Coordinated Services
"First 'One-stop Shop' Agency Opens in La."
The first "one-stop shop" that will give Louisiana residents a central location for assistance offered by several separate state agencies has opened. Recent legislation mandates that the departments of Social Services, Education, Health and Hospitals, the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Office of Juvenile Justice work together with communities to serve families from single locations -- called Neighborhood Places -- that will be established across the state. (Baton Rouge Advocate, 06/30/09)

Cutting College Majors
"With Funding Cuts, Colleges Revamp Majors To Save Money"
Citing financial constraints and a desire to strengthen academic programs at Rhode Island's public colleges, the Board of Governors for Higher Education approved the elimination or consolidation of dozens of majors and ordered the review of dozens more that have consistently graduated fewer than 11 students a year. Education officials say public institutions can no longer afford to support such majors and that resources should flow to popular areas. (Providence Journal, 06/30/09)

Financial Literacy
"N.J. Makes Financial Literacy a Graduation Requirement"
The New Jersey Board of Education has adopted new high school graduation standards, adding a half-year requirement of economics and financial literacy to the core curriculum. And legislation awaiting the governor's signature would establish a pilot program requiring that high school seniors in selected districts take a personal-finance course. Only Missouri, Tennessee and Utah require a course on financial literacy, while 18 states require personal finance be incorporated into other subject matter. (Philadelphia Inquirer, 07/01/09)

Improving Middle Schools
"SREB Urges Greater Focus on Middle Grades in South"
A new Southern Regional Education Board report found modest gains among most of its member states in meeting reading and math standards for middle-grades, and that many state standards are too low. The organization recommends that states develop statewide reading-intervention programs; restructure the math curriculum to help students prepare for Algebra 1 by 8th grade; and improve professional development and middle school teacher certification. (Education Week, 06/30/09)

Revising Graduation Rates
"One in Three Oregon Students Failed To Get a Diploma"
One in three students in Oregon's class of 2008 failed to get a diploma. Under pressure from the federal government, the state adopted a more accurate way of tracking how many students earned diplomas. The state reported that more than 15,000 students who began high school in fall 2004 or joined the class of 2008 did not earn a diploma. That meant only 68% of the class graduated within four years -- starkly lower than the 84% rate the state reported based on its previous, looser definition. (Oregonian, 06/29/09)

Student Expulsions/Suspensions
"School Suspensions Limited in Md."
Maryland public school officials can no longer suspend or expel students solely for being chronically late or absent under a new state law. The legislation follows a long trend of rising suspensions, which resulted from zero-tolerance policies imposed amid increasing violence in communities and high-profile school shootings. More than 16,500 students were suspended statewide in 2007-08 for attendance-related reasons, nearly 10% of the total. (Baltimore Sun, 07/01/09)

Summer School Cutbacks
"Facing Deficits, Some States Cut Summer School"
Nearly every Florida district has eviscerated or eliminated summer school this year, and officials are reporting sweeping cuts from North Carolina and Delaware to California and Washington. The cuts have come as states are struggling to approve budgets, and California’s governor declared a fiscal state of emergency. The moves come despite Education Secretary Arne Duncan's urgings that states and districts spend part of their federal education stimulus funds to keep schools open this summer. (New York Times, 07/01/09)

Turning Around Low-Performing Schools
"State Reps Urge Quick Action on Failing Schools"
Three Michigan representatives called on the Senate to act quickly on legislation targeting failing schools. The plan, approved by the House, creates new standards and restructuring options for schools to ensure students are prepared for the 21st century global economy. Under the legislation, reform officers would have the power to implement new building policies, assume direct operation of a low-performing school or contract with a high-performing charter school. (Detroit News, 06/30/09)

College/Work Readiness
"Panels Back ABCs of New Grad Criteria in Colorado"
For the first time, Colorado is spelling out exactly what 12th-graders should know before heading to college or entering the workforce. The state board and the higher education commission approved new standards intended to align high school instruction with the business world, vocational-tech schools and universities. The move was part of an overhaul of education that will include a new testing system, possibly doing away with the statewide assessment in favor of end-of-course exams. (Denver Post, 07/01/09)

Combating Student Hunger
"New Price for School Breakfast: Free"
A plan to reduce hunger among children by offering 50,000 working-class kids a free breakfast at school won approval from an Oregon legislative subcommittee. Currently, students from families who earn from 133 to 185% of the federal poverty level -- roughly $30,000 to $40,000 a year for a family of four -- must pay 30 cents to eat a school breakfast. State officials estimate that kids will eat nearly 4 million more breakfasts a year, costing the state $2.3 million in 2009-11. (Oregonian, 06/25/09)

Higher Education Accountability
"Assessing Accountability"
Most states don’t have systems in place to measure college students’ learning outcomes, and rare is the state that actually uses accountability data to drive policy decisions, an Education Sector report says. The report determined that 38 states have little if any system for measuring learning outcomes, and 36 states have yet to develop a method for linking college funding to performance. Education Sector measured states in 21 categories of accountability. (Inside Higher Ed, 07/01/09)

Lessons from Abroad
"Top-Scoring Nations Share Strategies on Teachers"
American education officials trying to learn from the policies and practices of top-performing nations seem to have two exemplary models in Singapore and Finland, including their policies to ensure high-quality teachers. The Global Education Competitiveness Summit brought together state and business leaders to discuss lessons that could be applied to U.S. school systems. The forum was organized by ECS, the International Society for Technology in Education and the Microsoft Corp. (Education Week, 06/30/09)

School Voucher Evaluation
"School Vouchers Study Finds Little Difference between Public Schools, Private Schools"
Supporters often say school vouchers are lifelines to low-income students trapped in sub-par public schools. But academically, students using vouchers to attend private schools in Florida are doing no better and no worse than similar students in public schools, says a study ordered by the legislature. The study compared test scores of students in the voucher program, which served 23,259 students last year, to eligible public school students who opted not to participate. (St. Petersburg Times, 06/30/09)

Undocumented Student Tuition
"Some Illegal Immigrants Will Be Able To Get In-state Tuition"
Some illegal immigrant high school graduates will be able to attend Wisconsin state universities by paying in-state tuition, under a provision in the two-year budget. Wisconsin now becomes the 11th state to enact such a law. To qualify, students would have to reside in the state for three years, graduate from a Wisconsin high school or earn an equivalency degree. It's estimated that 400 to 650 illegal immigrants annually graduate from state high schools. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 06/29/09)

Accountability Overhaul
"Texas Reworks School Accountability, Budgeting"
Texas Governor Rick Perry has signed legislation that will make significant changes in the state’s accountability system. The changes include tougher high school graduation standards and elimination of a requirement that districts must spend 65% of their operating budgets on instruction. But lawmakers failed to lift the cap on the number of charter schools permitted, reduce the power of the board of education and increase monitoring of English-language learner programs. (Education Week, 06/26/09)

Charter School Rankings
"State Charter School Laws Get "D" on '09 Report Card"
Wyoming has the 5th weakest charter school law of the 41 states that have such laws, according to a Center for Education Reform report. Wyoming's charter law earned a "D" this year, the same as in 2008. Three states earned "A" grades for strong laws, while four earned an "F." Wyoming was ranked low because only school boards can approve charters, and funding levels are unclear in comparison to regular public schools. (Wyoming Tribune Eagle, 06/30/09)

Education Technology
"Broad Adoption of Ed. Tech. Is Slow, SIIA Survey Says"
More schools have tapped into high-speed Internet access to allow for greater and more efficient use of online tools for learning, concludes a survey by the Software & Information Industry Association. Schools are also well-equipped to secure student data and provide safe access online. But progress toward broader adoption of educational technology and using it to improve instruction and learning is slow, and most schools have not incorporated tech-based assessment tools to the degree they need. (Education Week, 06/28/09)

Financial Aid Reforms
"New Plan Ties Reduced College Loan Payments to Income"
For the first time in years, there is good news for college students who borrow to pay for their education. The Department of Education will begin offering a repayment plan that lets graduates reduce their loan payments, based on their income. Also, the interest rate on new federal Stafford loans, the most widely used federally guaranteed student loan, will drop to 5.6%, from 6.8%. By 2012, the rate will fall to 3.4%, under a schedule mandated by Congress. (New York Times, 06/29/09)

Promoting STEM Careers
"State Urged To Push STEM Learning"
Wisconsin needs to do more to prepare students for careers that use science, technology, engineering and mathematics - or STEM - skills, argues a new report from the Public Policy Forum. The report says such efforts should include raising the academic standards expected of students, increasing available funding and working to reduce the number of emergency certifications for teachers in such subjects. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 06/27/09)

Teacher Turnover
"CPS Schools Lose Half of Teachers in 5 Years"
Chicago schools lose more than half their teachers within five years -- and about two-thirds of new ones, a University of Chicago study finds. Teacher churning is most severe in high-poverty, heavily African-American schools, where half of all teachers disappear after only three years. Smaller schools suffer higher teacher turnover than bigger ones. Teachers who leave low-scoring elementary schools often wind up in other low-scoring schools. But teachers who left low-scoring high schools often trade up to better-scoring schools. (Chicago Sun Times, 06/29/09)

Comprehensive Sex Ed
"Sex Ed To Get a Lot More Explicit"
Sex education in North Carolina schools, which for more than a decade has focused on abstinence, will soon include information about contraceptives and preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Under legislation that awaits the governor's signature, districts must begin offering the broader information in 2010 for grades 7-9. Parents could remove their children from the more comprehensive parts of the classes. (Raleigh News and Observer, 06/26/09)

Eliminating Charter Limits
"Charter School Limited Lifted"
A limit on the number of charter schools -- currently 70 -- that can operate in Louisiana has been lifted by the legislature. Louisiana's education department says the action could help the state as it seeks the $4 billion Race to the Top program, which is part of the federal stimulus funds. (Daily Advertiser, 06/26/09)

Financial Aid Constraints
"Scholarships for College Dwindle as Providers Pull Back Their Support"
The recession has led foundations, corporations, state governments and colleges themselves to reduce their support of providers of scholarships, and in recent months programs have been reduced or canceled outright. The cuts come as economic conditions make it harder for families to pay for college and as more unemployed people look for financing for retraining. The result probably will be a greater role for federal aid programs in supporting students. (New York Times, 06/26/09)

International Competition
"Global Competition: U.S. Students vs. International Peers"
Australia, Britain, China and South Korea have launched plans to ensure that all students have the tools, as well as the essential knowledge and skills, to use technology effectively for learning and work. And several nations are ramping up programs to help teachers become proficient with computers and other information tools. Little research is available to show how U.S. students are doing in gaining such proficiency, which could place them at a competitive disadvantage. ECS is co-hosting a Global Education Competitiveness Summit. (Education Week, 06/25/09)

Online Learning Advantages
"The Evidence on Online Education"
Online learning has definite advantages over face-to-face instruction when it comes to teaching and learning, according to a meta-analysis released by the U.S. Department of Education. The study found that students who took all or part of their instruction online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through face-to-face instruction. Students who took "blended" courses -- a combination online learning and face-to-face instruction -- appeared to do best of all. (Inside Higher Ed, 06/29/09)

Special-Ed Charter Students
"Special-Ed Problems Continue In District"
Some D.C. charter schools continue selective admissions practices that discourage special-needs students from enrolling, and students with possible disabilities still face delays in special education evaluations, a federal court monitor said. Some charters explicitly limit the number of hours of special education they will provide and counsel parents to enroll their children at regular public schools or at private or other charters that focus on students with disabilities. (Washington Post, 06/27/09)

Tuition Hikes
"Kansas’ Regents Universities All Raise Tuition"
Students attending Kansas’ six regents universities will see tuition increases ranging as high as 8.5% after votes by the board of regents. At the University of Kansas, most students will pay 6% more. An exception is the 40% of undergraduates -- sophomores and juniors -- who signed on for the KU Compact, which allows freshmen a fixed tuition for four years. But new KU freshmen who sign on for the compact this fall will pay 7% more for fixed tuition. (Kansas City Star, 06/26/09)

Boosting Charter Schools
"Tennessee, Georgia Relax Rules on Charter Schools"
Tennessee and Georgia lawmakers recently have made it easier for more students to attend charter schools. New Tennessee legislation opens up charters to poor students or those eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunch in districts with more than 14,000 students. Previously, only students who were failing or attended failing schools were eligible. Last year, the Georgia Charter Schools Commission was created and can authorize charters even if a school board denies the application. (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 06/25/09)

Disproportionate Suspensions/Expulsions
"Student Discipline Shows Racial Trend"
A disproportionate number of African American students in some Michigan districts are being suspended and expelled. An American Civil Liberties Union report recommends the state loosen its zero-tolerance policy to give local educators more discretion in disciplining students. It also suggest schools use a range of other methods to deal with discipline problems. The authors say students who are suspended or expelled drop out in greater numbers and more often end up in prison. (Detroit Free Press, 06/25/09)

Eliminating Exit Exams
"Alabama Board of Education Considers Changes to State's Testing Plan"
A proposal to completely overhaul the state's testing plan - including doing away with the Alabama High School Graduation Exam and instead requiring all 11th graders to take the ACT - was met with support from state board of education members. The proposal would eliminate the exit exam by 2011-12 and replace it with regular end-of-course tests in the same subjects. (Birmingham News, 06/26/09)

English-language Learner Funding
"Supreme Court Sides With Arizona in Language Case"
The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Arizona officials who said the federal government should not be supervising the state’s spending for teaching non-English-speaking students. The decision reversed a lower court ruling, which said the state was still violating a law that required "appropriate action" to help students overcome language obstacles. The lower court must further consider four changed circumstances, including the enactment of No Child Left Behind. (New York Times, 06/25/09)

Higher Ed Partnerships
"UND Partnering with 2-year Schools"
The University of North Dakota (UND) says it's working on partnerships with two-year colleges in North Dakota and Minnesota. University officials want to develop what they call a "hometown university" in which students can earn degrees from UND while they live and work in their own communities. (Bismarck Tribune, 06/24/09)

Student Rights
"Supreme Court Limits Strip-Searches of Students"
Public school officials violated the Fourth Amendment rights of a 13-year-old girl who was strip-searched for suspected drug possession, but are entitled to qualified immunity from legal action, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled. The ruling on strip-searches of students clarifies the standard for when such searches are permissible, but it does not prohibit them. (Education Week, 06/25/09)

Career Track Option
"Career Diploma’ Measure Passes"
Ending months of controversy, a bill that would offer Louisiana high school students a new curriculum in hopes of trimming the dropout rate won final legislative approval. The Senate voted 38-0 to go along with House changes to S.B. 259. Governor Bobby Jindal is expected to sign the bill. Critics contend the measure will lower education standards since some students could pursue the curriculum even if they fail state math and English exams in 8th grade. (Baton Rouge Advocate, 06/24/09)

Charter School Funding
"U.S. to R.I.: Finance Charter Schools"
Education Secretary Arne Duncan said that Rhode Island may be putting itself at "a huge competitive disadvantage" for securing Race to the Top federal stimulus dollars. The legislature's proposed 2010 budget eliminates $1.5 million that Governor Carcieri wanted to spend opening two new charters. (Providence Journal, 06/23/09)

Financial Aid for Vets
"700 Colleges Tied the Yellow Ribbon"
About 700 colleges signed up for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill's Yellow Ribbon Program. This allows colleges to enter into dollar-for-dollar matching agreements with the federal government to pay veterans' educational costs above those covered by the GI Bill benefit. Colleges and universities can enter into separate matching agreements at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Colleges predetermine the number of eligible veterans they’ll support and the amount they’ll contribute per student. (Inside Higher Ed, 06/25/09)

National Standards
"Missouri Resistant to Trend"
Missouri is one of just four states that haven’t agreed to help formulate national standards for what students should learn. But the state board of education president said that might change in the near future. Missouri, Alaska, Texas and South Carolina are the only states that haven’t agreed to join the effort. Two years ago, the state board unanimously voted against writing national education standards. (Columbia Tribune, 06/24/09)

Preschool Funding
"Preschool Programs Tread Thin Budget Ice"
Early-childhood programs remain popular among state lawmakers, who for the most part have attempted to hold the line on cuts even in the midst of the recession. But as states enter a new budget cycle, it’s possible preschool programs may end up being trimmed along with other budget items. A recent Pre-K Now report said states were continuing to finance preschool programs, though at more modest levels than in the past. (Education Week, 06/17/09)

STEM Teacher Recruitment
"Rendell: Science, Math Pros Needed To Teach School"
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is asking the legislature to create a fast-track into the teaching ranks for technology and engineering professionals. Candidates for the "residency certification" would have to complete an intensive, four-month training program on instructional strategies and child development. A residency certificate would be valid for three years, but the teacher could choose to continue teaching after that. (Philadelphia Inquirer, 06/24/09)