Saturday, February 14, 2009

Quick Hits

Jefferson County Public Schools has too many inexperienced teachers at its at-risk schools: The findings from the $250,000 study also said the district's labor contract with teachers could be hindering classroom instruction by preventing principals from moving educators where they are needed most. (The Courier-Journal)

Jenkins' Bill Requires Defib Machines At All H.S. Practices: Rep. Joni Jenkins of Louisville has proposed legislation that would require portable defibrillators at every high school sports practice and game. The bill also requires that ice baths be avaiable at any practice or game when the temperature is above 94 degrees. The bill is in reaction to the heat related death of a PRP football player last year. His coach has now been charged with a felony in connection with the death. (Mark Hebert)

MBA students seek backup plan in tough times: For decades, investment banking was a well-worn path to affluence for business-school graduates. But as Wall Street teeters, many are scrambling to find alternate routes into a brutal job market. (CNN)



Hundreds Of Chicago School Students Beaten By Teachers; Beaten With Brooms, Choked, Pushed Down Stairs...: Hundreds of students have allegedly been beaten by teachers, coaches and staff at Chicago Public Schools. 2 Investigator Dave Savini continues his ongoing investigation involving the illegal use corporal punishment. (CBS News)

Few women on colleges' boards: The percentage of women attending college nationally has increased dramatically in recent decades, but their representation on the schools' governing boards has crept up much slower. (Post and Courier)

Group threatens lawsuit over public schools' graduations at church: Several Waukesha County schools that use Elmbrook Church for graduation ceremonies should move their events to secular locations or risk a lawsuit, a national organization that advocates separation of church and state warned Wednesday. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Charter school bill for autistic kids advances: The Senate education committee Thursday voted to create up to three charter schools to serve children with autism and related disorders. (Rocky Mountain News)

SRC poised to greenlight six charter schools: The Philadelphia School Reform Commission appears poised to approve seven new charter schools, six of which would open this fall. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Cyber charter suit raises free-speech questions: For months, parents from the Agora Cyber Charter School in Devon were e-mailing about their difficulties obtaining information on the financial arrangement between the school's founder and her management company. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Time for that 'sextortion' talk with your teen: As a parent, I thought I knew a few things about teenagers. And as a male, I figured I understood how guys think. After hearing last week about the New Berlin Facebook sextortionist, I'm not so sure. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

What to do when children share nude photos via their cell phones: The Overland Park high schooler thought her boyfriend would appreciate some naughty photos of herself. It would be their cell phone secret. (Kansas City Star)

Cyber sex case stumps parents: Talking to kids about sexuality, body issues and intimate relationships has never been easy, but add in the youth phenomena of social networking and cyber behavior, and many parents have little generational advice to offer. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

District pays to chauffeur murder suspect to school: Special arrangement has teen accused in the murder of a beloved Pahokee high school football star "swaggering," observers say. (Palm Beach Post)

Minnesota charter schools are in for a change: As interest in the independently run but publicly funded schools explodes, so does legislators' desire to monitor them more closely. (Star Tribune)

AG urged to enforce black history classes in schools: Members of the Tallahassee Inter-Civic Council are asking the Florida Attorney General's Office to enforce a 1994 state law requiring black history to be taught in all school districts. (Tallahassee Democrat)

Economics sore subject for public schools: When states are forced to slash their budgets, schools are considered so important they’re usually immune from cuts — but not this time. See what’s at stake for K-12 and higher education in this excerpt from State of the States 2009, Stateline.org's annual report on significant state policy developments and trends. (Stateline. com)

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