Education Writers Association Stories

School choice is a real test for parents in New Orleans

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:44:28 GMT

School choice is a real test for parents in New Orleans
On a glorious Saturday last March, New Orleans educators descended on the art museum in City Park to plug their programs at the annual school fair. Armed with T-shirts, brochures and giveaways to entice potential students, they set up booths alongside the paintings, sculptures and grand columns of the museum. Only one thing was missing: families. This is the first of a series on school choice in the New Orleans area. Sarr Carr, The Times - Picayune, Nov. 10, 2009

More Oregon students are getting math

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:01:17 GMT

More Oregon students are getting math
Oregon math teachers have moved middle schoolers far enough ahead in math that the typical eighth-grader now can do math at nearly the same level as many high school sophomores. Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian, Nov. 9, 2009

Are Too Many Students Going to College?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:45:39 GMT

Are Too Many Students Going to College?

Are Too Many Students Going to College?
With student debt rising and more of those enrolled failing to graduate in four years, there is a growing sentiment that college may not be the best option for all students.The Chronicle of Higher Education asks education experts to weigh in on the debate. (subscription maybe required) The Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 9, 2009

Assessment for Improvement: Tracking Student Engagement Over Time 2009

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:35:51 GMT

Assessment for Improvement: Tracking Student Engagement Over Time 2009
A national survey released shows that a variety of colleges and universities have shown steady improvement in the quality of undergraduate education, as measured by students’ exposure to and involvement in effective educational practices. The 2009 report from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), Assessment for Improvement: Tracking Student Engagement Over Time, details results from a 2009 survey of 360,000 students attending 617 U.S. colleges and universities, and it includes a special look at trends in student engagement at more than 200 of those schools that had four to six year’s worth of data going back to 2004. National Survey of Student Engagement, Nov. 9, 2009

Rising By Degrees

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:28:14 GMT

Rising By Degrees
The United States is facing a dramatic demographic challenge: Young Latinos are the fastest-growing segment of the population, and they are the least likely to graduate from college. Experts say the future of the American economy is at stake, because higher education is essential in the 21st century economy. Rising by Degrees tells the story of Latino students working towards a college degree—and why it’s so hard for them to get what they want. Emily Hanford, American Radio Works, Nov. 6, 2009

Rising By Degrees

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:52:57 GMT

EWA's 63rd National Seminar, San Francisco, California

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:32:01 GMT

EWA's 63rd National Seminar, San Francisco, California

Participants will "Examine the Evidence" at EWA's 63rd annual meeting in San Francisco May 13-15, 2010. Sessions for this year's meeting will be held at the Hotel Kabuki in Japantown. The conference will examine issues around the philosophy of the US Department of Education's "Race to the Top," as well as focusing on how colleges should take responsibility for student success. Check back for more details on conference registration, speakers, agenda and sponsorship. You can also look at the 2009 guidelines until the new ones are published.

Contest Deadlines Announced

In addition, each year at our meeting EWA awards top prizes, including the Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize to journalists for education reporting. All contest entries must have been published during the 2008-2009 calendar year and must be postmarked by January 22, 2010.

Image Source: PacHD.com

2010 Education Research and Statistics Bootcamp

Lori Crouch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:33:31 GMT

The Education Writers Association, along with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, offers an opportunity for reporters to explore education research, statistics and data-based reporting in depth. The bootcamp runs from Thursday, Feb. 25, to Sunday, Feb. 28. Hotel expenses and most meals will be covered, as well as up to $250 for airfare. Admission is by application only.

More districts use income, not race, as basis for busing

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:07:39 GMT

More districts use income, not race, as basis for busing
Struggling to improve schools that have large populations of poor and minority students and under legal pressure to avoid racial busing, a small but growing group of school districts are integrating schools by income. Jordan Schrader, USA Today, Nov. 4, 2009

Apples and Oranges

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:03:34 GMT

Apples and Oranges
The United States economy is at risk because Indian and Chinese universities are educating more engineers than American institutions, or because some European countries have graduation rates that put those of American institutions to shame, or because of … (fill in the blank with the comparison of your choice). Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Education, Nov. 4, 2009

More districts use income, not race, as basis for busing

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:25:58 GMT

Early Lessons

Emily Hanford — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:27 GMT

The Perry Preschool Project is one of the most famous education experiments of the last 50 years. The study asked a question: Can preschool boost the IQ scores of poor African-American children and prevent them from failing in school?

Early Lessons
By Emily Hanford
The Perry Preschool Project is one of the most famous education experiments of the last 50 years. The study asked a question: Can preschool boost the IQ scores of poor African-American children and prevent them from failing in school?
American RadioWorks Oct. 30, 2009

Hispanic Immigrants' Children Fall Behind Peers Early, Study Finds

James C. McKinley Jr. — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:52:52 GMT

Hispanic Immigrants' Children Fall Behind Peers Early, Study Finds
By James C. McKinley Jr.
The children of Hispanic immigrants tend to be born healthy and start life on an intellectual par with other American children, but by the age of 2 they begin to lag in linguistic and cognitive skills, a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, shows.
The New York Times, Oct. 21, 2009

New kindergartners: Many kids not ready to learn

Jennifer Smith Richards — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:44:55 GMT

New kindergartners: Many kids not ready to learn
By Jennifer Smith Richards
Children in this pre-kindergarten class at Trevitt Elementary will have a leg up on most of their peers next fall. Across the Columbus, Ohio school district, tests given each fall show that more than three of every four kindergarten students aren't ready to learn.
The Columbus Dispatch Oct. 25, 2009

Study: Preschool education beneficial

Jeremy Boren — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:02:46 GMT

Study: Preschool education beneficial
By Jeremy Boren
Among "high-risk" low-income children, the rate of children historically enrolled in special education has been 18 percent placement in special-education programs; but among children in the 21 schools districts participating in the Pre-K Counts program and examined by the study, the figure was only 2 percent.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Oct. 23, 2009

FBI examines spending by Md. nonprofit

Miranda Spivack — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:56:43 GMT

FBI reviews spending by Md. nonprofit
By Miranda Spivack
The FBI is looking into the spending practices at Centro Familia, a Wheaton nonprofit group that runs a bilingual preschool, trains day-care providers and receives about $450,000 annually in contracts from Montgomery County, the organization's executive director has acknowledged.
The Washington Post Nov. 2, 2009

Bill to link preschool with economic development

Barbara Soderlin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:50:58 GMT

Bill to link preschool with economic development
By Barbara Soderlin
The bill is effort to help children of poor families and stimulate long-term economic development for South Dakota.
Rapid City Journal (SD) Oct. 29, 2009

Case of the missing juniors

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:20:34 GMT

Case of the missing juniors
Rich East High School in Chicago has seen state test scores for its 11th-graders improve by a stunning 37 percent during the last two years -- a gain so impressive that regional education officials asked the Park Forest school to host a seminar to help others emulate its success.There's only one problem: Rich East did not give the Prairie State Achievement Exam to about 40 percent of its juniors last school year. And it excluded the ones furthest behind academically. It's not the only school to keep the most underachieving students off the books, according to a ChicagoTribune analysis of new state Report Card test data. Stephanie Banchero, Darnell Little and Tara Malone, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 2, 2009

Teachers' trainers must make the grade, too

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:55:09 GMT

Teachers' trainers must make the grade, too
Texas is among the first states to toughen its standards for colleges of education and other teacher-training programs amid criticism that too many are “cash cows” that produce weak instructors. Under a proposed new rating system, the programs would be held accountable for their graduates' effectiveness on the job — especially regarding student achievement. Teacher programs that repeatedly fall short of the standards could lose their state accreditation. Erika Mellon, The Houston Chronicle, Nov. 2, 2009

On the Cusp in California

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:22:22 GMT

On the Cusp in California

On the Cusp in California
If children are the future, then looking at a state's educational system is like peering into a crystal ball. California is a state teeming with young children -- 4.7 million under age 8, to be exact. One in every eight young American children lives in California. And many of these children come from minority ethnic and racial backgrounds and speak languages other than English. If Americans want to get a glimpse at our future as a "majority minority" country they don't have to look beyond California. Linda Jacobson, New America Foundation, Oct. 2009

Early Lessons

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:09:42 GMT

Early Lessons
The Perry Preschool Project is one of the most famous education experiments of the last 50 years. The study asked a question: Can preschool boost the IQ scores of poor African-American children and prevent them from failing in school? The surprising results are now challenging widely-held notions about what helps people succeed in school, and in life. Part 1 of a series. Emily Hanford, American RadioWorks, Oct. 29, 2009

Bronx high school changed grades to graduate more students

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:22:07 GMT

Bronx high school changed grades to graduate more students
Teachers are accusing a Bronx high school principal hired with a $25,000 bonus to improve the school’s academics of instead transforming the school into a “diploma mill.”Transcripts given to GothamSchools by current and former teachers show that in the last year, dozens of students at Herbert Lehman High School have been given credit for courses they failed or never took. Anna Phillips, GothamSchools.org, Oct. 29, 2009

Baltimore City Public Schools seeks communications specialist

Baltimore Public Schools — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:19:02 GMT

Baltimore City Public Schools is looking for someone to join its staff as a communications specialists. Read more about the position here. Qualified applicants must submit their complete package of information via email to: administrativejobs@bcps.k12.md.us OR via U.S. mail to: Baltimore City Public Schools, Attn: Central Recruitment & Staffing, Department of Human Resources, 200 E. North Avenue, Room 110, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Review of resumes will begin immediately. Deadline to Apply is November 5, 2009.

Ed Reporter: Oct. 21, 2009

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:08:48 GMT

Your October 21, 2009 EWA Newsletter

<ON THE BLACKBOARD>

Don't Miss...
Last Chance to Sign Up....
Join EWA for "Small Schools and High School Reform: Shrinking Size,
Diminishing Returns?" - a three-day seminar Nov. 8-10 in San Diego,
Calif. exploring issues and story ideas related to small schools and
high school reform. Participants will visit schools and examine
programs in the San Diego Unified School District, hearing firsthand
from teachers, principals, students and parents about their
experiences. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=ZQ2yONDAlaYy4Fi27mX89A..

Linda's Excellent Blogging Adventures
EWA's public editor Linda Perlstein launched her new blog, The
Educated Reporter, Monday, October 19. If you haven't visited
yet, keep up to date on her postings on school reforms, book reviews,
interviews and musings on the ever changing world of education
journalism. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=tU4HiHiS0DH4iin6GbWAdw..

EWA Notes

EWA board member Richard Whitmire wrote an editorial for the
Washington Post on DC schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee's reform
efforts and her support of charter schools. Whitmire says the
chancellor is taking a step in the right direction by promoting
student achievement, but she is racing against time to rehabilitate
the beleaguered school system. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=vL_-2d1Alv7-rvMf93PswA..

Latino Studies
EWA, the National Panel on Latino Children and Schooling, and the Pew
Hispanic Center hosted a day-long discussion on Latino youth and
education in Washington, DC. Don't miss reading
these reports released by Pew "The Changing Pathways of Hispanic Youths
Into Adulthood" and "Latinos and Education: Explaining the Attainment
Gap". You can also read coverage of the meeting here.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=Id4J7b1ZkZrjp65YTXwIcQ..
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=OBxrxMjAlydNYtwm6OQUPA..
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=WbqCdjp_vQNA3iNBiONcQg..

Reports: NAEP scores, Kids Survey, Getting Through High School

Classrooms and Community Organizing
The Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University finds
that community organizing at the grassroots level in seven American
cities contributed to improving student achievement, as well as parent
involvement and engagement, and even teacher morale. The research was
conducted over a six-year period. Organizing campaigns in Austin,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Oakland, Philadelphia and the Bronx were
used in the study. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=4DieZrPU-zU29J5e06o7XA..

Math Scores Up for Eighth Graders; Fourth Graders at Standstill
Fourth grade test scores in mathematics on the National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) stalled for the first time in two decades,
leaving federal officials wondering how to regain momentum.
Eighth-graders continue to see their scores rise, albeit only
marginally. The overall average score for fourth-graders in 2009
remained unchanged compared to two years before. U.S. education
secretary Arne Duncan told the New York Times, "We've got
to get better faster."
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=GFngE7EM0S4sqtHJy9lxuQ..
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=xGjXvJzqiWFfTzlAgnZ0UQ..

Moving Through the Pipeline
The Southern Regional Education Board finds that states must do more
to boost their high school graduation rates. Its report, "The
Next Generation of School Accountability: A Blueprint for Raising High
School Graduation Rates and Achievement," examines how states can
strengthen graduation rates as a part of school accountability
laws. Another report, "Gaining Ground on High School Graduation
Rates in SREB States: Milestones and Guideposts," focuses on how
states are preparing themselves to meet new federal guidelines by
2011. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=MJNV7hHfP0BTRh3XNBMSog..

Just Being a Kid
Do you wonder what's it like being a kid today? Check out
Highlights Magazine's first ever "State of the Kid" survey, which was
released in Washington, DC last month. While a plurality (36 percent)
of kids would play or have fun, one surprising tidbit is that nearly
one in four kids say they would spend the extra time reading and
studying. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=9EnQtJRwAQ1frtMc2Yr5Mg..

Upcoming Reports

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) will release a new report, "Mapping State Proficiency Standards Onto NAEP Scales: 2005-2007," on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Education Statistics Services Institute. The study will show the range of difference in state proficiency standards in reading and mathematics and whether states have changed the rigor of their standards between 2005 and 2007. NCES is the statistical center of the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education. To RSVP contact Raquel Maya at (202) 842-3600, Ext. 212, or rmaya@hagersharp.com.

Job and Upcoming Events

ProPublica is looking for two investigative reporters. Applicants will
be considered from any specialized or generalist investigative
reporting background, but the group is especially interested in
applicants focused on education, immigration, energy or environment.
Both of the reporters to be hired will be based in ProPublica's New
York City office. Interested applicants should send their resumes to
reportingjobs@propublica.org

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
(NALEO) Educational Fund is seeking a communications director. The
person will work with senior management on communications strategy.
The position can be based in Los Angeles or Washington, D.C. If interested send a letter of interest and resume to Mark Glaze at mglaze@rabengroup.com; (202)
463-4805.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=RKy4FewWGnX6_OvQKi_8Xg..

The Knight Digital Media Center is hosting a Web 2.0 training for journalists Dec. 14-18 at the Graduate School of Journalism on the University of California Berkeley's campus. Application deadline is Friday, Oct. 30. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=7iNTlKt-fOX8sChE4Y80wA..

The National Association of Black Journalists is hosting "Advancing in Broadcast Management Seminar" Saturday, Nov. 7 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=i_ZF96VvywndJBuNnWsksQ..

"Reaffirming the Role of School Integration in K-12 Public Education Policy: A Conversation Among Policymakers, Advocates and Educators" will be held at Howard University's School of Law, Friday, Nov. 13. You can see scheduled panelists and the agenda here. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=5hevfQfr_XF1-9SaOeAdEA..

The Society of Professional Journalists is sponsoring "How to be an Entrepreneur as a Business Journalist" Dec. 7-11. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=5D5eba5NuS1ovu6j30Ti5Q..

Sign Up for this five-day IRE boot camp Dec. 7 -11 at Florida International University. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=H0ewHTMNh15wqKnpliC-zw..

From the Beat

Fenger kids tell why they fight
Azam Ahmed, Kristen Mack and Annie Sweeney
The Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune begins an in-depth look at youth violence,
examining its complex causes and uncovering possible solutions.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=JMFVuaQ0sgGtXEK9QXGsQg..

Metro Nashville school workers abused expenses
Jaime Sarrio
The Tennessean
Digital cameras, Bluetooth headsets, iPods and gift cards are just a
few of the $22.6 million in purchases Metro Nashville Public Schools
employees charged with district credit cards. Employees in the
cash-strapped district dined out at local restaurants, bought gourmet
coffee and purchased expensive office chairs with the swipe of a card.
School officials said many of the purchases were necessary to keep the
75,000-student system running.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=LZmto33i2xTSkUVz0uPZuQ..

Looking for Solutions to the Catholic-School Crisis
Gilbert Cruz
Time Magazine
He is neither old nor a priest nor particularly attached to
time-honored traditions. At 35, John Eriksen, one of the nation's
youngest Catholic-school superintendents, offers a ruthless assessment
of parochial education. "The biggest threat that urban Catholic
schools face is nostalgia," he says.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=TEvvhRH_BDhZZqOG6Npv5A..

Please send your best stories and member news to Mesha Williams at
publications@ewa.org.

**About us**

Dale Mezzacappa, president, Public School Notebook; Tanya Schevitz,
vp/actives, free lance reporter; Marie Groark, vp/associates, Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation; Stephanie Banchero, secretary, Chicago
Tribune; Richard Whitmire, immediate past president, freelancer;
Kathryn Baron, freelance radio reporter; John Merrow, Learning
Matters, Inc.; Linda Lenz, Catalyst; Rodney Ferguson, Lipman Hearne,
Inc.; Cornelia Grumman, First Five Years Fund; Elizabeth Green, Gotham
Schools.org; Scott Elliott, Dayton (Ohio) Daily News; Kent Fischer,
GMMB.

Ed Reporter: October 21, 2009

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:02:11 GMT

Your October 21, 2009 EWA Newsletter

<ON THE BLACKBOARD>

Don't Miss...

Last Chance to Sign Up....
Join EWA for "Small Schools and High School Reform: Shrinking Size,
Diminishing Returns?" - a three-day seminar Nov. 8-10 in San Diego,
Calif. exploring issues and story ideas related to small schools and
high school reform. Participants will visit schools and examine
programs in the San Diego Unified School District, hearing firsthand
from teachers, principals, students and parents about their
experiences. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=ZQ2yONDAlaYy4Fi27mX89A..

Linda's Excellent Blogging Adventures
EWA's public editor Linda Perlstein launched her new blog, The
Educated Reporter, Monday, October 19. If you haven't visited
yet, keep up to date on her postings on school reforms, book reviews,
interviews and musings on the ever changing world of education
journalism. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=tU4HiHiS0DH4iin6GbWAdw..

EWA Notes

EWA board member Richard Whitmire wrote an editorial for the
Washington Post on DC schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee's reform
efforts and her support of charter schools. Whitmire says the
chancellor is taking a step in the right direction by promoting
student achievement, but she is racing against time to rehabilitate
the beleaguered school system. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=vL_-2d1Alv7-rvMf93PswA..

Latino Studies
EWA, the National Panel on Latino Children and Schooling, and the Pew
Hispanic Center hosted a day-long discussion on Latino youth and
education in Washington, DC. Don't miss reading
these reports released by Pew "The Changing Pathways of Hispanic Youths
Into Adulthood" and "Latinos and Education: Explaining the Attainment
Gap". You can also read coverage of the meeting here.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=Id4J7b1ZkZrjp65YTXwIcQ..
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=OBxrxMjAlydNYtwm6OQUPA..
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=WbqCdjp_vQNA3iNBiONcQg..

Reports: NAEP scores, Kids Survey, Getting Through High School

Classrooms and Community Organizing
The Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University finds
that community organizing at the grassroots level in seven American
cities contributed to improving student achievement, as well as parent
involvement and engagement, and even teacher morale. The research was
conducted over a six-year period. Organizing campaigns in Austin,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Oakland, Philadelphia and the Bronx were
used in the study. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=4DieZrPU-zU29J5e06o7XA..

Math Scores Up for Eighth Graders; Fourth Graders at Standstill
Fourth grade test scores in mathematics on the National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) stalled for the first time in two decades,
leaving federal officials wondering how to regain momentum.
Eighth-graders continue to see their scores rise, albeit only
marginally. The overall average score for fourth-graders in 2009
remained unchanged compared to two years before. U.S. education
secretary Arne Duncan told the New York Times, "We've got
to get better faster." http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=GFngE7EM0S4sqtHJy9lxuQ..
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=xGjXvJzqiWFfTzlAgnZ0UQ..

Moving Through the Pipeline
The Southern Regional Education Board finds that states must do more
to boost their high school graduation rates. Its report, "The
Next Generation of School Accountability: A Blueprint for Raising High
School Graduation Rates and Achievement," examines how states can
strengthen graduation rates as a part of school accountability
laws. Another report, "Gaining Ground on High School Graduation
Rates in SREB States: Milestones and Guideposts," focuses on how
states are preparing themselves to meet new federal guidelines by
2011.http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=MJNV7hHfP0BTRh3XNBMSog..

Just Being a Kid
Do you wonder what's it like being a kid today? Check out
Highlights Magazine's first ever "State of the Kid" survey, which was
released in Washington, DC last month. While a plurality (36 percent)
of kids would play or have fun, one surprising tidbit is that nearly
one in four kids say they would spend the extra time reading and
studying. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=9EnQtJRwAQ1frtMc2Yr5Mg..

Upcoming Reports

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) will release a new report, "Mapping State Proficiency Standards Onto NAEP Scales: 2005-2007," on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Education Statistics Services Institute. The study will show the range of difference in state proficiency standards in reading and mathematics and whether states have changed the rigor of their standards between 2005 and 2007. NCES is the statistical center of the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education. To RSVP contact Raquel Maya at (202) 842-3600, Ext. 212, or rmaya@hagersharp.com.

Job and Upcoming Events

ProPublica is looking for two investigative reporters. Applicants will
be considered from any specialized or generalist investigative
reporting background, but the group is especially interested in
applicants focused on education, immigration, energy or environment.
Both of the reporters to be hired will be based in ProPublica's New
York City office. Interested applicants should send their resumes to
reportingjobs@propublica.org

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
(NALEO) Educational Fund is seeking a communications director. The
person will work with senior management on communications strategy.
The position can be based in Los Angeles or Washington, D.C. If interested send a letter of interest and resume to Mark Glaze at mglaze@rabengroup.com; (202)
463-4805.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=RKy4FewWGnX6_OvQKi_8Xg..

The Knight Digital Media Center is hosting a Web 2.0 training for journalists Dec. 14-18 at the Graduate School of Journalism on the University of California Berkeley's campus. Application deadline is Friday, Oct. 30. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=7iNTlKt-fOX8sChE4Y80wA..

The National Association of Black Journalists is hosting "Advancing in Broadcast Management Seminar" Saturday, Nov. 7 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=i_ZF96VvywndJBuNnWsksQ..

"Reaffirming the Role of School Integration in K-12 Public Education Policy: A Conversation Among Policymakers, Advocates and Educators" will be held at Howard University's School of Law, Friday, Nov. 13. You can see scheduled panelists and the agenda here. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=5hevfQfr_XF1-9SaOeAdEA..

The Society of Professional Journalists is sponsoring "How to be an Entrepreneur as a Business Journalist" Dec. 7-11. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=5D5eba5NuS1ovu6j30Ti5Q..

Sign Up for this five-day IRE boot camp Dec. 7 -11 at Florida International University. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=H0ewHTMNh15wqKnpliC-zw..

From the Beat

Fenger kids tell why they fight
Azam Ahmed, Kristen Mack and Annie Sweeney
The Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune begins an in-depth look at youth violence,
examining its complex causes and uncovering possible solutions.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=JMFVuaQ0sgGtXEK9QXGsQg..

Metro Nashville school workers abused expenses
Jaime Sarrio
The Tennessean
Digital cameras, Bluetooth headsets, iPods and gift cards are just a
few of the $22.6 million in purchases Metro Nashville Public Schools
employees charged with district credit cards. Employees in the
cash-strapped district dined out at local restaurants, bought gourmet
coffee and purchased expensive office chairs with the swipe of a card.
School officials said many of the purchases were necessary to keep the
75,000-student system running.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=LZmto33i2xTSkUVz0uPZuQ..

Looking for Solutions to the Catholic-School Crisis
Gilbert Cruz
Time Magazine
He is neither old nor a priest nor particularly attached to
time-honored traditions. At 35, John Eriksen, one of the nation's
youngest Catholic-school superintendents, offers a ruthless assessment
of parochial education. "The biggest threat that urban Catholic
schools face is nostalgia," he says.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=TEvvhRH_BDhZZqOG6Npv5A..

Please send your best stories and member news to Mesha Williams at
publications@ewa.org.

**About us**

Dale Mezzacappa, president, Public School Notebook; Tanya Schevitz,
vp/actives, free lance reporter; Marie Groark, vp/associates, Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation; Stephanie Banchero, secretary, Chicago
Tribune; Richard Whitmire, immediate past president, freelancer;
Kathryn Baron, freelance radio reporter; John Merrow, Learning
Matters, Inc.; Linda Lenz, Catalyst; Rodney Ferguson, Lipman Hearne,
Inc.; Cornelia Grumman, First Five Years Fund; Elizabeth Green, Gotham
Schools.org; Scott Elliott, Dayton (Ohio) Daily News; Kent Fischer,
GMMB.

Ed Reporter: October 1, 2009

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:54:47 GMT

Your EWA Newsletter for Oct. 1, 2009

<ON THE BLACKBOARD>

Looking for Work?
Check out EWA's Job Center for the latest reporting, public relations
and research vacancies on our website.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=Kb14S8NY7lnUbKCLZ7DT4w..

Post Your Release Today!
Also you can now post your press release or read about organizations'
events or major reports on EWA's website. The cost is $50 to
post items. Just go to our home page and visit the press release
center to get your message out today!
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=BLDIqAhOQcAX7nJaxVp6PA..

Call for Proposals
EWA is pleased to invite researchers and organizations to propose speakers, sessions and/or
themes for our 63rd annual National Seminar in San Francisco May 13-15, 2010. If you have any questions, email Lori Crouch at lcrouch@ewa.org or call 202-452-9820.

Don't Miss...

EWA, the National Panel on Latino Children and Schooling, and the Pew
Hispanic Center are collaborating to offer a day-long discussion on
Latino youth and education on Oct. 6 at the Pew Hispanic Center in
Washington, DC. Reporters can apply for a fellowship stipend to
pay for travel. Pew will release preliminary findings from a survey of
Latino teens and young adults about their attitudes toward high school
and whether they plan to go to college or to work. Sign up today!
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=Pf8GYgBRzkq4KyRiKr9slg..

EWA, Investigative Reporters and Editors and the Student Press Law
Center are launching a program to help college newspapers better cover
campus issues the training program will include: using the Internet as
an investigative tool, learning how to read budget documents,
preparing for interviews and much more. If you teach journalism
courses, work with college newspapers, or know those who do please
pass this great opportunity on.

http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=2a5nlUL7hts3FWFNST2rDA..

Listen to EWA's podcasts on stimulus spending for K-12 school
districts and higher education.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=9QsVQea_9Gxd9k51r44AkQ..
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=xnpFjY6Ll8XUQBWY8Lm0yQ..

The Public Editor Says....

An Untraditional Approach
These students aren't all in school, but they have a lot to tell
us about it.
By Linda Perlstein

You cover K-12 education--so what students are you concerned
with? What if you are a higher ed reporter? Generally, journalists
adhere to the narrowest definition. The vast majority of the time,
K-12 reporters write about children in kindergarten through twelfth
grade at public schools. Higher ed reporters write about students on
campus at bricks-and-mortar universities. Read more here. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=iDw1gPUf7m6HACkrF_oRTw..

Upcoming Reports:

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will release
the 2009 Nation's Report Card in mathematics on October 14, 2009 at
10:00 a.m. EDT. The Nation's Report Card will present scores for
fourth- and eighth-graders from all fifty states, the District of
Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and the nation.

Reports: Community Colleges, Undergraduate enrollment, New York City
charter schools

International Education: What Foreign Students Mean to America's
Future
The American Council on Education has released Sizing Up the
Competition examining the enrollment trends of foreign college
students in the U.S., United Kingdom, Germany, France and Australia.
The report identifies factors that could affect the growth of
international student enrollments in the U.S., including stronger
recruiting efforts made by other countries, the global economic
crisis, and the number of students who seek an education abroad. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=iwEINqSADrhhm68QUA0r1g..

Keeping Pace at Community Colleges
A renaissance of sorts is happening at America's community
colleges as institutions try to keep up with unprecedented enrollment
demands. A report released by the Education Policy Center finds that
interest in community colleges continues to grow but funding is not
keeping pace. A majority of community college leaders report that they
expect to make mid-year budget cuts in 2010 and that student aid has
dropped 70%. Read the rest of the report here. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=tn4bToLIR0iF6ucT9ql-kg..

Enrollment Snapshot at Private Colleges and Universities
Private college enrollments are healthier than predicted, according to
the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
Most NAICU member institutions report record or near record
enrollment. Low tuition increases, federal stimulus aid, colleges
accepting a higher percentage of applicants and an extending the
recruitment cycle for the academic year all contributed to the
enrollment picture, NAICU says. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=OeSpVhWAvAPGYURApPMIEQ..

Leading the Pack
A new study examines New York City charter schools and achievement
levels. The New York City Charter Schools Evaluation Project is a
multi-year study in which nearly all of the city's charter
schools are participating. More than 90 percent of students are
admitted to New York City charter schools through a lottery.
Researchers compared student achievement levels of students who attend
charter schools versus students who attended traditional public
schools. Data collected over an eight-year span finds charter school
students perform better on state exams than
"non-lotteried" students. This is the second year of the
study. Caroline M. Hoxby served as one of the principal
investigators of the study and has done extensive research on charters
and vouchers. The Institute for Education Sciences helped fund some
parts of the research. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=my9tJBW1bm_wokkkpPe4pg..

News of Interest
The Harvard Graduate School of Education will offer a new degree in
education leadership next year. The program, supported by the Wallace
Foundation, will train graduates for senior leadership roles in school
systems, government agencies, non-profit organizations and the private
sector. Grad students are expected to participate in a year-long
residency with partner organizations in urban school systems in New
York City, Atlanta and Denver, as well as, work with national
organizations like Teach for America and New Leaders for New Schools. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=gqUaA3cgI9CrYnEXJ2xkdA..

Media Notes

Catalyst Chicago has announced several staff changes including a new
editor in chief. Lorraine Forte now serves as editor in chief of
Catalyst after former editor Veronica Anderson left to accept a Knight
fellowship at Stanford University. Sarah Karp has been promoted as
deputy editor and the publication is seeking a journalist to fill her
previous position as associate editor. Debra Williams is the new
community editor. Data and Research Editor John Myers has left the
publication to move to Boston, where he continues to write and perform
research for Catalyst on a contract basis.

Popular ed blogger and Education Sector co-founder Andrew Rotherham
surprised reporters and policy wonks by announcing his plans to step
down from the Washington-based think tank next year. People who enjoy
reading Eduwonk shouldn't worry because Rotherham says he still
plans to provide education commentary on his blog. Tom Toch,
co-founder of Education Sector left the organization over the summer
to lead the Association of Independent Schools of Greater
Washington. http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=kiBnKG6ju294Y03Lglid6g..

To Tweet or not to Tweet? ABC got into some hot water when a star
reporter and other employees tweeted remarks made by President Obama
that were supposed to remain off the record. By now, you probably have
heard that the president called rapper Kanye West a jack@!# for his
outburst during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV
Video Music Awards this month. President Obama's remarks were
made during a CNBC interview, when ABC reporter Terry Moran posted the
tweet online. At least two other ABC staffers got caught up in the
tweet frenzy. ABC issued an apology to the White House for the tweet
and said its employees didn't realize that portion of the
conversation wasn't meant to be reported. The incident provoked
a debate over journalism standards and what's proper reporting
during the era of Twitter, You Tube and Facebook. The American
Journalism Review has a feature examining journalists' personal
and professional use of social networks. Many newsrooms across the
country are "developing policies ranging from restrictive use to
common sense approaches" for it employees, AJR reports. How do
you use social networking in your reporting? Should there be limits to
its use? How do you handle a situation when a source wants to go off
the record? http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=5ykaac9Zus5Cshhrs814NQ..

http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=oshJ7TfnQ8C4s3kTDVFPLg..
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=cANfevwg649UIQhiDP8Mjw..

Upcoming Events and Jobs

Catalyst Chicago is seeking an associate editor to join its staff to
write in-depth stories and blog posts. If interested, send resume and
2 to 3 clips to editorjob@catalyst-chicago.org.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=NJZDdoYsu_hnQAUfLOxZTA..

The National Immigration Forum seeks a communications professional to
lead its staff in developing media/communications strategies.
Candidates are encouraged to apply by October 6, 2009; however, the
position will remain open until filled. Send cover letter, resume and
salary requirements mailto:to%3Aresume@immigrationforum.org; subject: Senior
Communications. Visit http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=MKXj3FgE682f550FasfjMA.. .

The Hechinger Institute will host a seminar for higher education
reporters and what they need to know to cover the beat. EWA member and
Chicago Tribune reporter Jodi S. Cohen is a featured seminar expert.
Application deadline is Oct. 9 and seminar is scheduled Nov. 20-22.
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=UK4lBUfMsNqIE_2SlSsKjQ..

The Spencer Foundation is accepting applications for the 2010 Spencer
Dissertation Fellowship for Research Related to Education.
Applications are due Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. For more information,
visit http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=XZlcVmNSRWVph3mcA-FLuw..

The National Center on School Choice at Vanderbilt is hosting School
Choice and School Improvement Research in State, District and
Community Contexts in Nashville October 25-27. To learn more and
register for the conference go here. For more information,
contact kit.lively@vanderbilt.edu
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=ItikVbnArtG4DNM8zR_BKw..

From the Beat

Coming Out in Middle School
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=J1d1fF_m6ZB73_5W7kq7qw..
Benoit Denizet-Lewis
The New York Times Magazine
How 13-year-old kids are dealing with their sexual identity --
and how others are dealing with them.

N.J. colleges borrow billions; students stuck with the tab
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=renJlR0WI52nTxxkP3zBiw..
Patricia Alex,
The (North Jersey) Record
Credit crunch? Not at New Jersey's public colleges and universities,
which have racked up huge debt loads while expanding over the past
decade. The dozen four-year schools have taken on a record $3.86
billion in debt. And students are paying the bill.

B-ESD consultant: Land decision's past paves way for grim future
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=kjvCy-J3s2KAQKZGfT3LpA..
Kate Martin
Skagit Valley Herald
Financial decisions made by the Burlington-Edison School Board in
Mount Vernon, Wa., could harm the quality of education for the
district's students for years to come. This is a fourth in a
series.

Stop the Presses! Revamped Journalism Courses Attract Hordes of
Students
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=dLDaZEmUZdcfvZZ5mkX2fQ..
Katherine Mangan
The Chronicle of Higher Education
At a time when the newspaper industry is in free fall and thousands of
jobs are being cut each year, one would think that the halls of the
nation's journalism schools would be awfully quiet. Think again. Many
universities report that journalism enrollments are up this year.

Learning another language improves children's skills in many areas of
their life
http://www.ewa.org/site/R?i=MArNk0jQP-ACnbdsuMPoFg..
Kimberly Isburg
The Des Moines Register
Early childhood is the optimal time for learning a second language,
according to The National Network for Early Language Learning (NNELL).
Research shows that children who learn a second language develop an
increased understanding of their native language in addition to
learning a second. Research also shows that the benefits of learning a
second language extend beyond having the ability to communicate with
people of another culture.

Please send your best stories and member news to Mesha Williams at
publications@ewa.org.

**About us**

Dale Mezzacappa, president, Public School Notebook; Tanya Schevitz,
vp/actives, free lance reporter; Marie Groark, vp/associates, Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation; Stephanie Banchero, secretary, Chicago
Tribune; Richard Whitmire, immediate past president, freelancer;
Kathryn Baron, freelance radio reporter; John Merrow, Learning
Matters, Inc.; Linda Lenz, Catalyst; Rodney Ferguson, Lipman Hearne,
Inc.; Cornelia Grumman, First Five Years Fund; Elizabeth Green, Gotham
Schools.org; Scott Elliott, Dayton (Ohio) Daily News; Kent Fischer,
GMMB.

Federal complaint: Filipino teachers held in 'servitude'

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:39:20 GMT

Federal complaint: Filipino teachers held in 'servitude'
It has been more than two years since Ingrid Cruz aced a middle-of-the-night video interview in Manila, borrowed $10,000 from her parents and flew halfway around the world to take a job here teaching middle school science. Cruz is one of more than 300 teachers imported to Louisiana from the Philippines since 2007, a group of educators who say collectively they paid millions of dollars in cash to a Filipino recruiting firm, PARS International Placement Agency, and its sister company, Los Angeles-based Universal Placement International Inc. The American Federation of Teachers and its state affiliate, the Louisiana Federation of Teacher allege the teachers are being kept in "virtual servitude" by holding onto their U.S. work visas unless they kept paying inflated fees, commissions and rents. Greg Toppo and Icess Fernandez, USA Today, Oct. 28, 2009

Memo from schools CEO adds fuel to Imagine fire

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:37:35 GMT

Memo from schools CEO adds fuel to Imagine fire
The largest operator of charter schools in St. Louis has faced long-standing concerns that it crafts school boards to be puppets for its own corporation.For years, it has hand-picked those who should be charged with the company's oversight. And in multiple states, regulators objected as the company sought to place employees on its school boards. Now, the Post-Dispatch has obtained a memo in which the chief of Virginia-based Imagine Schools lays out a nationwide blueprint for controlling school boards and limiting their authority. David Hunn, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Oct. 28, 2009

As aid shrinks, more 'stuck' for day care

Marisol Bello — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:30:12 GMT

As aid shrinks, more 'stuck' for day care
By Marisol Bello
As budget problems worsen, states are tightening rules for subsidies, eliminating enriched child care programs, raising fees that parents and providers pay, and halting new subsidies.
USA Today Oct. 21, 2009

Research shows value of preschool for poor

Joe Smydo — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:23:31 GMT

Research shows value of preschool for poor
By Joe Smydo
The three-year study of 10,000 children showed Pennsylvania's Pre-K Counts program helped the students improve math, literacy and social skills; helped put them on track for kindergarten; and reduced their need for special-education services.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Oct. 23, 2009

Theodore R. Sizer, Education Innovator, Is Dead at 77

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:06:00 GMT

Theodore R. Sizer, Education Innovator, Is Dead at 77
Theodore R. Sizer, one of the country’s most prominent education-reform advocates, whose pluralistic vision of the American high school helped shape the national discourse on education and challenge longstanding ideas of what a school should be, died on Wednesday at his home in Harvard, Mass. Margalit Fox, The New York Times, Oct. 23, 2009

A Mid-Atlantic Miracle

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:46:55 GMT

A Mid-Atlantic Miracle
If you had to pick one institution that best exemplifies the American dream, what would it be? The institutions that arguably come closest to embodying the idea that anyone, regardless of family background, can make it on the basis of ability and hard work are the nation’s public universities. But the promise of social mobility that public universities represent is increasingly unraveling because of high tuition costs. However the state of Maryland has successfully bucked the higher-tuition trend when no other public university system or state was able to do so. Jon Marcus, The Washington Monthly, Oct. 23, 2009

Cellphonometry: Can Kids Really Learn Math From Smartphones?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:28:10 GMT

Cellphonometry: Can Kids Really Learn Math From Smartphones?
Schools are partnering with mobile-phone companies to help kids conquer math. Are smartphone-learning initiatives more than a corporate gimmick? Elizabeth Svoboda, Fast Company Magazine, Oct. 22, 2009

Author/Advocate Gerald W. Bracey Dies at 69

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:20:28 GMT

Author/Advocate Gerald W. Bracey Dies at 69
Gerald W. Bracey, one of the field's best known and most vocal authors, advocates, and researchers, died quietly in his sleep yesterday at his home in Port Townsend, Wash. Debbie Viadero of Education Week remembers Bracey in her column. Debbie Viadero, Education Week, Oct. 22, 2009

Governor Signs Simitian's Education Data Bill, Ensuring Access to Federal Funds

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:12:14 GMT

Governor Signs Education Data Bill, Ensuring Access to Federal Funds
The bill will also provide clarity about system linkages between K-12 and pre-K, and between K-12 and higher education, to ensure the state?s longitudinal data system is P-20 comprehensive.
The California Chronicle Oct. 13, 2009

Assessment weaves through every activity in Newport News preschool programs

Cathy Grimes — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:03:31 GMT

Assessment weaves through every activity in Newport News preschool programs
By Cathy Grimes
From the moment they walk in the door until the time they leave, students are gauged on their mastery of a wide range of skills outlined in Virginia's Foundation Blocks for Early Learning, sometimes called the PreK Standards of Learning.
Daily Press (VA) Oct. 11, 2009

Smart start for kids

Lori Yount — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:25:30 GMT

Smart start for kids
By Lori Yount
A unique early-childhood program is helping low-income students enter Wichita-area schools prepared to learn, according to data released by the Opportunity Project, or TOP.
The Witchita Eagle (KS) Oct. 16, 2009

Reinventing Remedial Education

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:36:56 GMT

Reinventing Remedial Education
When Kafayat Olayinka graduated from Spingarn High School in Washington, D.C., with a 3.5 grade-point average, she was certain those kinds of grades would help her zip right through college. Sure enough, Olayinka received a letter of acceptance from the University of the District of Columbia, along with a request that she take a battery of tests given all freshmen. Soon, though, she realized something was wrong. Olayinka couldn't do basic math. Reginald Stuart, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Oct. 20, 2009

The Educated Reporter

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:10:23 GMT

EWA Public Editor Linda Perlstein is launching a new blog, The Educated Reporter on Oct. 19. Perlstein will comment on education coverage, offering insights into story ideas and approaches. She will discuss research and pose questions about policy debates.

Nearly 60,000 spankings in Miss. schools last year

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:09:58 GMT

Nearly 60,000 spankings in Miss. schools last year
As kids, Mike Kent and John Jordan said they each got their share of whacks with a paddle. As superintendent of Oxford public schools in 1994, Jordan worked with the school board to end corporal punishment in the district. Kent's district, like many districts statewide, practices corporal punishment. Mississippi has one of the nation's highest rates of corporal punishment. Marquita Brown, The Clarion Ledger, Oct. 19, 2009

Tutoring dollars harder to come by

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:02:13 GMT

Tutoring dollars harder to come by
Competition for millions of federal dollars is getting tough among companies that provide tutoring services to low-income children in struggling schools. Diane Knich, The Post and Courier, Oct. 19, 2009

Teacher inequalities still haunt Nashville schools

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:57:53 GMT

Teacher inequalities still haunt Nashville schools
Students attending schools at the center of Metro Nashville controversial rezoning plan are more likely to be taught by inexperienced teachers, despite incentives to attract and retain staff at the high-poverty schools. Jaime Sarrio, The Tennessean, Oct. 19, 2009

Merit pay: How best to decide who earns it at schools

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:10:35 GMT

Merit pay: How best to decide who earns it at schools
The notion of holding teachers accountable for their classroom performance — and paying them bonuses for a job well done — is gaining support across the country. But what criteria should be used to judge teacher performance? That question is especially dicey in Nevada, where a state law generally disallows using test scores to measure teacher success.Emily Richmond, The Las Vegas Sun, Oct. 15, 2009

NALEO seeks communications director

Mark Glaze — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:39:17 GMT

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund is seeking a communications director. The person will be responsible for working with senior management on communications strategy. In addition, the job can be based in Los Angeles or Washington, D.C. If interested send a letter of interest and resume to Mark Glaze at mglaze@rabengroup.com; (202) 463-4805.

Two investigative reporter positions

Susan White — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:32:06 GMT

ProPublica looking for two reporters - background in education and other areas.

ProPublica, an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest, is looking for two reporters. Applicants will be considered from any specialized or generalist investigative reporting background, but we are especially interested in applicants focused on education, immigration, energy or environment. Both of the reporters to be hired will be based in ProPublica's New York City office; compensation will be commensurate with experience. Interested applicants should send their resumes to reportingjobs@propublica.org.

Access to What? Educational Opportunity is Restricted for Low & Lower-Middle Income Students

Thomas Mortenson — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:43:22 GMT

This issue of OPPORTUNITY focuses on the shrinking shares of undergraduate college students with Pell Grants that are enrolled in America's public and private 4-year colleges and universities. This share has declined from 62% in 1974 to 44% in 2008. Preliminary data for 2009 indicate that 41% of undergraduates with Pell Grants were enrolled in 4-year institutions--the lowest on record. These students from low income families are increasingly concentrated in community colleges and proprietary schools. This report also presents these data by state.

For a free copy of our report, contact Camille Stocker at Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY: camille@postsecondary.org. Or you can visit our website at www.postsecondary.org