EDUCATION & EQUITY NEWS    

NATIONAL

GOP Renews Push on School Choice
The Washington Times, February 14, 2002

House Republicans are renewing efforts to expand school choice for parents and met this week to discuss how best to move an education tax credit through Congress.

Bush: New Budget a Boon to Black Universities
USA Today, February 9, 2002

President Bush says that his new budget is on track to reach a goal of a 30% increase in federal aid to black institutions of higher learning over four years.

Democrats Hit Private-Education Credits
The Washington Times, February 8, 2002

Democrats say the president's proposed education tax credit that parents could use to send their children to private schools undermines public education and would be better spent for child care or elder care.

MARYLAND

House Approves Bill to Limit Power of Prince George's School Board
The Washington Post, February 15, 2002

Maryland's House of Delegates approved emergency legislation yesterday to strip the Prince George's County school board of most of its power.

Ruling Shocks School Boards
The Baltimore Sun, February 13, 2002

Under a ruling issued by the Maryland State Board of Education, the right to fire district superintendents now resides exclusively with the state superintendent of schools. The decision surprised - and infuriated - many local school board members. (See also: Md. House Passes School Board Measure, February 15, 2002.)

School Board Targets MSPAP
The Baltimore Sun, February 14, 2002

Following in the footsteps of colleagues in Montgomery County, Carroll County's Board of Education have called on state education officials to halt Maryland's elementary and middle school testing program because of concerns about its reliability. (See also: In a Time of Annual MSPAP Frenzy, Some Alternative Solutions, The Washington Post, February 13, 2002; Montgomery Board Wants Md. to Drop MSPAP Testing, The Washington Post, February 13, 2002.)

School Boards Question Reinstatement of Metts
The Washington Post, February 14, 2002

By reinstating Iris T. Metts as Prince George's County schools superintendent, members of the state Board of Education this week invoked a rarely used section of state law that they say gives them the right to overrule a local school board. But many members of the Prince George's school board and members of other school boards in the state are questioning the ruling.

Linguistic Gender Gap is Explored, Targeted
The Baltimore Sun, February 10, 2002

Girls outperform boys in all six subjects on the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program, but the largest disparities can be found in reading and writing.

VIRGINIA

VA Tuition Plan Launched
Richmond Times-Dispatch, February 15, 2002

On February 14th, Gov. Mark R. Warner and Diana F. Cantor, executive director of the Virginia College Savings Plan, launched CollegeAmerica, the new state tuition savings plan.

Report Outlines Test Study Plan
Richmond Times-Dispatch, February 15, 2002

A state-commissioned panel released a report yesterday outlining a proposed study of the effects of the Standards of Learning on Virginia's public education system. The 12-page report recommends that the study be an ongoing look at how Virginia's education reform is affecting such things as pupil attendance, dropout rates and teacher attitudes.

Budget-Cuts Eye SOL Test, Professors
The Washington Times, February 15, 2002

State agencies have proposed budget cuts that include eliminating a Standards of Learning test, laying off college faculty and increasing fees at state parks.

Fairfax Eyes Ways to Help Minority Students
The Washington Post, February 10, 2002

Fairfax County school officials have announced that they want to increase by 10 percent the number of black and Hispanic students enrolled in advanced high school courses in the next year in an effort to boost the academic performance of minority students.

PENNSYLVANIA

Council OKs Bills to Oversee School Takeover
Philadelphia Daily News, February 15, 2002

The Philadelphia City Council has overwhelmingly passed bills to give itself and parents of schoolchildren some power in the process of reforming the city's schools. But Mayor Street and Gov. Schweiker, the architects of December's state takeover, say Council is writing laws it can't enforce.

A Federal Complaint Says Rose Tree Media
Has "A Racially Hostile Environment."
Philadelphia Inquirer, February 14, 2002

A complaint, filed by a parent in April 2001, accuses the predominantly white Rose Tree Media School District of "perpetuating a racially hostile environment." It also contends that the district failed to act on its policy on racial, ethnic and religious intimidation.

Edison's Accounting of Revenues Questioned
Philadelphia Inquirer, February 14, 2002

Edison Schools Inc., the company seeking to provide consulting services and manage dozens of Philadelphia schools, took a hit yesterday after a news report that the company had boosted its revenues by $96 million a year by counting as revenue money it had never received. (See also: Edison Boss Calls Report Questioning Firm's Revenue 'Irresponsible', Philadelphia Daily News, February 14, 2002.)

Schools Task Force Targets Violence
Philadelphia Inquirer, February 14, 2002

Announcing the expansion of a task force on violence, School Reform Commission chairman James Nevels said yesterday that Philadelphia schools must take a "tougher stance" against violent offenders.

Takeover Ignites Challenge in Teachers' Union
Philadelphia Inquirer, February 8, 2002

With unrest running high among teachers in the state-run Philadelphia School District, a fight is on for the leadership of the teachers' union.

WASHINGTON, DC

Bowing to Mayor, School Board Cuts Budget Request
The Washington Post, February 14, 2002

The District school board agreed on February 11th to request $772.5 million in local funds next year, marking the second time in recent months that board members have reduced their budget request.

Board Pledges to Make Schools Safer
The Washington Times, February 8, 2002

D.C. school board members say they are shocked by the high numbers of violent incidents in the city's public schools, as reported by The Washington Times, and promise to take action to control in-school assaults.

SPECIAL ARTICLES & REPORTS

A Message from Secretary Paige - Strategic Plan, 2002-2007 (Draft)
U.S. Department of Education, February 7, 2002

Autonomy and Innovation: How Do Massachusetts
Charter School Principals Use Their Freedom?
Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, December 2001

Coverage in Context: How Thoroughly the
News Media Report Five Key Children's Issues
Casey Journalism Center of Children and Families, February 19, 2002

High-Stakes Testing for Dentists? - What
Dentists and Teachers Have in Common
teachervision.com, February 2002

Supreme Court Takes Up Voucher Case
Rethinking Schools Online, 2002

The Impact of Racial and Ethnic Diversity on
Educational Outcomes: Cambridge, MA School District
Harvard Civil Rights Project, January 29, 2002

Two Schools: Two Approaches to Personalized Learning
Phi Delta Kappan, February 2002

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For newsletters from previous weeks, visit the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium's News Archives page.

To subscribe to listservs on education and equity issues, please visit our Equity Listservs and E-mail Lists page.