Federal/NCLB

Experts say that NCLB may slight the gifted
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/24/AR2007112401420.html?nav=rss_education

Sen. Alexander proposes giving up to 12 states greater flexibility in meeting academic requirements in exchange for setting higher achievement standards
http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/templates/local.aspx?articleid=25762&zoneid=77

Editorial – More candidates should follow Romney's lead and talk about ways to improve NCLB
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/26/AR2007112601852.html?nav=rss_opinions

Other News

High-quality after-school programs are tied to test-score gains, according to a new study
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13afterschool.h27.html

Editorial – Unanimity surrounding the reauthorization of Head Start shows the worth of the program, and it should fuel the movement for states to expand preschool education
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/25/AR2007112501457.html?nav=rss_opinions

NYC’s grading system sparks debate over how to judge schools
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/nyregion/27schools.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5088&en=22e752cc6863bd6b&ex=1353819600&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Editorial – Test and switch: The problem with national tests and standards
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/26/opinion/26mon3.html?ex=1353819600&en=853d92d16bb4f32e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Poverty in the South is a 'first-order crisis' for schools
http://www.savannahnow.com/node/404644

MD’s prototype language immersion program stumbles; parents and students say there are problems with how the classes are taught
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/25/AR2007112501361.html?nav=rss_education

Commentary – Why we need district-based reform: Supporting system-wide instructional improvement
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13supovitz.h27.html

School Funding Litigation/Policy

Congress is still battling over education budget
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13budget.h27.html

Education panel says CA’s “K-12 education system is broken” and proposes $6.1 billion in new spending as well as some controversial changes, but the school plan comes in the midst of fiscal crisis
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-education23nov23,1,4175032.story?track=rss

Questions still face school funding task force appointed three years ago to hammer out a new way to fund schools in GA
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/112607/news_20071126026.shtml

MD schools struggle tot keep the quality of instruction, despite projected budget cuts
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/23/AR2007112301699.html?nav=rss_education

Proposal to eliminate financial issues that communities face under ME's school district consolidation law gets a lukewarm response from affected communities
http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4509969.html

MI schools will have to make do with a bare increase in state funding this year after lawmakers sacrificed a larger boost to settling a protracted budget battle
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13michigan.h27.html

NJ governor is expected to unveil a new public school-funding plan that bases state aid for schools by the needs of children in each community, and not by whether a school is in a poor community – as the state has done for decades
http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071126/NEWS/711260441/1001/rss

Poor NJ school districts stand to lose massive amounts of state aid once the state adopts a new funding formula, according to one Assemblywoman
http://www.nj.com/jjournal/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1196060235103600.xml&coll=3

WV lawmakers may recalculate school aid formula and give greater weight to how closely a county's students live together
http://www.dailymail.com/News/200711270010

State Roundup

AK wants to require all state teachers to take a special course in how to teach reading, but the proposal has triggered an outpouring of protests from teachers, principals and others
http://www.adn.com/news/education/story/9481398p-9392587c.html

Little-known rule of NCLB helps AL schools meet state standards
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/index.ssf?/base/news/1195986106280310.xml&coll=3&thispage=1

AZ plans to implement more math and science courses as part of a larger initiative to align the state education system from pre-kinder to higher education
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/69750.php

OH will add a new indicator to its annual report cards to highlight individual student progress based on state achievement test scores
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071127/NEWS0102/711270329/1077/COL02

Gifted students in PA rely on the state Department of Education to make sure public schools challenge them intellectually, but parents and groups say regulations don't go far enough
http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/state/all-b1_5gifted.6132458nov23,0,4990042.story

Report says South Carolinians are less likely to have a high school diploma, but those who graduate are more likely to attend college than most Americans
http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071125/NEWS01/711250326/1012

Published Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007