Education News

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.

Award-winning teachers dole out advice on fixing public schools

Published 08/31/2010 10:13 AM

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.

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.

Against odds, some grads find Wall Street jobs

Published 05/20/2009 04:12 PM

Mohamed Desoky says his friends have mixed reactions when he tells them he's landed a seemingly stellar job on Wall Street.

5 more NYC schools close on flu fears

Published 05/18/2009 08:19 PM

Four more New York City public schools and one private school will close for a week after an increase of reports of students with flu-like symptoms, city officials announced Monday.

Nursery school competition heats up in India

Published 05/12/2009 01:14 AM

There was stone cold silence in the car, as the Kumars drove home.

10 homeschooled celebrities

Published 04/23/2009 11:32 AM

Agatha Christie was a painfully shy girl, so her mom homeschooled her even though her two older siblings attended private school.

Can Second Life help teach doctors to treat patients?

Published 03/30/2009 08:45 PM

At Imperial College London, medical students navigate a full-service hospital where they see patients, order X-rays, consult with colleagues and make diagnoses.

Data: U.S. teachers contracted to work longer than G-8 counterparts

Published 03/25/2009 08:40 PM

Teachers in the United States are contracted to work more hours than their counterparts in other Group of Eight countries, according to a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Education.

Commentary: Obama, Dems wrong to kill school vouchers

Published 03/11/2009 11:46 AM

When President Obama signs the $410 billion omnibus spending bill, there will be shouts of joy from both sides as Republicans and Democrats get their cherished earmarks.

Commentary: Throwing billions at schools won't fix them

Published 03/05/2009 03:45 PM

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, President Obama's stimulus package, could serve as a historic investment in our children's future, an initiative that could very well change the course of our nation.

I spy ... future gamblers in your kindergarten class?

Published 03/04/2009 07:56 PM

Is your kindergartner easily distracted? Maybe a little hyper? This might seem like typical child behavior but a new study published in the March 2009 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests it could be a red flag for a potential gambling addiction as he or she ages.

Education chief favors longer school year

Published 02/28/2009 02:30 PM

Those lazy days of summer may become a thing of the past if the new secretary of education has his way.

Unemployed workers heading back to school

Published 02/15/2009 01:11 PM

Janice McFadden's story hardly stands out.

Bill and Melinda Gates go back to school

Published 11/26/2008 07:59 AM

When Bill Gates gets worked up about something, his body language changes. He suspends his habit of rocking forward and back in his chair and sits a little straighter. His voice rises in pitch. Today the subject is America's schools.

College costs rise

Published 10/29/2008 06:16 PM

The total cost of going to a private four-year college rose to $34,132 on average for the 2008-09 academic year, according to a report released Wednesday.

Why MBA Means 'More Bitterness Ahead'

Published 10/23/2008 10:00 PM

Business school graduates are heading out into a cold, cold climate as financial companies clam up or close down

Commentary: Don't use SATs to rank college quality

Published 10/17/2008 01:40 PM

A recent controversy at Baylor University has brought new attention to the widespread misuse of standardized college admission tests to rank the quality of America's colleges and universities.

Hidden College Costs: Rising Fees

Published 09/09/2008 06:00 PM

Compared to pricey private colleges, state schools can be a bargain. But extra fees are adding to the financial burden

Fewer US Med Students Choosing Primary Care

Published 09/09/2008 05:00 PM

Only 2% of graduating medical students say they plan to work in primary care internal medicine, raising worries about a looming shortage of the first-stop doctors who used to be the backbone of the American medical system

U.S. Colleges' Green Grade: C-

Published 08/24/2008 02:00 PM

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

A Homeschooling Win in California

Published 08/13/2008 04:00 PM

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

Tips for minimum wage earners

Published 07/24/2008 05:11 PM

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

Study: Medical students show racial bias

Published 07/09/2008 05:22 PM

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

More colleges move toward optional SATs

Published 05/30/2008 12:33 PM

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

MBA students go for Google

Published 05/29/2008 10:22 AM

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

A chance to compare MBA schools

Published 05/29/2008 09:53 AM

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

Wake Forest Drops SAT Requirement

Published 05/27/2008 11:00 AM

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

Commentary: Tax-free hypocrisy from higher education

Published 05/16/2008 04:36 PM

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

Wall Street - land of job uncertainty

Published 04/01/2008 01:58 PM

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

Taking the kids: Exploring the heart of college country

Published 03/18/2008 11:58 AM

Secretly, I'm congratulating myself.

California Resists Home School Ruling

Published 03/12/2008 05:00 PM

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

Criminalizing Home Schoolers

Published 03/08/2008 01:00 AM

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

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

Published 01/22/2008 12:03 PM

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

VIDEO: Will Smith Planning to Start a School

Published 12/12/2007 06:45 PM

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

10 secrets for getting into a top B-school

Published 12/10/2007 02:41 PM

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

Young doctors in debt

Published 11/16/2007 01:47 PM

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

From six figures to student loans

Published 11/15/2007 06:51 AM

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

Commentary: Integrative medicine is 'new way of healing'

Published 11/06/2007 08:40 PM

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

Teacher Who Fled With Boy Arrested

Published 11/03/2007 10:00 AM

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

Russia's business school battle

Published 10/26/2007 06:07 AM

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

College costs keep rising

Published 10/22/2007 04:43 PM

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

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

Published 10/08/2007 12:08 PM

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

They want to sell your kid

Published 09/19/2007 05:48 AM

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

Sixth Graders Take on Wall Street

Published 09/07/2007 05:00 PM

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

Better Bedside Manners

Published 09/05/2007 01:00 PM

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

The do-gooder's MBA

Published 08/22/2007 09:13 AM

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

Med student struggles to preserve her idealism

Published 08/17/2007 12:40 AM

"Two minutes!" yells our course coordinator.

Taking the kids: Touring college campuses

Published 07/09/2007 01:59 AM

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

Many American colleges balk at U.S. News rankings

Published 06/20/2007 05:34 PM

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

How Nebraska Leaves No Child Behind

Published 05/31/2007 05:10 PM

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

25 Top MBA Employers

Published 05/03/2007 01:10 PM

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

Sallie Mae's private side

Published 04/30/2007 07:50 AM

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

The trouble with MBAs

Published 04/23/2007 07:31 AM

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

Top colleges get more affordable

Published 03/22/2007 12:20 PM

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

The race to bring more diversity to business

Published 11/21/2006 06:12 PM

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

Highest paid college presidents

Published 11/20/2006 10:15 AM

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

Average college cost breaks $30,000

Published 10/24/2006 11:24 AM

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

No excuses or short cuts at Atlanta charter school

Published 10/02/2006 04:11 PM

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

Two-tier university warning given

Published 09/07/2010 05:56 PM

Vice-chancellors warn that the traditional university experience could become the preserve of an elite.

'Racism missed' at attack school

Published 09/08/2010 08:10 AM

A school where a boy was attacked with a hammer failed to recognise a series of racist incidents prior to the assault, a serious case review finds.

Cambridge tops university table

Published 09/08/2010 02:35 AM

Cambridge University has come top of an international university rankings table, knocking Harvard of the top spot for the first time since 2004.

Digital subjects 'priority' call

Published 09/07/2010 05:58 PM

Digital technology must be a "national priority" in UK universities, says an industry and university task force.

Cable's plan to cut science funds

Published 09/08/2010 07:04 AM

Business Secretary Vince Cable has unveiled plans for a squeeze on public funding for scientific research.

UK slipping down graduate league

Published 09/07/2010 02:09 AM

The UK is slipping behind international rivals in university places, according to figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

First 16 'free schools' revealed

Published 09/06/2010 03:22 AM

The first 16 'free schools' to be set up are named by Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Former head jailed for sex abuse

Published 09/06/2010 05:14 AM

A former boarding school head teacher is jailed for 21 years for sexually abusing and beating pupils.

Student migration 'unsustainable'

Published 09/06/2010 11:53 AM

The number of foreign students let into the UK is "unsustainable", minister Damian Green says in his first major speech on immigration.

Tory defects over schools scheme

Published 09/04/2010 04:56 AM

A Tory councillor defects to Labour over cuts to the government's schools building programme, saying she was "ashamed to be a Conservative".

GCSE triumphs: Whizz kids and athletes

Published 08/24/2010 08:58 AM

Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland thousands of pupils are celebrating and commiserating with each other after receiving their results for their GCSE exams.

GCSE pupils score record results

Published 08/24/2010 05:53 AM

Teenagers score another GCSE record with almost seven out of 10 exams awarded a C grade or above, as separate science entries rise.

'One in four' students unplaced

Published 08/23/2010 05:26 AM

The latest figures show that currently more than a quarter of UK university applicants are unplaced.

Did the new A* make the grade?

Published 08/20/2010 04:24 PM

Did the new A-level grade do what it said on the tin?

The bright pupils shunning university

Published 08/18/2010 05:16 PM

The bright, young things shunning university

No university place...? Go Dutch

Published 08/18/2010 11:26 AM

With UK students facing a tough battle for places at home, universities in the Netherlands are promoting themselves as an alternative - and still have spaces left for this year, reports the BBC's Jonty Bloom.

A* boosts record A-level results

Published 08/19/2010 11:24 AM

One in 12 A-level entries is awarded the new A* grade, as pupils attain record results.

Ditch the flute and get swotting, students told

Published 08/27/2010 03:59 AM

Oxford's head of admissions tells candidates it wants the academically gifted, not 'second-rate historians' who play the flute.

Why has studying French lost its élan?

Published 08/27/2010 03:59 AM

Is the big fall in the number of British school children studying French something to be concerned about?

Students 'put off by £7,000 fees'

Published 09/07/2010 05:50 AM

A report suggests two-thirds of UK students would be put off university by fees of £7,000 a year.

Gove defends free school numbers

Published 09/06/2010 05:04 AM

Michael Gove says demand for new free schools has exceeded expectations but Labour says plans for 16 new institutions next year are "laughable".

Music tuition falling, poll says

Published 09/03/2010 05:39 PM

Fewer children are learning to play a musical instrument than in their parents' generation, a survey suggests.

Ellen MacArthur's global ambition

Published 09/01/2010 04:15 PM

Yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur has set herself a new challenge - creating an educational foundation to promote sustainability.

Shoesmith given leave to appeal

Published 09/01/2010 10:15 AM

Sharon Shoesmith is given leave to appeal over her sacking as the head of children's services at Haringey Council after the death of Baby Peter.

One in nine schools 'half empty'

Published 09/02/2010 04:41 AM

Figures obtained by the BBC suggest that in one in nine Scottish primary schools at least 60% of places are unfilled.

Budget 'hits the poorest hardest'

Published 08/25/2010 04:46 AM

The coalition government's Budget announced in June has hit the poorest families hardest, says an economic think tank.

Charity loses gay adoption appeal

Published 08/18/2010 11:34 PM

The Charity Commission rejects an appeal by a Roman Catholic charity to allow it to discriminate against gay people seeking to adopt.

Warning over 'untracked' children

Published 08/16/2010 05:27 PM

Some children are not being educated because local authorities are often unable to track youngsters who are not being taught, inspectors warn.

Hundreds of playgrounds scrapped

Published 08/11/2010 08:07 AM

Hundreds of playground developments in England are being mothballed as the Department for Education cuts funding for them.

Adult drinking sparks child calls

Published 08/16/2010 02:07 AM

More than 100 children a week are turning to the ChildLine helpline with worries about their parents' drinking or drug use, the NSPCC says.

Row over bus breastfeeding claims

Published 08/11/2010 07:08 AM

A young mother says she was ordered off a Manchester bus because she was breastfeeding her baby.

Mandarin popular in UK Schools

Published 09/06/2010 11:18 PM

Some schools in the UK are teaching their pupils languages like Mandarin and Arabic rather than the more traditional French and Spanish.

School hammer attack 'preventable'

Published 09/08/2010 08:18 AM

The mother of Henry Webster, the boy who was attacked by a group of Asian youths explains how the review has shown how the school was at fault.

Cable: Setting the bar on science research

Published 09/08/2010 12:13 AM

Business Secretary Vince Cable says "the bar will have to be raised" on science funding

Derby school desperate for repairs

Published 09/07/2010 11:06 PM

Hundreds of schools in England have had their plans for refurbishment put on hold after the coalition government cancelled a rebuilding programme.

Miss! Pick me

Published 09/07/2010 04:33 PM

The experimental class where hands-up are banned

Keep talking

Published 09/08/2010 06:54 AM

Asian families battle to retain mother tongue in schools

Group-think

Published 08/31/2010 04:57 PM

Why do UK leaders all study for the same qualification?

Sikh values

Published 09/07/2010 07:24 AM

UK gets first Sikh temple school

Blast from the past

Published 08/25/2010 01:02 AM

BBC Micros help train young student programmers

Young achievers

Published 08/24/2010 07:22 AM

Why are more pupils taking GCSEs early?

Teen drift

Published 08/27/2010 02:13 AM

A scheme aimed at stopping teenagers from becoming NEETS, could soon be abolished.

EU lags Russia, Korea on higher education: report (Reuters)

Published 09/08/2010 07:10 AM

Reuters - Young people in the European Union are less likely to finish higher education than those in Canada, Japan or Russia, according to a new study that underscores the need for the EU to invest wisely in education.

Correction: University Land Grabs story (AP)

Published 09/07/2010 02:35 PM

AP - In a Sept. 6 story about universities buying up land they don't immediately have use for, The Associated Press misidentified the type of parking structure that's in a building the University of Dayton bought last year. The building includes a parking lot, not a parking garage.

Show in historic Istanbul seminary stirs hope (Reuters)

Published 09/07/2010 08:01 AM

Reuters - An Istanbul seminary closed in 1971 is hosting its first public event in 40 years, raising hopes it may shortly be reopened by Turkey and once again educate priests for the Greek Orthodox community.

Little Rock 9 member Jefferson Thomas dies in Ohio (AP)

Published 09/06/2010 04:23 PM

AP - Jefferson Thomas, who as a teenager was among nine black students to integrate a Little Rock high school in the nation's first major battle over school segregation, has died. He was 67.

Colleges buy land they don't know how they'll use (AP)

Published 09/06/2010 12:17 PM

AP - Colleges and universities are buying up chunks of land at bargain prices, sometimes without a clear idea how they'll be used.

Fired, rehired teachers back at troubled RI school (AP)

Published 09/04/2010 03:08 PM

AP - Teachers who were fired and ultimately rehired in a dispute that focused national debate over education reform have returned to their classrooms amid hopes that changes they agreed to will help improve student performance at their persistently troubled high school.

'Birth tourism' a tiny portion of immigrant babies (AP)

Published 09/03/2010 02:53 PM

AP - When Ruth Garcia's twins are born in two months, they'll have all the rights of U.S. citizens. They and their six brothers and sisters will be able to vote, apply for federal student loans and even run for president.

CA university upholds suspension of Muslim group (AP)

Published 09/03/2010 02:28 PM

AP - The University of California, Irvine has upheld its decision to suspend a campus Muslim group after some of its members disrupted a speech by the Israeli ambassador at a campus event.

School Uses Anti-bullying App After Suicide (PC World)

Published 09/03/2010 12:20 PM

PC World - A school district in South Hadley, Massachusetts, is hoping a specialized software application will help stop tragedies like the one that befell Phoebe Prince, an Irish-born teen who committed suicide in January after an alleged bullying campaign by fellow students.

Race to the Top promises new era of standardized testing (The Christian Science Monitor)

Published 09/02/2010 04:39 PM

The Christian Science Monitor - Put down your No. 2 pencils and get ready for the next generation of standardized tests, featuring fewer multiple choice questions and increased use of computers.

Discounts spur surprising Aug. retail sales gains (AP)

Published 09/02/2010 12:33 PM

AP - American shoppers, taking advantage of deep discounts and tax-free holidays, opened up their wallets a little more for back-to-school spending compared with last year, giving some retailers better-than expected gains for August.

Police: SD teen wanted to be 'infamous sociopath' (AP)

Published 09/01/2010 04:05 PM

AP - An 18-year-old high school student stockpiled bomb-making materials in his bedroom and wrote about wanting to blow up his school, target individuals he hated, rape women and "become the world's most infamous sociopath," authorities said.

Texas governor offers school grants to spur sharing (Reuters)

Published 08/31/2010 02:34 PM

Reuters - Texas schools that cut bureaucratic costs by sharing services -- from accounting to transportation -- would get grants worth 10 percent of their savings under a plan Governor Rick Perry proposed on Tuesday.

Wen says rote learning must go in Chinese schools (Reuters)

Published 08/31/2010 02:04 AM

Reuters - Chinese schools have to get their students to be creative and think for themselves, Premier Wen Jiabao told officials, in reference to the rote-learning deeply ingrained in the national education system.

Private colleges 'act local' with financial aid (AP)

Published 08/30/2010 09:00 PM

AP - Hoping to portray themselves as more affordable and all-around better neighbors, private colleges from Appalachia to Boston are sweetening financial aid packages for students from their own backyards.

Armed man fatally shot at Tennessee high school (AP)

Published 08/30/2010 02:29 PM

AP - An armed man was fatally shot by deputies Monday at an east Tennessee high school after he went inside and pointed a gun at the principal's head, a sheriff said.

Education secretary Arne Duncan: headmaster of US school reform (The Christian Science Monitor)

Published 08/30/2010 11:06 AM

The Christian Science Monitor - Growing up in Chicago, Arne Duncan learned early that education was a stark dividing line – sometimes literally between life and death.

Rocket Boys' alma mater in W.Va. to be demolished (AP)

Published 08/30/2010 10:34 AM

AP - The wrecking ball is coming for a West Virginia high school that was home to the teenage amateur rocket enthusiasts profiled in the movie "October Sky."

After Katrina, how charter schools helped recast New Orleans education (The Christian Science Monitor)

Published 08/29/2010 06:43 AM

The Christian Science Monitor - Before hurricane Katrina, the school system in New Orleans was like a dysfunctional marching band: It had structure and central direction, but academic failure and corruption dragged it down.

Gaming Skills Become a College Course (PC World)

Published 08/28/2010 12:21 PM

PC World - Problem-solving skills used in one of -- if not the most -- popular real-time strategy games of all time are not unlike those used in the 21st Century real world.

Enrolling Uninsured Kids in Health Care

Published 09/03/2010 09:40 AM

Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan announced a national coalition to enroll five million children in Medicaid and CHIP within five years.

Support for Education Jobs

Published 09/03/2010 05:35 AM

Indiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island are among the states that will receive funding to support education jobs.

Beyond the Bubble Tests

Published 09/02/2010 11:36 AM

Read Secretary Duncan's remarks to state leaders about Race to the Top Assessment winners and the next generation of assessments.

Joint Agreement for New Orleans Recovery

Published 08/27/2010 03:08 PM

Secretary Duncan and other Obama administration officials announced a $1.8 billion agreement to help renovate and rebuild schools in New Orleans.

Remarks in Little Rock

Published 08/25/2010 04:00 PM

Secretary Duncan discussed his Back to School Tour and the Obama Administration's education agenda, and he thanked America's teachers -- "our unsung heroes" -- in Little Rock, AR.

Emergency Response Plans

Published 08/19/2010 07:57 AM

ED grants will help 98 school districts strengthen their emergency response plans.

Charter School Grants

Published 08/18/2010 03:04 PM

Charter school grants to state agencies in AR, CA, CO, DC, GA, IN, MI, MO, NH, RI, SC, and TX will help increase public school options.

Additional Recovery Funds for California

Published 08/17/2010 12:30 PM

New York and California are among the states that will receive additional Recovery Act funds to support jobs and drive education reforms.

Gainful Employment Analysis

Published 08/16/2010 10:28 AM

Read the analysis that helped inform ED's proposed regulation that provides a standard for occupational and for-profit postsecondary programs to demonstrate that they prepare students for gainful employment.

Turning Around Low-Performing Schools

Published 08/16/2010 10:05 AM

Mississippi and Idaho are among the states receiving funding under the School Improvement Grants program to turn around persistently lowest achieving schools.

Education Jobs Fund

Published 08/13/2010 10:04 AM

Applications and guidance are now available for the Education Jobs Fund, which makes $10 billion available to states to support an estimated 160,000 education jobs nationwide.

First Summit on Bullying

Published 08/13/2010 05:48 AM

Secretary Duncan discussed myths about bullying at the Department's first Bullying Prevention Summit.

$10 Billion to Support 160,000 Education Jobs

Published 08/10/2010 03:50 PM

Congress passed and the President signed into law a bill that provides $10 billion to support an estimated 160,000 education jobs nationwide.

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Published 08/09/2010 03:50 PM

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

In a New Role, Teachers Move to Run Schools

Published 09/07/2010 07:52 PM

Experiments in teacher-led schools raise morale, but critics say they could blur educators’ focus.

Mind: Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits

Published 09/07/2010 11:57 PM

Psychologists have discovered that some of the most hallowed advice on study habits is flat wrong.

For-Profit Colleges Step Up Lobbying Against New Rules

Published 09/07/2010 10:50 PM

An Education Department proposal would cut off federal financial aid to programs whose students take on too much debt for training that provides little likelihood of leading to a well-paying job.

A Frenzied First Day for Applying to Private Kindergartens

Published 09/07/2010 11:20 PM

Parents of 2- to 4-year-olds swamped the phone lines and Web sites of exclusive Manhattan institutions in an annual post-Labor Day rite.

It’s Back to School. Then Back to Vacation.

Published 09/07/2010 11:20 PM

The first week of school is nothing more than the first day for more than a million students in New York City.

In Europe, Fund-Raising Lessons From Americans

Published 09/06/2010 06:59 AM

Universities across Europe are realizing that their dependence on government funding puts them at a disadvantage.

Educational Gaps Limit Brazil’s Reach

Published 09/05/2010 02:52 PM

Education is a major stumbling block in Brazil’s bid to accelerate its economy and establish itself as one of the world’s most powerful nations.

Economic View: A Course Load for the Game of Life

Published 09/04/2010 07:50 PM

To better understand the world in which they will live, students need foundations in economics, statistics, finance and psychology.

U.S. Asks Educators to Reinvent Student Tests, and How They Are Given

Published 09/02/2010 11:30 PM

Could the bubble be on the way out? In the near future, students may take their tests on computers.

Chicago News Cooperative: Despite Scrutiny of For-Profits, Crucial Questions Are Unanswered

Published 09/02/2010 11:20 PM

A recent Chicago forum on for-profit colleges made pertinent points about the state of American eduction but ignored some important issues.

Crossroads County: Fewer Young Voters See Themselves as Democrats

Published 09/03/2010 01:15 PM

Though many students are liberals on social issues, the weak job market has taken a toll on their loyalties.

Public Hospitals Look to Overhaul Affiliations With Medical Schools

Published 09/02/2010 10:50 PM

New York City’s hospital system wants to renegotiate longstanding contracts that allow medical schools to manage physicians.

In Medical School Shift, Meeting Patients on Day 1

Published 09/07/2010 10:38 AM

A new curriculum at N.Y.U. is intended to foster more personal relationships between medical students and patients.

A Celebratory Road Trip for Education Secretary

Published 09/02/2010 12:00 AM

Arne Duncan’s bus tour from New York to Maine is billed as a way to honor teachers.

New Trophy for Colleges: Capital One Cup

Published 09/01/2010 11:20 PM

A team of former N.C.A.A. athletes unveiled the Capital One Cup, which will be awarded to the top men’s and women’s Division I programs based on cumulative on-field performance across multiple sports.

Fired Education Chief Says New Jersey Governor Defamed Him

Published 09/01/2010 10:18 PM

Bret D. Schundler, the former education commissioner, emphatically denied misleading anyone in an episode that cost New Jersey a $400 million grant.

Advertising: Scholastic Books Revamps Its Marketing

Published 09/05/2010 07:46 PM

The company said it wanted to keep better track of teachers who were new or who had departed and use more methods of communication.

Formula to Grade Teachers’ Skill Gains Acceptance, and Critics

Published 09/07/2010 08:47 AM

The value-added formula to evaluate teachers is gaining acceptance, and critics, across America.

About New York: Suing a School They Loved

Published 08/31/2010 10:00 PM

Even though Herbert E. Nass and his wife, Jodi, loved their old school, Horace Mann, legal action seemed right when they found themselves in a fight over their son’s suspension.

Harvard Researcher May Have Fabricated Data

Published 08/30/2010 10:49 AM

Marc Hauser is on leave after being found “solely responsible” for eight counts of scientific misconduct.

Dean From Northwestern Picked to Lead New School

Published 08/27/2010 12:49 PM

David E. Van Zandt will replace Bob Kerrey, a former Nebraska senator, as the university’s president.

Making Career Development Pay

Published 08/26/2010 02:00 AM

Treating your career development education as if it were part of a stock portfolio can help you increase the return on your investment.

Social Networking Your Way to a New Job

Published 08/26/2010 02:00 AM

Job hunters must learn to navigate the social protocol of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites.

Community College Training for Managing Green Jobs

Published 08/26/2010 06:01 PM

Government money is helping smaller institutions build programs that train students in various emerging and established energy fields.

Some Business Skills to Go With the Passion

Published 08/26/2010 09:33 AM

Thousands of courses are offered in entrepreneurship by colleges and universities, small-business development centers and chambers of commerce.

Foreign Language Courses, Brushing Up or Immersion

Published 08/26/2010 07:33 AM

For continuing education students, a variety of options for foreign language classes are available, including online learning.

The Humanities for Love, Not Money

Published 08/26/2010 07:33 AM

Continuing education programs across the country are finding students increasingly focused on the arts and humanities, whether for new careers or to re-explore great authors.

Learning Curves on the Career Path

Published 08/27/2010 07:41 AM

Whether they are concerned about job security or climbing the career ladder, people often conclude that if there’s any solution, it’s more education.

National Briefing | South: Louisiana: $1.8. Billion for Schools Lost to Katrina

Published 08/25/2010 10:50 PM

The Obama administration will give New Orleans $1.8 billion in a lump-sum reimbursement for schools that were damaged or destroyed in the flooding after Hurricane Katrina.

Eastern States Dominate in Winning School Grants

Published 08/27/2010 12:07 PM

Many educators in states that did not win or even participate in President Obama’s Race to the Top competition said the rules favored densely populated eastern states.

New York Wins Nearly $700 Million for Education

Published 08/27/2010 12:08 PM

Local officials who pushed for educational changes celebrated a victory in a competition for federal money.

Even at Commuter Schools, Dorm Life Beckons

Published 08/24/2010 11:10 PM

Queens College’s only dorm houses 500 students out of 20,000, and contains full kitchens, cable television, wireless Internet access and private bathrooms.

National Briefings | West: California: Colleges Cut Kaplan Tie

Published 08/24/2010 11:00 PM

Kaplan University had signed an agreement with California community colleges for students shut out of classes at their own campus to take an online version at Kaplan.

Scholars Test Web Alternative to Peer Review

Published 08/24/2010 02:50 AM

The Internet is calling into question one of academia’s sacred rites: the peer- reviewed journal article.

Students, Welcome to College; Parents, Go Home

Published 08/25/2010 06:29 PM

Faced with parents who have a hard time saying goodbye to their freshmen, colleges formalize the split.

Back-to-School Admissions Q. and A.

Published 09/07/2010 11:02 AM

Bill Dingledine, president of the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling, is taking reader questions on the start of the college admissions season.

The Way We Live Now: When Does Holding Teachers Accountable Go Too Far?

Published 09/07/2010 08:49 AM

The Los Angeles Times and an education economist set out to create a consumer guide to education.

A Standardized Test Myth

Published 09/08/2010 12:47 PM

A longtime counselor seeks to put the rest the "myth,'' as he calls it, that top colleges prefer an SAT score to an ACT score.

The College Essay as an Early Memoir

Published 09/07/2010 12:17 PM

A workshop on memoir writing inspires some thoughts about the college essay.

Essay: The End of Tenure?

Published 09/07/2010 10:05 AM

Two recent books resurrect the debate over universities and the supposedly pampered people who teach there.

Back to School: New York Times Resources for STEM

Published 09/08/2010 08:45 AM

New York Times and Learning Network resources to help you plan for the school year in science, health, math and technology.

Test Yourself | Math, September 8, 2010

Published 09/08/2010 01:44 AM

Our daily English, math or history question based on Times content.

Chimp Retirement, or Research?

Published 09/08/2010 12:28 AM

6 Q's About the News | Today's reading comprehension activity is about using chimps for scientific research.

Is Everything You've Been Taught About Study Habits Wrong?

Published 09/08/2010 12:16 AM

Student Opinion | What study habits work best for you?

Potomac students implicated in hacking scheme start group to fight peer pressure

Published 09/08/2010 01:18 PM

Two Potomac high school students who were implicated last winter in a scheme to change grades by hacking into school computers have started a student group devoted to combating the ill effects of peer pressure. Peer pressure - United States - Child - Adolescence - FAQs Help and Tutorials

Exploring the undead: University of Baltimore to offer English class on zombies

Published 09/08/2010 08:33 AM

Is "Night of the Living Dead" a simple zombie film or a subtle antiwar statement? Precisely when did viral pandemic supplant nuclear radiation as the lead cause of zombification? And which sort of animated dead has the greater potential to frighten: shambler or sprinter? Baltimore University - United States - Education - Colleges and Universities - Maryland

At Virginia Quarterly Review, did workplace tension take a tragic turn?

Published 09/07/2010 03:23 PM

The Charlottesville offices of the Virginia Quarterly Review are dark. The locks have been changed. Most of the staff has resigned or taken leave. And there are two divergent accounts of why the managing editor recently shot himself in the head. Work - Virginia Quarterly Review - Bullying - United States - Violence and Abuse

Overcrowded Annandale High School makes adjustments on opening day

Published 09/07/2010 09:00 PM

Annandale High School is Fairfax County's most crowded high school, with about 500 more students than it was designed to hold. On the first day of school Tuesday there were four packed lunch periods that started at 10:25 a.m., congested hallways, long bathroom lines, cramped athletic locker rooms... Northern Virginia - Virginia - United States - Organizations - Police

How D.C. schools might be affected if Rhee decides to move on

Published 09/06/2010 09:00 PM

The scenario is familiar in the District and big cities across the country: An ambitious leader is appointed to reform schools. Policies and practices are upended, five-year plans unveiled, a flurry of initiatives launched with high hopes. After two or three years, political pressure from interes... Education - United States - Michelle Rhee - School district - Korea

Owner of historic Loudoun hardware store killed with wife and kin in car crash

Published 09/06/2010 09:00 PM

The owner of Nichols Hardware, a historic family-owned shop in Loudoun County, his wife and one of her relatives were killed in a single-car accident near Front Royal on Sunday afternoon. Hardware store - United States - Loudoun - Virginia - Counties

Parents use 'digital' grounding as a 21st century disciplinary tool

Published 09/05/2010 07:23 PM

Not so long ago, teenagers in trouble got grounded. They lost their evenings out, maybe the keys to the family car. But lately the art of family discipline has begun to reflect our digital age. Business - Home - Support Groups - Twitter - Cricket

Transfer of D.C. teacher Erich Martel seems like administrators' revenge

Published 09/05/2010 09:00 PM

My nominee for most effective whistleblower in the D.C. school system, Erich Martel, has finally gone too far in the eyes of some school administrators. Teacher - Education - K through 12 - Educators - New and Prospective Teachers

Montgomery County schools posting calorie counts in cafeterias

Published 09/05/2010 09:00 PM

Brianna Lattanzio wound her way through the bustling cafeteria line at her Silver Spring middle school one recent morning, weighing her options. Nutritional information was listed for each of the choices: an Asian-inspired chicken and rice dish (352 calories), vegetarian "chik'n" nuggets (190 cal... United States - Montgomery - Counties - Maryland - Montgomery County

Teacher used derogatory terms in class lesson at Suitland middle school

Published 09/03/2010 11:02 AM

A history class in Prince George's County got an unexpected lesson this week. Middle school - Education - K through 12 - Educators - Personal and Class Pages

Three books about the state of our colleges

Published 09/04/2010 09:00 PM

You've mailed the big tuition check and packed your kid off to college, but will you and your offspring get your money's worth? Here are three books that provide some answers. Education - Shopping - Books - Colleges and Universities - Used and Rare

D.C. school to name hallway in honor of retired custodian

Published 09/02/2010 06:15 PM

Some men get buildings named after them; others, streets. Ron Hillyer is getting a hallway. United States - Education - Honor Societies - Student - Texas

Featured Advertiser

Published 09/02/2010 06:15 PM

Race to the Top grants go to groups developing new student assessment strategies

Published 09/02/2010 05:44 PM

The federal government awarded $330 million Thursday to two groups that are developing new student assessment systems for the District, Maryland and dozens of other states in an effort to upgrade their much-maligned standardized tests. Education - Educational - Social Sciences - United States - testing

D.C. agency's handling of grant money labeled deficient in audit

Published 09/01/2010 09:00 PM

The D.C. government could not properly account for how it spent almost $325,000 in federal grant money intended to enhance state and local law enforcement, according to an audit report released Wednesday by the inspector general of the Justice Department. Grant - Business - United States - Audit - Washington

After decades at Coolidge High, D.C. Youth Orchestra Program moves to Eastern

Published 09/01/2010 09:00 PM

The D.C. Youth Orchestra Program has operated for nearly a half-century at Coolidge High School in Northwest. Last month, the nonprofit music program moved a few miles south to Eastern High School in Northeast. United States - People - Calvin Coolidge - Arts and Entertainment - Youth

Montgomery students get new digs

Published 09/01/2010 09:00 PM

Jeannie Kauffman and her three children represent two distinct generations of Garrett Park Elementary schoolers. Kauffman attended the school as did her daughter, Ashley, 13, who is now a seventh-grader at Pyle Middle School. United States - Counties - Montgomery - Maryland - Time Warner Cable

Transfers let Alexandria cap class sizes

Published 09/01/2010 09:00 PM

When Sheena Rose went to register her son for kindergarten at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School , she was told there was no room. She was given a choice of three schools that her son would have to ride a bus to attend. Alexandria - Egypt - Africa - Shopping - Business

St. Mary's officials seek state help to build elementary school

Published 09/01/2010 09:00 PM

Spurred by increasing elementary school enrollment, officials in St. Mary's County are preparing a request for state assistance to construct another elementary school. Elementary school - United States - Counties - Saint Mary - Maryland

Poll: Polarizing D.C. schools chief Rhee helps, hurts Fenty among Democrats

Published 08/31/2010 09:00 PM

A Washington Post poll in August found that the D.C. schools chancellor, the public face and voice for the mayor's cornerstone issue, is such a divisive figure that politically she is a virtual wash. Democratic - AdrianFenty - United States - Politics - Parties

Maryland schools battle with limited funding and space as enrollment grows

Published 08/30/2010 09:00 PM

More than 200,000 Maryland students streamed back to crowded classrooms Monday as school systems dealt with growth but little money to hire more teachers. Maryland - United States - Politics - Houston - Greivis Vasquez

More would-be interns paying thousands to land a coveted spot

Published 08/29/2010 09:00 PM

Each year, thousands of college students descend on Washington for unpaid internships. It can be a nerve-racking process: sending out résumés, trying to make contacts, interviewing again and again. Increasingly, many of them are finding an alternative: paying thousands of dollars to a placement company for a guaranteed spot. United States - Earth Sciences - Land Surveying - Geomatics - Surveyors

UDC opens its first student housing with an eye to a livelier campus

Published 08/29/2010 09:00 PM

The University of the District of Columbia fall semester began last week, and that meant first-day-of-class prepping in the college's first-ever dorm. Dormitory - United States - Education - Health - Colleges and Universities

Maryland students head back to school

Published 08/29/2010 05:38 PM

More than 200,000 Maryland students are returning to school Monday morning, including in Montgomery County, the state's largest school system. It is the beginning of what will be a pivotal year for the district, and parents said they hoped to be included in decisions about a new leader for their ... Maryland - United States - Education - K-12 - Politics

D.C. schools' performance should not be measured by focusing on achievement gap

Published 08/29/2010 09:00 PM

The D.C. mayoral race is deeply split on most issues, but everyone agrees on one thing: We must reduce the achievement gap between minority and white students. It is too bad, then, that the gap is such a mindless measure of school progress. Education - Achievement gap in the United States - United States - School district - India

Featured Advertiser

Published 08/29/2010 09:00 PM

Two Loudoun elementary schools to share a principal

Published 08/28/2010 09:00 PM

Karen Roche began her teaching career in Loudoun County two decades ago as a fifth-grade instructor at Waterford Elementary School. She has since had teaching and administrative positions in various county schools -- most recently as principal of Aldie Elementary School. But this school year, she... Virginia - United States - Loudoun - Counties - Loudoun County Virginia

Progress slows in closing achievement gaps in D.C. schools

Published 08/26/2010 06:14 PM

After two years of progress, Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee's effort to narrow the vast achievement gap separating white and African American students in D.C. public schools has stalled, an analysis of 2010 test score data shows. Education - United States - North Carolina - Tennessee - School district

Hostility across U.S. jars Muslim college students

Published 08/26/2010 09:00 PM

Although the Muslim students hadn't eaten since dawn, something besides food was on their minds as they loaded plates with tandoori chicken, chickpeas and rice at American University to break their Ramadan fast. Islam - United States - Religion and Spirituality - Education - Social Aspects

Montgomery likely to pick superintendent who fits Weast's mold, experts say

Published 08/25/2010 09:00 PM

Wanted: executive to run 144,000-student school district -- changing demographics, heavy parental involvement. Competitive salary, benefits. United States - Montgomery - Counties - Maryland - Business

Education Secretary Arne Duncan wants schools to give parents, teachers more data

Published 08/25/2010 07:42 PM

LITTLE ROCK - Education Secretary Arne Duncan, stoking a national debate over a Los Angeles Times series that examines how much individual teachers have raised test scores, urged public schools Wednesday to give educators more data on student achievement and parents a full report on teacher... ArneDuncan - Education - United States - Educators - Los Angeles

Jerry Weast, superintendent of Montgomery schools, to retire in June

Published 08/24/2010 03:52 PM

Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Jerry D. Weast says he will retire in June, ending an 11-year run and initiating an election-year discussion about the future of one of the country's largest and highest-performing school systems. Montgomery Alabama - Montgomery - United States - Counties - Maryland

Efforts to revamp schools by D.C., Maryland result in $325 million

Published 08/24/2010 09:00 PM

The Obama administration awarded Maryland and the District $325 million Tuesday for efforts to improve schools, a surprising double victory for the Washington region in an education reform contest that could reverberate in the fall elections. Ohio - United States - Organizations - Business and Economy - Recreation and Sports

Jerry Weast, superintendent of Montgomery schools, to retire in June

Published 08/24/2010 05:37 PM

Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Jerry D. Weast announced Tuesday that he will retire in June, ending an 12-year run and initiating an election-year discussion about the future of one of the country's largest and highest-performing school systems. United States - Maryland - Counties - Montgomery - Ohio

School resumes relatively smoothly in Washington region

Published 08/23/2010 09:00 PM

School resumed Monday for thousands of students in the Washington area, minus the back-to-school glitches that have plagued the region in recent years and with a new elementary school named after President Obama. School - Education - Student - United States - Special Education

Across the Washington region, students head back to school

Published 08/22/2010 09:01 PM

Summer vacation ends Monday morning for hundreds of thousands of students in the Washington area as parents and children study schedules, bus routes and backpacks before heading out the door. Washington - United States - Education - Washington DC - Business and Economy

With limited training, Teach for America recruits play expanding role in schools

Published 08/22/2010 09:00 PM

Four months ago, Jamila Best was still in college. Two months ago, she started training to become a teacher. Monday morning, the 21-year-old will walk into a D.C. classroom, take a deep breath and dive into one of the most difficult assignments in public education. Teach For America - Education - United States - Educators - Employment

Washington area colleges gain ground in U.S. News rankings

Published 08/22/2010 09:00 PM

An Aug. 17 excerpt from Daniel de Vise's blog on the business behind higher education. United States - US News & World Report - US News - Washington - Education

Featured Advertiser

Published 08/22/2010 09:00 PM

The Answer Sheet: The problem with abolishing the D

Published 08/22/2010 09:00 PM

An Aug. 18 guest blogger excerpt and response from Valerie Strauss's school survival guide. Math - Recreation - Arts - United States - Barney Frank

School's In! Start dates for Washington area public schools

Published 08/22/2010 09:00 PM

Here are the starting dates for more than 850,000 students in Washington area public schools: Washington - Education - United States - Virginia - Public school

Michelle Rhee to principals: 'Go hard, or go home'

Published 08/22/2010 09:00 PM

An Aug. 19 excerpt from Bill Turque's blog on education reform battles in the nation's capital. Education - Michelle Rhee - Washington DC - Shopping - highschool

Ready to feel old? Meet the Class of 2014.

Published 08/22/2010 09:00 PM

An Aug. 17 excerpt from Jenna Johnson's blog on students and newsmakers at colleges nationwide. United States - Beloit College - Student - Recreation - Mindset List

Democratic primary could determine fate of D.C. schools, for better or worse

Published 08/22/2010 09:00 PM

School opens today in the District. For the next three weeks, Americans who care about the future of urban schools will watch the city closely. Primary election - Democratic - United States - Politics - Parties

The Color of Money: Basic lessons on credit cards for students

Published 08/21/2010 09:00 PM

Entering freshmen at colleges across the country will be the first class of regular-semester students to face credit card restrictions under the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009. Credit card - Personal Finance - Home - Money Management - Credit

Three books about education reform

Published 08/21/2010 09:00 PM

Now that the Obama administration has invited the states to compete for $5 billion in stimulus funds, the winners will not be those that come up with the best reform ideas, but those that agree to do what the administration wants: create privately managed charter schools, evaluate teachers by their students' test scores, and close low-performing schools. Education - Education reform - United States - Reports and Research - State school

U-Va. to scrutinize Virginia Quarterly Review after editor's suicide

Published 08/19/2010 09:00 PM

University of Virginia President Teresa A. Sullivan on Thursday ordered "a thorough review" of the management of the school's acclaimed literary journal, following the suicide of a top editor last month. Virginia Quarterly Review - Suicide - Death - Health - Mental Health

Pr. George's schools say last year's problems with class schedules are over

Published 08/19/2010 01:03 PM

Prince George's County school officials say they are on track for the first day back to class next week, and that there will not be a repetition of last year's problems, which kept thousands of high school students waiting for days with no class schedules. United States - George Washington - President - History - Curious George

Fenty's political fortunes tied to success of D.C. school reforms

Published 08/18/2010 09:00 PM

For Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, the metric is the message: They pay assiduous attention to the reams of data generated by the D.C. school system in an effort to define what success looks like. Politics - Adrian Fenty - United States - Campaigns and Elections - Products and Services

High-achieving sisters hang together at AU

Published 08/18/2010 09:00 PM

Four-fifths of the sport-utility vehicles queuing up behind the entrance to Letts Hall on a muggy move-in day at American University carried students who had finished in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Recreation - Footlaunched - Aviation - Aircraft - Religion and Spirituality

More Md., Va. students taking ACT for college entrance, data show

Published 08/18/2010 09:00 PM

An increasing number of Maryland and Virginia high school students are taking the ACT college entrance test in a region where the SAT has long been dominant, according to data released Wednesday. ACT - Education - United States - Student - High school

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Published 08/18/2010 09:00 PM

U-Md. names Iowa provost Wallace D. Loh as next president

Published 08/17/2010 09:00 PM

The University of Maryland community Tuesday rallied behind the selection of University of Iowa administrator Wallace D. Loh as its next president, embracing his immigrant roots and circuitous career path as welcome additions to a university striving for global reach. United States - Iowa - History - Politics - University of Iowa

Top Party Schools: University of Georgia tops list

Published 08/02/2010 04:23 AM

University of Georgia - United States - Georgia - Education - Colleges and Universities

For-profit higher-education providers resist regulatory action

Published 08/16/2010 09:00 PM

The Washington Post Co. and other for-profit providers of higher education pushed back Monday against a government report last week that found many of their former students are not on track to repay their loans. Washington Post - Education - United States - Government - For-profit school

More university students taking advantage of cheaper community college courses

Published 08/15/2010 09:00 PM

Sean Daly's friends in Potomac spend their summer days planning their summer nights, savoring three months of freedom from the college grind. Community college - Education - Colleges and Universities - United States - Two-Year Colleges

D.C. teen arrested in slaying called gang-related

Published 08/14/2010 09:00 PM

A 17-year-old has been arrested in the gang-related killing Wednesday of a 19-year-old in Adams Morgan, D.C. police said Saturday. Gang - Crime and Justice - Organized crime - Recreation - Crime

Virginia schools fall short of new benchmarks, but scores rise slightly

Published 08/12/2010 09:00 PM

Average scores on Virginia's Standards of Learning math exams rose slightly and reading performance remained static in the 2009-10 school year, but the vast majority of public schools across the state failed to meet new performance benchmarks for graduation rates and for students with disabilities,... Fairfax - Fairfax Virginia - United States - Virginia - Counties

D.C. public school teachers begin orientation ahead of start of academic year

Published 08/11/2010 09:00 PM

Day One for the District's 400 or so newest public school teachers began in a not-quite-air-conditioned auditorium Wednesday with a welcoming gift from Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee: her pity. Public school - Education - United States - Teachers Unions - Labour

Obama principal to create school environment

Published 08/11/2010 09:00 PM

Standing in a classroom awash in natural light from large windows, Pearl Harmon, principal of Barack Obama Elementary School, rattles off features of the new Upper Marlboro school's environmentally sustainable design. Barack Obama - President - United States - History - Government

Retiring Herndon High teacher hopes students will carry on recycling efforts

Published 08/11/2010 09:00 PM

Just because its founder is retiring doesn't mean a popular recycling club will be scrapped. Business - Business and Economy - Washington DC - Half marathon - Citizens Bank Park

Annandale parents recruited to study 'critical' school crowding

Published 08/11/2010 09:00 PM

Parents in the Annandale area have been asked to study overpopulation at their children's schools and offer solutions to alleviate what is being called "critical" crowding in multiple buildings. Parenting - Education - Home - Family - England

St. Mary's, Charles teacher evaluations to be tied to student scores

Published 08/11/2010 09:00 PM

Some public school teachers in St. Mary's and Charles counties will be among the first in the state to have their job evaluations tied to their students' performance. Teacher - United States - Saint Mary - Women - Sports

GMU, Towson among 11 schools with no race 'gap' in graduation rate

Published 08/10/2010 09:00 PM

George Mason University and Towson University are among 11 institutions nationwide with little or no disparity in graduation rates between black and Hispanic students and white students, a study has found. Recreation - United States - Education - Sports - Race

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Published 08/10/2010 09:00 PM

Obama speech ties U.S. need for more college graduates to the economic recovery

Published 08/09/2010 12:05 PM

AUSTIN -- Saying that the country's long-term economic recovery depends on a wholesale improvement in education, President Obama on Monday pledged his administration's best efforts toward increasing the number of college graduates. United States - Barack Obama - President - University of Texas at Austin - History

Amid Metro brawl, family's night out turns into 'pandemonium'

Published 08/08/2010 09:00 PM

It was bad enough when Kimberly Hay's family, riding the Metro to the Kennedy Center on Friday night to watch "Mary Poppins," saw three youths assault a terrified young rider reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" by aiming an aerosol can at his face and spraying. L'Enfant Plaza - United States - Television - Programs - Metro Transit

Tennis academy in Columbia Heights tries to keep Latino youths on the right path

Published 08/07/2010 09:00 PM

Tania Perez was poised as if she was holding serve at Wimbledon. Her dark hair pulled tight in a ponytail, she tossed the tennis ball into the air and struck it, sending it soaring across the net. Columbia Heights - Washington DC - United States - Neighborhoods - Sports

Reading and math scores fall sharply at two KIPP schools in District

Published 08/06/2010 09:00 PM

Reading and math scores fell sharply at two of the three high-performing D.C. charter middle schools operated by the Knowledge Is Power Program, the national network regarded as a model for serving children from low-income backgrounds, according to data released Friday. Knowledge Is Power Program - Education - United States - Charter school - Teaching Resources

University of Virginia now requires students to disclose arrests, convictions

Published 08/06/2010 09:00 PM

Students returning to the University of Virginia this month will be required to report whether they have been arrested or convicted, a new layer of security announced Friday in response to the May slaying of student Yeardley Love. University of Virginia - Virginia - United States - Education - Colleges and Universities

Alarms sound over trash fires in war zones of Afghanistan, Iraq

Published 08/05/2010 09:00 PM

Hundreds of military service members and contractor employees have fallen ill with cancer or severe breathing problems after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they say they were poisoned by thick, black smoke produced by the burning of tons of trash generated on U.S. bases. Afghanistan - Iraq - United States - Middle East - Warfare and Conflict

U-Md. Project Envisions A Livelier College Park

Published 01/06/2008 09:00 PM

In Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania replaced an old parking lot with upscale stores, restaurants and a luxury hotel. United States - Education - Park - California - Health

D.C. teachers union accuses Rhee of 'playing loose' with numbers on firings

Published 08/04/2010 09:00 PM

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee garnered big local headlines and national attention July 23 when she announced that she had fired 241 teachers, including 165 who received poor evaluations under a tough new assessment system that for the first time held some educators accountable for stud...

GAO: 15 for-profit colleges used deceptive recruiting tactics

Published 08/04/2010 09:00 PM

Congressional officials on Wednesday identified 15 for-profit colleges where recruiters allegedly encouraged investigators posing as prospective students to commit fraud on financial aid applications or misled them about such matters as tuition costs and potential salaries after graduation. For-profit school - Education - United States - Colleges and Universities - Government Accountability Office

Fairfax County schools to try out online textbooks for a year

Published 08/04/2010 09:00 PM

Fairfax County public schools might be moving toward online textbooks, beginning with a pilot program this fall. United States - Virginia - Counties - Fairfax - Fairfax County Virginia

Montgomery County investigating teachers' charges of sexual harassment against principal

Published 08/03/2010 09:00 PM

Montgomery County school administrators are investigating allegations of sexual harassment against the principal at Kemp Mill Elementary School in Silver Spring by a group of teachers. Sexual harassment - Harassment - Violence and Abuse - United States - Sexual

Report finds fraud in for-profit education firms' recruiting

Published 08/03/2010 09:00 PM

A new government report on recruiting techniques in the for-profit higher education industry finds instances of college officials urging applicants to invent children and to hide their savings as a way to leverage more federal aid. For-profit school - Education - Colleges and Universities - United States - Directories

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Published 08/03/2010 09:00 PM

Interviews are regaining a foothold in college admissions process

Published 08/01/2010 09:00 PM

WILLIAMSBURG -- Lucy King's passion for the trombone was too big to fit on a college application. So she traveled to the College of William and Mary last month to tell someone about it in person. Education - Colleges and Universities - Admissions - United States - Counseling Services

Venture Philanthropy gives $5.5 million for expansion of KIPP DC charter schools

Published 08/01/2010 09:00 PM

It's another sign of private money shaking up public education in the District: A $5.5 million gift will dramatically help expand a network of high-performing charter schools in the city, with a goal of more than doubling the number of students enrolled by 2015. Charter school - Education - Methods and Theories - Learning Theories - Knowledge Is Power Program

Summer engineering program fosters genuine interest for some students

Published 07/30/2010 09:00 PM

High school students Aszurtoine Gunter-Fields and Terrell Ford built a bridge that just wouldn't break. United States - Education - Colleges and Universities - Business - University of Illinois

Study: Working mothers not necessarily harmful to child development

Published 07/30/2010 09:00 PM

A new study finds that babies raised by working mothers don't necessarily suffer cognitive setbacks, an encouraging finding that follows a raft of previous reports suggesting that women with infants were wiser to stay home. Parenting - Family - Home - Mothers - Psychology

Teacher firings will test Gray

Published 07/29/2010 09:00 PM

Deal with it, folks: Mayoral candidate Vincent C. Gray isn't going to say what he's going to do about D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee if he's elected. Business - Education - Tests - Gray - Educators

Obama defends education policies in speech to National Urban League

Published 07/29/2010 07:40 PM

President Obama pushed back Thursday against critics of his policy of forcing staff shake-ups and other major interventions at struggling schools, telling a civil rights organization that "something needs to be done differently" when schools fail year after year. Education reform - Barack Obama - United States - President - National Urban League

Fairfax principal apologizes for yearbook ad, stops selling weight-loss products

Published 07/29/2010 09:00 PM

An advertisement that Principal Nardos King placed in the Mount Vernon High School yearbook, for weight-loss products she sold in her free time, surprised and upset many parents this summer, and prompted an apology. Programs - Yearbook - Teacher - School district - High school

Ruling on Arizona immigration law heightens tensions

Published 07/28/2010 09:00 PM

In Arizona on Wednesday, police chiefs shifted plans, activists recalibrated and public tensions were generally elevated, rather than calmed, after a federal judge blocked key parts of the state's controversial immigration law from taking effect. Law - United States - Immigration - Arizona - Services

Families fight to get school bus service back

Published 07/28/2010 09:00 PM

Next month, some North Potomac residents will watch a school bus pass their street where it used to stop on its way to Travilah Elementary School. United States - Education - Law - High school - Volunteer

Md. mother of 2 killed in D.C. storm was happily committed to community, family

Published 07/27/2010 09:00 PM

Michelle Humanick was ever-present in her College Park neighborhood. Stopping to chat while walking her golden retriever, Rocky BalBubba. Playing with her daughter in the snow. Hosting political events, countless play dates, family-friendly movie nights and a regular poker party with her husband. Earth Sciences - Atmospheric Sciences - Meteorology - Storm Chasing - Windsor

States setting pace on school change; Obama agenda stalled in Congress

Published 07/27/2010 09:00 PM

While states are moving fast to overhaul public schools, President Obama's education agenda is hitting a wall in Congress. Barack Obama - United States - President - George W Bush - Democratic Party

JAY MATHEWS

Published 07/25/2010 09:00 PM

The weekly Jay Mathews education column is on break for a few weeks. But it'll be back next month when school starts. JAY MATHEWS - Washington Post - United States - Education - High school

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Published 07/25/2010 09:00 PM

Terror suspect took his desire to belong to the extreme

Published 07/24/2010 09:00 PM

Long before 20-year-old Zachary Adam Chesser embraced the cause of jihad, he was passionate about the heavy metal music of Marilyn Manson, the anime culture of Japan and the kinetic energy of American break dancing. Warfare and Conflict - War on Terrorism - Terrorism - September 11 2001 - United States

Despite states' efforts, measures to protect students from predators sometimes fail

Published 07/24/2010 09:00 PM

For nearly three decades, Kevin Ricks exploited gaps in a system that is supposed to keep sexual predators out of the classroom. He landed teaching jobs at one school after another -- public and private, urban and rural, domestic and foreign -- despite mounting evidence of his troubling personal... Crime - Predator - Robert Rodriguez - Sex Offenses - Education

No more sneak peeks of state tests for Maryland teachers

Published 07/23/2010 09:00 PM

Security is crucial for standardized tests because the results can make or break a school's reputation. But until this year, many Maryland teachers were allowed an advance look at state exams. Maryland - United States - Politics - History - Law

Rhee dismisses 241 D.C. teachers; union vows to contest firings

Published 07/23/2010 09:00 PM

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee announced Friday that she has fired 241 teachers, including 165 who received poor appraisals under a new evaluation system that for the first time holds some educators accountable for students' standardized test scores. Education - Teacher - Michelle Rhee - Education reform - Arts

Administration proposal aims to tighten oversight of for-profit colleges

Published 07/22/2010 09:00 PM

Education Secretary Arne Duncan proposed Thursday that for-profit colleges be required to show through certain new measures that their graduates are not saddled with too much debt, an initiative he said was meant to protect students from "a few bad actors" in the industry. Education - Colleges and Universities - United States - Directories - For-profit school

William and Mary may be home to oldest standing schoolhouse for black children

Published 07/22/2010 09:00 PM

WILLIAMSBURG -- At a time when some venerable Southern colleges are finally acknowledging and apologizing for their past ties to slavery, an inquisitive scholar at the College of William and Mary thinks he has made a more inspiring find: the nation's oldest surviving schoolhouse for African American... William and Mary - Arts - Mary - Oceania - RSS

U.S. goes from leading to lagging in young college graduates

Published 07/22/2010 03:07 AM

The United States has fallen from first to 12th in the share of adults ages 25 to 34 with postsecondary degrees, according to a new report from the College Board. College - Education - Colleges and Universities - United States - Two-Year Colleges

D.C. board of education adopts national 'common core' standards for schools

Published 07/21/2010 09:00 PM

The D.C. State Board of Education on Wednesday adopted new national standards for English and math, joining Maryland and more than two dozen states in a groundbreaking effort to establish common expectations for what students should learn every year from kindergarten through high school. Education - United States - Board of education - Standards - Organizations

Vienna band camp has kept Fairfax County youths in tune for more than 30 years

Published 07/21/2010 09:00 PM

Sitting on the edge of his seat, foot-tapping trombonist Cole Overturf, 12, eagerly waited for his concert band practice to begin at McLean High School recently. Fairfax County Virginia - Virginia - United States - Fairfax - Counties

D.C. and Massachusetts to vote on national school standards

Published 07/20/2010 09:00 PM

School boards in the District of Columbia and Massachusetts are on the verge of adopting national standards for English and math, adding momentum to a movement that in a few months has swept Maryland and two dozen other states. Massachusetts - United States - Education - Organizations - Standards

D.C. fund for crime victims highlights challenges of providing aid

Published 07/20/2010 09:00 PM

After her food stamps were stolen and her son's head was smashed into a concrete wall, a 31-year-old District woman wound up in the same place many of the city's domestic violence victims land while they're struggling to get on their feet: a run-down motel. Crime - Victims - Organizations - United States - Prevention