Changing Principals To Change Schools

Changing Principals To Change Schools

Obama and Arne Duncan are trying to raise the bar for everyone in education – teachers, administrators, and now principals.In an effort for full reform, they are now looking at principals, threatening to replace many of them, according to an article in the District Administration. The government is providing a $3.5 billion fund to underachieving schools if they meet certain achievement benchmarks. If schools fail to meet these benchmarks, then they will be forced to make major reforms or surrender their share of funding. Underachieving schools will be forced to replace their principal, half of their teaching staff, close down entirely ... Read More About Changing Principals To Change Schools

Increase Teacher Pay To Improve Academics

Increase Teacher Pay To Improve Academics

Dave Eggers and Ninive Clements Calegari of the New York Times say teachers are underpaid and blamed entirely way too much for the underachieving American education system. In their argument, Eggers and Clements Calegari compared teachers to military professionals. “We don’t say, ‘It’s these lazy soldiers and their bloated benefits plans! That’s why we haven’t done better in Afghanistan!’ No, if the results aren’t there, we blame the planners. We blame the generals, the secretary of defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” writes Eggers and Clements Calegari. So why shouldn’t we treat ... Read More About Increase Teacher Pay To Improve Academics

Secretary Of Education Addresses US Teachers

Secretary Of Education Addresses US Teachers

In recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2 - 6), U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has drafted an open letter to the nation's teachers.  Read the full text here.  In it, he praises teachers' flexibility and adaptability, and the life-long relationships educators build with students.  He also challenges teachers to join him in efforts to improve teacher evaluation systems, and to transform American education from a "factory model" to one built for the information age. Read Duncan's letter here.   ... Read More About Secretary Of Education Addresses US Teachers

Why Women Outnumber Men In Higher Education

Why Women Outnumber Men In Higher Education

The business and higher education landscapes are changing, and no we’re not talking about the Internet. We’re talking about women and minority groups enrolling in colleges at record-breaking rates and now beginning to earn more advanced degrees than men. The most recent census figures released in April 2011 show that women now hold more advanced degrees (master’s, PhD degrees) than men for the first time, according to the Associated Press and an article in the Wall Street Journal. Women have outpaced men in bachelor’s degrees since 1996. Roughly 20.1 million women have bachelor’s degrees, compared to about 18.7 ... Read More About Why Women Outnumber Men In Higher Education

Decreased Funding For Early Childhood Education

Decreased Funding For Early Childhood Education

Budget cuts have trickled all the way down to early-childhood education, as funding for these programs has decreased between 2009 and 2010, according to a study published in the Washington Post. The Obama administration urged states to increase their pre-kindergarten programs for three- and four-year-olds, but there simply wasn’t enough funding to meet the president’s request. Total-state funding for these programs dropped about $30 million across the nation. Many states are putting most or all of their funding dollars in K-12. So, decreasing funding for early-childhood education has helped many states preserve funding for K-12, ... Read More About Decreased Funding For Early Childhood Education