It’s time for teachers unions to lead

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Reuters Blogs (blog)

But the folks who’ve punched the clock in the education policy trenches understand … It’s in the mundane details that education policy succeeds or fails. …

 

AL: A+ College Ready program has more than doubled pass rate for Alabama students in advanced placement classes

By Kim Chandler, The Birmingham News

In their first days in Susan Dial’s AP biology class at Gardendale High School, students learned a date in addition to scientific processes such as mitosis and meiosis — May 14, 2012.

AR: Lawmakers question education in youth lockups

By Rob Moritz, Arkansas News Bureau

Lawmakers questioned the state’s education commissioner Tuesday about education funding at the state’s youth lockups Tuesday and agreed to tour the Alexander Juvenile and Treatment Center next month.
AZ: AZ budget chief — Higher education to take biggest hit from state’s rising health costs

By Joshua Armstrong, East Valley TribuneWASHINGTON – Arizona’s colleges and universities will likely bear the brunt of budget cuts forced by rapidly rising health care costs, the state’s budget director told a Washington audience Tuesday.
CA: Many graduates not ready for college, test data suggests

By Joshua Emerson Smith, California WatchOnly about 30 percent of last year’s California high school graduates who took the ACT college entrance exam tested proficient in all subject areas.
CO: Jefferson County among 6 Colorado school districts with financial red flags

By Yesenia Robles, The Denver PostSix Colorado school districts — including Jefferson County — are considered at high risk for financial crisis, down from 19 identified by the state auditor last year.
HI: Abercrombie appoints ex-Hawaii County managing director Mizuno to University of Hawaii board

By The Associated Press, The Associated PressGov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed former Hawaii County managing director Barry Mizuno to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.
IL: Ill. sued by regional school chiefs seeking

By The Associated Press, Crain’s Chicago BusinessThe state’s 44 regional superintendents sued Friday in an effort to get their salaries reinstated after Gov. Pat Quinn used his veto power to cut the money out of the Illinois budget.
KS: KU efficiencies can be more ‘radical’

By Mike Hoeflich, The Lawrence Journal-WorldOn Aug. 15 Kansas University unveiled the first report the administration commissioned from an outside consulting group, Huron Consulting Group, on improving efficiency and lowering costs at the university, including the medical school.
MD: O’Malley keeps open mind on teacher pensions

By The Associated Press, The Capital (Annapolis)Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said Monday he has always favored the state paying teacher pension costs, but he will keep an open mind during debate on whether to shift some of the cost to counties.
MN: Online education doesn’t measure up

By Larry J. Crockett, Minneapolis Star TribuneIn just a few days, freshly scrubbed and anxious first-year students will come filing timidly into my 8 a.m. honors classroom for their first class in a ritual that impresses me more each year.
MN: 10 consequences of state cuts to public higher education

By Alex Friedrich, Minnesota Public Radio (St. Paul)When states cut spending on higher education, it’s not just a matter of colleges doing more with less.
MO: Gov. Nixon’s disaster funding plan faces criticism

By Jason Hancock, St. Louis Post-DispatchThe Senate budget chairman on Tuesday criticized Gov. Jay Nixon for using disaster recovery as justification for holding on to millions in funding that would have gone to various programs, such as education.
MO: Educators, lawmaker consider ‘tweaks’ to new school safety law

By Bob Watson, Jefferson City News TribuneA group of education lobbyists — including representatives of the Missouri State Teachers Association, which took their complaints to court last week — met Tuesday afternoon with Sen. Jane Cunningham’s staff for a discussion of ways to draft compromise language for a new law that already has a number of teachers upset.
NE: Discussion resurfaces on consolidating higher education boards

By JoAnne Young, Lincoln Journal StarIt’s by no means a unique topic of conversation on the Legislature’s Education Committee.
NJ: Facebook gift spurs a lawsuit

By Andrew Grossman, The Wall Street JournalA group of parents, with the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, is suing the city of Newark for failing to turn over correspondence related to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million gift to the city’s struggling school system.
NJ: ACLU suing Newark over transparency in Facebook founder’s $100M donation to city schools

By David Giambusso, The Star-Ledger (Newark)NEWARK, N.J. — A battle over transparency surrounding Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million donation to Newark schools will now be decided in court.
NJ: On federal funding, N.J. becoming the Giveaway State

By Staff, The Star-Ledger (Newark)New Jersey was becoming the Giveaway State. We punted unprecedented billions in federal funds for the ARC Tunnel, which the governor killed. We blew hundreds of millions of dollars with a botched Race To The Top application. We lost millions more targeted for charter schools.
NV: Budget cuts over, UNLV ready to move into new academic year

By Richard Lake, Las Vegas Review-JournalBudget cuts at UNLV appear to be over; it’s time to move on, time to get back into the swing of things. That was the message sent Tuesday by the university’s top officials at the first Faculty Senate meeting of the new academic year.
OK: Errors in testing data hold up results for districts, students

By Megan Rolland, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)State schools Superintendent Janet Barresi is calling for a review of the multimillion dollar contract with a nationwide testing company after serious errors were found in final standardized test results sent to school districts across the state this month.
PA: Education chief criticizes ‘frivolous’ requests for funds

By Jodi Weigand, Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewThe state education secretary on Tuesday criticized school districts that didn’t compete for millions in federal funding for their low-performing schools.
TX: State faces challenge in helping underprepared students graduate from college

By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz, The Austin American-StatesmanNearly half of undergraduates at public colleges and universities in Texas are freshmen, a fact that underscores one of the realities of higher education: It’s a lot easier to enroll than it is to earn a certificate or degree.
TX: Higher ed oversight committee’s first hearing set

By Reeve Hamilton, The Texas TribuneSince it was created in May, little has been heard from the Legislature’s Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency.
TX: Perry’s immigration stances draw fire, support

By Joe Holley, The Houston ChronicleOn a Sunday in June 2001, the first-year governor of Texas signed legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to attend Texas colleges and universities at in-state tuition rates instead of paying international fees.
US: How does Obama want to reshape preschools? Education Department shows its hand

By Amanda Paulson, The Christian Science MonitorThe Department of Education on Tuesday announced the guidelines governing the $500 million in Race to the Top grants that it sees as a tool to reshape preschool education in America.
WY: UW trustees to hold special meeting Thursday

By The Associated Press, Billings GazetteLARAMIE, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday.

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