Education

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No Child Left Behind loses bite as Obama issues waivers

Many educators applaud the waivers from some parts of No Child Left Behind, saying the education-reform law has a one-size-fits-all approach. Others worry that minorities could suffer.
Miramonte School sex abuse scandal: Was replacing entire staff too extreme? (+video)

Students at the Miramonte School, which was rocked by allegations that two teachers sexually abused children, return to a newly staffed school Thursday. Some parents and education experts say L.A. overreacted.
Lesson of L.A. teacher sex-crime case: Heed children who report abuse

Mark Berndt, who taught at a Los Angeles school for more than 30 years, is charged with 23 counts of committing lewd acts on children since 2005. Two former students say they reported him 20 years ago.
Education 2.0: Can Digital Learning Day begin a classroom revolution?

Thirty-nine states, 15,000 teachers, and 1.7 million students are expected to participate in a series of events and webcasts on Wednesday, Digital Learning Day.
Why New Hampshire lets parents have broad say over children's coursework

A new law in New Hampshire lets parents object to school coursework and request that their children learn alternative material. It may readjust the balance between parents' rights and educators' judgment.
Utah school bomb plot: from inspiration to prevention, Columbine had a part

One suspect in the Utah high school bomb plot interviewed the Columbine principal in December. Police were tipped off by a friend of the suspect who received a suspicious message.
Five shifts among college freshmen: For one, they're more studious

A survey of college freshmen reports an uptick in study time and a bit less partying. Here's a look at ways first-time freshmen depart from previous freshman classes.
Under education reform, school principals swamped by teacher evaluations

School principals, including some who back more rigorous review of teachers, are balking at education reforms required by Race to the Top. New teacher evaluations are all-consuming, they say.
School lunches get first overhaul in 15 years – but pizza still a vegetable

School lunches will change in accordance with the USDA's new guidelines. Nutrition experts are pleased, though they argue that Congress interfered unnecessarily.
Biden, in a swing state, addresses student anxiety over college costs (+video)

Vice President Biden sought Friday to remind Pennsylvania high-schoolers of the value of higher eduction – and how the Obama administration is trying to control college costs. The state's Class of 2010 owes an average of $28,599 per graduate – the fifth highest debt level in the US.
Pre-K winners for Race to the Top contest: Will they spur broader reform?

Nine states will receive federal Race to the Top money to boost support for pre-K and other early-learning programs, the Obama administration announced Friday.
UC Berkeley's gift to middle-class families: a cap on college costs

UC Berkeley's plan, similar to tuition caps at elite private institutions, is the first such initiative at a public university. It will cap costs at 15 percent of household income for families earning between $80,000 and $140,000.
Students in big-city schools show gains in latest NAEP 'report card'

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) National Report Card shows clear and positive trend lines for big-city schools, though the progress has been slow.
Death by hazing? Why even tragic FAMU case won't end such rituals.

Initiation rites are so ingrained in parts of college life that even egregious incidents aren't enough to eradicate hazing, experts say. Investigations into last month's death of a FAMU band major are under way.
Good news at last for college graduates: an improved job outlook

Hiring of the next crop of college graduates will increase about 7 percent over the 2010-11 academic year, according to a new survey. But competition for jobs will still be fierce.
Why Americans are choosing to study abroad in record numbers

The number of American students who study abroad has been climbing steadily, more than tripling in the last two decades. The need to compete in a globalized world is one reason.
Foreign students storm the US: Five facts about who they are

International students flocked to US colleges and universities in record numbers in the 2010-11 academic year. The number jumped 5 percent in one year, and foreign students now contribute more than $21 billion to the US economy – making higher education a top US service-sector export, a new report finds. Here are five ways the makeup of international students in the US is changing.
Veterans Day: How colleges are easing leap from war zone to classroom

As soldiers back from Afghanistan and Iraq take advantage of the new GI bill, some colleges are more veteran-friendly than others. On Veterans Day, here's a look at efforts to smooth that transition.
Sexual harassment: Nearly half of 7th- to 12th-graders targeted in a year

That’s one finding in the first national study of the subject in a decade. The report also highlights some examples of how educators have been able to help students stand up to sexual harassment.
Education report card: Flat reading scores are 'deeply disappointing'

Math scores inched up – barely – in the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), otherwise known as the 'nation’s report card.'