| Newspapers; 11/24/06 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 24 2006, 07:53 AM (91 Views) | |
| NFarquharson | Nov 24 2006, 07:53 AM Post #1 |
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From the Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../611240341/1026 Friday, November 24, 2006 Jessica McGowan / New York Times Fifth-grade teacher Melissa Freeman sits with students during math class at Morgan County Elementary School in Madison, Ga. Are kids being left behind? Educators: Closing test-score gap by 2014 unrealistic Sam Dillon / New York Times When President Bush signed his sweeping No Child Left Behind law a year into his presidency, it set 2014 as the deadline by which schools were to close the test-score gaps between minority and white students that have persisted since testing began. Now, as Congress prepares to consider reauthorizing the law next year, researchers and half a dozen recent studies are reporting little progress toward that goal. Despite concerted efforts by educators, the test-score gaps are so large that, on average, African-American and Hispanic students in high school can read and do arithmetic at only the average level of whites in junior high school. "The gaps between African-Americans and whites are showing very few signs of closing," Michael T. Nettles, a senior vice president at the Educational Testing Service, said in a paper he presented recently at Columbia University. One ethnic minority, Asians, generally fares as well or better than whites. The reports and their authors portrayed an educational landscape in which test-score gaps between black or Hispanic students and whites appear in kindergarten and worsen through 12 years of public education. Some researchers based their conclusions on federal test results, while others have cited state exams, the SATs and other widely administered standardized assessments. The findings pose a challenge not only for Bush but also for the Democratic lawmakers who joined him in negotiating the original law, and who will control education policy in Congress next year. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Rep. George Miller of California, expected to be the chairmen of the Senate and House education committees, will promote giving more resources to schools. ____________________________________________ http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../611240342/1026 Friday, November 24, 2006 Bebeto Matthews Associated Press While some students practice yoga, others play at the Brooklyn Free School in New York. Students don't get grades, don't have homework, don't take tests and don't even have to go to class. Students set the rules at 'free schools' Kids must attend 5 1/2 hours a day at the facility in New York, but what they learn is up to them. Nahal Toosi / Associated Press NEW YORK -- One recent day at the Brooklyn Free School, the "schedule" included the following: filming horror movies, chess, debate and making caves for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. At this school, students don't get grades, don't have homework, don't take tests and don't even have to go to class -- unless they want to. "You can do basically anything at any time, and it's just a lot more fun because sometimes when you need a break at regular schools you can't get it," said Sophia Bennett Holmes, 12, an aspiring singer-actress-fashion designer. "Free schools," which had their heyday decades ago, operate on the belief that children are naturally curious and learn best when they want to, not when forced to. Today, the approach is getting another look from some parents and students "Our belief is that if we let them pursue their passions and desires, they'll be able to get into it deeper. They'll be able to learn more how to learn," said Alan Berger, who founded the Brooklyn school in 2004. It's unknown how many free schools operate today. The ones still in operation often use a "democratic" model, giving students a say in running the institution. At the Brooklyn Free School, much of that decision-making occurs in a mandatory (yes, as in required) weekly gathering called the Democratic Meeting. Here, students air grievances, pose challenges, propose rules and set policy. One agreed-upon rule? No sword-fighting allowed inside. Students are required to show up for at least 5 1/2 hours a day, but what they do with their time is up to them. The student population is diverse racially, economically and in terms of ability, and the students are not separated by age. Even among some champions of alternative education, free schools are a bit too radical. "You don't get rid of all structure and standards if you want your child to be able to deal with all different settings," said Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform, a leading advocate of charter schools. Others say free schools could gain popularity if the emphasis on testing and regimented curriculums keeps up. ______________________________________________________ http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../611240331/1003 Friday, November 24, 2006 Boy injured in fight improves Livonia teen in good condition after he was attacked at high school, airlifted to Ann Arbor. David Josar / The Detroit News A Livonia student has been upgraded to good condition after being injured in a fight Wednesday at his high school. A spokeswoman for Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor said Nathan Carlin, 16, was in good condition Thursday after being transported by medical helicopter after the altercation at Franklin High School in Livonia. Calls to the boy's family were not immediately returned. Livonia Police said Thursday there was no new information about their investigation that focuses on an early morning assault Wednesday in the school cafeteria. Police and witnesses said the boy accused of the assault, also 16, was twice Carlin's size. The alleged assailant remained in Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of assault, police said. A woman who had been providing a home for the suspected attacker told The Detroit News the teenager had become homeless in July after his dad threw him out. He was sent from New York by his mother to live with his father in Oak Park, the woman said. The News is not identifying the youth because he has not been charged with a crime. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office will take five days to review evidence and possibly interview witnesses before deciding on charges, spokeswoman Maria Miller said. You can reach David Josar at (313) 222-2073 or djosar@detnews.com. ___________________________________________ http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../611240315/1008 Friday, November 24, 2006 Todd McInturf / The Detroit News Proposed school reforms could cut costs while keeping money flowing to the classroom. Five ways schools can save real money These changes would spare districts from state cuts The Detroit News Other school savings The Mackinac Center for Public Policy suggests additional savings for schools: Repeal prevailing wage requirements. The law requiring union wages for all school construction projects increases costs by at least 10 percent. Permit more charter schools. On average, these alternative public schools spend $1,000 less per pupil than conventional public schools. Raise class size to 30 students from 25. While this is anathema to the education establishment, studies show no negative impact of such an increase. The bad news arrived after the election campaign ended: Michigan's budget is unexpectedly short $170 million. To erase the deficit, spending has to be cut. And the first place mentioned for recovering the shortfall is education. Schools face up to $160 per pupil less from the state. Ouch. Most schools don't have that kind of buffer in their budgets, so they'll turn to the old standbys -- laying off teachers and dropping programs. But by thinking differently about the way they operate, schools can absorb the cutback and perhaps generate enough savings to expand programs. The Mackinac Center think tank in Midland has been a leading voice in advocating that Michigan schools make real structural changes. So we asked the folks there to help us come up with five ways schools could save money. Privatize noninstructional services. That means turning everything from janitorial work to food service to transportation to accounting over to private companies. Jackson Public Schools expects to save $193 per student per year by contracting out school maintenance. That more than makes up for the loss of state aid. Purchase reasonably priced health insurance. School districts that have managed to break the stranglehold of the union-affiliated Michigan Education Special Services Association (MESSA) are realizing substantial savings on the fastest growing piece of their budget. Last year, Pinckney teachers voted to dump MESSA in favor of a more reasonable plan, a decision that will save the district $800,000 a year. In St. Clair Shores-Lakeview, a similar change will yield $500,000. Consolidate smaller districts. Michigan has 531 school districts, some as small as a few hundred students. They all have fixed administrative costs that could be trimmed through consolidation. Share services with neighboring districts. Every district doesn't need its own accounting office. Several school districts in the Battle Creek area are now studying collaborative efforts that include technology, food services and payroll. Sell off assets. School districts, particularly in Metro Detroit's ring suburbs, are clinging to buildings they no longer need. Livonia closed seven schools this year. Most of its buildings are surrounded by several acres of land. The sites could be sold and redeveloped into housing that would contribute to the schools' tax base. None of these proposals are all that radical. But they do require school officials to unlock themselves from the status quo and stand up to the special interests that feed off the schools. If they are truly focused on improving their services, they'll give these ideas an honest look. For another view, see the Labor Voices column on the opposite page. (I cannot find this on line.--NF) |
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| NFarquharson | Nov 24 2006, 07:57 AM Post #2 |
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Principal
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From the Free Press: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...EWS02/611240424 Wayne County NEWS IN A MINUTE: Wayne County November 24, 2006 WESTLAND: $1 million to go to school The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is giving the former Cooper Elementary School property a $1-million Clean Michigan Initiative grant to help its redevelopment. Two years ago, Livonia Public Schools received $2.4 million to rehabilitate the Westland property, which was closed in 1991 out of concern that the former landfill site was contaminated. "Since it was discovered that initial estimates for clean-up costs were low, we have been working very diligently to secure this additional state funding for the project," said state Sen. Laura Toy, R-Livonia, in a news release. "This award from the DEQ will ensure that there are no more delays in redeveloping the Cooper site," Toy said. |
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