Topic: Randi Weingarten

All Content

Teacher training: 'Industry of mediocrity,' says controversial report

Quantity over quality? Teacher training programs are turning out too many teachers, says a new review from the National Council on Teacher Quality, and they're poorly equipped to face the classroom.
Decoder Wire Hillary Clinton makes a splash in Chicago, but not an overtly political one

In her first policy speech since leaving the State Department, Hillary Clinton made no firm declarations of political intentions. But she did laud the role of women in politics.
Focus Education reform's next big thing: Common Core standards ramp up

Common Core standards are aimed at building students' critical thinking skills, and 46 states have adopted them. But critics say the methods are unproven and the education reform is moving too fast.
In Atlanta cheating scandal, one culprit may be standardized testing

Some educators say the Atlanta cheating scandal is a warning sign of the dangers and perverse incentives that can result from a policy that stakes so much on standardized testing results.
Change Agent Gates, Zuckerberg champion computer programming in a new nonprofit video

Bill Gates, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey lobby for the teaching of computer coding in a new video produced by the nonprofit group Code.org.
Closing education achievement gap: blue-ribbon panel offers blueprint

Better teacher training, accessible early-childhood education, and school-finance reform are key components to closing the achievement gap between minority and white students, says a report.
Change Agent 'Parent power' film stirs hopes among education reform activists

Reviewers called it trite and dull, but education reformers on both the left and right have hailed 'Won't Back Down' as a potential game-changer for public education.
Chicago: Why is the teachers strike ongoing? (+video)

Both sides in the Chicago teachers strike reported progress on Tuesday, but not enough to keep the strike from continuing into Wednesday. Teacher evaluations and the role of school principals are major issues in dispute.
Education report: Shortcomings of US schools pose national security threat

Former secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former New York City schools chancellor Joel Klein cochaired a task force that released its report Tuesday.
State of the Union: What can Obama do about college tuition?

President Obama hit hard on college tuition costs in his State of the Union speech, calling on Congress to extend the tuition tax credit and to stop student loan interest from doubling in July.
Can new No Child Left Behind law pass before 2012 elections?

A new No Child Left Behind bill is finally getting a hearing in the Senate Wednesday – after three years of sitting in limbo. The bill has bipartisan support, and plenty of detractors.
10/19/2011 01:12 pm
Is Alabama immigration law creating a 'humanitarian crisis'?

With the Alabama immigration law taking effect, some 2,000 Hispanic students didn't attend school Monday. Teachers unions and Hispanic activists are voicing their concerns.
10/06/2011 10:12 am
No Child Left Behind: with waivers, Obama offers states flexibility

No Child Left Behind is under fire, with President Obama offering waivers to some states, allowing them to pursue their own plans for school improvements and accountability.
09/23/2011 03:46 pm
Americans love teachers but split over teachers’ unions, poll shows

Americans show strong support for public-school teachers, according to a new poll. But a partisan divide exists over the role of teachers' unions.
08/17/2011 12:39 pm
Here's an idea: Teachers and school officials unite on education reform

Some 150 schools districts sent officials, school board members, and teachers union reps to Denver this week to hear how collaboration can improve student achievement and boost education reform. Can history of acrimony be overcome?
02/16/2011 05:44 pm
Drive for education reform has teachers unions on the defensive

Even supporters of teachers unions have been critical of them in recent months, forcing unions to collaborate with school districts on education reform as never before.
01/28/2011 12:11 pm
Education reform: Have business-savvy officials improved big-city schools?

Big-city mayors have been turning to leaders from the business world to push their agenda of education reform. Critics say schools need leadership from educators.
11/29/2010 03:00 pm
'Waiting for "Superman" ': A simplistic view of education reform?

In the eyes of some education observers, 'Waiting for "Superman" ' oversimplifies the problems facing US students and implies an education reform silver bullet for struggling public schools.
09/24/2010 06:36 pm
Toronto International Film Festival: An insider’s guide to babe magnets and albino alligators

Colin Firth was in town to promote his new film ‘The King’s Speech,’ while Werner Herzog intoned about albino alligators in his 3-D film ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams.’
09/18/2010 11:50 am
Education secretary Arne Duncan: headmaster of US school reform

As students head back to school, educators nationwide are implementing controversial school reform wrought by Arne Duncan. Pushing competitive market approaches and armed with unprecedented funding and support from the president, he is possibly the most powerful education secretary ever.
08/30/2010 03:06 pm
Jobs bill will help teachers, public workers

Jobs bill worth $26 billion has unmistakable implications for November congressional elections.
08/10/2010 02:57 pm
Rhode Island school to rehire fired teachers, shelving drastic plan

Central Falls High School had fired its staff as part of a strategy for failing schools. Now, the Rhode Island school has reached a tentative agreement to keep the staff but make other changes.
05/17/2010 03:14 pm
On National Teacher Day, unions rail against school cuts

Some 300,000 teachers and others might lose their jobs this year as administrators make difficult school cuts. One union launched a campaign on National Teacher Day to highlight the issue.
05/04/2010 08:51 pm
Education reform: Can poor test scores get a teacher fired?

In Houston, a controversial education reform measure allows teachers to be fired based on their students' test scores. Some parents back the policy, but teachers unions have reservations.
03/17/2010 05:40 pm
All teachers fired at R.I. school. Will that happen elsewhere?

All the teachers at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island were fired by the board of trustees this week. More such cases are likely to arise across the US in the coming year because of pressure from the Obama administration – and the incentive of billions of federal dollars.
02/25/2010 07:36 pm