Education Research

Reed College, a private institution of higher education located in Portland, Oregon has been forced to change how they accept potential students for the 2010-2011 school year. Financial aid is running out, and the college has faced the difficult decision of admitting students who can only afford attending the school without help from additional funds. Faced with a decreasing endowment, the college is looking at other means of cutting costs without drastically changing the schools' academic mission. Admitting students who are financially secure dramatically changes the student body of Reed College. The article further describes the financial hardship this school is facing, such as submitting to hiring and salary freezes among other cost-cutting measures.

Here is a new look at the much-discussed subject of women bridging opportunities in science. While women who get jobs in science seem to be holding them and doing well, they are still a small percentage in the applicant pool.

An interesting look at an online "text" created by teachers in the home of creating more in-depth knowledge (rather than rushing through traditional textbook chapters).

Public schools have begun using portfolio style assessments for individuals in special education, and those who have high test anxiety. It appears these tests are proving successful and are able to fully assess the individuals learning and knowledge of subject matter. The portfolios are a pricey investment for the public schools at $500,000 for the school year and numerous teacher hours spent grading them; but who should put a price on education? I wonder if more schools will begin using portfolios for all assessments over the standarized test?

Connecticut school is going back to the basics with their math instruction. They are going online to provide lessons for their students and THROWING OUT the textbook. Its just what we discussed in a prior reading about the girl getting up in the middle of the night to do algebra on the computer. I find it interesting that their approach to getting back to the foundations of math has already improved student retention of material and better standardized test scores. Could this be a trend for more courses to come??

This article describes in detail the difficulties many colleges are facing in regards to their athletic programs. In light of student activity, academic, and other university fee increases, many students are reluctant to approve increases to keep varsity sport programs afloat. Although the reasoning is justified, maintaining athletic programs is vital to the operation of many universities, especially when sport teams are generally considered the most visible entity a school has to promote their academic mission. The article also mentions the involvement of the NCAA and their lack of research and assistance when it comes to monetary issues for member institutions, especially with schools which lack a football program.

This articles describes a "dream team" of teachers coming together to form a small charter school in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. Making six-figure salaries and hailing from various walks of life all over the nation, the aim of this school is to prove that teachers hold the key in improving individual student performance and instilling a thirst for knowledge in pupils. The school will cater to low performing students mostly of low-income Hispanic families, and the teachers will have additional responsibilities on top of being in the classroom.

Attempts are being made to unify education standards nationally - "a step toward a uniform definition of success".

NYC public school students showed increases in their math scores this year. Some say they show great increases and are reasons that the school should stay in the control of the mayor. Others argue that the improved scores are misleading - educators are getting used to the testing and know what to expect and they are thinking of raising the scores.

The United States Supreme Court will soon decide whether or not public schools must reimburse parents of special-education students for private-school tuition. This is a decision that could have major repurcussions for school budgets and also the services available to special-education students.

This article presents an interesting picture on Arne Duncan and his wish to shut down and reopen failing schools in an effort to deal with the legacy of No Child Left Behind.

This article is just perfect for discussion this week. It comes at a great time for us when we are discussing NCLB and how those tasks set forth in "A Nation at Risk" and "A Democracy at Risk" are affecting us today.

I found this interesting since one of my newspaper analysis articles focused on a school that was shutting down due to poor performance. Also, one of those articles was from the Chicago Tribune which boasted about how great their public school system was in 1858, what has happened now?

NJ Courts have changed the way funding will be distributed to schools.

This article discusses pre-college remedial courses that many high school graduates must take before entering their first year of college. There is a push to get high schools and colleges more in sync in order to avoid this and make sure high school students are given the skills they will need in college.

I found this article in a local paper in Texas; the Academy was built on the basis of being a "green" institution; and since its open six years ago they have been going above and beyond with replacing bulbs, finding irrigation systems that will minmize water waste, and are conscientious about improving the environment.

I decided to post this article becuase last week I found one similar about schools who had improved achievement on test scores and were going to stay open; and now this article is talking about comparing some of the schools in that same ISD and making budget cuts because of test comparibility. The schools are magnet schools and learning centers that are facing these cuts and some of those schools are funded more than others. Parents are upset becuase the schools are funded equally and that the superintendent is trying to enforce cuts based on tests that don't show a true comparibility, like the school district is stating. It will be interesting to see the outcome of this vote. Education News - The Dallas Morning News is your trusted source for news from schools and school districts.

The benefits of afterschool programs are discussed in this article, including funding issues and risks for younger students who are unsupervised between the end of school and when their parents get home from work. Although the benefits of afterschool programs are widely known, many parents choose not to enroll their children in these programs for various reasons.

More and more colleges are looking at the option of providing students with three year degrees in order to save time and money for those who know exactly what they want to study. Although several schools across the nation have pondered the idea and others offer 3-year degrees, many enrolled students are opting to stay for an extra year for social and academic reasons.