Education News

Why public university presidents are under fire

Published 06/19/2012 10:23 AM

We know an industry is in crisis when its top institutions cannot establish stable leadership. That is the case with some of our nation's best public universities today.

Does obesity affect school performance?

Published 06/14/2012 10:12 AM

Obese children and teenagers face a slew of potential health problems as they get older, including an increased risk of diabetes, heart attacks, and certain cancers. As if that weren't enough, obesity may harm young people's long-term college and career prospects, too.

Pennsylvania school workers protest layoff notices

Published 05/23/2012 09:43 PM

Protesters marched in at least two major cities in Pennsylvania on Wednesday in response to proposed state budget cuts intended to close gaps in public school funding.

My View: Why I chose home schooling

Published 04/10/2012 11:35 AM

Editor's Note: Bethany M. Gardiner, M.D., is a pediatrician and author of "Highlighting Homeschooling," (http://www.stickytapepress.com/) which guides parents through the educational options available to them and their children.

Obama chides governors for education cuts

Published 02/27/2012 06:48 PM

President Barack Obama told U.S. governors attending a luncheon Monday that they are cutting too much funding for education and need to make reforms while continuing to invest in the future of America's students.

10 states freed from some 'No Child Left Behind' requirements

Published 02/10/2012 07:24 AM

Ten states are being granted waivers to free them from some requirements of the No Child Left Behind education reform law, with President Barack Obama explaining Thursday that the move aims to "combine greater freedom with greater accountability."

University of Florida suspends fraternity for 'serious physical hazing incident'

Published 02/09/2012 07:29 AM

The University of Florida has temporarily suspended its chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity after learning about a hazing incident involving fraternity members, a university spokeswoman said.

USDA issues new rules for school meals

Published 01/25/2012 03:51 PM

School meals will have to offer fruits and vegetables to students every day under standards issued by the United States Department of Agriculture on Wednesday.

Medical schools join first lady's health initiative for veterans

Published 01/11/2012 08:24 PM

Two medical education groups and 130 medical schools signed on to first lady Michelle Obama's initiative to "train the nation's physicians to meet the unique health care needs of the military and veterans communities," the White House announced Wednesday.

Lessons from famous college dropouts

Published 12/31/2011 04:24 PM

A college degree can be an important gateway to employment, a career and a better standard of living. But a college degree does not equate to someone's level of intelligence or talent. For those seeking the best workers or leaders, there is a plethora of intelligent, inventive people without degrees who should not be overlooked.

Lunch prices go up for children of U.S. troops stationed overseas

Published 12/14/2011 01:56 AM

When children of American servicemembers who are living with their parents overseas go back to school after the holidays, the Grinch will be waiting for them in the cafeteria.

Two more surrender, making 20 arrests in SAT/ACT scandal

Published 11/28/2011 08:32 PM

Two more students surrendered Monday, making the grand total 20 arrests in an SAT/ACT scandal, according to the Nassau County, New York, district attorney's office.

SAT scandal shows tyranny of standardized testing

Published 11/28/2011 08:32 PM

As education scandals go, the news that students at some of the best high schools on Long Island paid others to take their College Board tests seems mild. The Long Island scandal pales behind the sex scandal at Penn State.

College graduation rates: Income really matters

Published 11/28/2011 05:10 PM

It's getting more difficult for low-income students to climb the economic ladder as the college graduation gap between the rich and poor grows.

South Korean students' 'year of hell' culminates with exams day

Published 11/13/2011 12:30 PM

Most South Korean students consider their final year in high school "the year of hell." It is when all students are put to the ultimate test.

College costs climb, yet again

Published 10/29/2011 07:09 PM

Although more Americans are getting help from scholarships and tax breaks, the net cost of college is eating up a higher share of the typical family's income in 2011, according to a report released Wednesday.

States gear up to opt out of No Child Left Behind law

Published 09/23/2011 08:45 PM

A number of states, including Georgia, already are putting things in place to opt out of the controversial No Child Left Behind Law, following President Barrack Obama's announcement Friday that states can now apply for waivers.

White House announces waivers for No Child Left Behind law

Published 08/09/2011 10:17 PM

About half the schools in Tennessee didn't meet the annual yearly progress requirements of the No Child Left Behind law last year. Tennessee is not alone.

Judge rules Memphis city schools to merge with county

Published 08/08/2011 06:49 PM

Public schools in Memphis, Tennessee, will be consolidated with those of the surrounding county beginning in 2013-14, a federal judge ruled Monday. The decision ends for now a yearslong fight over funding that spilled into questions of race and politics.

'Big Bang Theory' actress Mayim Bialik a real-life scientist

Published 07/15/2011 12:17 PM

You may remember her as the title character from NBC's "Blossom," or recognize her as brainy Amy Farrah Fowler on the CBS hit comedy "The Big Bang Theory."

Flawed policy on testing drives schools to cheat

Published 07/14/2011 08:20 AM

The recent disclosure of test altering practices across Atlanta's public school system has turned the spotlight on a national crisis. Instances of grade changing and test tampering have also been reported across the country in cities such as Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia and Washington.

New dating site helps college students find love

Published 06/22/2011 11:04 AM

Though they had perhaps crossed paths several times on campus, it was only when Andy Lalinde was scrolling through images of cute girls online that the one with brunette hair standing in some South American country caught his eye.

Never too late to be a doctor

Published 06/13/2011 12:21 PM

By the time Mike Moore finishes school and starts his career as a doctor, he'll be in his 50s.

Surging college costs price out middle class

Published 06/13/2011 06:44 AM

What do you get when college costs skyrocket but incomes barely budge? Yet another blow to the middle class.

A college education is your best bet

Published 06/09/2011 01:17 PM

Investor Peter Thiel has generated attention by making some provocative claims about America's colleges and universities. Thiel has labeled U.S. higher education "a bubble in the classic sense," and believes that college degrees are "overvalued."

For-profit colleges face tougher funding standards

Published 06/02/2011 09:10 AM

In order to receive federal funding for education programs, for-profit colleges now need to prove that their graduates are actually getting jobs.

Blind man files discrimination suit over law school admission test

Published 05/25/2011 08:58 PM

A blind Michigan man, rejected by three law schools after scoring poorly on the Law School Admission Test, is suing the American Bar Association, arguing that the group's exam requirements discriminate against the visually impaired.

Trump's 'university' targeted by NY regulators

Published 05/20/2011 06:18 PM

The company formerly known as Trump University is one of several for-profit schools under investigation by the New York Attorney General, a Trump spokesman confirmed Friday.

Your education is not an equal opportunity

Published 05/16/2011 01:17 PM

Should your ZIP code determine your access to the American dream? Or is the U.S. Constitution's guarantee to provide "equal protection" a principle we have silently agreed to uphold in theory -- but not in practice?

For-profit colleges fighting back hard

Published 04/21/2011 06:52 PM

It's no secret that prominent short-seller Steve Eisman has been outspoken against the for-profit education sector, and he has the ear of lawmakers and the Department of Education.

Detroit to close some schools, convert others to charters

Published 03/31/2011 10:55 AM

As many as 18 Detroit schools will either be converted into charter schools or be closed, Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Robert Bobb said Wednesday.

Mother hopes others will opt out of standardized testing

Published 03/21/2011 06:53 PM

A Pennsylvania mother has decided she does not want her two children to take the two-week-long standardized tests given by her state as part of the federal No Child Left Behind law. And she hopes other parents will do the same.

Obama calls for Congress to pass education reforms

Published 03/14/2011 01:23 PM

President Barack Obama called Monday for Congress to pass education reforms by the time students return to school next fall, telling a Virginia middle school that fixing problems in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act -- more commonly known as "No Child Left Behind" -- should be a top priority.

Duncan: 'No Child Left Behind' creates failure for U.S. schools

Published 03/10/2011 12:01 AM

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Wednesday his department estimates that four out of five schools in the United States will not make their "No Child Left Behind" benchmarks by the law's target year of 2014 -- and when the test scores are counted for the current school year, numbers could show that U.S. schools are already at that failure rate.

End 'last in, first out' teacher layoffs

Published 02/24/2011 07:49 AM

State leaders across the country are confronting some of the toughest decisions they have ever had to make in order to balance their budgets amid a massive financial crisis. As a parent who has worked in education for almost 20 years, knowing that budget cuts will soon hit education is far from my ideal.

For-profit education shorts: 0, Lobbyists: 1

Published 02/23/2011 01:30 PM

Steve Eisman, the short-seller who put himself on the map during the credit crisis, may have suffered a major setback in his campaign against for-profit higher education last week when the House voted resoundingly to strip funding for tough new regulations on the industry.

Michigan approves plan to close half of Detroit schools

Published 02/22/2011 04:35 PM

In an effort to close a yawning budget deficit, Michigan has approved a proposal to drastically shrink Detroit's troubled school system over the next few years.

GAO report revisions lead to lawsuit by for-profit college group

Published 02/08/2011 08:00 PM

In Washington, a place known for spin by both Democrats and Republicans, reports by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office are regularly and confidently quoted as fact by both sides. This is a story about one of those reports that went awry, leading to charges of partisanship and a lawsuit filed against the GAO.

How to choose a school for your child

Published 01/27/2011 01:10 PM

Natalie Crate loves her family's home in a serene community on Massachusetts' North Shore, but come spring, it might be for sale. Crate and her husband aren't happy with the local public schools and would rather have a great education for their daughter than a nice house.

She ate 162 school lunches -- and blogged it

Published 01/21/2011 11:22 AM

After a year of eating school lunches, Mrs. Q survived to blog about it.

Feds to tighten school nutrition standards

Published 01/13/2011 03:42 PM

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a new proposed rule Thursday designed to strengthen school breakfast and lunch nutrition standards -- part of the Obama administration's attempt to crack down on an epidemic of childhood obesity.

The most popular graduate degrees

Published 12/31/2010 04:13 AM

Attending graduate school is a big decision -- there's a lot of time, effort and money involved in earning an advanced degree. Yet despite the major commitment, the popularity of graduate degrees is on the rise.

Controversial D.C. school reformer takes agenda national

Published 12/07/2010 12:13 PM

Known as a reformer and a rebel, Michelle Rhee took a "revolutionary" step Monday, when she posted on her website, her intent to launch an education advocacy group, according to one educator.

The business school for anti-MBAs

Published 10/25/2010 10:11 AM

In the fall of 2008, when Lehman Brothers went kaput and the economy plunged into a deep recession, Yash Gupta was scampering around the country trying to drum up support for a new business school at Johns Hopkins University.

Death to the SAT!!!

Published 10/21/2010 08:02 AM

Early on, in the 1950s, Robert Sternberg flubbed IQ tests, and his elementary school branded him a loser. "As a result of my low scores, my teachers thought I was stupid, and I did too," he writes in his passionate new book, College Admissions for the 21st Century. "They never came out and told us our IQ scores, but one could tell from the way the teachers acted I was a mediocre student, which made my teachers happy because they got what they expected." In a "self-fulfilling prophecy," Sternberg performed a little bit worse each year. But he lucked out in fourth grade when a teacher "had high expectations for me." He got A's and altered his "entire future trajectory."

Documentaries spark education debate

Published 10/15/2010 04:43 PM

Every year, thousands of families gather in school gymnasiums and auditoriums across the country to enter a drawing, one they believe will make the difference between success and struggle.

D.C. schools chancellor steps down

Published 10/13/2010 02:07 PM

The chancellor of the District of Columbia's Public Schools announced she was stepping down Wednesday, after three-and-a-half years as head of the troubled school system.

Award-winning teachers dole out advice on fixing public schools

Published 10/11/2010 04:54 PM

What if students attended school all year? One Wisconsin teacher thinks that could be a way to improve student grades and fix the nation's public school system.

College-educated more likely to marry, study says

Published 10/07/2010 02:20 PM

The gap between those who have a college degree and those who do not is widening -- this time when it comes to marriage.

Two-year colleges lack services to reduce unplanned pregnancies

Published 10/07/2010 10:23 AM

Months before its summit on community colleges Tuesday, the White House asked Americans to post on its website ideas for community college reform, and vote for their favorite idea.

Obama's education plan draws fire

Published 10/06/2010 10:14 PM

It has gotten very little attention so far, but make no mistake: President Obama is pushing for an absolute paradigm shift in the role that community colleges will play in producing America's highly skilled workers of the future -- and not everyone is happy about it.

Why Stanford predicts a decline in MBA applications

Published 10/06/2010 01:20 PM

The phones in Stanford University's Business School admissions office aren't ringing as often as they did. The number of applicants showing up at the school's information sessions around the world is down as well. For Derrick Bolton, who racked up 240,000 miles of flying last year as director of admissions, it has meant an even heavier schedule than usual to drum up interest.

Dads are the 'Supermen' students need

Published 10/06/2010 10:53 AM

The performance of America's public schools is embarrassing. That is the message of the compelling documentary "Waiting for 'Superman.' "

White House holds summit on cash-strapped community colleges

Published 10/05/2010 10:48 AM

Community colleges across the United States have seen enrollment figures jump by 24 percent over the past few years, as unemployed workers look to retrain at those institutions, which offer lower tuition compared to their four-year counterparts.

Forget Superman, charter schools are waiting for Oprah

Published 09/30/2010 03:38 PM

While we are only just approaching October, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas for the charter school movement. Since the documentary Waiting for Superman opened in select theaters last week, a cast of notables have announced a cascade of donations and investment pledges for charters, and it looks it's just the beginning of this holiday season.

How to get into HBS: play the piccolo, not the violin

Published 09/27/2010 02:08 PM

When Janet Stark finally gets around to building her own website, the admissions consultant will run it with the headline, "I've been accepted to Harvard Business School over 50 times!" Her students are a bit less open.

Obama: 'Money without reform' won't fix U.S. education system

Published 09/27/2010 11:44 AM

Recent world rankings showing U.S. students failing to make the grade in math and science are "a sign of long-term decline," that will require reform of the country's education system to fix, President Obama told NBC's "Today" show on Monday.

Obama must stick to his guns on education

Published 09/02/2010 01:29 PM

It's back-to-school time, which means some in the media have gone back to asking: "What's wrong with our schools? And how can we fix it?"

Alabama schools turn to bank loans to operate

Published 08/31/2010 11:10 AM

Alabama schools have been having a rough time of it, and it only looks like it's going to get rougher. The Cotton State recently came in last place in the federal Department of Education's Race to the Top grant competition. And a steadfast global recession combined with the Gulf Coast oil spill this summer have put a severe strain on the state's tax receipts, the primary source of revenue for Alabama's education system, forcing several school systems to take out private loans just to make it through the year.

Report: Classroom shortage hurts East Jerusalem children

Published 08/24/2010 02:21 PM

Palestinian children in East Jerusalem are being put at a disadvantage because of a dire shortage of classrooms in the east side of the city, according to a report published Tuesday by two Israeli human rights groups.

What's missing for back-to-school? 135,000 teachers

Published 08/20/2010 04:21 PM

More children are crowding into classrooms in Modesto, Calif. Parents are paying extra to send their kids to full-day kindergarten in Queen Creek, Ariz. And the school buses stopped rolling in one St. Louis area school district.

Get a job, or go to grad school?

Published 07/26/2010 04:26 PM

Dear Annie: I hope you can settle an argument. My parents are saying that with my college major (English), it will probably be hard for me to find a job when I graduate next spring. They want me to go straight to grad school and get a master's degree, which they say will make me more "marketable." (They are willing to foot the bill, which I do appreciate.)

D.C. school system fires 241 teachers

Published 07/23/2010 07:38 PM

The District of Columbia public school system announced Friday that it is letting 226 employees go for poor performance under the education assessment system IMPACT.

Arrests highlight education busing issues

Published 07/21/2010 03:30 PM

The arrest of 19 protesters at a rancorous school board meeting Tuesday brings the issue of busing and diversity in education into the national spotlight.

Are hospitals deadlier in July?

Published 07/08/2010 12:44 PM

More than 16,000 U.S. medical school graduates are awarded M.D. degrees each year, and many enter their residency programs at teaching hospitals in July. Now, a growing body of research suggests that month might be a more deadly time in U.S. hospitals.

Why good jobs are going unfilled

Published 07/06/2010 09:32 PM

We're getting to the point where even good news comes wrapped in bad news.

Top issues: Education

Published 06/23/2010 04:27 PM

U.S. education issues in 2010 boil down to two questions: how to fund cash-strapped state universities and how to fix so-called high school "drop-out factories."

When having an MBA is Important

Published 06/09/2010 07:15 PM

Some people view an MBA degree the same way that Charlie thought about his Golden Ticket in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory": They believe a piece of paper can magically transport you to a place you only imagined.

Amid budget cuts, Maryland school system sells curriculum

Published 06/09/2010 04:58 PM

To help defray budget cuts, the Montgomery County Public School system in Maryland is selling some of its assets. Specifically, it has entered into a deal valued at at least $4.5 million with a company called Pearson to sell the county's elementary curriculum expertise.

Steele: Democrats fail on school program

Published 05/17/2010 08:18 PM

Fifty-six years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed in Brown v. Board of Education what our founders declared self-evident -- that all men are created equal.

Man with knife attacks kindergarten in China

Published 04/29/2010 01:17 PM

At least 28 children were injured when a man with a knife attacked a kindergarten in east China on Thursday morning, state media said.

$250 million for abstinence education not evidence-based, groups say

Published 03/31/2010 11:21 AM

The health care reform legislation that President Obama signed recently isn't only about insurance coverage -- there's also a renewal of $50 million per year for five years for abstinence-focused education.

Work with teachers, don't fire them

Published 03/16/2010 08:46 PM

Little Rhode Island made big news in the education arena last month. Superintendent Frances Gallo fired all the teachers at Central Falls High School after negotiations with the teachers' union failed.

Why subsidize wealthy college kids?

Published 03/09/2010 11:50 AM

I mentor a student who is a senior in a low-performing high school. About 50 percent of the students at his school drop out, while less than 25 percent go to college. His parents didn't graduate from high school, and his father earns about $14,000 a year. His grade point average is good enough to qualify him for admission at a few University of California schools.

Why we protest education cuts

Published 03/05/2010 11:15 AM

Today, in California and other states across the nation, students, teachers, faculty and workers have been protesting, striking, walking out of classes and staging sit-ins and teach-ins. They are protesting budget cuts, tuition hikes, compensation reductions, layoffs and privatizations affecting public K-12 schools and universities.

CNN Fact Check: How do California's hikes in college costs stack up?

Published 03/04/2010 06:52 PM

Students and college professors in California and around the country protested Thursday over the drastic cuts imposed on cash-strapped state colleges and universities.

Contest win fuels fierce debate over race

Published 03/02/2010 05:34 PM

What does it mean when a white sorority wins a competition that African-American fraternities and sororities not only created but also consider an essential part of their cultural expression? It means an uncomfortable discussion about race, history, culture and inclusivity that is not black and white.

Obama highlights federal funds to lower high school dropout rate

Published 03/01/2010 02:49 PM

President Obama highlighted stronger federal efforts Monday to help lower a high school dropout rate that, according to the president, is undermining America's future economic potential.

Public college tuitions spike 15%, even 30%

Published 02/24/2010 01:42 PM

Tuition at many public colleges and universities is skyrocketing, thanks to state budget deficits that have choked off funding for higher education.

Ohio State is No. 1 - in president's pay

Published 01/18/2010 03:57 PM

Ohio State University is No. 1 again, but not in football or basketball. For the second year in a row, the school's president was the highest paid public university executive in the United States, according to a study published Monday.

Nursing crisis looms as baby boomers age

Published 12/23/2009 05:18 PM

America could be facing a nursing shortage that will worsen exponentially as the population grows older.

Primary care shortages hitting communities hard

Published 12/13/2009 10:33 AM

Her bedside manner is comforting, the questions to the point.

Get a green job in two years

Published 11/17/2009 08:07 AM

Community colleges have long held second-class-citizen status in the world of higher education. But they've suddenly become top tier when it comes to one important thing: training for new green-economy jobs.

Give Obama A+ for school reform ideas

Published 11/06/2009 11:53 AM

President Obama deserves an A+ for his agenda for education reform. His decision to nominate Arne Duncan as U.S. education secretary was inspired, and his comments on holding the system accountable are honest, refreshing and insightful.

College: More expensive than ever

Published 10/20/2009 02:39 PM

College costs are higher than ever, according to a new report, putting a degree even further out of reach for many Americans.

The CEO educator

Published 10/01/2009 09:55 AM

Joel Klein's title is New York City school chancellor, but he's really a CEO. He oversees America's largest public school system -- 1.1 million students -- with more authority than his counterparts in most other major cities, thanks to a landmark 2002 law that was just renewed for another five years.

Medical students reckless on Internet, sometimes at patients' expense

Published 09/22/2009 06:15 PM

In 2007, a resident surgeon snapped a picture of a patient's tattoo -- the words Hot Rod on his penis -- and shared it with colleagues, making international news when the story was leaked to the press. At least the resident didn't post the picture on the Internet.

Commentary: Who says public schools need more money?

Published 09/10/2009 08:00 AM

Teachers unions and politicians are constantly claiming that K-12 public schools need more money in order to produce good academic results. But does the data support the argument that our schools need more money to succeed?

Commentary: Obama on risky ground on schools

Published 09/09/2009 10:51 AM

President Obama has made it clear from the earliest days of his presidency that he intended to make education a high priority for his administration.

Jaycee Dugard's Abduction Haunted Her Young Classmates

Published 09/06/2009 11:26 PM

"Everybody was scared," a former student recalls, "and the parents were even more scared than the kids"

U.S. 'Soviet-style' education system not cutting it

Published 08/28/2009 05:42 PM

Our educational system is essentially a Soviet-style government-run monopoly that could only be loved by the likes of Lenin and Stalin.

Ex-coach Demers appointed to Canadian Senate

Published 08/27/2009 06:41 PM

MONTREAL (AP) -- Jacques Demers, the Stanley Cup-winning coach who has spoken frankly about his lifelong battle with illiteracy, was appointed Thursday to the Canadian Senate.

Free medical school for 40 lucky students

Published 07/31/2009 12:39 PM

The incoming freshmen at one of the nation's newest medical schools will have more freedom to choose whether to become a specialist or help fill the shortage of primary care doctors.

Schwarzenegger: Overlook glitch, let paralyzed grad take bar exam

Published 07/26/2009 10:07 AM

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday called on the state bar to overlook a technical error and allow a paralyzed law school graduate to take the bar exam next week.

YouTube student rap stars take on poetry

Published 07/22/2009 05:48 PM

Seventh graders at Ron Clark Academy became an overnight sensation during the presidential election when their YouTube performance of "You Can Vote However You Like" catapulted them to online stardom.

YouTube student stars still rapping to learn

Published 07/21/2009 05:40 PM

Seventh graders at Ron Clark Academy became an overnight sensation during the presidential election when their YouTube performance of "You Can Vote However You Like" catapulted them to online stardom.

Obama: Community colleges can help boost ailing economy

Published 07/14/2009 07:02 PM

Community colleges are only two-year institutions, but the Obama administration says they could play a key role in helping boost the ailing economy for years to come.

From P.S. 176X, kids with autism get joyful launch

Published 07/02/2009 02:56 PM

All parents have hopes and dreams for their children. Parents of kids with serious disabilities are no different. But in their moments of wildest imagination, the parents of Vicki Martinez, Chase Ferguson and Travis Cardona could not have envisioned high school graduation -- certainly not in the dark days when they first learned their children had autism.

Commentary: Give kids a beacon of hope

Published 06/11/2009 09:20 AM

To be effective in Congress, you must focus. With so many issues and debates occurring at any given time, it is easy to spread yourself too thin and lose sight of your goal.

Utah reports first swine flu death; NYC has closed 21 schools

Published 05/20/2009 08:34 PM

A Utah man with chronic health problems died Wednesday from complications associated with swine flu, a local health official said. If confirmed, it would be the ninth U.S. fatality associated with the flu outbreak.

Sex education struggles with porn

Published 05/24/2013 03:10 AM

In an age when "extremely violent and sadistic imagery is two clicks away", school sex education is struggling to keep pace, suggests a study.

New curriculum workload 'too high'

Published 05/24/2013 02:06 AM

More than 80% of nursery and primary school teachers in Scotland have warned of high workloads as a result of the new curriculum, a union claims.

Sharp decline in foreign students

Published 05/23/2013 08:46 AM

A steep decline in foreign students coming to study at UK colleges and language schools prompts fears of a knock-on effect on universities.

Suffolk and Hackney schools join up

Published 05/24/2013 04:22 AM

Complacency is to blame for poor performance in Suffolk Schools, according to a report.

Warning on poor school swimming

Published 05/22/2013 05:33 PM

More children may drown without better school swimming provision, the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) has warned.

Tuition fee 'could be cut to £6,000'

Published 05/22/2013 06:01 PM

Tuition fees in England could be limited to £6,000 per year and remain cost-neutral to universities and the Treasury, research suggests.

'Rise' in children abusing children

Published 05/22/2013 09:43 PM

A growing number of children are being sexually abused by other children, say charities.

Higher pay 'means larger classes'

Published 05/22/2013 05:26 AM

Head teachers may have to increase class sizes if they are to pay the best teachers higher wages, the chief inspector of schools in England admits.

Scots students may be 'squeezed out'

Published 05/22/2013 10:35 AM

Researchers suggest students in Scotland could be "squeezed out" if there is a yes vote on independence and the free tuition system continues.

Human-rights training centre opens

Published 05/22/2013 10:48 AM

An international human-rights training centre to teach digital skills to activists and protesters opens in the Italian city of Florence.

East End music free school approved

Published 05/21/2013 06:09 PM

A music school for deprived teenagers in east London and two schools for autistic children are among the latest wave of free schools to be approved.

Iodine lack 'may lower UK baby IQs'

Published 05/21/2013 11:53 PM

Mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy could be dimming the intellect of some babies born in the UK, say researchers who studied 1,000 families.

UK shared exam system faces break up

Published 05/21/2013 06:01 AM

The shared A-level and GCSE system for England, Wales and Northern Ireland should no longer be continued, says Education Secretary Michael Gove.

School cuts 'no harm to standards'

Published 05/21/2013 03:45 AM

A think tank report argues that 18% of public spending on schools could be cut without damaging standards.

FE college teaching 'must improve'

Published 05/21/2013 08:49 AM

An advisory group for Labour calls for a tougher line on teaching standards in further education colleges.

Student 'suicidal thoughts' warning

Published 05/20/2013 04:26 AM

There is an unidentified problem with stress, depression and suicidal thoughts on university campuses, warns a survey from the National Union of Students.

How Estonia became E-stonia

Published 05/16/2013 05:15 AM

Estonian pupils are taught computer skills from an early age as the internet is seen as symbolic of political independence.

The world's most sleep-starved students

Published 05/08/2013 10:20 AM

How lack of sleep is damaging pupils' learning around the world

Suu Kyi asks UK to help universities

Published 05/09/2013 02:03 AM

Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi is calling on Britain to help rebuild Burma's universities, which she says have been ruined by military rule

Jimmy Wales: 'Dull lectures doomed'

Published 05/01/2013 02:29 AM

Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales predicts the death of student boredom

Human extinction warning from Oxford

Published 04/24/2013 02:42 AM

What are the greatest global threats to the future of humanity? An international team from Oxford University's Future of Humanity Institute is investigating the biggest dangers.

University course made for cheating

Published 05/21/2013 05:39 PM

Cheating by students is being investigated in a US university course dedicated to understanding the hidden world of academic deception.

Clue to why women live longer

Published 05/14/2013 11:43 PM

Women live longer than men partly because their immune systems age more slowly, a study suggests.

O'Dowd makes A-level re-sit changes

Published 05/20/2013 06:27 AM

Education Minister John O'Dowd has announced some changes to A-levels in Northern Ireland following a local consultation.

Parents of truants to face fines

Published 05/20/2013 09:48 AM

Parents of children who are regular school truants are to be fined up to £120 from September, says the Welsh government.

Pupils 'need early porn warnings'

Published 05/20/2013 03:27 AM

Young children should hear about the dangers of pornography as soon as they have access to the internet, head teachers say.

Walk-to-school numbers 'falling'

Published 05/19/2013 06:55 PM

Fewer children are walking to school in the UK, campaigners say.

Childcare costs will be tackled - PM

Published 05/17/2013 04:00 AM

David Cameron indicates he is ready to compromise over changes to childcare, after concerns were raised by Lib Dem coalition partners.

'Quarter of a million' young carers

Published 05/16/2013 04:41 AM

Nearly a quarter of a million children in England and Wales are caring for a relative, new statistics just released show.

Social workers' fears over changes

Published 05/16/2013 09:46 AM

Social workers are warning changes being brought in to speed up adoption and the family courts might be bad for the welfare of some children.

Family court experts under scrutiny

Published 05/16/2013 02:39 AM

Poor quality expert evidence is to be "driven out" of family courts, the Ministry of Justice says, as it launches a consultation on standards in England and Wales.

VIDEO: Warning over pupils' level of swimming

Published 05/23/2013 01:15 AM

More children may drown without better school swimming provision, the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) has warned.

VIDEO: New free schools approved

Published 05/22/2013 02:46 AM

From 2014, 102 new free schools are set to open in England after being granted approval from the Department for Education.

VIDEO: Hove v Gove battle for new free schools bid

Published 05/17/2013 05:51 AM

Plans backed by Education Secretary Michael Gove could see a free school set up on a Sussex playing field, but the bid has angered some residents.

VIDEO: Puppy room for students' exam stress

Published 05/13/2013 06:47 AM

Aberdeen University students' association is introducing a new exam welfare scheme which includes a puppy room.

'Porn made me think sex was brutal'

Published 05/24/2013 03:10 AM

'Porn made me think sex was brutal'

Is a paperless library still a library?

Published 05/22/2013 10:53 AM

The world's first bookless public library

Viewpoints: Higher fees and value-for-money degrees

Published 05/22/2013 01:29 AM

Are university courses worth the money students have to spend?

Viewpoint: Parents of young carers need support

Published 05/22/2013 12:28 AM

Let's shift the debate to their parents

Should Scotland have more single-sex schools?

Published 05/19/2013 04:23 PM

Should Scotland have more single-sex schools?

Elite NYC school apologizes for past abuse

Published 05/24/2013 05:39 PM

NEW YORK (AP) — The Horace Mann School, one of New York City's most prestigious private schools, has apologized for more than three decades of sexual abuse perpetrated by some of its teachers and administrators, according to a letter posted on its website Friday.

Louisiana to push ahead with paying private firms to teach kids

Published 05/24/2013 01:25 PM

By Stephanie Simon (Reuters) - Louisiana's schools chief vowed on Friday to push ahead with a plan to let students take classes from private firms and nonprofits at taxpayers' expense, despite a legal setback and objections from some educators. The Course Choice plan, which goes far beyond any other U.S. school program in letting families customize a child's education, had been thrown into doubt after the state Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that Louisiana could not divert money meant for public schools to private organizations. ...

Many Ark. college students to see hike in tuition

Published 05/24/2013 07:50 AM

Many Arkansas college students will see a hike in tuition next year. Officials said Thursday that the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees approved a 3.5 percent increase in tuition and fees ...

Wash. college students ask Congress for stability

Published 05/24/2013 07:43 AM

College students in Washington state say they need Congress to give them affordable student loans at a rate they can depend on, instead of a yearly debate on rising interest rates. "The fact that ...

It’s official: Chicago Public Schools will close 49 elementary schools for good

Published 05/23/2013 06:36 PM

Autumn seemed like dark days for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The Chicago Teachers Union had declared a strike, shutting down public schools across the city. Nearly two weeks later, Emanuel had capitulated to substantial salary increases for teachers over three years.

Kids, teachers from devastated school reunite

Published 05/23/2013 03:46 PM

MOORE, Okla. (AP) — Students from a suburban Oklahoma City elementary school destroyed by this week's tornado reunited with their teachers Thursday and collected whatever could be salvaged from the ruins.

Michigan budget panel OKs fund boost for colleges

Published 05/23/2013 12:41 PM

Michigan's community colleges and universities could receive roughly 2 percent more in overall funding next fiscal year. Republican-led conference committees approved the community college and higher education ...

Financial literacy program aimed at Neb. schools

Published 05/23/2013 12:02 PM

A new program will offer an online education in financial literacy to Nebraska high school students and parents. State Treasurer Don Stenberg on Thursday unveiled the new initiative, which will be available ...

Kids from tornado-hit school reunite with teachers

Published 05/23/2013 11:44 AM

MOORE, Okla. (AP) — Students from an elementary school flattened by a tornado in an Oklahoma City suburb have reunited with their teachers and collected what belongings could be salvaged from the wrecked building.

Chicagoans React to Controversial Vote to Close 50 City Schools

Published 05/23/2013 09:22 AM

Chicago parents and residents are fired up after countless hours of protesting were denied by a vote to close 50 schools by the Chicago Board of Education yesterday. Chicago Public Schools, the third largest school system in the U.S., faces a $1 billion budget deficit, says The Washington Post. The decision is the most widespread school closing thus far in the country. All but one closing will happen at the end of the 2012-13 school year, and the remaining closing will happen at the end of the 2014 school year.

How many students from your school take out loans?

Published 05/23/2013 07:51 AM

Every school that participates in the federal loan program reports figures like these to the Department of Education. The following interactive plots every school with at least 1,000 undergraduates by two values: Net cost of attendance after grants and the percentage of students with loans.

RI House delays vote on social media privacy bill

Published 05/23/2013 07:03 AM

Rhode Island lawmakers have put off a vote on legislation that would stop employers or higher education officials from demanding access to a person's Facebook or Twitter accounts. The House was scheduled ...

45 students hurt in chain-reaction Ind. bus crash

Published 05/22/2013 03:51 PM

NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. (AP) — Northern Indiana authorities say more than 45 middle and high school students were injured and a bus driver was seriously hurt in a chain-reaction crash involving four school buses.

MOOC University

Published 05/22/2013 03:16 PM

Georgia Tech will soon offer a Master's degree in Computer Science that you can receive online. This could be huge, Rob Walker writes.

French split over English at universities

Published 05/22/2013 09:25 AM

* Parliament debating higher education reform * Bill could see English introduced as teaching language * Opponents fear French language under threat By Nicholas Vinocur PARIS (Reuters) - Defenders of the French language are furious at plans to introduce courses taught in English at public universities, arguing that France must protect itself against linguistic encroachment or risk losing its cultural identity. ...

NYC to remove PCBs from schools by 2016

Published 05/22/2013 09:06 AM

New York City plans to expedite the removal light fixtures containing toxic PCBs from 645 city schools by 2016, five years earlier than originally planned. The city Department of Education said Tuesday ...

The War on Christmas Is Losing in Texas: Teachers Can Now Say 'Merry Christmas'

Published 05/22/2013 07:36 AM

For those of you worried that government can't be proactive, good news out of Texas. On Monday, the state's legislature sent Governor Perry its "Merry Christmas" bill, which would authorize schools to refer to the holiday in non-generic terms. Perry is expected to sign it.

SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK: Sotomayor at Yale

Published 05/21/2013 11:09 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the author of a unanimous decision delivered at the Supreme Court on Monday, but Sotomayor was hundreds of miles from Washington when the court convened.

Teachers credited with saving students in Okla.

Published 05/21/2013 04:16 PM

MOORE, Okla. (AP) — The principal's voice came on over the intercom at Plaza Towers Elementary School: A severe storm was approaching and students were to go to the cafeteria and wait for their parents to pick them up.

Poor children in Wisconsin schools increases

Published 05/21/2013 07:27 AM

The percentage of children in Wisconsin public schools who come from families poor enough to receive free and reduced-priced lunches has increased for the ninth year in a row. The state Department of Public ...

Board to take look at ND tuition rate plans

Published 05/21/2013 07:09 AM

The president of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education said Monday he's not sure if the group gave a fair hearing to plans on tuition increases and wants to revisit the idea. The board approved a ...

Save More for College Education With a 529 Plan

Published 05/21/2013 06:57 AM

When it comes to paying for your child's college education, do you feel prepared? Putting money aside in a regular savings account likely won't help you reach your goals the same way other savings vehicles can, like a 529 plan - an account specifically designed to encourage saving for educational costs.

Boston cardinal skips event over Irish PM's role

Published 05/20/2013 07:29 PM

BOSTON (AP) — Cardinal Sean O'Malley skipped Boston College's commencement Monday to protest its decision to honor Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who backs legislation to permit abortion, and O'Malley's views were echoed outside the ceremony by a few dozen anti-abortion activists.

Should Teachers Be Trained Like Doctors and Lawyers?

Published 05/20/2013 04:28 PM

It’s no secret that America’s education system needs colossal reform.

NH Senate backs conservation, higher education

Published 05/20/2013 01:43 PM

The Senate Finance Committee voted Monday to tentatively set the University System of New Hampshire's aid at $153 million — the same amount as the House but $12 million less than the system's trustees ...

Florida governor signs budget, but vetoes college tuition hike

Published 05/20/2013 01:24 PM

By Bill Cotterell TALLAHASSEE (Reuters) - Florida Governor Rick Scott signed the largest budget in his state's history on Monday while vetoing a college tuition increase and axing $368 million in projects he said did not meet his Republican criteria of job creation, education improvement and holding down the cost of government. Scott, who had a tough time selling some of his economic priorities in the Republican-led legislative session that ended May 3, used his line-item veto to delete a 3 percent tuition hike. ...

GM giving paid internships to 110 HS students

Published 05/20/2013 12:27 PM

General Motors is kicking the tires on a unique new internship program for Detroit-area high school students. GM has hired 110 students for paid summer internships, the automaker said Monday in announcing ...

Saudi women teachers demanding full time jobs

Published 05/20/2013 10:37 AM

About 30 Saudi women teachers have demonstrated outside the kingdom's Education Ministry, demanding full time jobs. An Associated Press reporter saw women holding posters Monday calling for full time contracts ...

BC ceremony notable for who will attend, who won't

Published 05/19/2013 11:38 PM

BOSTON (AP) — This year's commencement at Boston College looks to be notable for who will be there, as well as who won't.

Karzai seeks Indian military aid amid Pakistan row

Published 05/19/2013 07:38 AM

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai will seek increased military aid from India during a three-day visit starting Monday and will discuss recent cross-border clashes with Pakistan, India's archrival, an aide said.

Obama's Morehouse visit shines spotlight on HBCUs

Published 05/18/2013 01:42 PM

ATLANTA (AP) — When President Barack Obama addresses graduates at Morehouse College on Sunday, he'll also be speaking to the broader community of historically black colleges and universities — a proud corner of higher education that has struggled more than most during the last few years of economic distress.

NC colleges look to expand advanced manufacturing

Published 05/17/2013 08:32 AM

North Carolina's community colleges are working to train factory workers comfortable in a new manufacturing world of computers and robots. State community college leaders are meeting Friday with manufacturers ...

Common Core: Teachers Are Not Prepared

Published 05/16/2013 02:27 PM

Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is a classic. When I think about today’s bridge over troubled water, I think about how prepared I am to implement the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). I think about how to bridge Common Core State Standards and Career Technical Education (CTE) together.

Colleges face enrollment shortfalls, offer discounts: report

Published 05/16/2013 02:13 PM

By Andrea Burzynski NEW YORK (Reuters) - Many leading U.S. colleges and universities face a shortfall in enrollment for fall classes and will offer price discounts as they compete for students in an ever expanding higher education market, according to Forbes. The magazine highlighted 50 public and private U.S. colleges listed in the Princeton Review's "Best Colleges" list that are still accepting students in their 2013 freshman classes. ...

Brown v. Board site to mark anniversary of ruling

Published 05/16/2013 12:53 PM

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Brown v. Board of Education National Historic site will display a black doll used in a series of famous race studies to mark the 59th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ended legal segregation in public schools.

College student arrested for threats to schools across Los Angeles

Published 05/16/2013 12:51 PM

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Police arrested a college student accused of making telephone threats that sparked security alerts across the Los Angeles area on Thursday, including the evacuation of a community college and the lockdown of a second college campus and numerous public schools. East Los Angeles College was evacuated while students and staff at about 10 nearby public schools were confined to their campuses after police received an anonymous call at about 8 a.m. local time from a person saying he was headed to a school with a gun, the sheriff's department said. ...

Learn How to Pay for Short Study Abroad Trips

Published 05/15/2013 07:21 AM

Short-term study abroad students can pay for some - but not all - program expenses through withdrawals from a 529 plan, a tax-advantaged higher education investment account.

Seattle schools back down from standardized test after protests

Published 05/14/2013 04:04 PM

By Eric M. Johnson SEATTLE (Reuters) - The Seattle public school system, facing a rebellion that stoked the national protest movement over standardized testing in U.S. public schools, is backing away from the contentious multiple-choice exam for its upcoming school year. Teachers, educators, and students at several Seattle schools staged a boycott in January against the computerized Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test, saying it was not aligned with the state's curriculum and produces "meaningless results" upon which teachers' performances are evaluated. ...

Syria: Damaged landmarks await peace, restoration

Published 05/14/2013 07:49 AM

Omar Islam has undertaken a Sisyphean task. In the midst of Syria's civil war, this former archaeology student with a master's degree in restoration work is dodging sniper fire, artillery, and airstrikes to catalog the destruction of Aleppo's historical landmarks.

Updates to 2 Schools' 2013 Best Colleges Ranks

Published 05/14/2013 07:38 AM

Two schools - University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and York College of Pennsylvania - recently advised U.S. News that they submitted inflated data that were used in the 2013 Best Colleges rankings, resulting in their numerical ranks being higher than they otherwise might have been. In both cases, the same incorrect data were also reported to many other parties including the U.S. Department of Education.

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Boy Scouts of America's Decision to No Longer Deny Membership to Youth on the Basis of Sexual Orientation

Published 05/24/2013 10:05 AM

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today issued the following statement on the Boy Scouts of America's decision to no longer deny membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone:

U.S. Education Department Awards $1.3 Million Grant to Newtown, Conn., to Further Support Recovery Efforts

Published 05/24/2013 06:11 AM

The U.S. Department of Education today announced it is awarding more than $1.3 million to Newtown Public School District to help with ongoing recovery efforts following the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 20 first-graders and six educators were killed in December 2012.

4 Mistakes I Made with My Student Loans and How You Can Avoid Them

Published 05/24/2013 05:55 AM

It’s been hard to come to terms with, but I need to face t

New Student Loan Resource Available to U.S. Service Members

Published 05/23/2013 08:29 AM

America's servicemen and servicewomen will now have more information about their federal education loans, special benefits available to them, and their repayment options with the release of a new brochure announced today.

Statement from Secretary Duncan on Preventing Student Loan Interest Rates from Doubling on July 1

Published 05/22/2013 03:51 PM

Our priority is to ensure that Congress doesn't allow federal student loan interest rates to double on July 1.

Adult Learners Share Stories of Personal Triumph

Published 05/22/2013 11:43 AM

The inspiration for Olga Gomez to obtain her GED started with a simple statement from her youngest son: “Mom I challenge you to finish your GED.” Attaining the GED would be no easy feat for this mother of four who dropped out of school when she was sixteen. Fortunately for Olga, her children stepped up and volunteered to tutor her in preparation for the exam.

Young Children Learn Math Through the Arts

Published 05/21/2013 02:36 PM

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Tragedy in Oklahoma

Published 05/21/2013 01:05 PM

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today issued the following statement on the tragic loss of life in Oklahoma:

Applications Now Available to Improve Education and Employment Outcomes for Low-Income Children with Disabilities

Published 05/21/2013 12:22 PM

Today, the U.S. Department of Education published a Notice in the Federal Register inviting applications for a new competitive grant program, Promoting Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income (PROMISE).

5 Things to Consider When Taking Out Student Loans

Published 05/21/2013 10:55 AM

Federal student loans can be a great way to help pay for college or career school.  W

Celebrating the National Language Teacher of the Year and Foreign Language Partnerships

Published 05/20/2013 01:24 PM

As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, Secretary Arne Duncan recognized Mr. Noah Geisel as the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) National Language Teacher of the Year. Mr.

Obama Administration Approves Three More NCLB Flexibility Requests—37 States and DC Now Approved for Waivers

Published 05/20/2013 10:12 AM

The Obama administration today approved three more requests for waivers from No Child Left Behind (NCLB), in exchange for state-developed plans to prepare all students for college and career, focus aid on the neediest students, and support effective teaching and leadership. The approved states include Alaska, Hawaii and West Virginia.

U.S. Department of Education Announces Arizona Will Receive $10.4 Million to Continue Efforts to Turn Around Its Lowest-Performing Schools

Published 05/20/2013 09:37 AM

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that Arizona will receive $10.4 million to continue efforts to turn around its persistently lowest-achieving schools through the Department's School Improvement Grants (SIG) program.

Join the Conversation to Improve Transition from School to Work for Youth with Disabilities

Published 05/20/2013 07:00 AM

Today’s young people must graduate from high school with the skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century global economy.  And that certainly includes youth with disabilities.  To that end, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the U.S.

A World Without Silos

Published 05/18/2013 03:39 AM

Thank you, Bears, for that welcome! I am so glad to join you here because today we get to do something which should happen more often in education. Today, we get to celebrate success.

What Is a Student Loan Servicer and Why Should I Care?

Published 05/17/2013 10:00 AM

So you took out a federal student loan and now it’s t

"Passion, Expertise, and Vision"

Published 05/17/2013 06:04 AM

It's a great pleasure and honor to be with you here today. GPPI is a world-class institution. And I am thrilled to be able to celebrate your success and share a few words with you as you earn your degrees and embark on the next stage of the journeys of the Class of 2013.

The Truth-Teller of Early Learning

Published 05/16/2013 03:48 PM

I'm delighted to be here, and thrilled to have an opportunity to honor the extraordinary life and career of a dear friend, and one of my heroes, Barbara Bowman. I don't think anyone here will be surprised that Barbara clearly instructed me not to talk about her this evening.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Why Teachers Succeed in the Classroom

Published 05/16/2013 08:31 AM

Teacher Debo

Technology Gives Students with Disabilities Access to College Courses

Published 05/16/2013 07:08 AM

Program Coordinator Jennifer Lang-Jolliff (green sw

Meeting with Mothers and Advocates for Our Children

Published 05/15/2013 05:38 AM

Back to School During Teacher Appreciation Week

Published 05/13/2013 01:02 PM

Games Win Big in Education Grants Competition

Published 05/10/2013 12:39 PM

Cross-posted from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Blog.

Celebrating Teachers During this Year’s Teacher Appreciation Week

Published 05/10/2013 12:04 PM

Today marks the final day of an eventful Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6th

5 Things You Need To Know About Your Student Loans

Published 05/10/2013 10:35 AM

Outcome of Immigration Bill in Albany Uncertain

Published 05/24/2013 07:57 PM

The New York State Dream Act passed overwhelmingly in the Democratic-dominated Assembly, but the bill’s supporters acknowledged that its chances were slim in the Senate.    

Horace Mann Apologizes for Abuse but Won’t Start New Inquiry

Published 05/24/2013 04:41 PM

The elite Bronx private school announced that it would establish an advisory board on student safety, allowing outside experts as well as at least one victim to make policy recommendations.    

Cooper Union Protesters Living High Life Out of President’s Office

Published 05/24/2013 02:57 PM

Since May 8, students have used the room to spread word about their rebellion against charging undergraduate tuition, eat catered meals and entertain visits from activists.    

The Learning Network Blog: Celebrating Memorial Day and Looking Ahead

Published 05/24/2013 04:23 AM

Here is what we’ll be offering over the next three weeks, including contest winners, Common Core posts, and our annual roundups of all the lesson plans and Student Opinion questions we’ve published this year    

The Learning Network Blog: Student Opinion | Do You Plan on Saving Any of Your Belongings for the Future?

Published 05/24/2013 02:00 AM

Why do you plan to save these belongings? Do you hope they will be more valuable in the future, or do you keep them for sentimental reasons?    

The Learning Network Blog: Test Yourself | Editing Practice, May 24, 2013

Published 05/24/2013 01:43 AM

In what order should these sentences from an article about a secret nightclub go?    

The Learning Network Blog: 6 Q's About the News | Beyond the Swimming Pool: The History of Chlorine

Published 05/24/2013 01:30 AM

What are some of the many uses we have for chlorine?    

The Learning Network Blog: News Quiz | May 24, 2013

Published 05/23/2013 11:24 PM

See what you know about the news of the day.    

The Learning Network Blog: Word of the Day | glutinous

Published 05/23/2013 09:08 PM

This word has appeared in 18 New York Times articles in the past year.    

French Upset Over ‘More English’ Proposal

Published 05/23/2013 05:03 PM

An effort to draw more foreign students to French universities has led to worries about “Americanization disguised as globalization.”    

The Learning Network Blog: Reflections on Our Most Popular Found Poetry Contest Yet

Published 05/23/2013 11:10 AM

Reflections on the 971 poems submitted for our Fourth Annual Found Poetry Contest. Winners will be announced starting May 28.    

House Passes Student Loan Bill, Setting Up Showdown

Published 05/23/2013 10:36 AM

The bill would head off a doubling of interest rates, instead tying the rates to prevailing market trends, an approach not favored by Senate Democrats.    

Economix Blog: The Changing Face of Community Colleges

Published 05/23/2013 07:34 AM

A Century Foundation report shows a sharp increase in enrollment of lower-income, nonwhite students at community colleges, institutions that will do much to shape the economy.    

The Learning Network Blog: Poetry Pairing | 'Three Hundred Thousand More'

Published 05/23/2013 07:13 AM

In honor of Memorial Day coming up on Monday, this week’s Poetry Pairing matches “Three Hundred Thousand More” by James Sloan Gibbons with the article “Birthplace of Memorial Day? That Depends Where You’re From” by Campbell Robertson.    

The Learning Network Blog: 6 Q's About the News | Yahoo to Acquire Tumblr in Bold Move by Internet Pioneer

Published 05/23/2013 04:58 AM

How does Tumblr offer a different approach to social media from Facebook?    

The Choice Blog: Let’s Hope College Doesn’t Go According to Plan

Published 05/23/2013 03:06 AM

My list of priorities as a freshman will remain open, because as I take ownership of the next four years of my life at Duke University, I expect the unexpected.    

The Learning Network: Student Opinion | What Role Will Robots Play in Our Future?

Published 05/23/2013 02:00 AM

Will robots be in every home, the way we now have TVs and computers? Will they work in our factories, fight in our wars, teach our children and care for our elderly?    

The Learning Network Blog: Test Yourself | English, May 23, 2013

Published 05/23/2013 01:20 AM

Can you choose the word that correctly completes the sentence?    

The Learning Network Blog: News Quiz | May 23, 2013

Published 05/22/2013 10:30 PM

See what you know about the news of the day.    

The Learning Network Blog: Word of the Day | inclusive

Published 05/22/2013 09:01 PM

This word has appeared in 1,050 New York Times articles in the past year.    

Steve Jobs’s Widow Sets Philanthropy Goals

Published 05/22/2013 06:33 PM

Laurene Powell Jobs has carefully entered the public sphere, pushing her agenda in education as well as global conservation, nutrition and immigration policy.    

Sergeant Accused of Secretly Filming Female Cadets

Published 05/22/2013 03:27 PM

The suspect, Sgt. First Class Michael McClendon, sometimes videotaped West Point cadets when they were in the shower, officials said.    

Despite Protests, Chicago to Close 49 Schools

Published 05/22/2013 02:37 PM

The move singled out schools that officials said were half empty after population losses, but that opponents said targeted low-income minority communities.    

2-Year Colleges Getting a Falling Share of Spending

Published 05/22/2013 11:41 AM

Even as their student bodies have become poorer, many community colleges are “receiving minimal federal support,” said a senior fellow at the group publishing a new report.    

The Learning Network Blog: Lesson Plan | Cool Science: Renewing Interest in Space Exploration Through Social Media and Music

Published 05/22/2013 11:17 AM

In this lesson we offer three activities inspired by the astronaut Chris Hadfield’s use of social media to renew flagging interest in space.    

D.C. principal under investigation for allegedly doctoring student transcripts

Published 03/22/2011 03:13 PM

The principal of the District's leading technology high school is under investigation for allegedly doctoring student transcripts, school officials said Tuesday.

64 senators seek presidential leadership on debt reduction

Published 03/21/2011 05:37 PM

A group of 64 offers support for serious action on reducing the national debt.

Freedom for Thomas Haynesworth

Published 03/21/2011 05:15 PM

Now Virginia needs to offer the wrongly convicted man total exoneration.

Egypt's referendum is a step toward democracy

Published 03/21/2011 05:12 PM

There is worry about what's ahead, but the vote may have been the fairest in its history.

Mr. Obama hasn't overstepped on Libya

Published 03/21/2011 05:39 PM

Mr. Obama hasn't overstepped on Libya, but he could do more to clarify the U.S. mission.

Montgomery County school board reclaims farmland - to build soccer fields

Published 03/21/2011 06:30 AM

Hawks used to look out to watch over for this piece of farmland for trouble. Soon, it will be parents and umpires monitoring kids pounding cleats on the land Nick Maravell once tilled. The change in land use tells a more complex story about school development, particularly at a time when open space

Montgomery County school board reclaims farmland - to build soccer fields

Published 03/20/2011 07:57 PM

Hawks used to look out to watch over for this piece of farmland for trouble. Soon, it will be parents and umpires monitoring kids pounding cleats on the land Nick Maravell once tilled. The change in land use tells a more complex story about school development, particularly at a time when open space

Asking military retirees to pay a bit more for health care is reasonable

Published 03/20/2011 07:05 PM

"SIMPLY UNSUSTAINABLE." That is Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates's assessment of the spiraling cost of the health-care system for military personnel, retirees and their families. Mr. Gates is correct - and he is correct to press for modest increases in premiums paid by those covered by the system,...

Competing visions for reviewing Guantanamo

Published 03/20/2011 06:51 PM

JUST DAYS after President Obama issued an executive order to govern long-term detentions at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Republican members of the House and Senate shot back by offering their own, strikingly different proposals.

As Thomas Jefferson adds help for poor English skills, some Va. parents fume

Published 03/20/2011 07:39 AM

Fairfax school board member: "How can they not know the language and still get into [Thomas Jefferson]?" The Va. magnet school has added an English as a second language instructor.

Fairfax schools' discipline policies up for review; parents seek more leniency

Published 03/22/2011 07:30 AM

Meeting was the first seeking public comment on discipline-related issues since the suicide of 15-year-old Nick Stuban, a well-liked football player at W.T. Woodson High School.

Congress plunges into D.C. politics and ethics

Published 03/21/2011 05:22 PM

The District brought this on itself, but a House probe seems hasty when D.C. officials are trying to investigate.

The E.U. balances politics with fiscal responsibility

Published 03/21/2011 05:22 PM

The bonds of the European Union are tested as wealthier nations come to the aid of smaller, struggling states.

Baltimore charter school agreement eases KIPP's way

Published 03/21/2011 06:28 AM

Better, but not better enough, for schools in Maryland.

Act III for former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide

Published 03/18/2011 05:42 PM

It's puzzling why a twice-fallen president would come home only two days before a big election.

U.S.-backed measures may boost Libyan opposition

Published 03/18/2011 06:12 PM

President Obama is right to support 'all necessary measures' against Gaddafi.

Evaluating teachers is a delicate conversation

Published 03/18/2011 09:25 AM

A rare glimpse into a public school teacher's performance evaluation, the hypersensitive center of an education reform movement that aims to improve how teachers do their jobs.

Evaluating teachers is a delicate conversation

Published 03/18/2011 10:58 AM

A rare glimpse into a public school teacher's performance evaluation, the hypersensitive center of an education reform movement that aims to improve how teachers do their jobs.

D.C. elementary students sickened by cocaine

Published 03/17/2011 09:29 PM

A D.C. elementary school student was charged with possession of a controlled substance after being accused of taking cocaine to school and sharing it with four classmates who were hospitalized after ingesting it.

President Obama's timid words on gun reform

Published 03/18/2011 09:37 AM

The president shouldn't be afraid of the sensible measures he endorsed as a candidate.

UDC president deserves a fair shake

Published 03/18/2011 09:37 AM

The UDC president's record entitles him to a fair hearing.

Facing budget cuts, Pr. George's county risks losing busing to its best programs

Published 03/17/2011 11:36 AM

They find themselves in the center of a larger debate during a period of dwindling resources and shifting priorities.

District investigates special-ed school

Published 03/17/2011 10:41 AM

D.C. officials are looking into a range of problems at a Northwest private school for special needs students that has collected more than $16 million in tuition over the last two years.

Abduction charges dropped against George Mason student in library dispute

Published 03/17/2011 10:38 AM

George Mason University officials said Wednesday that charges have been dropped against Abdirashid Dahir, the senior who was charged with felony abduction after allegedly locking a fellow student in a library study room.

D.C. probes special-ed school Rock Creek Academy

Published 03/17/2011 07:01 PM

D.C. officials are looking into a range of problems at a Northwest private school for special needs students that has collected more than $16 million in tuition over the last two years.

In Jack Johnson's shadow

Published 03/16/2011 05:40 PM

Did Prince George's officials bend personnel rules for the county executive's son?

In D.C.'s Parkside-Kenilworth Community, a promise of change

Published 03/16/2011 05:39 PM

A new effort focuses on children to break the pattern of poverty in a D.C. neighborhood.

Too soon to write off nuclear power

Published 03/16/2011 05:42 PM

Despite Japan's disaster, atomic energy can't be writtenoff.

Abduction charges dropped against George Mason student in library dispute

Published 03/17/2011 10:17 AM

George Mason University officials said Wednesday that charges have been dropped against Abdirashid Dahir, the senior who was charged with felony abduction after allegedly locking a fellow student in a library study room.

Feds end probe of college gender bias

Published 03/16/2011 04:51 PM

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights ends an inquiry into gender bias at colleges after members question the quality of data collected.

On college campuses, a gender gap in student government

Published 03/17/2011 05:27 AM

Women have now outpaced men on key measures of college success: More enroll, more graduate and they earn higher grades. Yet on many campuses, student government is dominated by men.

Study: Manassas Park and Calvert County have most efficient schools in D.C. area

Published 03/16/2011 01:38 PM

The Center for American Progress' new analysis of spending patterns and test scores in school systems nationwide found a surprising result: Manassas Park and Calvert County have the most efficient schools in the Washington area.

Fairfax County school board to review discipline policies

Published 03/16/2011 08:29 AM

School board members in Fairfax County agreed Thursday night to review discipline policies in a move that some hope will lead to change in the aftermath of a recent teen suicide .

Children of diplomats displaced by strife often caught between two worlds

Published 03/16/2011 08:29 AM

American diplomats, aid workers and their families - evacuated from countries in turmoil - seek shelter in a nondescript apartment building in Falls Church, Va.

Gray 'comfortable' with search for schools chief, despite narrow focus

Published 03/16/2011 08:24 AM

Mayor Vincent C. Gray's search has focused on one person: Interim Chancellor Kaya Henderson.

Spat over study room leads to George Mason student's arrest

Published 03/16/2011 07:56 AM

A student has been charged with felony abduction after an argument over a library study room.

Spat over study room leads to George Mason student's arrest

Published 03/15/2011 09:27 PM

A student has been charged with felony abduction after an argument over a library study room.

In Maryland, a renewed chance for a bag tax

Published 03/15/2011 05:05 PM

MARYLAND'S BID to impose a nickel fee on paper and plastic bags fell victim last year to election-year jitters. Lawmakers didn't want to go near anything that had a whiff of a tax increase. But sponsors of a bag tax, buoyed by the success of the District's effort and by important support from Gov....

Pfc. Bradley Manning doesn't deserve humiliating treatment

Published 03/15/2011 05:04 PM

IF THE ALLEGATIONS are true, Pfc. Bradley Manning facilitated a damaging breach of national security by funneling thousands of classified documents to the rogue Web site WikiLeaks. But even if so, Mr. Manning does not appear to deserve the treatment he has been receiving at the military brig in...

The United States watches as Moammar Gaddafi gains

Published 03/15/2011 05:02 PM

A counterrevolution gains strength across the Middle East.

Obama: Rewrite No Child law before next school year

Published 03/16/2011 07:55 AM

President Obama asked Congress on Monday to rewrite the No Child Left Behind law by fall, escalating the urgency of his campaign to overhaul public education.

In aftermath of student's suicide, Fairfax board examines discipline practices

Published 03/15/2011 12:59 AM

The Fairfax County School Board began a comprehensive review of its discipline policies in the aftermath of a suicide of a 15-year-old student.

In D.C., the 'shady deals' that weren't

Published 03/14/2011 09:00 PM

A THEME OF Vincent C. Gray's successful mayoral campaign last year was his questioning of his opponent's integrity. Exhibit A in his argument that Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) ran a suspect administration was the awarding of contracts for park and recreation projects to firms with ties to the mayor....

A foreclosure settlement plan might make matters worse

Published 03/14/2011 05:11 PM

THE NATION'S mortgage companies have engaged in questionable practices - or worse - regarding loan modifications and foreclosures. Even now the banks have not entirely conquered the scandal that erupted last fall over alleged widespread errors, procedural irregularities and outright misrepresenta...

Lessons from loss in Maryland's gay-marriage battle

Published 03/14/2011 05:08 PM

THE FAILURE of the same-sex marriage bill in Annapolis is a bitter defeat for advocates, who had hoped Maryland would become the sixth state, not counting the District, to enact such legislation. It's also a useful reminder, if one were needed, that despite the ongoing revolution of attitudes tow...

In D.C., the 'shady deals' that weren't

Published 03/14/2011 08:51 PM

Allegations against Mayor Fenty turn out to be baseless.

In aftermath of student's suicide, Fairfax board examines discipline practices

Published 03/14/2011 08:09 PM

The Fairfax County School Board began a comprehensive review of its discipline policies in the aftermath of a suicide of a 15-year-old student.

Obama: Rewrite No Child law before next school year

Published 03/16/2011 09:05 AM

President Obama asked Congress on Monday to rewrite the No Child Left Behind law by fall, escalating the urgency of his campaign to overhaul public education.

ROTC's return

Published 03/13/2011 06:06 PM

IN NOVEMBER, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly stood before an audience in St. Louis and spoke from the heart about the disconnect between the lives and experiences of members of the U.S. military - and those of the civilians they are defending. The armed forces are at war and have been for a d...

Let all Maryland students dream

Published 03/13/2011 05:08 PM

THE DISPIRITING national debate over immigration has departed Washington for the time being and alighted mostly in state capitals. In many of them, Republicans have led a charge - mostly unsuccessful - to enact Arizona-style enforcement crackdowns based on the whimsical idea that undocumented imm...

Time to act on free trade

Published 03/13/2011 06:09 PM

THE POLITICS of free trade have never been easy for President Obama - and they appear to be getting harder. Mr. Obama wants congressional ratification of a tariff-slashing deal with South Korea, revising it recently to meet the objections of the U.S. auto industry and labor unions.

Lego contests put minority students on a mission

Published 03/13/2011 08:55 PM

A small but growing number of predominantly African American student groups are coming to Lego robotics competitions.

U-Va. fraternity pledge hospitalized after soy-sauce dare

Published 03/12/2011 08:46 PM

A University of Virginia freshman was hospitalized this month after chugging a bottle of soy sauce at the Zeta Psi fraternity house, according to court documents.

Facing budget cuts, Pr. George's county risks losing busing to its best programs

Published 03/17/2011 11:23 AM

They find themselves in the center of a larger debate during a period of dwindling resources and shifting priorities.

D.C.'s cozy election oversight

Published 03/12/2011 03:38 PM

INTERIM AT-LARGE D.C. Council member Sekou Biddle (D) is trying to kick a Republican opponent off the ballot for the April 26 special election. The process, dominated by Democrats, has not inspired confidence that the decision will be fair and impartial.

Teenager suspended from Fairfax County school over acne drug

Published 03/22/2011 07:18 AM

Hayley Russell, 13, violated Fairfax County rules when she brought a prescription acne drug to school. Her discipline experience follows a pattern reported by parents in at least 18 other cases in the county.

Most schools could face 'failing' label under No Child Left Behind, Duncan says

Published 03/10/2011 02:54 AM

More than three-quarters of the nation's public schools could soon be labeled "failing" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the Obama administration said Wednesday as it increased efforts to revamp the signature education initiative of President George W. Bush.

Kaya Henderson nominated D.C. schools chancellor

Published 03/17/2011 10:24 AM

D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray, making a widely anticipated decision official, lifted the "interim" from Kaya Henderson's title Wednesday, naming her to succeed Michelle A. Rhee as D.C. schools chancellor.

Prince George's replaces High Point High principal after attack is shown on YouTube

Published 03/08/2011 05:14 PM

Prince George's County school officials replaced the principal of High Point High School in Beltsville on Tuesday, days after a video of one of his students being attacked surfaced on the Internet.

Board chairman says UDC may ask President Allen Sessoms to repay some airfare costs

Published 03/08/2011 07:27 PM

Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia may ask President Allen Sessoms to repay some of the money he spent on first-class airfare, the board chairman told D.C. Council members Tuesday in an occasionally heated oversight hearing on the school.

Prince George's school fight posted on YouTube frustrates parents, students

Published 03/07/2011 07:14 PM

When fists started to fly, the students flipped on their camera phones.

UDC students stage protest, call for school president's resignation

Published 03/07/2011 05:00 PM

Student leaders at the University of the District of Columbia called for the resignation of President Allen Sessoms on Monday in a noon protest, alleging that the administrator has spent lavishly on himself while raising tuition and cutting programs at Washington's public university.

Gray 'comfortable' with search for schools chief, despite narrow focus

Published 03/08/2011 01:07 AM

Mayor Vincent C. Gray, who plans to name a permanent schools chancellor this week, said Monday that he was "comfortable" with a search process that has focused on just one name: Interim Chancellor Kaya Henderson.

Kaya Henderson reportedly getting some job security

Published 03/06/2011 05:25 PM

Mayor Vincent C. Gray intends to name interim schools leader Kaya Henderson as permanent schools chancellor this week to replace Michelle A. Rhee, according to a source close to the situation.

District schools cram for DC CAS tests

Published 03/06/2011 06:12 PM

Stung by a decline in elementary school reading and math scores on 2010 standardized tests, D.C. officials are raising the intensity of preparations for this year's exams to unprecedented levels.

Jay Mathews: Amid the SAT-obsessed, this family doesn't live by the numbers

Published 03/13/2011 06:23 PM

The Demarees of Bethesda seem to be a normal American family, but wait. They didn't tell their children what their SAT scores were? They didn't do test prep? They didn't hire tutors? Could they have the answer to America's obsession with college admission?

Computer science programs use mobile apps to make coursework relevant

Published 03/13/2011 01:54 PM

At Virginia Tech, faculty members are looking for ways to make computer science more relevant and engaging to a generation of college students who do not know life without the Internet. A shift in teaching style often comes from necessity, as most computer science programs struggle to recruit, retai

No evidence mayoral control led to D.C. schools' better test scores, report says

Published 03/04/2011 07:55 PM

The District has made a good faith effort to implement the 2007 law that placed public schools under mayoral control, but there is no evidence that the change in governance has been a factor in improved standardized test scores, according to the first major independent study of D.C. school reform.

Prince George's schools employee accused of watching porn on job

Published 03/03/2011 05:20 PM

A Prince George's County public school employee is being investigated over allegations that he watched pornographic films on the job, according to a school spokeswoman.

Midwest union battles highlight debate over improving schools

Published 03/03/2011 06:36 AM

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Republican faceoff with labor unions in the Midwest and elsewhere marks not just a fight over money and collective bargaining but also a test of wills over how to improve the nation's schools.

Children of diplomats displaced by strife often caught between two worlds

Published 03/03/2011 04:24 PM

American diplomats, aid workers and their families - evacuated from countries in turmoil - seek shelter in a nondescript apartment building in Falls Church, Va.

Midwest union battles highlight debate over improving schools

Published 03/03/2011 09:15 AM

INDIANAPOLIS - The Republican faceoff with labor unions in the Midwest and elsewhere marks not just a fight over money and collective bargaining, but also a test of wills over how to improve the nation's schools.

U-Va. Rotunda waits in line for repairs

Published 03/01/2011 06:55 PM

Thomas Jefferson's Rotunda, the historic heart of the University of Virginia, is among the most iconic structures in higher education. It's also crumbling, and finding the money to pay for it isn't so simple.

UDC president's expenses questioned

Published 03/01/2011 07:28 PM

Expense records for Allen Sessoms, president of the University of the District of Columbia, show a pattern of first-class air travel and thousand-dollar plane tickets over the past two years.

Education Writers Association honors 2 Post reporters

Published 02/28/2011 05:28 PM

Bill Turque, a reporter for The Washington Post, has won first prize for print beat reporting in a national contest held by the Education Writers Association.

Chestnut Hill, Pa. Catholic college, fires gay part-time professor

Published 02/27/2011 01:14 PM

PHILADELPHIA -- A Catholic college in Philadelphia says it has fired a part-time professor after learning from a post on his blog that he has been in a same-sex relationship for a decade and a half, which officials called contrary to church teaching.

Is America's best high school soft on math?

Published 02/27/2011 08:29 PM

By all accounts, he is one of the best math teachers in the country. The Mathematics Association of America has given him two national awards. He was appointed by the Bush administration to the National Mathematics Advisory Panel. For 25 years he has prepared middle-schoolers for the tough admiss...

Study: Manassas Park and Calvert County have most efficient schools in D.C. area

Published 02/27/2011 08:27 PM

Even when tax revenue is scarce, lawmakers rarely ask a key question before they vote on education budgets: Which public schools produce the most bang for the buck?

Synthetic marijuana widely used at Naval Academy, some midshipmen say

Published 02/27/2011 09:57 PM

A synthetic form of marijuana is widely used at the U.S. Naval Academy because it cannot be detected in routine drug tests, according to several former midshipmen who have been removed from campus for using or possessing the substance.

Va. African Americans split in battle for school choice

Published 02/26/2011 04:28 PM

RICHMOND - Latrina Hite cuts up fruit for the children's morning snack at Precious Blessing Academy. She fixes their lunch. She mops bathrooms, bleaches doorknobs to kill germs and helps students with homework in after-school care.

Pr. George's school board approves big cuts

Published 02/24/2011 09:43 PM

The Prince George's County school board approved on Thursday night a gloomy budget that slashes more than 1,300 jobs and increases class sizes, despite the pleas of parents and educators who begged the panel to find another way.

Fairfax County school board to review discipline policies

Published 02/24/2011 08:16 PM

School board members in Fairfax County agreed Thursday night to review discipline policies in a move that some hope will lead to change in the aftermath of a recent teen suicide.

Arlington school budget proposal includes raises, larger classes

Published 02/24/2011 07:13 PM

Arlington County Superintendent Patrick K. Murphy proposed a $470 million budget on Thursday that would give employees their first raises in two years but would increase average class sizes in the district.

Ten Commandments' return to Va. school district depends on legal battle's outcome

Published 02/23/2011 06:45 PM

The School Board in Giles County, Va., voted this week to remove the Ten Commandments from the walls of its public schools after a pair of civil liberty groups announced they were preparing to sue the district.

Pr. George's school board to make cuts to close $155 million budget gap

Published 02/23/2011 06:55 PM

Debby Wood has been teaching in Prince George's County for 38 years, and if there's one thing she never tires of, it's seeing her first-grade students when they can read a book on their own for the first time.

D.C. teachers union, former leader clash over pay

Published 02/22/2011 05:03 PM

D.C. teachers voted their union president, George Parker, out of office nearly three months ago. But Parker has not returned to the classroom, and a fight has broken out over who should pay the balance of the $96,000 annual teaching salary that a written agreement guarantees him.

Family of Fairfax teen suicide victim wants changes in school disciplinary policies

Published 02/21/2011 07:14 PM

The family of a Fairfax teenager who took his life as he struggled with the fallout of a high school suspension called for changes in the county's disciplinary policies, in a letter sent Monday to school and county officials.

A University of Virginia student has a bright idea: 'Flash seminars'

Published 02/20/2011 07:43 PM

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Flash mobs assemble in public spaces to dance, protest or do battle with lightsabers.

Jay Mathews: Md. teachers' support shows value of civics exam

Published 02/20/2011 07:43 PM

Teachers, according to many who speak for them, don't like the state tests that have been imposed on them and their students. So what am I to make of the many teachers who are begging Maryland to reverse its decision to cancel the state government test?

Suicide turns attention to Fairfax discipline procedures

Published 02/19/2011 09:39 PM

Nick Stuban was all about football, a quick-footed linebacker at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax County who did well in the classroom, too: four As, two Bs and a C for first quarter. His history teacher described the 15-year-old as a "model student," and his German teacher was impressed by hi...

Democrats join GOP in voting to block tighter regulation of for-profit schools

Published 02/18/2011 05:04 PM

Dozens of House Democrats, including the party leader, joined with Republicans Friday in a vote to block an Obama administration plan to tighten federal regulation of trade schools and colleges operated for profit.

D.C. area schools show off reforms at Obama administration conference

Published 02/19/2011 07:06 PM

A national conference hosted in Denver by the Obama administration gave a rare platform for suburban schools from the Washington area and beyond to show off their projects or join the quest for innovation.

Cafeteria trays vanishing from colleges in effort to save food

Published 02/17/2011 07:38 PM

Today, when trays are removed from university dining halls, it's more likely by the administration than students in search of a good sled. And perhaps inevitably, on some campuses that has created a backlash.

U.S. funding for D.C. schools tied to reviving scholarship program

Published 02/16/2011 07:29 PM

U.S. Sens. Joseph Lieberman and Susan Collins sternly told District officials Wednesday Congress would cut funding for city schools if efforts to revive the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program are not successful.

Accounting firm hired to help D.C. schools find savings, new money sources

Published 02/16/2011 04:51 PM

Facing a budget deficit of as much as $600 million for the next fiscal year, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray has asked accounting giant Deloitte to analyze the District's public schools budget in search of savings and new sources of money.

Fairfax County students no longer have to pay for A.P. tests

Published 02/16/2011 07:07 PM

Fairfax County schools will no longer require students to pay for Advanced Placement exams, in response to a ruling by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II that called such fees illegal.

Ten Commandments in school stirs fight in Va. district

Published 02/17/2011 07:40 PM

A fight over displaying the Ten Commandments in school appears headed to the courts as residents of Giles County, along Virginia's pious, rugged southwestern border, fight what they call mounting pressure from Washington and Richmond to secularize their public institutions. The district also runs a

School officials, teachers unions scrutinize Obama's divisive education agenda

Published 02/16/2011 06:31 AM

DENVER - President Obama often professes his desire to shake up public education while also working with teachers unions. But a question hangs over this week's gathering of hundreds of labor leaders and school officials: Can he do both at the same time?

Tax credits for private-school scholarships shot down by Virginia Senate committee

Published 02/15/2011 07:40 PM

RICHMOND - The Senate Finance Committee, after hearing emotional testimony from students and educators, voted along partisan lines Tuesday to kill a measure that would have given businesses tax credits to fund private-school tuition for needy students.

Obama's education budget would spare Pell grants, increase spending 11% overall

Published 02/14/2011 10:05 AM

President Obama wants a significant jump in education funding to pay for Pell grants for needy college students while also financing his reform agenda for elementary and secondary schools.

The Answer Sheet: Teachers hitting kids? Yes

Published 02/13/2011 07:08 PM

Most people are rightly horrified about the case of a first-grade teacher at a Silver Spring elementary school who was recently charged with several counts of assault after being accused of choking and/or punching eight young students.

Rhee's five big missteps

Published 02/13/2011 03:03 PM

Richard Whitmire's deft and revealing book about former D.C. schools chancellor Michelle A. Rhee chronicles a difficult time in the history of the city's schools, when good people fought hard against one another because of sharply contrasting views on how to help our children.

D.C. schools to use data from teacher evaluation system in new ways

Published 02/13/2011 06:48 PM

Although the main purpose of the District's new teacher evaluation system is to rate teachers' effectiveness, officials are beginning to use the fresh troves of data it generates for other purposes, such as assessing administrators and determining which universities produce the best- or least-pre...