Teacher Grades: Pass or Be Fired

"A job evaluation system that places significant emphasis on classroom observations is disliked by unionized teachers but has become a model for many educators."

Report: Nearly Half of High School Students Using Drugs, Alcohol

"A report from Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) revealed that nearly half of all of high school students in the U.S. are using addictive substances, and one in three of them are addicted."

Study Finds Kids Who Surf Internet Are Better Readers

"Parents might label it a waste of time but the hours spent surfing the internet, chatting online, and even on the dreaded Facebook appear to improve children's reading skills, The Australian reported Wednesday."

What Happens When Charter Schools Fail?

"Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Martha Woodall details her ongoing investigation into Philadelphia's charter school system, where 19 of the 74 charter schools operating in the city are under investigation for fraud, financial mismanagement and conflicts of interest."

Schools Blend Computers With Classroom Learning

"In an era of budget cuts, some schools are trying blended learning — where students in a class are divided into groups and then they split time between computer lessons and instruction with a teacher. The blended approach helps keep the feel of a small class without the cost of additional staff."

Plan Aims to Revitalize Detroit Schools

"Michigan officials announced a plan Monday to overhaul Detroit’s struggling schools by moving the worst ones into a new system in the fall of 2012."

Hispanic-White Achievement Gap Still Wide in Education: Report

"The Hispanic-white educational achievement gap has remained wide over the past two decades, according to a new report by the Department of Education's statistical center that a Department statement calls 'sobering.'"

The Best High Schools in America

"NEWSWEEK studied more than 1,000 top schools to determine the best of the best: the ones producing kids ready for college—and life."

Teachers Furious Over Executives' Raises

"More than 1,000 Chicago school teachers protested mere hours before the Board of Education voted to raise administrators' salaries. Teacher were informed last week that the schools do not have the funds to cover their 4 percent raises."

Many Children Not Getting Enough Exercise: Study

"Many American youngsters are not getting enough physical activity and parents are failing to make their children's health a priority, according to a new study."

Preschoolers Show Ethnic Preferences

"Canadian researchers say a study of preschoolers suggests young children may have a preference for interacting with kids of their own ethnic group."

Statistics on Non-Public Education in the U.S.

Statistics on Non-Public Education in the U.S.

Digest of Education Statistics 2010

Digest of Education Statistics 2010

Michigan to Take Over 45 of Detroit's Failing Schools

"Nearly four dozen of Detroit's poorest-performing schools will be placed in the hands of a new statewide authority next year, the latest attempt to turn around Michigan's struggling education system."

Speaking Up in Class, Silently, via Social Media

"A small but growing cadre of educators is trying to exploit Twitter-like technology to enhance classroom discussion and get students to shed inhibitions about voicing opinions."

CDC: High School Students Don't Exercise Enough

"Roughly one-third of high school students in the U.S. drink two or more sodas, sports drinks, or other sugary beverages per day, but only 15% get the one hour of daily aerobic exercise that health officials recommend, according to the results of a nationwide survey released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Report: Students Don't Know Much About US History

"Just 13 percent of high school seniors who took the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress — called the Nation's Report Card — showed solid academic performance in American history."

Islamic Education on the Rise in US, Struggle for Acceptance

"The Islamic School League of America (ISLA), a nonprofit that connects Muslim educators and institutions, estimates that 40,000 students are enrolled in Islamic schools in the United States, a 25 percent increase from 2006."

Helping Teachers Help Themselves

"The Montgomery County Public Schools system here has a highly regarded program for evaluating teachers, providing them extra support if they are performing poorly and getting rid of those who do not improve."

Children of Divorce Score Worse in Math, Social Skills

"Children of divorced parents often fall behind their classmates in math and social skills and are more likely to suffer anxiety, stress and low self-esteem, according to a new study."