EDUCATION & EQUITY NEWS    

NATIONAL

Bush, Kennedy Work on Preschool Plan
The Boston Globe, January 22, 2002

Despite their public sparring last week over taxes, President Bush and Senator Edward M. Kennedy are privately laying the groundwork for a potentially significant compromise: legislation on early childhood education.

Special Ed Funding to Get $2 Bil. Boost
Chicago Sun-Times, January 20, 2002

President Bush has announced plans to devote an extra $2 billion to federal programs for special education students and the nation's poorest schools. (See also: Hill Set to Debate Special-Ed, The Washington Times, January 22, 2002.)

Bush Signs Bill to Expand Programs for At-Risk Children
The Baltimore Sun, January 18, 2002

President Bush has signed legislation that expands programs for at-risk children, and said that his fiscal 2003 budget would contain $505 million to encourage adoption, reunite troubled families and find mentors for those with parents in prison.

Many Schools Built Near Toxic Sites, Study Finds
The Washington Post, January 21, 2002

According to a new study by an environmental coalition called Child Proofing Our Communities Campaign, hundreds of thousands of children throughout the country are attending schools that were built on or near toxic waste sites, putting them at increased risk of developing asthma, cancer, learning disorders and other diseases linked to environmental pollutants.

MARYLAND

Schools Toughen Promote Policy
The Baltimore Sun, January 23, 2002

The Baltimore school board has set a minimum score on a national test as a requirement for children to be promoted from one grade to the next in elementary and middle school.

Prince George's Pins Hopes on New Funds
The Baltimore Sun, January 23, 2002

During the next five years, Prince George's County would gain $306 million under the $1.1 billion education finance plan recently proposed by the state's Thornton Commission. It currently spends almost $3,000 less per child than the next-door suburban jurisdiction, Montgomery County.

$1.5 Million for Technology at City Schools
The Baltimore Sun, January 18, 2002

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski has announced $1.5 million in federal funds for Baltimore schools as part of an effort to bridge the "digital divide."

State, City Urge Renewal of School Partnership
The Baltimore Sun, January 18, 2002

City and state education officials have urged the General Assembly to renew the 5-year-old power-sharing agreement over Baltimore's schools. The agreement gave the state more control of the city system in exchange for millions of dollars in extra education aid.

Schools May Get Choice of Schedule
The Baltimore Sun, January 23, 2002

Under a recommendation by interim Superintendent Kenneth P. Lawson, Anne Arundel County middle schools would abandon the six-period school day and principals would choose between a four-period or seven-period day.

In Prince George's, Riddick Joins Fray Over School Board
The Washington Post, January 23, 2002

Major F. Riddick, a candidate for Prince George's county executive, has declared that he opposes the inclusion of appointed members to the county school board.

PG School Boundary Changes Up For Vote
The Washington Times, January 23, 2002

The Prince George's County, Md. school board will soon vote on proposed boundary changes that would return 7,000 children to elementary and middle neighborhood schools, but several parents are opposing the changes as too disruptive. The parents and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also fault the school administration for not giving them enough information and time to weigh in on the changes designed to phase out forced busing in the county.

Capital Budget Keeps Education as Priority
The Washington Times, January 23, 2002

Sluggish growth in revenues forced Gov. Parris N. Glendening to cut the size of the capital construction budget for next year by $400 million, but he said yesterday that won't keep him from his pledge to spend $1.6 billion on school construction during his eight years in office.

D to Fade From Frederick Grading Scale
The Washington Times, January 21, 2002

The Frederick County school district is dropping the D from the grading scale in hopes that those who might have settled for near-failure will strive for C's instead.

PENNSYLVANIA

Schools Panel: Review State Funding
Philadelphia Daily News, January 19, 2002

Moments after being sworn in, members of the new commission running Philly schools offered up a surprise: They want to re-examine how the state pays for schools.

Edison Still Looks to Play Role in District
Philadelphia Inquirer, January 23, 2002

Although Edison Schools Inc. has been keeping a low profile since the state took control of the Philadelphia School District last month, the company has issued a statement yesterday saying that it would seek to become the lead provider to manage some low-performing city schools in partnership with community groups.

High Court to Plaintiff Seeking to Overturn School Takeover: Refile Suits
Philadelphia Daily News, January 22, 2002

In a two-sentence order released Thursday, the state Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit in which the Coalition to Keep Our Public Schools Public charged that the state's takeover law is unconstitutional. The court also denied the group's second request that the court hear a case alleging the takeover violated state conflict-of-interest laws. However, the court said it would allow both cases to be brought before it again.

A New Way to Afford Private Schools
Philadelphia Inquirer, January 22, 2002

As many as 10,000 Pennsylvania students are expected to benefit in the fall from the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, a new initiative that helps lower-income families pay tuition to nonpublic schools. Approved by the state legislature in May, the program gives $20 million in tax credits to companies that donate money for scholarships to send students to private and religious schools.

WASHINGTON,DC METRO AREA

D.C. School Again Keeps Parents Waiting in Cold
The Washington Post, January 23, 2002

The first-come, first served system for accepting applications at J.F. Oyster Bilingual Elementary -- the District's only public bilingual elementary school -- has brought on complaints from parents and activists who say that the procedure is unfair to those who cannot wait in line because of jobs and family obligations.

D.C. School Board Cuts Budget Request
The Washington Post, January 18, 2002

After lobbying by the mayor's staff and bitter debate, the District school board has scaled down its budget request for the next fiscal year. But the new request -- which is 31 percent higher than this year's budget -- remains far more than the District can afford, according to city officials.

SPECIAL ARTICLES & REPORTS

A Steeper, Better Road to Graduation
Education Next, Winter 2001

The author argues that students learn more and their high-school diplomas become more valuable when they must pass a curriculum-based exit exam like France's Baccalaureate in order to graduate.

Babes in the Woods: The Wanderings of the National Reading Panel
Phi Delta Kappan, January 2002

From the choice of participants to serve on the National Reading Panel to the hasty release of an uncorrected, undeliberated, and unapproved subcommittee report, the procedure used by the NRP was flawed, the author -- a member of the panel -- charges. Now government agencies at all levels are using the "science" of the NRP report to support their calls for changes in school instruction and teacher education.

Sports, Shame and Self-Confidence
MSNBC.com, January 17, 2002

While a study of college freshman found that women who were involved in athletics felt more self-sufficient and confident in their abilities, they were also more prone to suffer from poor body image than non-athletes.

WEBSITES AND LINKS

The Smarter Kids Foundation is accepting applications for its Connections program, which provides training in technology to fifth- and sixth-grade teachers.

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