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 Time and stability seen as key to effective mentoring Education Week Share    
Conflicting studies on school-based mentoring programs for students tend to agree on at least one thing: The most critical element of effective mentoring — a stable relationship of at least a year — has also proved to be among the most difficult to align with school-based programs. A new analysis of three recent "gold standard" evaluations of school mentoring programs has found the practice can improve a student's attendance at and connection to school, but the sporadic and short-lived mentoring that is often associated with school-based programs, as opposed to community-based ones, could harm students. More Obama seeks $210 million for student achievement The Boston Globe Share
Taking a page from the successful Harlem Children's Zone project, the Obama administration requested $210 million from the 2011 budget to help blighted neighborhoods provide family, community, and school support, with the hope it will boost student achievement. More than 300 communities, including Sunland Park, have applied to become a "Promise Neighborhood." The first 20 planning grants are expected to be announced. The Harlem Children's Zone operates on the principle that if children do not have a safe place to live and study, or if they come to school with an empty stomach, they cannot learn. More Advertisement
 Video games start to shape classroom curriculum The Christian Science Monitor Share
Attention parents: Don't be surprised this school year if you tell your kids to stop playing video games and they respond, "But it's homework." In classrooms across the country, electronic games have increasingly become tools for teaching problem solving and critical thinking. For example, Brock Dubbels, a teacher at the Seward Montessori School in Minneapolis, has eighth-graders reading Homer while playing Sega's "Sonic the Hedgehog" to better understand Odysseus's quest. More Obama: CEOs joining to push math, science education The Christian Science Monitor Share
The CEOs of more than 100 companies are launching a new nonprofit initiative, Change the Equation, to turn today's diverse generation of students into tomorrow’s scientists, engineers, and math-literate citizens, President Obama is announcing. The group will start by expanding successful, privately funded education projects in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to 100 communities where students are most in need. It will also develop a scorecard to help states see how they can improve STEM curriculum and teacher development. More  More educated mothers save children's lives HealthDay News via U.S.News & World Report Share
Increasing levels of education among women worldwide helped save the lives of millions of children a year, a new study shows. Between 1970 and 2009, the average number of years of education among women aged 25 and older more than doubled. The increase was more than triple for women in poor countries. During that same period, deaths among children under age 5 dropped from 16 million to 7.8 million a year. About 51 percent of that drop in children's deaths can be attributed to increased levels of education among women of childbearing age, according to the researchers. More Advertisement
Preparing the next generation of STEM innovators Kansas City infoZine Share
The development of the nation's human capital through our education system is an essential building block for future innovation. Currently, the abilities of far too many of America's young men and women go unrecognized and underdeveloped, and, thus, these individuals may fail to reach their full potential. This represents a loss for both the individual and society. There are talented students with enormous potential from every demographic and from every part of our country who, with hard work and the proper educational opportunities, will form the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) innovators. More  Federal K-12 funding muddies electoral waters Education Week Share
The massive flow of federal funding into schools has created a new and unfamiliar political dynamic in state elections this fall, with many candidates voicing concerns about the government involvement while acknowledging its role in saving jobs, propping up budgets, and supporting innovations in education. State elected officials have a long history of opposing federal programs that they fear will encroach on their authority to set school policy. But while some conservative candidates have railed against federal stimulus funding, arguing that it will heap future obligations on states, other contenders for governor and schools superintendent back that assistance, essentially agreeing with the Obama administration’s position that it will boost employment and school quality. More Advertisement
Standards' impact for special education is weighed Education Week Share
Special education advocates are greeting the burgeoning common academic standards movement with a mixture of optimism and caution. Adopted so far by 36 states and the District of Columbia, the common academic standards were developed with the backing of two national groups based in Washington, the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association. The intent of the effort, which is also getting support from federal education officials, is to provide clear guideposts for what students at each grade level should know and be able to do. The standards also offer an opportunity for students covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, to have access to the same rigorous coursework that is offered to their peers in general education, the standards writers believe. More  New vaccine rules require shots for school kids The Associated Press via KCNC-TV Share
Under new Wyoming Department of Health rules, parents need to provide proof that their school children received required immunizations within the first 30 days after school begins. Students who have not turned in an immunization record or are not up-to-date on their immunizations will not be allowed to attend school. Students in the process of completing an immunization series may continue to attend school. More Advertisement
Texas Lawmakers: Education funds need makeover The Houston Chronicle Share
Texas needs to scrap its school funding system and start all over, Senate Education Chair Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, said, as other members of a special school finance committee agreed that the existing system is hopelessly broken. "We need to find a better system that works for all of us," said Shapiro, who also is co-chair of the Select Committee on Public School Finance Weights, Allotments and Adjustments. According to committee members and experts, the system has vast inequities of more than $1,000 per student and is built on adjustments for low-income students, rural school districts, small districts, medium districts and other factors that are nearly 30 years old with little reflection of real costs. More Detroit schools to get dropout help Michigan Radio Share
Two schools in Detroit will take part in a federally funded project aimed at improving kids' chances at graduating from high school. Penny Bailer is with City Year Detroit, whose volunteers will serve as tutors and mentors at Emerson and Bow elementaries in Detroit. Bailer says the program targets kids who have problems with attendance, behavior and academics, "and when a child is off track in any one of those, across the country the research says they will not graduate from high school." Along with the City Year volunteers, the program will provide researchers from Johns Hopkins University who will assist principals and teachers on the academic front. Social workers from the group Communities in Schools will provide counseling to students who need it. More Advertisement
South Dakota school district tweaks language classes' focus The Associated Press via Stamford Advocate Share
Sioux Falls public schools in South Dakota are tweaking their curriculum to give students a greater understanding of the world's people and help them communicate in real-life situations. In foreign language classes, the focus is turning to conversational instruction, rather than memorizing vocabulary words. Teachers also are being asked to spend more time describing the way of life in foreign countries, not only teaching the language. "A big part of the language is understanding culture," assistant superintendent Fred Aderhold said. Culture always has been a part of foreign language instruction, but it's getting more attention because of a curriculum study finished early this year. A report to the school board says the classes should "explore and enhance the coverage of culture." More School works on healthy habits Martinsville Bulletin Share
Students and adults alike are working to get healthier at Albert Harris Elementary School in Martinsville, Va. The Martinsville school is observing the state's Healthy Virginians Week through Friday, and teachers have found ways to incorporate more physical activity and nutrition lessons into all aspects of the curriculum. Students have begun each day with "Brain Gym" exercises in their classrooms, led by gym teacher Matt Rowe over the school intercom. In one classroom, teacher Teresa Bragg brought in a Wii Fit video game system from home and connected it to the Smart Board interactive white board so the children could follow an exercise routine led by a computerized instructor. More Advertisement
Wisconsin state superintendent: State of education needs improvement Wisconsin Radio Network Share
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers gives glimpses of his ambitious agenda for changing the formula for funding Wisconsin public schools. "I've offered a sweeping new school finance reform framework called Fair Funding for Our Future to repair our broken school funding system and secure fair, sustainable, and transparent funding for Wisconsin schools." During his annual State of Education speech at the state capitol Evers says there's a lot more to do. Evers wants to eliminate $900-million in property tax credits in order to make his plan work. More  NAESP Radio: Secretary Duncan on leadership NAESP Share
In the latest installment of NAESP Radio, Executive Director Gail Connelly talks with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan about the important role principals play in education reform. More NAESP Foundation announces 2011 Schools Across America Calendar NAESP Share
The 2011 Schools Across America Calendar showcases the beauty and uniqueness of some of the nation's oldest and newest schools as seen through the lenses of Lifetouch National School Studios field photographers. The calendar also highlights holidays and other important school dates throughout the school year. Pre-order yours today. More Advertisement
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