Parents face few options in fight for better education
Source: the Grio
Date: May 19, 2011

Title: To Fight Dropout Factories, School Program Starts Young
Source: USA Today
Date: May 28, 2010

Title: Two Men and Two Paths
Source: New York Times
Date: June 11, 2010
Abstract: An interesting Op-Ed about what the two Wes Moore's have to tell us about race and poverty.

Title: $3.5 Billion in Turnaround Aid Flowing to States
Source: Education Week
Date: March 9, 2010
Abstract: The Education Department is distributing $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement Grants to states, giving them six months to launch turnarounds of their lowest-performing schools. All states are expected to receive some of the funds, which come with strict requirements and deadlines for adopting one of four federally approved reform strategies: replacing 50% or more of a school's staff, reopening a school as a charter, closing the school or overhauling the school's curriculum and teaching methods.

Title: Sebelius Calls for School to Become Community Havens
By: Elisa lala
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
Date: March 9, 2010
Abstract: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said schools should be havens, where students and families can visit health clinics and find other programs and activities outside of the traditional school day. Sebelius promoted the community-school model as the keynote speaker at the Coalition of Community Schools' National Forum in Philadelphia. "If a child is not healthy, they will not learn, they can not learn, they are not equipped to learn," she said.  Read more about her comments at the conference here.

Title: Effective Teachers Plan Gets Rolling in Pittsburgh School District
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Date: March 9, 2010
Abstract: School administrators in Pittsburgh are fielding questions and concerns from teachers as they begin to implement a performance-pay plan -- part of a $40 million grant program awarded to the district by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The plan includes seven initiatives to boost teacher effectiveness, such as expanded career opportunities, new methods for evaluating teachers and a new information-technology system for tracking and placing students and teachers.  Read more about the plan here.

Title: Teacher Dismissal Powers Found to Affect Absences
Source: Education Week
Date: January 27, 2010
Abstract: A new study from the University of Michigan finds that when Chicago gave school principals more latitude to fire teachers who lacked tenure, faculty attendance improved.  The report concludes that teacher absence is somewhat correlated with student achievement.  More information on the report can be found here in this Ed Week article.

Title: Obama to seek $1.35 billion more for Race to the Top Progam
Source: Washington Post
Date: January 19, 2010
Abstract: President Barack Obama plans to ask Congress to expand the $4.35 billion Race to the Top program by $1.35 billion, saying the grant competition has prompted education reforms nationwide.  The funding would allow for a third round of grants in which district, not just states, would apply.

Title: What Makes a Principal Great?
Source: Teacher Magazine - EdWeek.org
Date: February 18, 2009
Abstract: The following article by a former NC teacher of the year outlines her observations and research regarding what she believes to be the defining characteristics of great principals.  Although the article was written almost a year ago, the observations from the perspective of a teacher are very informative.

Title: Teachers and Community Members Practice TLC with PLC's  
Source: Edutopia
Date: February 2010
Abstract: Professional Learning Communities (PLC's) are made up of educators and members of the community, offering teachers resources for making improvements in the classroom as well as changes to the culture of their schools. The overall concept is summed up by this quote from the article: "Instead of looking for superheroes, we need to work collectively to help everyone be successful." Read more about how collaboration between educators and community members has brought about improvements in schools in this article.

Title: Turnover in Principalship Focus of Research  
Source: Education Week
Date: October 28, 2009
Abstract: This article addresses the issue of high rates of principal turnovers in schools, and suggests some ways that reform might improve the situation.

Title: More Loudoun Schools Using Flex Periods  
Source: Washington Post
Date: February 15, 2009
Abstract: This article discusses the increasingly popular use of "flex periods" in high schools around the country. Surveys have found them to be very popular and successful in improving students' achievement.

Title: House and Senate Finish Work on FY 2010 Education Funding Bill  
Source: Principal's Policy Blog
Abstract: Over the weekend, the Senate approved the education funding bill for Fiscal Year 2010.  The bill makes many invenstments in education and funds many other key programs.

Title: Nurtured Neighborhood Blossoms  
Date: December 2, 2009
Source: Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee, WI
Abstract: What once was the lowest-achieving school in its district, the Robert L. Ford School has been an example of a successful community school.  Partnerships with outside agencies, grants and government funding help to provide enrichment programs for students and families, including after-school literacy and math help, free night classes for adults, Saturday school for struggling students, and dinner every night in the school gym.

Read more about the schools' program successes here:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/78285082.html

Title: Giving Failing Schools a New Outlook 
Date: November 24, 2009
Source: The Arizona Republic
Abstract: Arizona principal, Daniel Salaz, is developing a specialty in turning around struggling schools.  Salaz has turned around three low-performing schools in the past five years.  Among the school's strategies are increased professional development, including academic coaches who provide teachers feedback about classroom instruction.

Title: After Criticism, the Administration Is Praised For Final Rules on Education Grants 
Date: November 11, 2009
Source: New York Times
Abstract: The rules for the Race to the Top grant competition have now been finalized.  Further details about the grant can be found on the Department of Education's website: http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html

Title: Ford Foundation Pledges $100 million for Urban School Reform
Date: November 5, 2009
Author: Mitchell Landsberg
Source: Los Angeles Times
Abstract: The philanthropic organization, The Ford Foundation, has pledged $100 million dollars towards an initiative to continue reform of urban schools throughout the country.  Focusing it's energy on seven U.S. cities, the funding will be used for research and reform in four areas: teacher quality, student assessment, a longer school day and year, and school funding.

Check out this month's edition of Education Leadership printed by ASCD. Featuring articles all about developing school leaders...

Education Leadership (Oct, 2009)

Title: "Blair, Duncan Push Schools as Community Hubs"
Date: Oct 28, 2009
Source: Education Week
Abstract: During a Center for American Progress event last week, major support for community schools was shown by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.  Read more about their statements in this Ed Week article, as well as see the Center for American Progress October report on community schools.

Title: Power to the Principals
Date: Oct 28, 2009
Author: Robert Maranto
Source: The Baltimore Sun
Abstract: UCLA Professor William Ouchi writes in his new book, "The Secret of TSL" that principals must be empowered with "four freedoms": control over budge, staffing, curricula and calendar.   Following this concept, Baltimore City schools as well as other urban districts have seen positive student achievement results.

Title: DPS Evaluates School Remedies
Date: Oct 27, 2009
Source: The Denver Post
Abstract: Denver Public Schools are in the process of evaluating turn-around strategies for some of their worst-performing schools.  Although turn-around successes are rare in education, DPS continues working to stay focused on reform strategies.

Title: The New Untouchables
Date: Oct 20, 2009
Author: Thomas Friedman
Source: The New York Times
Abstract:This is an excellent article by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, who stresses that fixing our schools is just as important as fixing our banks.

Title: "Students, Teachers, Eager for days end. "
Date: Oct 12, 2009
Source: Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Arkansas
Abstract: With the help of an Arkansas 21st Century Community Learning grant from the Arkansas Department of Education, students at Dardanelle High School are excited when the bell rings at the end of the day - not necessarily because they want to go home, but because they look forward to attending one of the many afterschool programs now offered at the school.  The grant, supported through the federal NCLB Act of 2001 totaled $540,000 for use over a five-year period.  Programs include cooking, yoga, chemical experiments, computerized home design, T-shirt art, Kindle book discussions, reading, poetry and jazz, among other subjects.  To learn more about 21st Century Community Learning Centers, see the U.S. Department of Education website here:

 http://www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/index.html 

Title: "The CEO Educator"
Date: Tuesday, Oct 1, 2009
Source: Fortune Magazine
Abstract: This article from Fortune magazine highlights a conversation with Joel Klein, the Chancellor of NYC Public Schools.  Klein answers questions including, why U.S. education is falling behind globally, how to bring business leadership training to public schools, and ways NYC schools transformed Klein's own life.   He also comments on the importance of great leadership saying, "If you want great leadership, you've got to empower your leaders."

Title: Engaging Parents for Improved Student Success
Date: Tuesday, Oct 1, 2009
Source: Change.org
Abstract: As part of the national effort to build a more holistic environment in schools and districts, where parents are viewed as integral partners in student achievement, good work is being done by the Illinois Parent Information Resource Center (Illinois PIRC) to increase parent involvement and improve student success.

Title: Principal Gets Credit for Turning Schools Around
Date: Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009
Source: San Diego Union Tribune
Abstract: 35 year-old Principal Matthew Tessier has led one California elementary school off of a federal watch list for poor student achievement, and is close to accomplishing the same for a second.  Tessier spends about 80% of his work time in the classrooms, puts strong emphasis on writing instruction, and gives educators 90 minutes per week to share instruction ideas and techniques.  Said by his district's superintendent, "It starts with leadership...He's the type of person that inspire's greatness." 

Title: Recruiting New Teachers to Urban School Districts: What Incentives Will Work?
Date: August 10, 2009
Source: International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership
Abstract: Many urban schools in the U.S. are currently experimenting with financial incentives to attract and retain high-quality teachers in high-need, low-achieving, or hard-to-staff urban schools.  This article from the latest issue of International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership explores research aimed at uncovering how teachers make job choices, what they perceive as important about districts and schools in the context of their future job choices and how much of a financial incentive would be needed to motivate them to take a job in a high-need district or school.  

Title: Arithmetic Underachievers Overcome Frustration to Succeed
Date: Edutopia Magazine online (Oct, 2009)
Abstract: A study conducted by Rutgers University discovered that allowing students to grapple with difficult math problems had the potential to improve their achievement.  Researchers working with minority and low-income students in Newark, N.J., for seven years found that a healthy amount of frustration in a supportive enviornment fostered student interest. Students "report feeling frustrated, but also satisfaction, pride and willingness to work harder next time," a researcher said.  

Title: Plan Would Limit Charter Schools' Independence
Date: Friday, Sep 11, 2009
Abstract: Amendment proposed by Philadelphia's School Reform Commission threatens the independence of the city's charter schools.

Title: 12,000 Teacher Reports but What To Do?
Date: Friday, Sep 8, 2009
Abstract: This article outlines the debate which ensues in NYC over standardized test scor-based teacher evaluations, including the opinions of several principals on the issue.

Title: 21st Century Skills: The Challenges Ahead
Date: Sep 2009
Abstract: This article from Educational Leadership explains how skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, information literacy and global awareness are not new ideas, and schools can be more deliberate about teaching these skills to all students.