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Subcategory: Parent / Public Involvement
Scholars: Parent-School Ties Should Shift in Teen Years
Nov 19 2009 - Education Week (requires registration)
Adolescents' needs have been overlooked by researchers and policymakers intent on boosting parental engagement, a new book concludes.
Club Aims to Build Girls into Engineers
Nov 12 2009 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
Last week, Karin Hill, the director of education and public programs for the National Museum of the United States Navy in the District, visited Calvert Middle School in Prince Frederick. Her mission: to teach the members of the school's all-girls engineering club how to make a barometer out of a soup can, a balloon, a sewing needle, and a straw.
First Lady Launches White House Mentoring Program
Nov 3 2009 - The Boston Globe
First lady Michelle Obama launched a mentoring rogram Monday to give local high school girls access to women at the White House.
Diagnosing ADHD: Teacher Input Overlooked?
Oct 23 2009 - Web MD
Pediatricians are most often involved in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, but many do not get recommended input from teachers before rendering a diagnosis, Consumer Reports says in a parent survey about their children with ADHD.
Science, Tech Initiative Targeting Mass. 6th-Graders
Oct 20 2009 - The Boston Globe
A new nonprofit initiative will dispatch professionals from the worlds of science, engineering, and technology to sixth-grade classrooms around Massachusetts. The volunteer visitors' goal: to persuade students to consider careers in the fields.
Dominion Gives $300k to Schools for Math, Science
Sep 30 2009 - The Boston Globe
Natural gas and electric company Dominion Resources says it has given more than $300,000 to 50 schools in nine states. Richmond, Va.–based Dominion says the grants announced Tuesday are aimed at improving math and science skills for children from kindergarten through high school.
Seattle Children's Rolls Out a Mobile Lab to Spread Word: Science Is Cool
Sep 24 2009 - The Seattle Times
The first science-lab-on-wheels on the West Coast kicked off a 50-school tour Tuesday at Seattle's Northgate Elementary, where fourth-graders isolated their DNA, guided by scientists from Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center.
Academics Win 2009 MacArthur 'Genius' Awards
Sep 22 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is today announcing the 2009 MacArthur Fellows, and academics are among those winning the $500,000, no-strings award for "exceptional creativity, as demonstrated through a track record of significant achievement, and manifest promise for important future advances."
Presidential Pep Talk Kicks Off Year for Students
Sep 9 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Millions of American schoolchildren heard President Obama exhort them to greatness on Tuesday, watching, applauding, and in some classrooms cheering a nationally broadcast address that urged them to set high goals, knuckle down in their studies, and persevere through failure.
Microsoft Motivates Innovative Teachers
Aug 28 2009 - eSchool News
A tic-tac-toe game based on the Industrial Revolution that uses the principles of universal design to give students multiple ways of learning will be the U.S. representative in a worldwide competition that showcases effective teaching with technology.
Science Questions Baffle Parents
Aug 18 2009 - BBC News
Four in five UK parents have been stumped by a science question posed by their children, a poll has suggested. More than half of the 1,002 parents surveyed thought their children knew more about science than they did.
Sharpton, Gingrich, Duncan Team Up On School Reforms
Aug 17 2009 - USA Today Section
Education Secretary Arne Duncan is joining forces with two unlikely allies, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Republican former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, to push cities to fix failing schools. The trio will visit Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Baltimore later this year. They plan to add more stops as their tour progresses.
Corporate Collaborators: Siemens Showcases the Power of Non-Traditional Partnerships
Jul 27 2009 - onPhilanthropy.com
The Siemens Foundation has partnered with Discovery Education and the National Science Teachers Association to create a program called The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge.
Gates Urges Use of Stimulus to Improve Schools
Jul 23 2009 - The Philadelphia Inquirer
Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates challenged Pennsylvania lawmakers to use federal stimulus funds to revolutionize public education. Gates said the $100 billion in economic-recovery funds earmarked for improving education should be used to improve schools for the nation's good and to compete globally.
Summer School Got Cut? Kids Can Still Learn.
Jul 6 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor
Some school districts have canceled summer school altogether, while others have reduced the slots available for academic and enrichment activities. The good news is, tough times beget creative solutions: online courses, schools pairing with community groups to sponsor day camps, and districts tapping federal stimulus funds to keep summer school going.
Students Design, Build, Race Pedal-Powered Submarines
Jul 2 2009 - USA Today
The 10th International Submarine Races drew 21 college and even a few high school teams from around the world to see whose 10- to 16-foot-long crafts would impress the judges and win for innovation, speed, cost-effectiveness, and best use of composite materials.
Golfing Through the Stratosphere
Jun 18 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
On Saturday, a permanent outdoor exhibition will open at the Hall of Science in Queens: the world’s first mini-golf course designed to teach astrophysics.
Obama Writes Girl a Note for Missing School
Jun 12 2009 - The Boston Globe
Ten-year-old Kennedy Corpus has a rock-solid excuse for missing the last day of school: a
personal note to her teacher from President Barack Obama.
Salish Sea Expeditions' Floating Classroom Aims to Take the Scary Out of Science
Jun 8 2009 - The Seattle Times
Salish Sea Expeditions, a Washington State nonprofit, tries to make learning science fun, rather than intimidating, by bringing fifth- through 12th-graders aboard its floating classroom—on its research vessel that sails the Puget Sound.
NSTA and NCTE Partner in the National Gallery of Writing
Jun 1 2009 - NSTA—Juliana Texley
"Why Earth? What makes our planet the ideal cradle of life?" That's the question NSTA is asking student authors this summer, as it participates in a unique partnership with the National Council of Teachers of English to showcase the creativity of writers across the nation.
Drawing the Line at Fees to Ride Bus, Play Sports
May 21 2009 - The Boston Globe
Parents pay for children's bus rides, music lessons, sports teams, drama clubs, and a host of
other school activities. But there are signs of rebellion against the extra fees that are levied
by cash-strapped school districts.
Negotiating School Science Fairs Becomes the Parent Trap
Mar 23 2009 - The Boston Globe
As the competition for college grows stiffer and the job market gets tighter, some parents are going further than in past decades to give their children an edge. And science fairs are often the place where teachers and others see the handiwork of well-meaning yet far-too-involved parents.
House to Vote on Tripling Size of AmeriCorps
Mar 18 2009 - The Boston Globe
Both teens and baby boomers may soon be getting more opportunities to serve their communities.
A bill tripling the size of the AmeriCorps program that is scheduled for a House vote Wednesday would also create fellowships for people 55 and older and a separate Summer of Service program for middle and high school student volunteers.
Suspicion of Vaccines Spurs Debate, Worry
Mar 16 2009 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Parents rarely worry about measles and rubella these days, but the growing ranks of those who skip vaccinations for their children have health officials concerned. The decisions of these parents threaten to create a public health risk. If enough parents forgo vaccinations, measles and other long-contained diseases could return, officials warn.
Radio Series on Women in Science Wins Gracie Award
Mar 13 2009 - National Science Foundation
A series of radio programs about the changing role of girls and women in science and engineering—funded by the National Science Foundation—has won recognition as the winner of two 2009 Gracie Awards.
Baby Nobels: Meet the 2009 Intel Finalists
Mar 12 2009 - Scientific American
From stem cells to cellulosic ethanol, high school whiz kids and their projects compete for a $100,000 top prize in the Intel Science Talent Search.
1 in 50 American Children Experiences Homelessness
Mar 11 2009 - The Associated Press
One of every 50 American children experiences homelessness, according to a new report that says most states have inadequate plans to address the worsening and often-overlooked problem. The report analyzes data from 2005-2006 and says the problem is surely worse now because of the foreclosures and job losses of the deepening recession.
SB Names Recipients of 2009 Public Service Awards
Mar 10 2009 - National Science Foundation
The National Science Board named recipients of the 2009 NSB Public Service Award: Roald Hoffmann of Cornell University, and the American Chemical Society's Project SEED summer research program. This annual award recognizes people and organizations that have increased public understanding of science and engineering.
Bill Clinton, Health Groups to Tackle Childhood Obesity
Feb 25 2009 - HealthDay
In what they called a "landmark agreement," former President Bill Clinton and the American Heart Association announced the launch of a national initiative on childhood obesity, aimed at getting up to 6 million American kids covered for routine visits to both primary care physicians and dietitians.
The Best "Green" Essay Will Win a Yellow Hybrid Bus
Feb 23 2009 - USA Today
Taking a cue from the trend toward eco-friendliness, a bus manufacturer is offering a free hybrid bus to a school whose "green" practices are best extolled in a student essay.
A National (But Not Federal) Student Database?
Feb 18 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had awarded a $2.9 million grant to the National Student Clearinghouse to develop a "high school research and reporting system that will allow participating high schools in all 50 states to better measure the academic success of their students after they graduate."
Gates Foundation to Show Excellent Teaching
Jan 30 2009 - eSchool News
Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates says his foundation hopes to post online videos of exemplary teachers plying their craft as a way to inspire other educators and help students learn. He also says the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will increase its giving in 2009, despite the sinking economy.
First US Count Finds 1 in 200 Kids Are Vegetarian
Jan 12 2009 - ABC News
1 in 200 US kids are vegetarian, according to a recent federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of alternative medicine based on a survey of thousands of Americans in 2007. Information on children's diet habits was gleaned from about 9,000 parents and other adults speaking on the behalf of those under 18.
Educators Resist Even Good Ideas From Outsiders
Jan 12 2009 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
As much as educators deny it, they really don't like outsiders interfering with the way they do their jobs. The problem is that schools are handling parents' most precious possessions, their children. That aggravates the emotional side of the discussion.
Home Schooling Grows
Jan 5 2009 - USA Today
The ranks of America's home-schooled children have continued a steady climb over the past five years, and new research suggests broader reasons for the appeal. The number of home-schooled kids hit 1.5 million in 2007, up 74% from when the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics started keeping track in 1999.
Need a Tutor? YouTube Videos Await
Dec 12 2008 - USA Today
YouTube is perhaps best known for its cavalcade of homemade performances and TV clips, but many people are turning to it for free tutoring in math, science, and other complicated subjects.
Gates Foundation to Study "Cash for Grades"
Dec 10 2008 - The Los Angeles Times
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is throwing its weight behind the trend to offer "cash for grades" to keep low-income students in college, despite protests from some quarters that such incentive payments amount to little more than bribery. The cash payments themselves will be made by programs in California and several other states.
Bill Gates Urges Obama to Increase Spending
Dec 4 2008 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
Against the backdrop of a recession, Microsoft founder Bill Gates said the federal government must increase deficit spending to stimulate the economy and help the country's most vulnerable residents. Gates said new investments are critical to building on recent improvements in U.S. public education and fighting disease abroad.
Gates Foundation Targets College Graduation
Nov 26 2008 - eSchool News
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a new initiative to double the number of college graduates who come from low-income families, citing education as the only reliable path out of poverty.
Key to Stemming High-School Dropouts: Parents
Oct 29 2008 - District Administration
If America is going to stem the dropout crisis, low-performing schools will have to do a better job of reaching out to parents. That's the conclusion of a new report that found that, among parents with students in low-performing high schools, fewer than half said the schools did a fairly good job communicating about their child's academic progress.
Luring Students Toward Science
Oct 23 2008 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
More than 400 young people participated recently in the SciLife2008 health and biomedical science career planning program at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. A goal of the SciLife program is to draw minority students into medical careers because they are underrepresented. The effort is part of a national trend in secondary education that has pushed high schools to offer more classes related to health occupations.
Safety Concerns Eclipse Civic Lessons as Schools Cancel Classes on Election Day
Oct 21 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
School officials and parents across the nation are turning an increasingly critical eye on the time-honored tradition of voters' casting ballots in the gymnasiums and hallways of neighborhood school buildings while classes go on as usual just a few yards away. Citing a litany of safety concerns, many officials are opting to keep youngsters home on Nov. 4, Election Day.
Eco-Friendly Schools Offer Students Fresh Lessons
Oct 20 2008 - USA Today
Schools receiving certification as "eco-friendly" is a concept that's catching on in schools around the nation. Eco-friendly schools offer ways to save energy, improve air quality, and educate students about the environment. The U.S. Green Building Council, a private group, has certified or is considering certification for more than 1,000 schools around the country, most within the past few years.
States Press Ahead on "21st-Century Skills"
Oct 16 2008 - Education Week (requires registration)
Leaders in business and academia increasingly argue that in a highly globalized, technology-driven age, young people need to know how to innovate, solve problems, and work with people from other cultures as much as they need to know algebra and U.S. history. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, a Tucson, Ariz.-based coalition of business leaders, has been helping nine states as they rework their academic standards, curricula, assessments, and other touchstones to ensure that students are well prepared for college or work.
St. Louis Festival Brings Out Science's Cool Side
Oct 9 2008 - The Boston Globe
From medicine cabinets to the fermented beer in the fridge, Americans are surrounded by science all the time. The St. Louis Science Center is launching a festival this week to help people better understand, and enjoy, the ways that science plays a role in everyday lives.
Schools Try to Make Lunches Healthier Despite Costs
Oct 8 2008 - USA Today
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the number of overweight children from ages 6-11 has more than doubled in the last 20 years and tripled in those aged 12-19. Schools across the country are responding by adding more fruits, vegetables, salads, and healthier alternatives to menus.
Timely Investment: Half-Hour a Day with Kids
Sep 26 2008 - Rocky Mountain News
Denver public schools' Parent Empowerment Council recently launched the Mile High Parents campaign. It asks parents to commit to spending 30 minutes each school day with their student. Add those 30 minutes up and, over the course of the school year, it works out to about 5,280 minutes.
Smithsonian Institution to Digitize its Collection
Sep 23 2008 - Yahoo! News
The Smithsonian Institution will work to digitize its collections to make science, history, and cultural artifacts accessible online and dramatically expand its outreach to schools, the museum complex's new chief has announced.
NIH Tries to Buy Eureka Moments With New Round of Grants
Sep 4 2008 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
The National Institutes of Health are rewarding truly novel work that could push research in new directions. The agency announced it was giving out $42.2-million to 38 "exceptionally innovative research projects that could have an extraordinarily significant impact on many areas of science." Each will get $200,000 in direct costs for up to four years.
Fun and Games and Academics, Too
Aug 8 2008 - The Boston Globe
Dozens of the recreational camps based at community centers across Boston have been incorporating academics into the regular routine, the first step in a broad community learning initiative meant to link programming at community centers, libraries, and schools. The idea is to improve test scores and decrease youth violence by getting all of a community's resources lined up behind student success.
Governor, Coalition Push Science-Education Center
Jul 18 2008 - The Arizona Republic
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano announced that she is teaming with a coalition of private and public partners to create the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Center. Its goals are to promote teacher recruitment, training and retention, generate interest in math and science among preschool through high school students, and encourage college students to pursue degrees in related fields.
US Science Grad Goals Falling Behind
Jul 15 2008 - Time Magazine
A high-profile push by business groups to double the number of U.S. bachelor's degrees awarded in science, math, and engineering by 2015 is falling way behind target, a new report says.
Ads Press Candidates on Education
Jul 14 2008 - USA Today
Strong American Schools, a nonpartisan group supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, will begin airing ads this week seeking to nudge Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama on ways to improve the standing of U.S. schools compared with other industrialized nations.
Education Wanes as Campaign Issue, Poll Finds
Jul 1 2008 - Education Week (requires a subscription)
With the general election less than five months away, voters' concerns about rising gas prices and the sagging economy trump education as a campaign issue, even as more Americans believe the nation's schools are getting worse, according to a national poll released by the Public Education Network.
As Bill Gates Departs, Educators Mull His Legacy
Jun 18 2008 - eSchool News
As Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates prepares to leave the company he has been associated with for the last three decades, school leaders are reflecting on the enormous impact he has had on both education and technology.
Can Competitions Raise "Cool" Factor of Math, Science?
May 20 2008 - Christian Science Monitor
At a time when the US is desperate to halt its slide in the world's math and science rankings, the International Science and Engineering Fair is one of a growing number of competitive math bowls and science fairs that are putting the imprimatur of cool back into physics, trigonometry, and hydraulics.
United Way to Target Health, Education, and Income
May 19 2008 - Washington Post (requires free registration)
The United Way of America, alarmed at the nation's fraying safety net, will direct its giving toward ambitious 10-year goals that would cut in half the high school dropout rate and the number of working families struggling financially. The nonprofit organization also wants to increase by one-third the number of youths and adults considered healthy. The announcement comes as it releases a report detailing a precipitous decline in key education, personal finance, and health indicators.
I Know What You Did Last Math Class
May 8 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
A profusion of online programs that can track a student's daily progress, including class attendance, missed assignments and grades on homework, quizzes and tests, is changing the nature of communication among parents and children, families, and teachers.
Experts See Impact of Museums in Science Education Efforts
Apr 29 2008 - Yahoo! News
The National Academies of Science will release a report on what's known about the learning of science in informal settings. That includes not only museums but also such places as zoos and aquariums. Studies are showing that such institutions stimulate interest, awareness, knowledge, and understanding, said an expert on informal learning at the National Science Foundation, which requested this summer's study. "They're very useful," said Gerry Wheeler, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association. "They're a valuable resource for making nature real to the young, hungry mind."
Special-Needs Summer Camps Booming
Apr 15 2008 - MSNBC
Summer camps just for kids with chronic diseases are booming--places to learn about epilepsy or finally meet someone else with Tourette's tics or slice open a cow's heart to see what's wrong with their own.
Hey, Kids! Join a Space Mission
Apr 8 2008 - MSNBC
The call is going out for high-school students, and even elementary-school kids and college undergraduates, to take part in missions to Saturn and Mars. If you have your heart set on Saturn, you can enter the "Cassini Scientist for a Day" contest, which is open to U.S. students in grades 5 through 12. And if you're mad about Mars, you can apply to be part of the Mars Exploration Student Data Teams, open to high-school and college students.
Study Ties Bedroom TV to Unhealthy Habits in Teens
Apr 7 2008 - ABC News
Teenagers with a bedroom television tend to have poorer diet and exercise habits and lower grades in school than those without one, researchers say.
It’s a Science Fair, Not the Nobel Prize
Mar 3 2008 - New York Times (requires free registration)
There are websites that can be good resource tools. The question is how to sort the wheat from the chaff.
Educators, Policy Makers Eye Charter School Effort
Jul 24 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Educators and policy makers across the country are carefully watching a major organizer of charter schools. Steve Barr’s Green Dot Public Schools organization has founded 10 charter high schools and has won approval to open 10 more. Barr is also trying to seize control of a gang-ridden school. In the process, Barr has fomented a teachers revolt against a school district, and driven a wedge through a city’s teachers union by welcoming organized labor. Barr has also mobilized thousands of black and Hispanic parents to demand better schools. Observers believe the strategies employed by Green Dot have the potential to strengthen and expand the charter school movement nationwide.
High Education Costs Hurting Public Trust
May 31 2007 - Desert News (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Americans support efforts many colleges and universities make to turn out an educated work force, but a recent survey shows those same people believe increasing costs are making higher education less accessible. Earning a degree is more important than ever, according to the survey, released on May 31 by the Public Agenda and the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
With Homework, a Helping Hand Can Sometimes Be a Hindrance
Apr 16 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Joe knew what to do when his daughter, who was studying Roman history, came home with an assignment to build a catapult. He ordered a catapult kit from the internet and put it together himself. This episode underscores a growing tension over how much parental involvement in daily homework and projects is appropriate and who is to blame when parents cross the line. Educators say the correct level of involvement depends on the child and his or her developmental state, but note that some parents are so competitive they go overboard.
Advocates Push Early Schooling for Latinos
Mar 26 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Improving early childhood education is one of the best ways to narrow the achievement gap, according to educators, who cite such programs as the early book club. But many Latino families face economic, linguistic, educational, and cultural barriers. Research shows Latino children nationwide tend to start kindergarten knowing less about letters and numbers compared with their nonHispanic white peers, and many never catch up.
Schools Strive for 'No Parent Left Behind'
Feb 15 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
With schools increasingly held accountable for the performance of every student, the demand to partner with parents has intensified. School plays and fundraisers supported by moms, dads, and grandparents are still staples of American public schools. But in the spirit of “it takes a village,” families may now find such activities paired with a workshop on test preparation or a briefing on how to read state accountability reports.
No Tests, No Homework
Feb 12 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Free schools, popular decades ago, operate on the belief that students are naturally curious and learn best when they want to, not when forced. That old idea is getting a new look from parents tired of the required tests, homework, and rigid schedules in public schools.
States Pull Out Stops to Curb Truancy
Jan 31 2007 - Stateline.org
Concerned that too many children are playing hooky, school officials nationwide are using various tactics to get students back in the classroom. Education experts note that student attendance has a direct impact on education funding for most school districts. States also need to focus on getting missing students back in school because absenteeism is a precursor to juvenile delinquency and dropping out, experts say.
Voucher Groups Seek to Oust Opponents
Oct 24 2006 - Stateline.org
School choice is a big election issue this year in states where voucher plans have been defeated by slim margins in recent years, such as in Utah, South Carolina, and Texas.
Parents, Authors and Even Some Teachers Rebel Against Homework
Oct 3 2006 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
For years, students have voiced concerns that their book reports, math problems, and science projects were pointless. But now several authors, and even some parents, agree that homework is not worth much, at least for students in elementary grades. The anti-homework crowd is not a popular one on school campuses. More parents and teachers support take–home assignments, noting that homework can develop students’ study habits and build their self-confidence, as well as reinforce lessons taught in class.
Colleges and Universities Find it Difficult to Enforce a Line Between a Parent's Involvement and Interference
Aug 21 2006 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
In response to hovering moms and dads known as “helicopter parents,” colleges and universities nationwide are trying to set ground rules for how often parents should keep in contact with their children who are away at school. Educators say that intrusive parents can undermine the life lessons learned outside of the classroom. Teachers note the cultural shift in parental involvement began when the millennial generation, children born after 1982, became college freshmen.
Scientists 'Too Busy' For Pupils
Jun 29 2006 - BBC News
A new poll suggests that scientists facing pressure to publish research are too busy to participate in school visits or other outreach activities. However, 81% of scientists who responded to the Royal Society’s survey said they would be motivated to pursue more public commitments if there was a monetary incentive for their department. A spokesperson for the Royal Society noted that both students and teachers could benefit from interacting with scientists.
Parents With High-Tech Careers Teach Math, Science at Schools
Apr 13 2006 - The Arizona Republic
Parents who work at Intel, Microchip Technology Group, and other high-tech companies are stepping into the classroom to help students enhance their math and science skills. Parents can be found teaching students or donating equipment and supplies. Observers note that the donations are helpful because schools are often strapped for cash, making it hard to purchase the latest software and other technological tools for their campuses. Experts note that students need to focus on math and science and have access to such equipment as a way to prepare for high-tech careers.
Teachers Spurn Talented Rivals
Mar 21 2006 - USA Today
Imagine two Army scientists advising high school teachers on how to create a robotics course. The scientists would also help teach classes, mentor students, and appear at school career days. This type of collaboration might sound non-controversial, but it’s not. Teachers’ union leaders are opposing a plan by President Bush to build an adjunct teacher corps of experienced scientists and mathematicians to help in the nation’s schools. The union leaders say the way to enhance math and science teaching is to increase teacher pay and improve working conditions, not bring in outside experts.
Putting Parents in Their Place: Outside Class
Mar 21 2006 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
K–12 schools and colleges and universities are searching for ways to handle overanxious and needy parents. Educators have discovered that parents, specifically parents of today’s “millennial generation,” have trouble letting their kids go. The parents text message their children in school, call them on cell phones, and even walk into classrooms screaming at teachers about students’ grades. To handle micromanaging parents, educators are creating programs to help parents separate from their kids, and they are taking a harder line on especially intrusive parents.
Opinion: Grandparents Helping in the Classroom
Mar 9 2006 - Christian Science Monitor
A new trend has emerged between older Americans and young students. Older people are bringing their experiences to public classrooms to help students. Most residents age 60 or older volunteer in schools because they enjoy being with children and want to help them in school. But researchers have found older Americans’ physically benefit from the experience. They had fewer falls and spent less time watching television. Students have also gained from the experience by boosting their reading scores and having fewer misbehavior referrals to the principal’s office. Although some teachers say they oppose the idea of outsiders in the classroom, the vast majority like the idea of having extra help.
Many New Orleans Schools Reopen Under Charters
Jan 18 2006 - New Orleans Times-Picayune
Many students are returning to New Orleans'schools this month; however, as they return, they are seeing many new faces from teachers to principals to other students. A new charter school system is being touted as a possible model for all New Orleans schools to follow. The education steering committee of Mayor C. Ray Nagin's Bring Back New Orleans Commission recently endorsed a plan to get the city's schools back in operation with "networks of schools rather than a big bureaucracy," according to the January 18 issue of Education Week. Mark Waller of the Times-Picayune writes that Franklin high school's opening on January 17 "was the school's first day as a charter school receiving taxpayer money but operating under its own board of directors independent of the public school system."
Parents' Effect on Achievement Shaky
Nov 22 2005 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Parental involvement is often cited as vital to raising student achievement. The best schools usually have the most school-oriented parents, many experts say. So doesn't it make sense that all schools need that kind of support at home? But a new study of low-income public schools in California has found that several other factors, including teaching the state's rigorous academic content and recruiting experienced teachers, have more influence on achievement than parental involvement. The findings have inspired a national debate on the topic, with some parents saying the study is correct and others commenting that parental influence should not be quickly dismissed.
Kansas Education Board First to Back "Intelligent Design"
Nov 9 2005 - Washington Post (requires free registration)
The Kansas Board of Education voted Tuesday that students will be expected to study doubts about modern Darwinian theory, a move that defied the nation's scientific establishment even as it gave voice to religious conservatives and others who question the theory of evolution. The bitterly fought effort pushes Kansas to the forefront of a war over evolution being waged in courts in Pennsylvania and Georgia and statehouses nationwide. Click here for a statement from the National Science Teachers Association on the Kansas decision. Meanwhile, in Dover, Pennsylvania, eight school board members who supported the introduction of "intelligent design" in science classrooms were voted out of office on Tuesday. Click here for details on the Dover election from the New York Times; click here for extensive coverage of the evolution debate in the US.
Parents Pitch in to Boost Science
Oct 17 2005 - Detroit News
Whether its dissecting pig hearts or operating catapults, parents and students will participate in Science Day this Friday at Cranbrook's Brookside Lower School in Michigan. The event allows students to learn physics, biology, chemistry, and other sciences through hands-on demonstrations. The students’ parents perform the demonstrations using the expertise from their own professions with the hope that it will inspire students to pursue careers in math and science. The event also serves as a way for parents to connect with teachers to improve the students’ education.
Educators Offer Classrooms to Many Displaced Students
Sep 1 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Public officials and educators in several states are offering classroom space to students impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas has invited students from Louisiana and Mississippi left homeless by the storm to enroll in any of Texas’ public schools. Cecil J. Picard, Louisiana’s superintendent of education, has urged school districts unaffected by the storm to enroll homeless students. Universities and colleges are making efforts to help the estimated 100,000 college students whose schools were severely damaged by the hurricane.
Education Foundation Targets City Classrooms
Aug 25 2005 - Baltimore Sun (Requires free registration)
A California-based foundation has selected a Maryland school system for its next partnership. The Stupski Foundation aims to improve education for poor and minority children. The organization plans to send experts to work with the Baltimore school system for the next three or four years. “Our goal is to help the district become really high-performing,” observed John Simpson, a former school superintendent and one of three veteran educators who will work with the Baltimore schools. Other school systems that have partnered with the foundation include Cleveland; New Haven, Connecticut; and Jackson, Mississippi.
Education Department Offers New Guidance
Jun 13 2005 - San Francisco Chronicle
The federal government has elaborated on a key component of the No Child Left Behind Act. Representatives from the Department of Education have developed a manual that seeks to clarify the roles of states and school districts in providing tutoring for pupils in poorly performing schools. Under the federal law, students from poor families who attend schools that have not made “adequate yearly progress,” are eligible for tutoring assistance.
School Makes Science Fairs a Family Affair
Jan 19 2005 - The Arizona Republic
When science fair organizers at an Arizona elementary school started thanking parents for making science projects, they knew their science program would need a makeover. Organizers have now made the science fair a family event instead of an activity that’s judged. The new program encourages older brothers and sisters to help their siblings, and everyone receives a ribbon and gifts. “The goal should be learning and enjoyment,” noted parent and organizer Debbie Arn.
Fresh Challenges in the Old Debate Over Evolution
Dec 7 2004 - Washington Post (requires free registration)
In order to teach evolution in the schools in the current cultural and political environment, educators and scientists are realizing they must educate (or re-educate) the population at large - including future science teachers. About half the students University of Georgia professor David Jackson teaches to become middle school science instructors believe that God created the Earth 6,000 years ago, he says. Some colleagues tell him he shouldn't even bother teaching these students - that future teachers with such beliefs "shouldn't teach." But Jackson says his job to make sure that his students understand evolution, not believe it. Wes McCoy, a science department chair in Georgia, says opinion polls prove that evolution is widely misunderstood. "The parents and school board members I have spoken to who oppose the teaching of evolution seem to have little understanding of what evolution means," McCoy says. "I believe it is my duty ... to discuss with them what we mean by evolution and why it is so vital to teach."
Education Issues Lag in Voter Priorities
Sep 27 2004 - World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska)
As this year’s presidential election nears, voters are trying to figure out what issues will factor into their vote. Although the war on terrorism and the economy are important to most voters, education is not a top priority, according to several polls and political experts. A Washington Post/ABC poll found only six percent of 1,202 adults interviewed ranked education as the single most important issue. “Right now, people are still thinking about their jobs, thinking about the war, and they’re still thinking about another terrorist action,” noted Randall Adkins, an assistant political science professor at the University of Nebraska, Omaha.
Education Chief Pushes Vouchers
Jan 29 2004 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Education Secretary Rod Paige is pushing for school choice nationwide following the approval of a private voucher plan for the District of Columbia. President Bush is proposing $50 million for school voucher programs in other communities in the next budget year. Critics argue vouchers take money away from struggling public schools. Paige noted the decision to expand vouchers nationwide rests with states and school districts.
Students Helping NASA with Mars Exploration
Dec 2 2003 - Rapid City [South Dakota] Journal
While rockets carry two Mars rovers toward the Red Planet, students in Rapid City, South Dakota, are compiling information for NASA. The space agency selected 50 teams from public and private schools in the United States and one school in Brazil for the Mars Exploration Student Data Team. As members of the OrbitWatch team, Rapid City students will monitor data, compare notes with other student teams, and consult with staff at Arizona State University. The students will perform tasks NASA scientists would normally do, according to Brandy Merwin, a science teacher at one of the schools. "We're taking on some of the responsibility of the scientists," Merwin said.
NSTA WebNews Analysis: Teaching Evolution
Sep 26 2003 - NSTA - Kristin Collins
The subject of how to teach evolution and whether alternative views should be presented to the theory have been controversial topics debated for many years. The month of September proved to be no different. Teachers, scientists, and religious leaders in Texas, for example, voiced mixed reactions Sept. 10 over how students should learn evolution through biology textbooks. Michigan lawmakers and religious leaders are also debating creationism and the theory of evolution. School board members in California's Roseville Joint Union High School District agreed Sept. 2 to let each school decide how to teach evolution instead of forming a districtwide policy.
NSTA WebNews Analysis: Back to School
Aug 29 2003 - NSTA-Kristin Collins
As the traditional end of summer approaches, several districts have started the school year before the Labor Day weekend in an effort to find more time to prepare students for state exams or finish the fall semester before the winter holidays. Teachers are sacrificing the final days of summer to create an inspired classroom. Educators agree that preparing for opening day is both art and science. Teachers also face a variety of other issues such as opening day absenteeism and parental involvement as they start a new school year.
School Websites Helping Parents Stay in the Loop
Jan 24 2003 - The Washington Post
Websites are offering a new connection for parents to become involved in their children’s performance at school. Parents can now monitor grades, homework assignments, and attendance records online. Supporters say such educational technology has increased parental involvement in schools. Though some educators note using the Internet to track a students academic performance will not completely eliminate the need for phone calls, letters, and teacher conferences.
Schools Continue Talks on Involving Parents
Jan 24 2003 - The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer
A proposal to establish a new organization to involve parents of students in Cleveland schools is drawing a poor response. Two recent meetings to discuss the School Parent Organization (SPO) attracted a crowd of 35 people. The SPO would replace several other groups whose purposes often overlap, but not all other parent organizations would disappear, according to school officials. Members of parent teacher associations fear the SPO “could pit the PTA and other existing groups against one another.”
Ohio OKs Creation in Science Class
Oct 15 2002 - Associated Press
The Ohio Board of Education unanimously voted Tuesday to accept a science curriculum that will enable school districts to teach evolution along with competing ideas on how life originated. "In no way does this advocate for creation or intelligent design," commented Michael Cochran, a board member who advocated the concept be included in the standards. "I do look upon this as a compromise." The school board is scheduled to formally adopt the standards in December.
Students Shunning Animal Dissection Ritual
Oct 2 2002 - CNN.com
More and more high school students are trying to opt out of dissection. The pressure to cut back on dissections is even being felt in college and graduate programs. "There were few suitable alternatives when I taught, but now there are some extremely sophisticated virtual technologies," said Wendell Mohling, a former biology teacher in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, who is associate executive director of the National Science Teachers Association. (You can read NSTA's position statement "Guidelines for Responsible Use of Animals in the Classroom" online.)
Cobb Teachers Ponder New Rule
Sep 30 2002 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Teachers in Cobb County, Georgia, are dealing with the mixed messages coming from their school board. In a ruling last week, the board opened the door to discussion of "disputed views" on the origin of the human race in the science classroom. But the policy fails to identify which disputed views of evolution can be taught. To add to the confusion, the board's chairman said that the board expected teachers to continue to teach evolution and did not expect them to teach creationism.
Ga. Board OKs Evolution Options
Sep 27 2002 - Yahoo! News / AP
School board members in Cobb County, Georgia, voted unanimously Thursday night to give its teachers permission to introduce students to different theories on the origin of life, including creationism. Opponents said the decision opened a backdoor to letting religion into classrooms. They said Thursday's vote would not end the debate. (See also this story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.)
Student Allowed Back into Anatomy Class
Sep 27 2002 - Baltimore Sun
Three days after a high school junior left an anatomy class because she refused to dissect a cat, the Baltimore County school system let her return to the honors course yesterday and perform simulated dissections on a computer. (See previous story.)
Minority Students Bound for Science
Sep 11 2002 - Indianapolis Star
Purdue University launched a new scholarship program this week aimed at
encouraging minorities to pursue careers in math and science. Purdue has selected 63 eighth-graders from Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS)
for its Science Bound program, thereby guaranteeing the students
scholarships to attend their West Lafayette campus after they graduate. While still in high school, the students will be assigned a mentor-teacher.
They will also be invited to attend special field trips, after-school
programs and summer camps.
Knowing the Score on Tests: Educators, Parents Wonder What to Make of Results
Aug 21 2002 - Washington Post
In many parts of the country, this is about the time of year when individual students' standardized test scores are released. What should educators and parents make of the results, particularly in cases where there is a large discrepancy between scores and school grades? And what's the right way to talk about scores with very young children, who may have taken standardized tests for the first time? According to the above article, such questions are becoming increasingly common as the No Child Left Behind law demands annual testing of every child in third through eighth grades.
Teachers Learn High-Tech Skills on Summer Jobs
Aug 20 2002 - Los Angeles Times (requires free registration)
Ever wonder what it's like to work at a high-tech company, NASA research center, or particle accelerator lab? Many Bay Area teachers are finding out this summer, the above article reports, thanks to an innovative program that puts educators to work at technology companies and science research centers. Participants say the partnership is a win-win endeavor, with employers getting great communicators and teachers getting useful information they can take back to their classrooms.
Parents Brace for Next Wave of Trends in Education
Aug 13 2002 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
From school uniforms to block scheduling to "new math" to brain-based learning, "school trends are as much a part of back-to-school as spiral-bound notebooks and cafeteria food," the above article reports. The problem: "When a trend sours and gets dismissed as a fad, educators look like fools and parents get frustrated." Which of today's hot trends will endure, and which will go the inglorious route of "schools-without-walls"? Click above to read more...
Poll: Public Wants Data on Teacher Quality
Jun 19 2002 - Education Week
According to a recent opinion poll, Americans rate knowledge about the quality of the teaching force as the most important piece of information for gauging the quality of their local schools, with 76 percent of respondents listing such knowledge as extremely or very important. What else do Americans want to know about their schools? Click above to find out...
High Schools Give Parents Tips to Reduce the Pressure on Teens
May 7 2002 - Christian Science Monitor
Striving to get into top colleges, high-achieving students have swelled the enrollments of advanced classes, summer schools, and college programs open to high-schoolers. But in some cases, is the stress too much? A growing number of districts and schools think so, and they are taking steps -- from classes for parents to less homework -- aimed at easing the pressure on teens.
Poll: Public Sees Schools as Priority
Apr 24 2002 - Education Week
According to a new poll by the Public Education Network and Education Week, American voters continue to list education and school funding among their top priorities; they're unlikely to vote for candidates who don't share their views; and a majority want their elected officials to protect schools from budget cuts. "As this poll shows, education far outdistances every other spending priority when the public is asked to identify programs that should be made 'recession-proof,'" the report on the poll says. "Indeed, there are strong indications that education will once again be a major political issue during the 2002 midterm elections." Click above for the news article, or click here to read the full report, "Accountability for All: What Voters Want From Education Candidates."
Homework Dreaded -- by Parents
Mar 13 2002 - Washington Post
Research suggests that students are doing more homework than ever before. And increasingly, parents are expected to become involved. The problem is that in many cases, time constraints make it difficult for parents to help. Or in other cases, parents have trouble understanding their child's assignment, creating confusion and stress. So what role should a parent play in helping with homework? The above article examines that question...
National Survey Shows Continued Support for Standards Movement
Mar 8 2002 - Education Week
The research organization Public Agenda has released its chief findings from Reality Check 2002, the group's fifth annual survey on the academic-standards movement. According to the report, the standards movement continues to attract widespread support among teachers and parents, and public school students nationwide appear to be adjusting comfortably to the new status quo. In addition, despite some headlines trumpeting a "backlash to testing," the report finds strong agreement on the useful role standardized tests can play, with large numbers of adults giving testing a general thumbs-up. Click above to read the full report, which was published in the Mar. 6 issue of Education Week.
Online Grade Books Tell Parents What Happened in the Classroom
Oct 19 2001 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Thousands of parents now have a direct channel into their children's classroom through online grade books posted by teachers. With a password and user ID, parents can log in at any time to check on their children's grades, attendance, practice-test scores for standardized exams and, in some cases, a comparison of their children's grades with those of the rest of the class. Good idea? Read the full article to find out what teachers and parents think about this new online tool...
Opinion: Science Museums Should Be Bigger Part of Education Reform
Sep 20 2001 - Education Week
As training grounds for teachers and places of learning for students, informal science institutions have increasingly positioned themselves as significant support systems to K-12 schools. Now, according to the author of this piece, it's time to give these institutions the support and resources they need to play an even large role in reform efforts.
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