Federal Update - December 12, 2008
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to you by your voice at the national level,
the Association of American
Educators.
U.S. Students Show Progress in Math and Science Scores
Florida Court Limits Avenues for Charter Approval
"Obama education pick sparks conflict"
Final FERPA Regulations: Schools Given Greater Flexibility to Address Health or Safety Emergencies
U.S. Students Show Progress in Math and Science Scores
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) released a report showing steady improvements for American students in math and science. According to the press release from the Department of Education:
"The 2007 TIMSS found that U.S. fourth-graders jumped 11 points in math between 2003 and 2007 and 16 points since 1995 among eighth-graders. In science, the average U.S. score for eighth-graders was higher than the average scores of students in 35 of the 47 other countries and for fourth-graders was higher than the average scores of students in 25 of 35 other countries."
For more information:
http://nces.ed.gov/timss/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-12-09-math-sci-scores_N.htm
The Wall Street Journal has an article that discusses state education budgets being cut across the country:
"Among the forces behind the shortfalls: Job losses are cutting into state income-tax revenue; the erosion of home values is hurting property-tax revenue; and the drop in consumer spending reduces revenue from sales tax. As a result, 37 states are projecting midyear shortfalls this fiscal year, according to a survey by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. That is compared with only seven a year ago. Based on how things are going, the center estimates that total state budget gaps for next fiscal year will likely be around $100 billion, almost 10 times what it was last fiscal year, according to Elizabeth McNichol, senior fellow at the Washington D.C.-based center."
For more information:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122895665184096557.html
Florida Court Limits Avenues for Charter Approval
"A three-judge panel of the First District Court of Appeal struck down a 2006 law that lets applicants sidestep the state's 67 county school boards by getting their charters instead from a state commission."
"The law creating the Schools of Excellence Commission is in 'total and fatal conflict' with the Florida Constitution, which gives the local boards -- not the state -- authority over public schools, Judge Edward T. Barfield wrote in the unanimous opinion.
"[The ruling] means charter schools again will have to be approved by school boards, many of which are cool to the charter concept. Charter schools get public money but are run by private individuals, groups and organizations -- and in some cases public agencies."
For more information:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/796872.html
"Obama education pick sparks conflict"
"President-elect Barack Obama has not signaled what he will do to fix the country's failing schools, but his choice of education secretary will say a lot about the policies he may pursue.
"Debate is simmering among Democrats over whom Obama should name.
"In the education debate, the competing sides break down over the degree to which teachers and schools should be held accountable for how kids are learning, and the role test scores should play in making that determination."
For more information:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/12/08/ap5791167.html
Final FERPA Regulations: Schools Given Greater Flexibility to Address Health or Safety Emergencies
"Following the tragic April 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech, the U.S. Department of Education published in today's Federal Register final regulations to clarify and give schools greater flexibility in making determinations about disclosures of information from students' education records in order to address threats to the health or safety of students or other individuals.
"The final regulations include changes and clarifications as a result of public comments on the proposed rules that prompted comments from more than 100 individuals and organizations. The regulations will take effect on Jan. 8, 2009."
For more information:
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/12/12092008b.html
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28864.pdf