,000 to $4,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Foundation leaders say the $13 million effort will allow researchers to examine whether such payments are effective in reducing dropout rates. Los Angeles Times (12/9)

Other News

Maryland district records new highs on AP exams
The Washington Post (12/8)

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Professional Leadership

Economic woes lead teachers to sacrifice, rely on donations
The recent economic downturn and anticipated budget shortfalls in many states have led to teacher sacrifices and ingenuity: Some teachers unions have given up pay raises for members, while teachers are getting creative to raise money for supplies and are relying more heavily on donations. A New York teacher said she uses DonorsChoose.org -- a nonprofit site that connects teachers' requests for supplies with willing donors. ABC News (12/9)

Proposal would bring more artists, musicians into classrooms
Kiff Gallagher, who helped create AmeriCorps, wants to form a similar program for musicians. Under MusicianCorps, musicians would receive health care coverage and a stipend in exchange for a year or two of teaching in schools and after-school programs, but some critics say the plan say it would place novice music teachers in classrooms. National Public Radio (text and audio) (12/8)

Other News

L.A. school board votes to buy out superintendent for $517,500
Los Angeles Times (12/10)

Former L.A. principal pleads guilty to misspending $150,000 in district funds
Los Angeles Times (12/6)

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Technology Solutions

Florida student sues principal after Facebook-related discipline
After honors student Katherine Evans, 18, vented her frustrations with her English teacher on Facebook by calling her "the worst teacher I've ever met!" and invited classmates to do the same, she was suspended for three days and forced out of her AP classes, according to an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit filed on her behalf against the school's principal. A school district official said the punishment was appropriate. The Miami Herald (12/10)

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SmartBlogs

Former Labor Secretary: Invest in schools, not banks
Even as Congress grants billions to Wall Street, public schools face unprecedented cuts, writes former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich in a blog. "It's absurd," he writes. "We're squeezing the main sources of our nation's human capital. Yet America's future competitiveness and the standard of living of our people depend largely our peoples' skills, and our capacities to communicate and solve problems and innovate not on our ability to borrow money." TPMcafe (12/3)

Policy Watch

Bush: NCLB is cornerstone of domestic legacy
President George W. Bush is calling NCLB one of his most important achievements. "It focused the country's attention on the fact that we had an achievement gap," he said. "And the No Child Left Behind Act started holding people to account, and the achievement gap is narrowing." Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (12/8)

Florida district wants $500 million federal bailout for schools
The Broward County, Fla., School Board is backing a plan to ask the federal government for up to $500 million in loans for the cash-strapped district, but experts say the request is unlikely to be approved especially since the plan focuses on just one specific district. Superintendent James Notter has said officials would use the loan for infrastructure improvements and new technology. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (12/10)

Mississippi program keeps more students in school
Twenty-two northeast Mississippi school districts have reduced their dropout rates since the creation of the Mississippi Office of Dropout Prevention, which recently launched the "On the Bus" campaign and other measures to keep kids in school. Officials say there is a growing demand for a better-educated work force, and that a further decline in the state's 15.9% dropout rate is still needed. The Sun Herald (Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss.)/The Associated Press (12/8)

Other News

NYC students, parents embark on complex high-school admissions process
The New York Times (12/8)

The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)

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In the Field

Counselors work to keep freshmen in college
Regular check-ins, care packages and advice on studying and finances by a Boston nonprofit's counselors aim to help low-income teens stay in college. "They are like your parents," said Roberto Green, 19, a University of Massachusetts freshman in the program. "They are always on top of you. Calling you to make sure you do what you should do." The Boston Globe (12/8)

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Association News

Administrator Perceptions of School Improvement Policies in a High-Impact Policy Setting
In the last two decades, the political climate has altered the policy emphasis from one based on ensuring adequate resources to one based on outcomes and accountability. There is a need to more fully understand the effect policy initiatives are having on principals and their schools in high-impact policy environments. The latest IJEPL examines a study that investigated school administrators' perceptions of school improvement policies in a high-impact policy environment by measuring the impact of accountability, site-based management, professional development and scheduling reform. IJEPL

Ed. Jobs & Broomsticks
Even though Obama's transition team seems to be moving quickly in filling his key Cabinet positions, he's taking his time choosing the next secretary of Education. Aside from who he'll choose, an ASCD blog post is examining what kind of education leader we need. Some are calling for the selection to be a so-called education reformer. The post asks readers if they think U.S. education would benefit more from the hawkish leadership of a "reformer" such as New York City Public Schools Superintendent Joel Klein or Ted Mitchell, CEO of New Schools Venture Fund, or whether someone like Linda Darling-Hammond, who's worked extensively on school redesign and urban education, but is regarded more as working within the system, would be the best fit for an ailing education system. View the post

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Aspiring School Principals	New Leaders for New Schools	New Orleans
Intern, Aspiring Principals' Institute - 11 months	Houston Independent School District	Houston, TX
K-12 Educators and Administrators	International Schools Services	Worldwide
Mathematics Program Officer	Knowles Science Teaching Foundation	Moorestown, New Jersey
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Principal - Great Oaks Academy	National Heritage Academies	Metro Detroit Area, Michigan
Founding Director	Riverview Charter School	Beaufort, South Carolina
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Experienced Lead Tead Teachers 3-6; 6-9; 9-12	Looking Glass Montessori Schools, LLC	Brevard, North Carolina Area
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Senior Consultants	Learning Point Associates	Naperville, IL
Director, Education Programs	National Federation of the Blind	Baltimore, MD