SPPS IN THE NEWS:
In search of a new St. Paul school superintendent
A sparse crowd showed up at the Superintendent Search public input session at Rondo Education Center in St. Paul on September 17. Participants were invited to share their ideas on what qualities they would like to see in the new superintendent.
9/21/2009
Twin Cities Daily Planet
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2009/09/19/search-new-st-paul-school-superintendent
OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE NEWS:
White Bear Lake / District sued over racial harassment
A White Bear Lake couple has filed a civil suit against the city's school district, claiming officials ignored their complaints that their two children were being harassed because of their race.
9/21/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/education/ci_13371559.html
Big school districts increasingly turning to their rainy-day funds
A survey of 32 large districts finds a net reduction this year of their rainy-day funds, and the situation looks to get more bleak.
9/21/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/local/north/59804172.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
H1N1 fears show soft belly of school health underinvestment
The Novel H1N1 flu, or Swine Flu, is like other flu viruses in that it is communicable via sneezing, coughing and touching - all common occurrences in schools.
9/21/2009
Twin Cities Daily Planet
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2009/09/19/h1n1-fears-show-soft-belly-school-health-underinvestment
MISC. NEWS:
House Bill Would Free Up Cash for Early Education
Early-childhood-education programs and school facilities would get major new federal aid under a bill approved this week by the U.S. House of Representatives that would cover the cost of that spending by revamping the way the federal student-lending program operates.
9/21/2009
Edweek.org
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/18/04loans.html?tkn=PPTFjAoZiI76827Y33cKuFMtlUiTGvV3fVNc
Revised Draft of 'Common Core' Standards Unveiled
A revamped draft of proposed common academic standards for states offers more detailed expectations than an earlier version, though the document also says that some decisions about specific curricula and lessons should be left to individual states and schools.
9/21/2009
Edweek.org
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/21/05standards.h29.html?tkn=MWUFjAoZiI76827npWS%2F88wcARz27oF%2BNXKd
Student-to-College 'Mismatch' Seen as Graduation-Rate Issue
An important new book on improving the stagnant graduation rates of the nation’s public colleges and universities suggests that one reason so many academically talented students leave college without a diploma may be that they enroll in schools for which they are overqualified.
9/21/2009
Edweek.org
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/23/04undermatch_ep.h29.html?tkn=NMXFCzm34K%2BUnyjJzmgmV8Vb%2FOAYTWIWzSqQ
Eager Students Fall Prey to Apartheid’s Legacy
The traumatized school’s passing rate on the national exams known as the matric — already in virtual free fall — tumbled to just 44 percent.
9/21/2009
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/world/africa/20safrica.html?ref=education
Initiative Focuses on Early Learning Programs
Tucked away in an $87 billion higher education bill that passed the House last week was a broad new federal initiative aimed not at benefiting college students, but at raising quality in the early learning and care programs that serve children from birth through age 5.
9/21/2009
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/education/20child.html?ref=education
NAACP to honor two for leadership
Two longtime NAACP members will be honored for their contributions to the St. Paul chapter tonight at the Bold Dreams, Big Victories event.
9/21/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13371557.html
Katherine Kersten: Why students should read the classics
Just plain reading is no substitute for reading the wisdom of the ages.
9/21/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/local/59780987.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:U0ckkD:aEyKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Kersten sees a 'cult' where none exists
The questions meant to accompany the president's speech to students were actually quite effective for engaging critical thinking.
9/21/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/59788592.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:U0ckkD:aEyKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr