ASSOCIATED PRESS
"50 Percent More US Children Went Hungry in 2007"
Some 691,000 children went hungry in America sometime in 2007, according to the Agriculture Department. The annual report on food security showed that during 2007, the number of children who suffered a substantial disruption in the amount of food they typically eat was more than double the 430,000 in 2006. The report provides state-by-state and demographic data.

DESERET NEWS
"Huntsman, Lawmakers Looking at Changes in How State School Board Is Elected"
Governor Jon Huntsman and some Utah lawmakers want the public to be able to directly vote for state school board members. Currently, a governor-appointed committee narrows the list to three candidates for each seat. Then, the governor chooses two of the three recommended candidates for each seat to appear on the ballot in nonpartisan races. The state school board already approved a motion supporting direct, nonpartisan elections.

EDUCATION WEEK (premium article access compliments of edweek.org)
"Spending of Federal Teacher-Quality Funds Questioned"
Nearly seven years into its implementation, little information exists on whether the $3 billion spent annually on teacher quality as part of No Child Left Behind has measurably improved the effectiveness of the nation's educators, an Education Sector report concludes. The Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund, or Title II, Part A, has promoted some promising local practices, but it is not aligned with leading-edge teacher quality efforts, the report says.

ESCHOOLNEWS.COM
"Study: Online Enrollment Jumps 13 Percent"
Enrollment in online college courses in the United States outpaced overall growth in higher education last year, and officials predict a sustained increase in online enrollment as the economy slumps and good jobs become scarcer, according to an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation report. The report says 22% of American college students, or 3.94 million, took at least one web-based class in fall 2007. That marked an increase of 12.9% from fall 2006.

NEW YORK TIMES
"Teachers Win Bonuses at High-Need Schools"
Teachers at 33 high-need secondary schools in New York City will receive bonuses of several thousand dollars each, totaling $6.5 million, as a reward for student gains on school report cards. In addition, the city will reward principals and assistant principals at 86 schools with checks of up to $25,000, bringing the total in bonuses given to educators this fall to $28 million.

STARS AND STRIPES
"DODEA Can Help Students Transition to Stateside Schools"
Military kids often are at risk of coming up short on graduation requirements due to multiple school transfers, which might include time spent overseas. In response, the Department of Defense has asked states to agree to some provisions that will help these students. Last month, 11 states enacted the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Kyle Zinth, ECS policy analyst, comments on the compact.

THE STATE
"Panel: Drastic Action Needed To Reform S.C. Higher Education"
Drastic action is needed to revamp higher education in South Carolina, according to the state commission on higher education. Their draft report focuses on four goals: make South Carolina one of the most educated states; increase research and innovation; make the state a leader in workforce training and educational services; and realize the state's potential through resources and effectiveness. The plan outlines ways the state can reach these aspirations.

BOSTON GLOBE
"Hub Grads Come Up Short in College"
About two-thirds of Boston's high school graduates in 2000 who enrolled in college have failed to earn degrees, according to a new study. While the report did not address reasons for the low graduation rates, these students often have financial problems, some are raising children, and others are held back by a need to take remedial courses in college. In response, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced a major initiative to increase the college graduation rate by 50%.

EDUCATION WEEK (premium article access compliments of edweek.org)
"Nashville Governance Up in Air as Mayor Seeks Role in Schools"
The Nashville district, in its first year under partial state control after failing to meet standards for five years, is clashing with the city's mayor, who is signaling a desire to run the schools. The mayor has presented a five-point reform blueprint that includes increasing school choice, boosting professional development and expanding alternative routes for teachers and principals. The Tennessee district has faced uncertainty since the resignation of its school director.

EDUCATION WEEK (premium article access compliments of edweek.org)
"No Effect on Comprehension Seen From 'Reading First'"
The $6 billion Reading First program has helped more students "crack the code" to identify letters and words, but it has not had an impact on reading comprehension among students in participating schools, according to the U.S. Department of Education's final report. For both the Reading First and comparison groups, fewer than half of 1st graders, and fewer than 40% of 2nd and 3rd graders showed grade-level proficiency in understanding what they read.

FLORENCE TIMES DAILY
"Next Year, Students Must Take Distance Learning Course To Graduate"
Beginning next year, Alabama's high school students will be required to pass a distance learning class in order to obtain a high school diploma. In response, many schools already are offering online classes. Some schools send them out while others are allowing their students to sign up for online classes they need but don't have access to in their own schools. The Southern Regional Education Board is providing training for teachers.

SCIENCE DAILY
"Supportive Teachers, Peers Can Ease Negative Effects of Frequent Moves in Elementary School"
When children change schools in elementary school, dips in academic performance and classroom participation can follow. But having a supportive teacher who encourages other students to accept newcomers can go a long way toward helping children make a smooth transition, concludes a study by two Washington universities. The study also found that switching schools is not always accompanied by declines in attitudes toward school.

STATELINE.ORG
"Tough Economy Hammers Schools, Colleges"
The economic crisis has hit the classroom, and public schools and colleges are taking extreme measures to cope. Governors and legislatures are making, or proposing, deep cuts to higher education and even to K-12 funding, which typically is buffered from the budget axe during economic downturns. Although some experts knew it would be a rough budget year, the fallout has come sooner than expected.

ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS
"Alaska's Dropout Rate Double US Average"
Battling one of the worst dropout rates in the country, Alaska educators brainstormed how to stop the epidemic of kids quitting school before earning their diplomas. They called dropping out a result of an accumulative failure, which can start before kids enter school. Among the suggestions for federal help was to fund more pre-kindergarten programs; support more high school vocational and technical classes; and continue special grants for the education of Alaska Natives, who have among the highest dropout rates.

EDUCATION WEEK (premium article access compliments of edweek.org)
"Weighted-Student Funding Preferred by Educators, Study Finds"
Allocating money to schools using a "student-based" or "weighted-student" formula requires more work for both central office and school level employees than traditional methods do, an American Institutes for Research study has found. The report, which examined two California districts, also found that the funding method did in fact help direct more dollars toward students who need more resources, such as English-language learners and students with disabilities.

LOS ANGELES TIMES
"CSU May Cut Future Enrollment by 10,000"
The California State University system for the first time in its history is proposing to turn away qualified students due to a worsening state budget crisis. As part of a plan to slash its 450,000 enrollment by 10,000 students for 2009-2010, the 23-campus system will raise the academic bar for freshmen at its most popular campuses. While sophomore transfers and out-of-state and international students will be squeezed, California high school graduates probably will bear the brunt of the downsizing.

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
"With State Effort Stalled, Schools Pursue Tougher Graduation Requirements"
Governor Jim Doyle's proposal to raise Wisconsin's graduation requirements in math and science has yet to go anywhere, but several schools are proceeding on their own. The effort is part of a nationwide educational focus on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, when fears are rising about the country's ability to compete globally. Still, some educators have raised concerns that the requirements could increase costs and dropout rates. Jennifer Dounay, ECS senior policy analyst, comments on the Wisconsin proposal.

NEW YORK TIMES
"Enrollment Surges in Quick Prep Courses"
Students across the country are swelling the rolls of community colleges, seeking a two-year associate's degree as a bridge to a four-year university or as a way to retrain after a job loss. But in these shaky economic times, more students are skipping a degree and heading straight for the colleges' noncredit training and certification programs. These courses that end in months or weeks, are designed to propel them swiftly into the job market or better their prospects at their companies.

OREGONIAN
"Governor, Citing Economy, Urges Delay of New Oregon Graduation Requirements"
Governor Ted Kulongoski said that he wants to delay Oregon's new graduation requirements, giving a pass to this year's high school freshmen, who are supposed to prove their skills in reading, math, speaking and writing to get a diploma. Kulongoski, citing the sharp economic downturn, said that he doesn't think he will be able to find millions of dollars to hire more teachers and upgrade schools to get students to the higher standards.

USA TODAY
"Report: Community Colleges Must Expect More"
Though many community college students say their coursework is challenging, there is evidence colleges can do more to help more students do their best work, according to the Community College Survey of Student Engagement report. Of this year's respondents, 59% said their primary goal is to earn an associate's degree, and 52% planned to transfer to a four-year college. Nationally, about 36% of community college students earn a certificate or an associate's or bachelor's degree within six years.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
"ABCs Plus Playing Nice Equals Better Pre-K Smarts"
A major study of Head Start programs by scientists in Pennsylvania found that youngsters do better if they learn their ABCs as well as how to play with others. A growing awareness that early learning is important to future school achievement has put more pressure on preschool's academic side, specifically on efforts to eliminate achievement gaps between low-income and wealthier students. But both academic and social skills are intertwined, said the study's author.

EDUCATION WEEK (premium article access compliments of edweek.org)
"Ed. Dept. Not Backing Down on Disabilities-Data Mandate"
Three years after the U.S. Department of Education started requiring states to collect and report extensive data on students with disabilities, it is still tweaking the rules states are expected to follow when gathering the information. What hasn't changed, however, is the scope and depth of the information that states are expected to collect, despite state complaints the requirement diverts time and money away from educating students with disabilities.

EDUCATION WEEK (premium article access compliments of edweek.org)
"KIPP Success Cited, with Caveats"
A research review of the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) found that students who enter and stay in the schools tend to perform better than similar students in regular public schools. But student attrition is high, with those who leave tending to be lower performers. The report also raises concerns about the demands placed on teachers and school leaders, which have contributed to high staff turnover and could hinder expansion and sustainability of the KIPP approach.

INSIDE HIGHER ED
"Record Year For Foreign Student Enrollment"
More foreign students came to the United States in 2007-08 than ever before. While there were gains in undergraduate and graduate populations, the increase was driven largely by dramatic increases in the numbers of international students employed off-campus through optional practical training and those enrolled in non-degree and intensive English programs. Meanwhile, the number of Americans studying abroad continues to grow steadily, according to the Institute of International Education.

WASHINGTON POST
"College Leaders' Salaries Climb"
Just as tuition has been rising more quickly than inflation, state college presidents' compensation has been growing faster than other costs of living. Some private university chiefs' annual pay exceeds $1 million, according to an annual Chronicle of Higher Education survey. The pay for public university presidents rose more than 7% last year, and it has risen more than 35% since 2003, which is raising concerns among lawmakers and some education advocates.

WILKES BARRE TIMES LEADER
"State, Colleges Clash Over Teacher Training"
The Pennsylvania education department is creating two new education certificates: one for teaching students in grades 4-8, and another for pre-kindergarten through 4th grade. All education majors will be required to take courses in special education and teaching students who are learning English. And new special-education teachers will need to be certified to teach in regular education classrooms. Some colleges say the changes will undermine their authority to shape curriculum.

GREENVILLE NEWS
"State Education Staff Must Take Unpaid Days Off"
South Carolina Education Department employees must take five days of unpaid leave by the end of June, which is the latest example of how agencies around the state are dealing with the slumping economy. The mandatory furloughs will save $569,000 and between 13 and 15 jobs. The decision follows a $9.1 million budget cut to the agency due to the economic downturn, representing a 16% reduction.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE
"State Tightens Rules on College Aid"
Under a plan approved by a state higher education governing board, Texas' main college opportunity financial aid program would add tough academic standards and not just be based on a student's economic need beginning in 2010. The change in the Texas Grants program is contingent on the legislature approving $77 million in additional funding for scholarships for students attending community colleges.

LAWRENCE JOURNAL WORLD
"Governor's Office Recommends $114 Million in Cuts to Higher Ed"
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius' budget office has proposed a $114.4 million cut to higher education. The proposal would include a 3% reduction in the operating budgets of higher education institutions for the current fiscal year and an additional 4% cut in the next fiscal year. The proposal also would include cuts to maintenance projects, program expansions and start up funds for the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science.

NEW YORK TIMES
"A School Chief Takes On Tenure, Stirring a Fight"
Michelle Rhee, the hard-charging chancellor of the Washington D.C. public schools, thinks teacher tenure may be great for adults, those who go into teaching to get summer vacations and great health insurance, for instance. But it hurts children, she says, by making incompetent instructors harder to fire. So Ms. Rhee has proposed raises of as much as $40,000, financed by private foundations, for teachers willing to give up tenure.

OREGONIAN
"Enrollment at Oregon's Public Universities Hits Record High"
A record 86,546 students enrolled in Oregon's seven public universities this fall. University leaders credited the 5% surge to a record boost in state funding, a steep increase in financial aid and more students seeking higher education in the economic downturn. Flush with a record increase in state funding last fall, the universities hired faculty, increased pay, improved student services, stepped up recruitment and built and renovated classrooms and labs.

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
"Cost of Phila. Charter Schools: $105M"
For the first time, Philadelphia's district chief business officer has completed a detailed financial analysis to come up with the cost of charter schools: $105 million for 2008-09. One key reason is that 27% of the children attending charters were previously home-schooled or attended nonpublic schools. The district's $2.3 billion budget for 2008-09 includes $320 million for charter schools, a figure that includes all costs, even those that are reimbursed from the state.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
"Low-income Kids Three Times More Likely To Be Obese"
Colorado's low-income children are three times more likely to be obese than the kids of well-heeled parents, a Colorado Health Foundation study shows. It's the starkest indicator so far of the link between obesity and low income and low education. While Colorado remains one of the leanest states in the nation, the study found its obesity rates are climbing dramatically. If current trends continue, two out of three adult Coloradans will be overweight or obese by 2017.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
"Thousands of Families Shut Out of Pre-k Programs"
State prekindergarten programs reserved for low-income students are squeezing out 700,000 of middle-class families unable to afford early education, according to a Pre-K Now study. The study breaks down the cost of basic living expenses for middle-class families in the 20 states where pre-k is only for low-income children. It found that prekindergarten is the single largest expense for middle-class families of four, taking up nearly 30% of monthly spending.

CONCORD MONITOR
"Report Calls for School Opportunity in State"
A special legislative committee has recommended a system for holding New Hampshire districts accountable for providing access to a constitutionally adequate education. One approach would measure "inputs" such as course offerings and teacher qualifications necessary to meet the state's existing standards for schools. Alternately, districts could use "outputs" such as students meeting benchmarks for improvement on state assessment tests.

EDUCATION WEEK (premium article access compliments of edweek.org)
"Group Launches Push for More Math, Science Teachers"
The National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges is asking its member institutions to commit to producing more math and science teachers and to share information about promising strategies for meeting that goal. Under the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative, colleges and universities will agree to set specific targets for raising the number of math and science teachers they educate, or to report previously established goals.

INSIDE HIGHER ED
"So Goes the Nation"
In what appears a harbinger of things to come for higher education, the governors of California and New York have rolled out plans that would dramatically reduce funding for colleges and universities. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed cutting $132 million from public universities and $332.2 million from community colleges. Governor David Paterson's proposal would cut $348 million from the State University of New York and the City University of New York.

LOS ANGELES TIMES
"Charters Lead State's Traditional Schools in Achievement for Poor Children, Survey Finds"
California's burgeoning charter school movement has largely made its mark as an alternative to low-performing inner-city schools. An analysis suggests that, at their best, charters are doing that job well, outperforming most traditional public schools that serve children in poverty. The California Charter Schools Association found that 12 of the top 15 public schools in California that cater primarily to poor children are charters.

USA TODAY
"School Districts Caught in a Squeeze"
School superintendents say the struggling economy threatens to reverse progress they have made in closing achievement gaps as schools face trimmed budgets, according to an American Association of School Administrators survey. Nearly half of superintendents are reducing hiring and cutting back on supplies, and many are increasing class sizes, putting off textbook and technology purchases, and canceling elective courses. Low-income students might be hit the hardest.