The Case for Cursive

The Case for Cursive By KATIE ZEZIMA , NYTimes

Computer keyboards and smartphones might be spelling the gradual death of the fancier ABC’s.

An Online Classroom For AP Students

An Online Classroom For AP Students By SUE SHELLENBARGER, WSJ.org

In districts facing budget cuts, online advanced-placement courses are becoming a popular option for students and parents looking to gain an edge in the college-admissions race and trim tuition costs.

The Juggle: When the Classroom in Online

Foundations Join to Offer Online Courses for Schools

Foundations Join to Offer Online Courses for Schools By SAM DILLON

The initiative appears to be the most ambitious effort so far to develop classroom materials that align with new academic standards.

College Teams, Relying on Deception, Undermine Gender Equity

College Teams, Relying on Deception, Undermine Gender Equity By KATIE THOMAS, NYTimes

To produce an appearance of gender equity, colleges have given roster spots to unqualified players, counted male practice players as women and trimmed men’s rosters.

• Few Americans Familiar With Title IX, Though Most Approve of It

Deportation Halted for Some Students as Lawmakers Seek New Policy

Deportation Halted for Some Students as Lawmakers Seek New Policy By JULIA PRESTON

Democrats and immigrant groups have been demanding that the Obama administration slow deportations of illegal immigrants who have not been convicted of crimes.

.

High School Classes May Be Advanced in Name Only

High School Classes May Be Advanced in Name Only By SAM DILLON

Courses may sound more rigorous, but standardized test scores have not risen accordingly, researchers say.

Top 10 List: Where the Jobs Are

Top 10 List: Where the Jobs Are By CECILIA CAPUZZI SIMON, NYTimes

Retooling for the nation’s fastest-growing fields, be you a G.E.D., B.S., M.A., Ph.D. or M.D.

1. BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER
2. NETWORK SYSTEMS AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS ANALYST
3. HOME HEALTH AIDE
4. PERSONAL AND HOME CARE AIDE
5. FINANCIAL EXAMINER
6. MEDICAL SCIENTIST
7. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
8. SKIN CARE SPECIALIST
9. BIOCHEMIST AND BIOPHYSICIST
10. ATHLETIC TRAINER

ReadiStep: New Practice Test for the SAT and PSAT

ReadiStep: New Practice Test for the SAT and PSAT by JACQUES STEINBERG, NYTimes, The Choice blog

College Board has begun offering a junior version of its marquee college-entrance exams — this one specifically for eighth graders called ReadiStep. The two-hour test has questions written in the same style as the PSAT and SAT and a similar marking system: scores range from 2 to 8, which aligns roughly with the 20 to 80 they will someday receive on the PSAT, and the 200 to 800 on the SAT.

See also: Eighth Graders: Sharpen Your No. 2 Pencils for a PSAT and SAT Scrimmage by JACQUES STEINBERG, NYTimes, The Choice blog

College Board's ReadiStep si te

The Toughest Job Around

The Toughest Job Around, NYTimes Room for Debate

NT Mayor Bloomberg praised Cathleen Black long record as a successful magazine executive when he appointed her to the New York City schools chancellor in November. But Ms. Black had no educational experience, and her brief tenure was troubled from the start. She will be replaced by Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, who has long been involved in education policy. What makes public school systems so different from the business world that corporate managerial skills aren't enough for success?

• Putting a Theory to Rest by Richard D. Kahlenberg, Century Foundation


• Starting With Wrong Assumptions by Rudy Crew, former chancellor, New York City schools


• Business Success Is Easier by Neal P. McCluskey, Cato Institute


• She Inherited a Mess by Leonie Haimson, Class Size Matters


• Superintendents Can't Be Tone-Deaf by James Harvey, National Superintendents Roundtable


• In Schools, You Can't Cut Losses by Clara Hemphill, The New School

How Little Sleep Can You Get Away With?

How Little Sleep Can You Get Away With? By MAGGIE JONES, NYTimes Magazine
For most of us, eight hours of sleep is excellent and six hours is no good, but what if we split the difference?

Announcing the Finalists for the 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge

wh.gov: Announcing the Finalists for the 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge

White House staffers Lauren Paige and Gannet Tseggai call the six finalists in the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge to let them know their school has been selected as a finalist.

Turning the Classroom Upside Down: Khan Academy

Turning the Classroom Upside Down by SALMAN KHAN, WSJ.com

Why not have lectures at home and "homework" at school—and let students learn at their own pace?

Video: Teaching at Home, Doing Homework in Class

Growing Diversity Fuels Chinese School

Growing Diversity Fuels Chinese School By YUKARI IWATANI KANE, WSJ.com

San Francisco's Chinese American International School has grown more popular as a rising number of non-Chinese parents seek Chinese-language skills for their children.

How to Get a Real Education

How to Get a Real Education by Scott Adams, WSJ.com Forget art history and calculus. Most students need to learn how to run a business, says Scott Adams..

Community Colleges could turn away 400,000

"The front door's open,
but the classroom door's closed."

--Seth Reichlin

Community colleges could turn away 400,000 Nanette Asimov, SF Chronicle Staff Writer

An unprecedented 400,000 students could be turned away from California's community college campuses next fall...

Community college classes tougher to get into Nanette Asimov, SF Chronicle Staff Writer

Thinking of taking math, science or English at a California community college next fall? You may want to try Florida instead. Or Tennessee. Anywhere but California...

ACT Prep!

Next ACT Test Date: April 9, 2011

ACT (American College Testing)is a standardized test for US college admission produced by ACT, Inc. The ACT multiple-choice tests cover English, Math, Reading, and Science. There is also an optional Writing test.

ACT Resources:

• *NEW* Reading and Writing Tips for the SAT and ACT


• ACTstudent.org QUESTION OF THE DAY


• ACTstudent.org Practice Questions (on FaceBook)


• Amazon.com ACT Test Prep Resources


• Barron's ACT Books


• CollegeConfidential: SAT & ACT Discussion Boards


• Kaplan ACT Online Course


• McGraw-Hill 10 ACT Practice Tests, 3rd or 2011 Edition 4 book test, 2 cd-rom tests, 2 online tests)


• OnlineTestPrep: SAT or ACT


• Peterson's ACT FAQs


• Princeton Review ACT Online Course


• SparkNotes ACT


• Test-Guide.com ACT

*MUST READ*

The standardized-test smackdown by DAVID KAPLAN, Fortune/CNNMoney.com, 11/30/2009

The makers of the SAT and ACT are fighting for market share as more college-bound students sit for entrance exams.

ACT vs. SAT by MICHELLE SLATALLA, NYTimes 11/04/2007

"Now, with some Ivy League schools rejecting nine of 10 qualified candidates, applicants are looking for any edge to improve their chances. Many, particularly those in traditional SAT territory, are taking both tests and submitting the higher score or both scores. . . But not everybody has the time or money to prepare for both tests. And the truth is, most probably don’t need to. While the tests have distinct personalities — the ACT is curriculum-based, while the SAT is aimed more at general reasoning and problem-solving skills — spokesmen for both say their formats favor only one type of student: the one with a good grasp of material taught in rigorous high school courses."