NCLB Updates
Conflicting Mandates Hurt Struggling Schools
Requirements that are at odds are preventing some of the nation's struggling schools from getting the financial help envisioned by the No Child Left Behind Act to boost achievement, notes a report issued by the Government Accountability Office.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/archives/NCLBupdates.shtml

Wire Side Chat
Helping Children Become 'Well Aware'
In the book One Well, author/educator Rochelle Strauss talks about the need to view the world's water supply as a giant, finite pool from which everyone on Earth drinks. We are all responsible for protecting that well.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat210.shtml

Read About It
What Is Understanding by Design?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/readit/readit044.shtml

News for Kids
Scientists Discover Giant Frog Fossil
How could the giant frog of Madagascar be so closely related to frogs half a world away?
Source: Education World
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/newsforyou.shtml

Administrators Desk Article
Principals’ Classroom Visits Help Build Better Readers
When principals and literacy coaches understand what students are learning and teachers are teaching -- and actually participate in literacy lessons-- they set a positive tone that will lead to improvement in reading in their schools. Author and educator Dr. Beth Whitaker shares her thoughts.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin520.shtml

Evelyn Cortez-Ford: Coaching Teachers To Be Leaders
What Structures Need To Be in Place To Make Teacher Leadership Thrive?
The hierarchical structure of schools perpetuates a tradition: principals lead and teachers teach. Given that structure, it is difficult to imagine how teacher leadership can thrive. But it can thrive, and principals are instrumental in creating conditions to make it happen.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/cortez-ford/cortez-ford004.shtml

Whatever It Takes
Debating the Iraq War
Most Americans have an opinion on the invasion of Iraq, and members of Bennet Middle School's Royal 7 team got a chance to air their views. Classes divided themselves into groups who agreed or disagreed with the war or were undecided, and the debate was on. http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/WIT/WIT028.shtml

Turnaround Tales
Using Data to Make Changes
Oakland Heights Elementary School in Arkansas has all the ingredients for a low-performing school -- which it was at one time. But data analysis, curriculum alignment, teacher teamwork, and strong leadership have moved it to the top tier.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/nclbwork/nclbwork072.shtml

No Educator Left Behind
What If a School In Need of Improvement Meets AYP for Only One Year?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/NELB/NELB083.shtml

School Doodle
Which Lunch Would You Choose?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/school_doodles/school_doodles56.shtml

School Issues Spotlights
Issues Spotlight 1 Teaching About the Environment
Issues Spotlight 2 Green Cleaning
Issues Spotlight 3 Conservation
Issues Spotlight 4 Sick Schools
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/glossary/e.shtml#environment
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/glossary/g.shtml#green
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/glossary/c.shtml#conservation
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/glossary/s.shtml#sick

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THE WEEKLY SURVEY
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Each week, we ask readers to cast their votes in The Weekly Survey. Cast your vote in this week's question of interest to all educators.

This Week's Survey Question
Is your school doing more than it did a year or two ago to incorporate physical activity into the school day?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/survey/survey170.shtml

Last Week's Survey Results
Have any students in your school ever posted unflattering images or descriptions of you or any of your colleagues online?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/survey/survey169.shtml

Free Tutoring Not Far-Reaching, Effective Enough
Federally mandated public after-school tutoring isn't always reaching the children it's intended to help, researchers note -- and when it does, the tutoring isn't always help as effective as it could be.
Source:USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-03-25-tutoring_N.htm

Report: Fewer than Half Graduate from Many Urban Schools
Seventeen of the 50 largest U.S. cities had high-school graduation rates lower than 50 percent, with the lowest graduation rates posted in Detroit, Indianapolis, and Cleveland, a report noted.
Source: My Way
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080401/D8VP0U800.html

Bullies Have Tough Relationships With Parents, Friends
Researchers at York University and Queen's University in Canada found that bullies often have troubled relationships with parents and friends, and without intervention, may continue being disruptive into their teens.
Source: School Library Journal
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6545245.html

Miami Middle School Asst. Principal Tops in U.S.
Hilca Thomas, assistant principal of Howard A. Doolin Middle School in Miami, Florida, has been named the 2008 NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year. Thomas was selected from among three finalists.
Source: NASSP
http://www.principals.org/s_nassp/sec.asp?CID=69&DID=69

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LOCAL SCHOOLS MAKING NEWS
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School Weaning Students off Gossip
School officials at the private Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls are "weaning" girls off gossiping, starting with a daily school-wide, gossip-free hour. The school encourages a gossip-free atmosphere.
Source: The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/nyregion/27gossip.html

Top Nurse Pushes for More School Nurses
When Carol Cochran, a school nurse in Willamette, Oregon, isn't covering 15 schools in three districts, training educators to treat students when she can't be there, she is busy campaigning for more school nurses.
Source: Statesman Journal
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080327/COLUMN0807/803270349/1126/COLUMN

In-School Cafe Teaches Valuable Skills
Special educator Leslie Coffey's students gain valuable job experience running the Garbucks "coffee shop" at Akron's Garfield High School. Students make coffee drinks, operate the cash register, and make deliveries.
Source: Akron Beacon Journal
http://www.ohio.com/news/ap?articleID=459991&c=y

Principal Striving to Slash Energy Use
Plato Karafelis, principal of an elementary school in West Hartford, Connecticut, enlisted his staff to help meet his goal of drastically reducing the school's dependence on power companies within five years.
Source: The Hartford Courant
http://www.courant.com/news/education/hc-greenschools0324.artmar24,0,7549563.story

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