Education News

Mom finds U.S. lagging in early education

Published 08/25/2008 02:56 PM

That's my girl, I thought, as Olivia tore away from us to join the other 5-year-olds for circle time -- legs crossed, hand stick-straight in the air in response to the teacher's question about how the kids spent Father's Day.

U.S. Colleges' Green Grade: C-

Published 08/24/2008 05:00 PM

Campuses may be getting greener, but college curriculums are falling behind in teaching students the basics of global warming and sustainability

Harvard reclaims No. 1 spot on list of nation's top schools

Published 08/22/2008 06:12 AM

Harvard University is the country's oldest, wealthiest and most selective university. Now it's back on top of the U.S. News & World Report college rankings, claiming sole possession of the No. 1 spot for the first time in 12 years.

College chiefs urge new debate on drinking age

Published 08/19/2008 04:19 PM

College presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities, including Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State, are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, saying current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.

A Homeschooling Win in California

Published 08/13/2008 07:00 PM

In a stunning reversal of its own ruling, a California court says it's O.K. for uncredentialed parents to homeschool their kids. But regulatory questions remain

Living with autism in college

Published 08/12/2008 03:07 PM

When Dan Hackett started college, he didn't make the grades he knew he could.

Tips for minimum wage earners

Published 07/24/2008 08:11 PM

The Federal minimum wage is increasing to $6.55 an hour today. But for most folks facing higher prices on everything from a gallon of milk to a gallon of gas, it's still getting harder to make ends meet.

Study: Medical students show racial bias

Published 07/09/2008 08:22 PM

Edna sits on an examining table ready and alert -- she wants answers about the lump in her breast.

More colleges move toward optional SATs

Published 05/30/2008 03:33 PM

Jen Wang of Short Hills, New Jersey, took her first SAT when she was in sixth grade, long before she would start filling out college applications.

MBA students go for Google

Published 05/29/2008 01:22 PM

Where do MBA students most want to work when they get out of school? Investment banks and consulting firms are still popular choices, but for the second straight year, the most coveted employer is Google, a recent survey found.

A chance to compare MBA schools

Published 05/29/2008 12:53 PM

Dan Berger, a 26-year-old aide to New York Congressman Charles Rangel, knew he wanted to get an MBA but, he says now, he was overwhelmed by the number and variety of programs available: "I knew I needed to gather a lot of information before choosing a school, but I really didn't know where to start."

Wake Forest Drops SAT Requirement

Published 05/27/2008 02:00 PM

Wake Forest University will no longer require applicants to take the SAT and ACT exams, boosting a movement to lessen the importance of standardized tests in college admissions

Commentary: Tax-free hypocrisy from higher education

Published 05/16/2008 07:36 PM

There is an industry in this country that is making billions in profit while average Americans are struggling to fill up their gas tanks.

Wall Street - land of job uncertainty

Published 04/01/2008 03:58 PM

Last fall, as bad news about the credit crisis began to pile up, MBA student Brendan McHugh started to wonder about his chances of securing a coveted internship at a top securities firm.

Taking the kids: Exploring the heart of college country

Published 03/18/2008 01:58 PM

Secretly, I'm congratulating myself.

California Resists Home School Ruling

Published 03/12/2008 07:00 PM

In the wake of a surprise court decision, the state says that its home schoolers are "legal" pending appeal

Criminalizing Home Schoolers

Published 03/08/2008 04:00 AM

A child-abuse lawsuit ruling may have created a horde of truants in California, affecting as many as 200,000 children

7 qualities you need to be a great parent to a preschooler

Published 01/22/2008 03:03 PM

What's it really take to parent a preschooler? It's pretty simple, once you realize what kids this age can and can't do (and what sets them off and what keeps them happy!). Here are seven qualities that make it much easier to manage all that, and why they're so crucial when you've got an independent-minded, boundary-testing picky eater on your hands.

VIDEO: Will Smith Planning to Start a School

Published 12/12/2007 09:45 PM

Video courtesy Buena Vista EntertainmentHaving immersed himself in educational theories while home-schooling his kids, Will Smith says he and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, plan to put that knowledge to greater use by teaming with like-minded parents and creating a full school.

10 secrets for getting into a top B-school

Published 12/10/2007 05:41 PM

Getting accepted into a top MBA program is an arduous, time-consuming process, with plenty of potential pitfalls along the way. Witness that the most prestigious and selective schools - Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, and their ilk - say they accept only 10% of all those who apply.

Young doctors in debt

Published 11/16/2007 04:47 PM

It's Wednesday evening and Megan Reis can't remember when she last saw her husband Chris. Small wonder. Since Sunday morning, Meg has worked more than 60 hours at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital, the Chicago-area facility where she is training in pediatrics.

From six figures to student loans

Published 11/15/2007 09:51 AM

After nearly 20 years in the energy industry, Jay Mulki was earning a handsome six-figure salary and managing a department of 50 employees. But Mulki longed to work fewer hours and pursue another dream: to teach marketing at a university.

Commentary: Integrative medicine is 'new way of healing'

Published 11/06/2007 11:40 PM

In a recent column, Emily Breidbart, a second-year medical student at New York University School of Medicine, expressed concerns about her medical education and the frustrating health-care system she will soon enter.

Teacher Who Fled With Boy Arrested

Published 11/03/2007 12:00 PM

A female schoolteacher and the 13-year-old boy she allegedly ran away with have been arrested in Mexico, a prosecutor said Saturday

Russia's business school battle

Published 10/26/2007 09:07 AM

The big question right now in Russian politics is who will succeed Vladimir Putin as President in the 2008 election. As it turns out, the two front-runners -- first deputy prime ministers Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev -- are also squaring off in a contest for business-school supremacy in Russia.

College costs keep rising

Published 10/22/2007 07:43 PM

The average total cost of a private four-year college rose to $32,307 for the current school year, but the rate of increase has slowed compared to public school prices, according to a report released Monday.

Kids use yoga to learn mythology, fight pre-test jitters

Published 10/08/2007 03:08 PM

Fourth-grade teacher Elisabeth Beckwith wants her students at Fernbank Elementary School in Decatur, Georgia, to pay attention to a lesson on Greek mythology.

They want to sell your kid

Published 09/19/2007 08:48 AM

To improve her chances of getting into a good college, Caitlin Pickavance, a 17-year-old high school senior from Danville, Calif., has been working with a private college coach since her freshman year (cost: $800).

Sixth Graders Take on Wall Street

Published 09/07/2007 08:00 PM

A trailblazing Chicago school starts economic education early to give inner-city black kids a leg up

Better Bedside Manners

Published 09/05/2007 04:00 PM

A new study shows that a standardized test of doctor communication skills can help create a nicer, better doctor of the future

The do-gooder's MBA

Published 08/22/2007 12:13 PM

Omar Yaqub didn't want a conventional 9-to-5 job after business school. He wanted to help save the world. So the 28-year-old MBA went to Nigeria to tackle an impossible task: creating demand for a product no one wanted.

Med student struggles to preserve her idealism

Published 08/17/2007 03:40 AM

"Two minutes!" yells our course coordinator.

Taking the kids: Touring college campuses

Published 07/09/2007 04:59 AM

Laurel Herter wishes she'd canceled the college tour trip as soon as she heard the dismal forecast.

Many American colleges balk at U.S. News rankings

Published 06/20/2007 08:34 PM

If presidents of some of the nation's top liberal arts colleges get their way, they will no longer be included in the U.S. News and World Report's influential collegiate ranking system.

How Nebraska Leaves No Child Behind

Published 05/31/2007 08:10 PM

One maverick state devised its own education strategy that bucks the trend toward high-stakes tests and federal control

25 Top MBA Employers

Published 05/03/2007 04:10 PM

Think of it as a popularity contest for companies. Each year, research firm Universum surveys MBA candidates on where they'd most like to work for an exclusive Fortune.com list.

Sallie Mae's private side

Published 04/30/2007 10:50 AM

The lure for private-equity firm J.C. Flowers' $25 billion buyout of student-loan giant Sallie Mae may be its fast-growing and lucrative business providing private education loans -- loans that exi...

The trouble with MBAs

Published 04/23/2007 10:31 AM

When Jack Welch gave a guest lecture at MIT's Sloan School of Management in 2005, someone in the crowd asked, "What should we be learning in business school?" Welch's reply: "Just concentrate on ne...

Top colleges get more affordable

Published 03/22/2007 02:20 PM

A college education may be getting less expensive at some of the most prestigious schools.

The race to bring more diversity to business

Published 11/21/2006 09:12 PM

There's a hole in higher education that you probably haven't heard about.

Highest paid college presidents

Published 11/20/2006 01:15 PM

Running a university or college can make for 20-hour days and intense pressure to please a long list of factions from donors, board members and alumni to faculty, students and parents.

Average college cost breaks $30,000

Published 10/24/2006 02:24 PM

The average cost of a four-year private college jumped to $30,367 this school year, the first time the average has broken the $30,000 mark.

No excuses or short cuts at Atlanta charter school

Published 10/02/2006 07:11 PM

Students at the West Atlanta Young Scholars Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, are expected to go to college.

10 biggest mistakes b-school applicants make

Published 09/20/2006 06:45 PM

The application process for business schools is beginning, sparking the annual frenzy of activity - and copious questions.

The legend of Robin Hood

Published 09/07/2006 09:12 PM

The idea behind one of the most innovative and influential philanthropic organizations of our time sprang from one of the more boneheaded macroeconomic calls ever made on Wall Street. Or as hedge f...

Today's medical training -- better or worse for patients?

Published 09/06/2006 06:32 PM

The phone rang. It was the middle of the night.

Your Opinion: Flag burning

Published 08/24/2006 10:07 PM

One story we brought you this week concerned a teacher who, as part of a class exercise, burned the American flag in a civics lesson for seventh graders. We asked for your opinion on the story, and here are a few of your responses, some of which have been edited:

No child left out of the dodgeball game?

Published 08/20/2006 10:55 PM

As more of America's school-age children are growing fatter, the physical education curriculum that might help them win the fight is gasping for air, says a recently released report.

College costs: Up, up and away

Published 08/17/2006 02:50 PM

The cost of higher education looks like it's climbing ... again.

Who needs Harvard?

Published 08/13/2006 12:21 PM

It's the summer before your senior year, and you're sweating.

Healthcare, energy drive up college costs

Published 08/08/2006 02:49 PM

State university tuition has leaped 40 percent in the past five years, hitting the three out of four American college students who attend public universities.

Healthcare, energy drives up cost of college

Published 08/08/2006 12:25 PM

State university tuitions have leaped 40 percent in the past five years, hitting the three out of four American college students who attend public universities.

Everything You Know About Kids and Money is Wrong

Published 08/01/2006 04:01 AM

AMERICAN STUDENTS MAY BE POOR AT MATH, but when it comes to understanding the money in their lives, they are positively bankrupt. A recent national survey testing high school seniors about basic fi...

It's not your mom's PTA

Published 06/28/2006 04:31 PM

They come from all walks of life to the searing desert heat in Phoenix, Arizona: parents, some who are also teachers; administrators and school board representatives.

Startups On Fire

Published 06/21/2006 04:57 PM

Protesting on college campuses is back. The object of this generation's rebellion? Traditional jobs. In an era of widespread disenchantment with the often bureaucratic, scandal-ridden world of big ...

Red Cross opens storm shelters

Published 06/13/2006 12:03 PM

The Red Cross has opened the following emergency shelters in Florida for people affected by Tropical Storm Alberto:

A conversation with economists Laura Tyson and Glenn Hubbard

Published 05/01/2006 04:39 PM

Following is an interview with Laura Tyson, dean of London Business School and former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers during the Clinton administration, and Glenn Hubbard, dean of the Columbia Business School and chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in the first years of the Bush administration.

Ga-ga for Google

Published 04/13/2006 06:21 PM

With demand for MBAs rebounding, this year's graduating class of B-school students is more likely to get the job offers they desire. And in many cases, that means a job at Google.

Doctor attacks bugs that attack kids

Published 04/05/2006 05:23 PM

Dr. Blaise L. Congeni has always been in a hurry.

This week in the medical journals

Published 03/31/2006 04:22 AM

Focused on bird flu

Cheat sheet for parents on testing

Published 03/13/2006 02:27 PM

MEAP, ITBS, CRCT, TAKS. There are scores of acronyms in educational testing, but these four-letter terms stand for far more than No. 2 pencils and pages of tiny circles.

No school, no books, no teacher's dirty looks

Published 01/27/2006 07:57 PM

(CNN) -- It's a child's dream. Wake up whenever you want, with nobody telling you what to do and when to do it. And here's the kicker: No school to rush off to.

Professor paychecks

Published 01/06/2006 09:03 PM

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - A study released by the U.S. Department of Education this week found that full professors at four-year public colleges and universities earned an average of $89,001 in the academic year 2004-05.

A Degree of Respect for Online MBAs

Published 12/01/2005 05:01 AM

Last year Samantha Kitover reached a critical point in her career. A 25-year-old Chicagoan who works as a sales trainer for Canon USA, Kitover figured she'd boost her salary and increase her option...

College president pay: The $million club

Published 11/11/2005 11:30 PM

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - For the first time, compensation for private college presidents has broken through the million-dollar barrier.

The 10 most expensive colleges

Published 10/27/2005 09:57 AM

Tuition at the most expensive four-year college is up only 2.7 percent from last year. But a small increase on an already big number is still gob-smacking.

College costs going nowhere but up

Published 10/17/2005 07:56 PM

As nervous as college freshmen may be, their cash-strapped parents are probably trembling more.

Colleges across U.S. helping displaced students

Published 09/07/2005 01:44 PM

Colleges throughout the United States are accommodating students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Let the MBA Buyer Beware

Published 09/01/2005 04:01 AM

So you're thinking about getting a master's of business administration, and you want to know which school is the best for you. With tuition at top-tier schools reportedly up 55 percent in the past ...

The ROI on your MBA

Published 09/01/2005 04:01 AM

You've got dreams--big honking expensive dreams. You want to be a player in a powerhouse corporation or launch a business of your own. Either way, you've decided you'll need an MBA to prepare yours...

The business of dorm decorating

Published 08/12/2005 01:28 PM

Denim fashions may be all the rage this fall, but Erica Green cares more about dressing up her dorm room than dressing up herself. Green, an incoming junior at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, plans to spend more than $500 on furnishings, from bright blue butterfly chairs and rugs to a TV-DVD combo unit.

An education in organization

Published 08/12/2005 01:24 PM

Ever made a midnight run to buy poster board for a school project due the next morning? Afraid of what forms, homework and other forgotten but important pieces of paper might be unearthed in a thorough backpack search? Have a Top 10 list of excuses for missed assignments?

Goodbye, Perkins loan?

Published 07/12/2005 02:25 PM

College students take note - your government loan options might be shrinking.

Should home-schooled have access to public school programs?

Published 06/30/2005 07:58 PM

A growing number of parents in the United States are home-schooling their children, as an alternative to sending them to public or private schools. For a variety of reasons, these parents believe that they can provide an equal or superior educational experience at home.

The making of a young doctor

Published 06/28/2005 11:51 AM

The medical year begins on July 1, the day that medical school graduates finish their training as resident physicians and stream out into the real world of shingles and stethoscopes.

FROM MARX TO MARKET

Published 05/16/2005 04:01 AM

As students in his competitiveness class settle into their seats, the professor lets fly an opening query: "Who can tell me why Estonia was so successful in making the transition to a market econom...

Paying for college

Published 03/29/2005 07:01 PM

College acceptance letters are coming soon to a mailbox near you. In other words, it's about that time when parents and students begin to get nervous about the final step to the college application process: financial aid.

The new math of college admissions

Published 03/28/2005 06:11 PM

SALEM, Ore. (CNN/Money) - Here is a pop quiz:

Buying into Harvard

Published 03/23/2005 02:42 PM

Congratulations, your kid did well on the SAT. But the girl next door did even better.

State lawmakers call for changes in Bush education plan

Published 02/23/2005 10:12 PM

Federal law has forced the nation's children to meet rigid academic performance standards that create "too many ways to fail," a bipartisan panel of state lawmakers who reviewed the No Child Left Behind Act said Wednesday.

Four Myths about College Costs

Published 02/01/2005 05:01 AM

THE COST OF A COLLEGE DEGREE continues to climb seemingly beyond the means of many families, rising far faster than incomes or inflation. Total expenses for the 2004-05 academic year shot up 7.8% t...

Race-based affirmative action admissions

Published 01/07/2005 11:14 PM

A forthcoming law review article by UCLA professor Rick Sander is causing a big stir in the legal academic community. Sander's piece in the Stanford Law Review argues that race-based affirmative action as practiced by American law schools during the past 30 years actually ends up hurting the group -- African American law students -- it is most intended to help.

Bush picks Spellings for education secretary

Published 11/17/2004 04:07 PM

President Bush on Wednesday nominated domestic policy adviser Margaret Spellings to be the next education secretary, replacing Rod Paige.

Bush has chosen education nominee, official says

Published 11/17/2004 01:49 AM

President Bush has tapped domestic policy adviser Margaret Spellings to be the next education secretary, replacing Rod Paige, a senior administration official told CNN on Tuesday.

Most expensive colleges

Published 10/21/2004 09:54 PM

Quick: What will $36,750 buy you?

College costs spike again

Published 10/18/2004 09:37 PM

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - If only salaries would rise as rapidly - and as consistently - as college costs.

Getting out youth vote registers on campuses

Published 10/18/2004 03:37 PM

College students are expected to turn out in record numbers to vote in November's election. What you may not know is that it's against the law for colleges and universities to fail to encourage student voting.

An Insider's Guide to America's Top Business Schools The truth about student life in the nation's premier MBA programs.

Published 09/01/2004 04:01 AM

Quit worrying. If you're choosing among the 25 schools in this guide, you're going to get a great education. These schools attract the best of the best: The professors are top-notch, and the studen...

Paige: 'No Child Left Behind is working'

Published 09/01/2004 12:48 AM

Education Secretary Rod Paige addressed the Republican National Convention on its second night, touting the No Child Left Behind Act. This is a transcript of his remarks.

Paige touts progress of No Child Left Behind

Published 09/01/2004 12:02 AM

Schools are being held accountable and are progressing under the Bush administration, Secretary of Education Rod Paige told the Republican National Convention on Tuesday.

Moving out of the traditional classroom

Published 08/13/2004 01:07 PM

Across the nation, on the Web and in the home, classrooms are evolving beyond the traditional learning environment with alternatives that are no longer bound by geography and customary modes of operation.

Put your feet up, it's time for school

Published 08/13/2004 01:06 PM

It's nearly noon, and 11-year-old student Elisheva Ben-Avraham is just now thinking about breakfast. She's curled up on her family's velvety brown sofa flipping through a book of math problems when the mood strikes. She pulls her bare feet out from underneath her, pads to the kitchen and comes back, pancakes in hand, to her workbook.

Charter schools remain subject of debate

Published 08/13/2004 01:05 PM

The cheerleading squad and the math team rarely compete for members at most middle schools, but at Fulton Science Academy, they are often second choices to the Chess Club.

An education in goin' old school

Published 07/19/2004 01:52 PM

There are lots of ways to tell you're officially old. There's a "Sixteen Candles" remake in the works. Madonna's writing children's books. And you go to a David Byrne concert to find yourself surrounded by 50-year-olds. OK, that kind of makes sense since Byrne's hair is now completely gray.

The likely impact of the presidential election on the Supreme Court

Published 07/07/2004 04:31 PM

During the 2000 presidential election, Democratic nominee Al Gore told voters that the choice between his candidacy and that of Republican George W. Bush would likely determine who named the next three justices of the Supreme Court.

Why An MBA May Not Be Worth It

Published 06/14/2004 04:01 AM

Somewhere in the world, I'm sure there are many thousands of people who invested loads of time and money in getting a master's degree in business administration and who are now glad they did. Howev...

Bush carries message to college students

Published 01/21/2004 02:10 PM

President Bush touted his domestic agenda in the key states of Arizona and Ohio on Wednesday, the day after he delivered an optimistic assessment of the state of the union.

Political battle surges over Bush education policy

Published 01/08/2004 06:18 PM

Gearing up for an election-year fight over the centerpiece of his education agenda, President Bush hailed his "historic" No Child Left Behind Act Thursday and announced he will seek a substantial increase in its funding for 2005.

Education From a family worry to a new career Angela and Dedrick Briggs, Nashville

Published 12/01/2003 05:01 AM

Like all dads, Dedrick Briggs, 36, wants the best education for his kids. But the public schools in Nashville are in tough shape: 68% of them don't meet standards set by the federal No Child Left B...

Your Next Rivals/Here Comes the Competition The winners of our first annual MBA business-plan contest have

Published 11/01/2003 05:01 AM

If you think it's not a great time to start a business, you're right. Three years after the tech market crash left the Pets.com sock puppet in the Goodwill bin, investors aren't exactly clamoring f...

Seven-year-olds' results plateau

Published 08/28/2008 05:46 AM

Results for England's seven-year-olds in national curriculum tests remain at the same level as last year.

Young 'dreaming of living abroad'

Published 08/27/2008 08:12 PM

Seven out of 10 young people want to work abroad one day - but most do not have a second language, research suggests.

Drop in 'good' childminders

Published 08/27/2008 08:06 AM

A smaller proportion of childminders in England are offering childcare rated "good", says Ofsted.

Exam board to help sort out Sats

Published 08/27/2008 07:11 AM

Exam board Edexcel is given a contract to provide "back-room" support for the remarking of England's Sats papers.

All pupils to learn about slavery

Published 08/26/2008 06:36 AM

Slavery and the British empire is being made a compulsory part of the secondary school curriculum in England.

Students taught computer hacking

Published 08/26/2008 05:33 AM

A university offers a postgraduate degree in computer hacking and security so students can help protect systems.

Big jump in top GCSE exam grades

Published 08/21/2008 06:21 AM

There has been the biggest annual rise since 1990 in the proportion of GCSE exams awarded the best grades.

Languages still slipping at GCSE

Published 08/21/2008 11:52 AM

Fewer people are taking modern languages and fewer GCSEs have been taken overall, results from the exam boards show.

Schools keen to pass 30% target

Published 08/21/2008 12:15 PM

Many secondary schools will be discovering whether they have beaten a new government GCSE target.

Results show regional variations

Published 08/21/2008 11:47 AM

The first breakdown of results in England's GCSE entries reveals regional differences, with the North East and London doing well.

Roma's struggle

Published 08/27/2008 08:19 PM

Czech attitudes change following landmark ruling

Subject by subject

Published 08/21/2008 07:32 AM

Compare your grades with everyone else's

More pressure

Published 08/21/2008 05:19 AM

New target hanging over hundreds of schools.

Quads celebrate

Published 08/14/2008 05:58 AM

University and A-level success for awesome foursome

Sats 'shambles'

Published 08/15/2008 10:48 AM

What next for England's troubled testing system?

E-mail us

Published 06/10/2008 09:22 AM

How to contact the BBC News website education team

Pushy parents can act as agents

Published 08/19/2008 09:30 AM

Parents can now act as agents to handle their children's university applications - and then turn up for the interviews too.

No quick exit from GCSE challenge

Published 08/18/2008 12:08 PM

Even if GCSE results this week raise schools above the 30% threshold, they can remain in the National Challenge programme.

Decline in number of childminders

Published 08/20/2008 12:53 PM

The number of childminders in England has continued falling in the face of increasing regulation.

US to back 21st century learning

Published 08/19/2008 03:51 AM

The US Congress backs plans to bring technological advances from the business world into the classroom.

University used in Nigerian scam

Published 08/19/2008 08:55 AM

The name of Liverpool Hope University is being used in an internet scam in Nigeria.

Teacher concerns over CCTV

Published 08/17/2008 07:22 PM

Many teachers say they are concerned about "hidden" surveillance cameras located in their schools.

Sats marking contract is scrapped

Published 08/15/2008 07:55 AM

The contract between exams authority the QCA and troubled marking firm ETS is ended by "mutual consent".

Cash for youth diversity projects

Published 08/19/2008 08:52 AM

Children's Minister Beverley Hughes allocates £4.5m to programmes to unite youngsters from different backgrounds.

'Bravest' students do not cheat

Published 08/17/2008 07:08 PM

The most courageous students are least likely to cheat in class, US researchers say.

A-level results show big divide

Published 08/14/2008 01:23 PM

Exam boards have given a regional breakdown of A-level results for England for the first time, showing big differences.

Thousands call university hotline

Published 08/14/2008 12:09 PM

Record numbers of students call the university admissions line after receiving their A-level results.

Bosses say education is worse

Published 08/11/2008 12:15 PM

Senior managers say education has declined over the last 10 years, despite record exam results.

Revival hopes for 'stem' subjects

Published 08/14/2008 02:48 PM

A growing number of students are taking maths and science A-levels, prompting hopes of a revival.

NI students top of A-level class

Published 08/14/2008 04:48 AM

A-Level students in Northern Ireland once again outperform their counterparts in England and Wales.

Delay 'likely' for school tables

Published 08/12/2008 04:01 PM

As Key Stage 3 test results in England are announced, the schools minister says marking problems will delay league tables.

What future for schools?

Published 08/01/2008 09:38 AM

Mike Baker considers the big picture of where schools should be heading in the future.

Tests - do we still need them?

Published 07/25/2008 12:00 PM

Mike Baker considers whether the "high stakes" testing regime is still needed.

Future of league tables

Published 07/18/2008 09:37 AM

Mike Baker says it is hard to see how performance tables can be published on the basis of this year's school tests.

Was there ever a golden age?

Published 07/11/2008 01:37 PM

Digging for hope

Published 07/31/2008 05:33 AM

English teenagers help African village build classrooms

'Try teaching' scheme booming

Published 07/29/2008 09:06 AM

A scheme that gets American graduates to try teaching in tough areas before other careers is proving a hit.

When pupils are too shy to learn

Published 07/22/2008 01:16 PM

"Invisible children" too shy to put up their hands could be helped by a scheme to boost their social skills.

Multiple difficulty?

Published 07/29/2008 10:07 AM

Why multiple choice exams trouble dyslexics

What is BBC News School Report?

Published 07/23/2008 11:13 AM

Find out more about the project which motivates secondary students around the UK to make and broadcast their own news.

U.S. holiday sales seen slowest since 2001 -- ICSC (Reuters)

Published 08/27/2008 05:04 PM

Reuters - U.S. holiday sales are expected to grow at the slowest rate since 2001 as consumers pull back spending in a weak economy, according to a survey by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

SAT Scores Hold Steady for Class of '08 (U.S. News & World Report)

Published 08/27/2008 04:50 PM

U.S. News & World Report - Average scores on the reading, math, and writing sections of the SAT test held steady for the second consecutive year, according to a new report by the College Board on the high school class of 2008. But for critics of standardized testing, the bigger story drawn from the data is the slight decline in student participation since a longer, more expensive version of the SAT test was introduced in 2006.

Army opens prep school for dropouts to fill ranks (AP)

Published 08/27/2008 06:58 AM

AP - Austin Swarner left high school to care for his mother while she fought a losing battle with cancer. Tony Brown wanted to begin supporting himself and left two classes shy of a diploma. Haelee Holden got tired of trying to make it through school while flipping burgers until 1 a.m.

3 arrested in 2 Texas school threats (AP)

Published 08/26/2008 02:26 PM

AP - Police have arrested three people in two separate incidents of alleged threats of violence at schools.

Shopping for back to school can be a lesson itself (AP)

Published 08/26/2008 07:03 AM

AP - When Diamond Emory and her daughter Makaiah arrived at Wal-Mart to buy her fifth-grade school supplies, they encountered much to entice a young shopper.

Bid by College Presidents to Lower the Drinking Age Remains a Long Shot (U.S. News & World Report)

Published 08/25/2008 04:10 PM

U.S. News & World Report - College students had yet another reason to celebrate last week when a group of more than 100 university presidents--including leaders of prestigious institutions such as Duke, Dartmouth, and Ohio State--made a dramatic proposal to lower the legal age for drinking alcohol from 21 to 18. But the proposal would have to overcome many obstacles, not least of which is the British experience, where an 18-year-old drinking age has done little to stymie an expanding binge-drinking culture.

New chief seeks to fix DC school system where others failed (AP)

Published 08/25/2008 12:00 AM

AP - She has shuttered 23 schools, fired more than 30 principals and given notice to hundreds of teachers and administrative workers.

Teen's tough act may have had role in shooting (AP)

Published 08/22/2008 06:25 PM

AP - Tough-talking Ryan McDonald grew up in a rough blue-collar neighborhood, teased as "Mr. Clean" since childhood after an ailment left him permanently bald.

College presidents spark debate on drinking age (AP)

Published 08/22/2008 06:22 PM

AP - The college presidents said they wanted a national debate on the 21-year-old drinking age. They got it.

Some parents struggling with back-to-school buys (AP)

Published 08/22/2008 06:38 AM

AP - Charles Lane-Bey combed through racks of blue jeans at a Salvation Army thrift store and held up a pair with potential to his 8-year-old son, Edward, who swung them over his shoulder with a smile.

Harvard reclaims top spot in latest US News list (AP)

Published 08/22/2008 04:45 AM

AP - Harvard University is the country's oldest, wealthiest and most selective university. Now it's back on top of the U.S. News & World Report college rankings, claiming sole possession of the No. 1 spot for the first time in 12 years.

College presidents' call for lower US drinking age sparks outrage (AFP)

Published 08/21/2008 11:37 AM

AFP - US parents, politicians and educators have responded with outrage to a radical proposal by over 100 university heads that the country reduce the legal age for drinking alcohol to combat "binge-drinking."

Judges support Tenn. school's Confederate flag ban (AP)

Published 08/20/2008 06:44 PM

AP - A federal appeals court panel ruled Wednesday in favor of a Tennessee school system that banned the Confederate battle flag because of concerns the symbol could inflame racial tensions at a high school.

Group accuses Illinois of bias in school funding (Reuters)

Published 08/20/2008 05:59 PM

Reuters - A civil rights group said Wednesday it sued the state of Illinois over its system of funding public schools, accusing it of racial discrimination by relying on funding that is "inadequate and unequal."

Study finds minorities more likely to be paddled (AP)

Published 08/20/2008 11:15 AM

AP - Paddlings, swats, licks. A quarter of a million schoolchildren got them last year — and blacks, American Indians and kids with disabilities got a disproportionate share of the punishment, according to a study by a human rights group.

Corporal punishment seen rife in U.S. schools (Reuters)

Published 08/20/2008 10:55 AM

Reuters - More than 200,000 children were hit as punishment in U.S. schools last year and in the South more blacks than whites are struck, two human rights groups said in a report released on Wednesday.

Woman pleads guilty to stealing South Carolina ID (AP)

Published 08/19/2008 02:31 PM

AP - A Montana woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing the identity of a missing South Carolina woman to attend an Ivy League school in what her lawyer called a bid to escape a painful past.

Weather alert radios being sent to schools (AP)

Published 08/19/2008 02:29 PM

AP - Federal agencies are distributing 182,000 public alert radios to schools across the country.

Back to school: Shaky economy hits kids (AP)

Published 08/18/2008 08:51 PM

AP - Hard times and higher fuel prices will follow kids back to school this fall.

BACK TO SCHOOL: More kids walk as fuel costs rise (AP)

Published 08/18/2008 07:04 PM

AP - Faced with soaring diesel fuel costs, school districts are forcing students to use the old-fashioned way to get to class: on their own two feet.

Grant to Utah to Help Create More Charter Schools

Published 08/21/2008 04:14 PM

ED's Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement Doug Mesecar visited Guadalupe Schools in Salt Lake City today to present an $8,533,334 Charter Schools Program grant to the Utah State Department of Education. Utah's Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert and Vice Chairman of the Utah State Board of Education Mark Cluff joined Mesecar for the announcement.

Career and Technical Education Grants

Published 08/20/2008 11:08 AM

ED has awarded a total of $750,000 in grants to six states to help strengthen and enhance career and technical education (CTE) programs. Indiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nebraska, Florida, and Hawaii have received grants to support partnerships that will create new CTE programs, or adopt existing ones, that will align secondary and postsecondary education courses needed to prepare students for further education and employment.

Teaching Resources: U.S. History, Polar Sciences, Countries of the World and More

Published 08/14/2008 01:37 PM

The Constitution, U.S. government, international relations, nations of the world, pivotal moments in U.S. history, early childhood education, calculator-controlled robots, and polar sciences are topics of new resources at FREE, the website that makes teaching resources from federal agencies easier to find.

When You Visit ED.gov, What Do You Hope to Accomplish?

Published 07/23/2008 11:26 AM

When you visit ED.gov, why do you come -- what do you hope to accomplish? We are trying to identify the most important or popular tasks that people hope to accomplish at ED.gov, the main website of the U.S. Department of Education. Please help! Simply select the 5 tasks that are most important to you when you visit ED.gov.

Statement on ACT Scores

Published 08/13/2008 06:30 PM

"ACT scores for the Class of 2008 have remained largely steady, which is encouraging given that the number of test-takers has expanded rapidly to include many more students than ever before...."

Appointees to Council on State Accountability Systems

Published 08/13/2008 10:30 AM

Secretary Spellings announced the appointment of 16 members to the National Technical Advisory Council (NTAC), which Spellings announced as part of the proposed regulations to strengthen No Child Left Behind.

Reading First Data Show Gains

Published 06/23/2008 02:15 PM

New data from states show improvement in nearly every grade and subgroup, including English language learners and students with disabilities.

The Collection of the National Gallery of Art

Published 08/22/2008 06:39 AM

Is the homepage for one of the finest art collections in the world, illustrating major achievements in painting, sculpture, and graphic arts from the Middle Ages to today. Visitors can search the collection by specific artist, title, or a combination of criteria, review research on the Gallery's World War II paintings, tour the collection by medium and school, or download a Gallery Guide in English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish. (National Gallery of Art)

Grant Opportunities

Published 08/15/2008 06:45 AM

Notices inviting applications have been issued recently under ED programs that include the following: Center on Positive Behavioral Supports and Center on Dispute Resolution.

We want your feedback!

Published 06/03/2008 02:30 PM

Please let us know what you think of this news feed.

Purdue, Citing Research Misconduct, Punishes Scientist

Published 08/28/2008 02:17 AM

An appeals committee at Purdue University has upheld findings of misconduct by Rusi P. Taleyarkhan.

Class of 2008 Matches ’07 on the SAT

Published 08/27/2008 01:24 AM

The average scores for the three sections of the SAT were identical for the classes of 2007 and 2008: 502 in the critical-reading section, 515 in mathematics, and 494 in writing.

A Plan to Test the City’s Youngest Pupils

Published 08/27/2008 12:22 PM

The Bloomberg administration is asking elementary school principals across New York City to give standardized tests in English and math to children as young as kindergarten.

10 City Schools to Focus Reading Skills on Content

Published 08/26/2008 01:01 AM

Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein announced a pilot program that would overhaul the way children in 10 city schools are taught to read.

As Food Costs Rise, So Do School Lunch Prices

Published 08/25/2008 01:07 AM

The price increases, generally about 25 cents a meal, come as school districts in New York and across the country try to eke more out of already tight budgets.

For the Last Presidential Debate, a Nation’s Eyes Will Turn to Hofstra

Published 08/25/2008 05:12 AM

The debate at Hofstra caps a prolonged effort by the university to have a voice in the nation’s political discourse.

A Teacher on the Front Line as Faith and Science Clash

Published 08/25/2008 11:55 AM

David Campbell is bringing Florida’s mandate to teach evolution to many students raised to take the biblical creation story as fact.

A Promise of Pre-K for All Is Still Far Off in New York

Published 08/23/2008 07:29 AM

Ten years after the goal was set, fewer than 38 percent of 4-year-olds attend state-financed classes.

2 Withdraw From Petition to Rethink Drinking Age

Published 08/22/2008 03:24 PM

Gains outweighed the losses in the effort by college presidents to lower the drinking age, as 15 more signed on, for a total of 123.

Welcome, Freshmen. Have an iPod.

Published 08/21/2008 12:06 PM

Taking a step that professors may view as a bit counterproductive, some universities are doling out Apple iPhones and Internet-capable iPods to students.

Mixed Results on Paying City Students to Pass Tests

Published 08/26/2008 10:52 PM

A program offering up to $1,000 for scoring well on Advanced Placement exams yielded relatively flat results, adding fuel to the debate over how to motivate students.

18 New Charter Schools to Open in September, Bloomberg Announces

Published 08/19/2008 03:44 AM

The new schools — the largest number to open in the city in a single year — will bring the number of charter schools in the city to 78, serving 24,000 students.

Student Files Are Exposed on Web Site

Published 08/19/2008 02:59 PM

The Princeton Review, the test-preparatory firm, accidentally published the personal data and standardized test scores of tens of thousands of Florida students on its Web site, where they were available for seven weeks.

Environment: Challenging a College to Redesign a Building

Published 08/17/2008 02:04 AM

Students and faculty at Norwalk Community College plan to step up efforts to force a redesign of a health and science center that would abide by more stringent standards for energy efficiency.

A Taste of Failure Fuels an Appetite for Success at South Korea’s Cram Schools

Published 08/14/2008 02:49 AM

South Koreans say their obsession to get their children into top-notch universities is nothing short of “a war� and are turning to intense, regimented campuses.

Donors in Mount Vernon Allow Its Games to Go On

Published 08/12/2008 06:27 AM

A last-ditch campaign to save a tradition of school sports in Mount Vernon, N.Y., has raised $225,451, including $100,000 from the actor Denzel Washington, a former resident.

Most in City Now Graduate in Four Years

Published 08/12/2008 06:29 AM

For the first time, more than half of New York City’s high school students are graduating on time, according to 2007 figures.

Private School’s New Neighbor Is Too Close for Some Parents’ Comfort

Published 08/11/2008 06:13 PM

A federal probation office located in the same building as a school has some parents concerned.

College and Company Link Up to Lure Foreigners

Published 08/08/2008 01:56 PM

Northeastern is using Kaplan Inc. to find students for, and help run, a special program for international students.

Where the Race Now Begins at Kindergarten

Published 08/06/2008 12:53 AM

With the recent boom in the city’s under-5 set, the competition for kindergarten places can rival that of Ivy League admission.

New York Hospitals Create Outcry in Foreign Deal

Published 08/05/2008 02:10 PM

A deal with a Caribbean school to provide clinical training for students at public hospitals has prompted an outcry.

Double Dutch Gets Status in the Schools

Published 07/31/2008 01:28 PM

Come next spring, double dutch, an urban street staple that dates back centuries, will become the newest of 35 varsity sports played in New York City schools.

The Long Run: Teaching Law, Testing Ideas, Obama Stood Slightly Apart

Published 07/30/2008 04:56 PM

In his 12 years teaching at the University of Chicago Law School, Barack Obama was both popular and enigmatic.

To Speak Out Against the City’s School System, One Man Turns to the Power of Parody

Published 07/30/2008 12:48 AM

A New York parent’s satirical education news items have seemed believable enough to prompt inquiries to the Education Department’s headquarters.

A Teachable Moment

Published 08/26/2008 11:20 AM

Hurricane Katrina wiped out the New Orleans public schools. It also created a rare chance to build a system that might solve the biggest problem in urban education -- how to teach disadvantaged children.

Essay: At School, Technology Starts to Turn a Corner

Published 08/21/2008 12:50 PM

As a new school year begins, the time may have come to reconsider how large a role technology can play in changing education.

Ad Blitz Has Stern Message for County's Many Truants

Published 08/28/2008 12:00 AM

The Prince George's County Board of Education is unleashing a barrage of television, radio and print advertising as part of a crackdown on one of the school system's most serious problems: the 6,000 students who are regularly skipping class.

Testing Change Raises Scores

Published 08/28/2008 12:00 AM

A switch in testing for students who are learning English fueled a rebound in scores this year for immigrant-rich schools in Northern Virginia that had failed the year before to meet targets set under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Scores Stable as More Minorities Take SAT

Published 08/27/2008 12:00 AM

SAT performance held steady for 2008 high school graduates even as participation rose among minority students and those who are part of the first generation in their families to go to college, the College Board reported yesterday.

Teacher Gave Kids Drugs, Police Say

Published 08/27/2008 12:00 AM

The students who put together the 2007 yearbook at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville dubbed Theresa C. Duarte "the coolest woman alive."

Schools Set Sights On Truants

Published 08/28/2008 12:00 AM

Now that Prince George's County schools are back in session, the Board of Education is taking aim at one of the district's most serious problems: truancy.

Naval Academy's Recruiting Loses Its Starch

Published 08/28/2008 12:00 AM

As the Naval Academy launches into a new school year, its superintendent has unveiled a recruiting effort that includes flashy TV commercials and a graphic novel in a bid for more minority students.

Survey to Study Math Curriculum

Published 08/28/2008 12:00 AM

Loudoun County school officials are conducting a broad review of the district's math curriculum and soon will survey teachers, administrators and parents to get their feedback on how the subject is taught.

Lessons Only Experience Can Teach

Published 08/28/2008 12:00 AM

Tuesday is the day Leah Schumaker says she has been waiting for since she was a little girl. It's the day the 23-year-old will start the third grade, this time from the other side of the desk, as an elementary school teacher.

In Manassas, The 3 R's Add Up to a Fourth: Rudimentary

Published 08/28/2008 12:00 AM

Reading, writing and arithmetic are still the fundamental building blocks of education, but these days, they have some competition as educators reevaluate curriculum and prepare students for life in the 21st century.

Foreclosures Decrease; Mortgage Woes Don't

Published 08/28/2008 12:00 AM

The number of foreclosures in Charles County dropped in the second quarter of the year, but residents still face significant mortgage troubles, according to a report issued this month by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

Clarifying Charter School Admission Policies

Published 08/28/2008 12:00 AM

Dear Extra Credit : I am a concerned D.C. public schools elementary teacher trying to help parents place graduating fifth-graders at good public schools. I am disturbed by the application process for Maya Angelou Public Charter School, as described on its Web site. Children must submit...

Public School Results

Published 08/27/2008 12:00 AM

Here are the SAT reading, math and writing scores for the public schools' Class of 2008. They are based on a 2400-point composite scale. The year-to-year changes are in parentheses.

1,700 More Off Payroll; Record Problems Remain

Published 08/27/2008 12:00 AM

The District's problem-plagued summer jobs program has lopped an additional 1,700 people from its rolls for the pay day that comes Friday but still hasn't fixed its records system well enough to pay people for the hours they actually worked, officials said.

First-Day Jitters Aren't Just for Students

Published 08/26/2008 12:00 AM

In those last few seconds before the beginning of the school year at 7:45 a.m., Paul Murdock's baby face was a mask of concentration. As he stood outside Room 23, a column of almost two dozen fifth-graders marched right at him. He was nervous. It was his first day of class at Langley Park-McCormi...

At Forum, College Officials Assess Tough Grading Policy's Effect

Published 08/26/2008 12:00 AM

Several college officials told Fairfax County parents and students yesterday that easing the school system's grading policy could help students win some scholarships but probably would not improve their chances of admission to nearby competitive colleges.

For D.C. Schools, A Pretty Good Day 1

Published 08/26/2008 12:00 AM

All of the District's 123 public schools opened on time for their approximately 50,000 students yesterday as work crews scrambled down to the wire to complete a $200 million program of renovation and repair.

School Britannia: Familiar Worries, But With Classier Accents

Published 08/26/2008 12:00 AM

It's funny how more than 200 years after throwing off the yoke of Limey oppression, we Americans are still prepared to feel inferior to the English. It's the accent, probably. That plummy way of talking can make us Yanks second-guess our intelligence. I know that whenever I was in conversation with...

Some Parents Struggling With Back-to-School Buys

Published 08/22/2008 06:38 AM

CHICAGO -- Charles Lane-Bey combed through racks of blue jeans at a Salvation Army thrift store and held up a pair with potential to his 8-year-old son, Edward, who swung them over his shoulder with a smile.

Alexandria's New Superintendent Urges Educators to Stop, Reflect, Act

Published 08/25/2008 12:00 AM

On Morton Sherman's desk sits a brown leather journal. It is a nicer, more expensive version than the ones he handed to Alexandria school administrators a few weeks ago, but the purpose is the same.

Volunteers Helping at Baltimore Schools

Published 08/25/2008 07:20 AM

BALTIMORE (AP) -- When the school bells ring Monday in Baltimore, volunteers will be helping in school offices and lunch rooms.

New Column, Old Columnist

Published 08/25/2008 10:47 AM

I retired in June, sort of, but not really. When I took the early retirement package The Post offered, it was clear to everyone -- my family, my colleagues and particularly me -- that I was too immature to change my daily routine in any way and not fall apart. So The Post kindly gave me a contract...

Better or Worse, It's Rhee's School System Now

Published 08/25/2008 12:00 AM

After a tumultuous year of unprecedented change, the fingerprints of Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee will be found all over Washington's 120 public schools as students return today.

GMU Is Magazine's Leading 'Up-and-Coming' School

Published 08/23/2008 12:00 AM

George Mason University tops the list of "Up and Coming" national universities in U.S. News and World Report's annual rankings of the top institutions in the country.

Festivities, Anxiety Mark Kickoff Event

Published 08/23/2008 12:00 AM

The morning began with the buoyant spirit of a pep rally -- all cheers, prizes and inspirational words from Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and other officials to launch the District's teachers into the fall term that starts Monday.

For Readers, A Conversation About Education

Published 08/25/2008 12:00 AM

Iretired in June, sort of, but not really. When I took the early retirement package The Post offered, it was clear to everyone -- my family, my colleagues and particularly me -- that I was too immature to change my daily routine in any way and not fall apart.

Md. to Protect 275 More Acres Of Wetlands, Forest in Charles

Published 08/24/2008 12:00 AM

Charles County, home to thousands of acres of state-protected land, will have 275 more acres in its southwestern part preserved under Maryland's Program Open Space.

D.C. Tries Cash as a Motivator In School

Published 08/22/2008 12:00 AM

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee announced plans yesterday to boost dismal achievement at half the city's middle schools by offering students an unusual incentive: cash.

China Hopes to Attract more US College Students

Published 08/21/2008 03:59 AM

RALEIGH, N.C. -- China is hoping that American college students watching the Summer Olympics will want to travel there, providing a bump similar to what Australia and Greece enjoyed in 2000 and 2004.

Overseer Of School Revamp Fires Back

Published 08/22/2008 12:00 AM

D.C. school construction chief Allen Y. Lew came to his own defense yesterday, promising that all classrooms and common areas in schools under renovation would be ready for the beginning of the academic year Monday. He attributed problems in completing other key repairs to delays in council actio...

D.C. Council Chief Criticizes Quality of Some School Repairs

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

The quality of this summer's $163 million in renovations to D.C. schools varies widely, with some projects suffering from time pressures, poor planning and inadequate oversight of contractors, Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray said yesterday.

Lower Drinking Age Is Criticized

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

On the face of it, the notion seems counterintuitive, but to the presidents of some of the nation's most prestigious colleges, it makes a lot of sense: Lowering the legal drinking age might get students to drink less.

Students' Personal Data Posted Online

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

Personal information for hundreds of Fairfax County students was accidentally published online this summer by the Princeton Review, a test-preparation company.

Wind Power's Energetic Fans

Published 08/22/2008 12:00 AM

After years of battling the owners of the massive coal-fired power plant near his Charles County home, Ken Robinson decided that he wanted to reduce his dependence on their electricity. Now, he's taking a most unusual step.

Students' Personal Data Posted Online

Published 08/21/2008 12:07 PM

Fairfax County school officials said today that about 75,000 of their students had been affected by a technological breach this summer in which names, birthdates and other personal information was accidentally published online by the test-preparation company Princeton Review. Late last night, sch...

Assistant Principal Charged With Child Pornography

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

An assistant principal at Freedom High School in South Riding was arrested yesterday and charged with possession of child pornography.

Success Story Stokes Hopes For New Year

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

For a prime example of where the Prince George's County school system has been, where it is today and where it wants to go in the school year that begins Monday, visit Flintstone Elementary School in Oxon Hill.

Schools Are Set to Open, But Staffing Is Unsettled

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

Imagine a parent sending a child off to kindergarten and then learning, a week or two later, that the child's teacher is being transferred to another school and the students scattered unceremoniously among other classrooms.

Students Reflect on a New School Year

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

As another academic year approaches, many D.C. public school students say they are concerned about the quality of their education and want to hold top officials accountable. Here, four students share their experiences and offer suggestions on ways to improve public education.

From Obsolete to State of the Art

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

Hardy Middle School in Northwest Washington will reopen next week with a much larger library after a two-year renovation project. After being mothballed six years ago, Phelps High School in Northeast will relaunch with an updated focus on the construction trades. And John Philip Sousa Middle Scho...

In Second Year, Rhee Is Facing Major Tests

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

Classroom by classroom, hallway by hallway, school by school, Michelle A. Rhee is attempting to remake a D.C. public education system that for decades has seemed impervious to change.

All the Hoos in Hooville Hit With a Sign of the Times

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

Gone are the days when athletes at the University of Virginia could look up at cheering fans and see signs asking, "Hoos your daddy?"

A New Look for the Old School

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

When students return to Wakefield High School next month, they will find the likeness of a giant panda on the cafeteria wall. They will also be greeted by a new dressing room for the theater department, freshly planted trees across the campus and hallways lined with college-themed bulletin boards....

The County's High-Tech 'Test Case'

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

There was electricity in the air at Nantucket Elementary this week as teachers prepared for the debut of Anne Arundel County's newest school.

Calvert, St. Mary's Students Meet Yearly Goals

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

All public elementary and middle schools in Calvert and St. Mary's counties met state-set goals for student performance on standardized tests this year, a feat accomplished by only seven counties in Maryland.

'Proficient' Just Doesn't Cut It in Maryland

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

For a school with one of the most economically disadvantaged populations in Montgomery County, Highland Elementary in Silver Spring is remarkably competitive on standardized tests.

Freshmen Take 1st Independent Steps

Published 08/21/2008 12:00 AM

On their first night at the University of Maryland, Veronica Snodgrass and Tricia Geiger were walking to Route 1, trying to decide what to do, when it suddenly hit them: They were college students, for real.

D.C. School Renovations Won't Finish on Time

Published 08/20/2008 12:00 AM

Construction crews are scrambling on double shifts to finish millions of dollars in renovations to several D.C. schools that are slated to accommodate hundreds of additional students for the beginning of classes Monday, and a top city official acknowledged yesterday that some of the work will not...

Educators Urge Lower Drinking Age to Cut Bingeing

Published 08/20/2008 12:00 AM

Scores of college presidents, including the head of Maryland's public university system and the president of Johns Hopkins University, have an unexpected request for legislators: Please, lower the drinking age.

Break on Cost Of Textbooks Unlikely Before Last Bell, 2010

Published 08/20/2008 12:00 AM

The rising cost of college textbooks has driven Congress and nearly three dozen states -- including Maryland and Virginia -- to attempt to curtail prices and controversial publishing practices through legislation. But as the fall semester begins, students are unlikely to see much relief.

A Reservoir of Learning

Published 08/17/2008 12:00 AM

With the world watching Michael Phelps's epic quest for eight gold medals, some parents of young Olympic dreamers across the region say they've worked hard to keep his success in perspective for their kids.

D.C. School Choice Program Offers Few Options

Published 08/18/2008 12:00 AM

Earlier this month, parents of students in 81 low-performing D.C. public schools -- almost two-thirds of the District system -- got a packet in the mail announcing that federal law entitles them to transfer their children to a stronger school.