NPR Education
Mass School Closures Approved In Kansas City, Mo.
Facing potential bankruptcy, the board that governs the once flush-with-cash Kansas City school district is taking the unusual and contentious step of shuttering almost half its schools.
L.A.'s Inner City Schools Struggle With Layoffs
Teacher layoff's in the Los Angeles school system have hit inner city schools especially hard, and more layoff notices are being sent out this week. Markham Middle School in Watts has lost at least half its faculty since the last round of layoffs. In many cases, school officials haven't been able to find new full-time teachers and have to rely on subs.
Draft National Education Standards Unveiled
Schools took another big step toward an elusive goal: establishing basic education standards that could apply to nearly every student in the US. The draft proposal released Wednesday tries to unify what students need to know about English and math at each grade level. But supporters of the effort still face skepticism.
Chicago Tries Management-Style On Schools
Some urban school systems are turning to the tough tactics businesses and law enforcement use to improve employee performance. The sometimes-contentious approach, known as performance management, has yielded promising results in Houston, New York and some other districts. In Chicago, it's forcing city educators to embrace a cultural revolution in how they go about their work.
Good Teaching Is About Hard Work, Not A Halo
Doug Lemov, a teacher himself, believes passionately that champion teachers are made, not born. He studied successful teachers, and describes specific classroom management techniques that could help all teachers be more effective educators.
Proposed Set Of U.S. Academic Standards Unveiled
The blueprint released by a group of governors and school superintendents lays out what students should be learning in math and English every year from kindergarten through high school. The plan is part of a push to iron out the jumble of state standards and raise expectations for American schools.
Global University Eliminates Barriers To Education
At University of the People, students from across the globe have access to free online classes in business administration and computer science. The school has attracted about 380 students from 81 countries. But in order to survive, the university needs more to enroll, its founder says.
Cost Of Medical School Rises In Recession
A New Jersey family is struggling to pay for their daughter's medical school education. They know that the average doctor graduates with about $150,000 of student loans, and wonder how they're ever going to pay it.
States Weigh Four-Day School Week To Cut Costs
Legislation being proposed in many states would change the school week from five days to four. As states fight to balance their budgets amid the recession, they are looking for ways to save money. Mike Griffith, the senior school finance analyst for Education Commission of the States, offers his insight.
Students 'Stand And Deliver' For Former Teacher
Former students of Jaime Escalante, the math teacher portrayed in the 1988 movie Stand and Deliver, are raising money for the man who worked tirelessly to teach them what he believed was the portal to success.
Duncan To Step Up Civil Rights Enforcement
The Education Department is launching 38 investigations into possible civil rights violations by schools and colleges in more than 30 states. Secretary Arne Duncan makes the announcement Monday in Selma, Alabama, where he will join civil rights leaders to commemorate the 45th anniversary of one of the bloodiest clashes between protesters and state police.
School's Bid To Punish Off-Campus Acts Draws Suit
A New Jersey school district is being sued for disciplining students caught drinking at weekend parties. Opponents say it potentially violates students' constitutional rights to punish them at school for off-campus behavior that does not affect school safety.
Bringing In Bystanders To Stop Campus Assaults
One out of five women will be sexually assaulted during her college years. The University of New Hampshire has a novel approach to prevention: bringing in bystanders, encouraging them to speak up and intervene before an assault.
States 'Race' To Adopt Obama's Schools Policies
The Obama administration is prodding states to adopt a new set of education policy ideas. And with billions of dollars at its disposal, it's enjoying considerable success — despite some resistance from teachers unions.
Myths That Make It Hard To Stop Campus Rape
One reason colleges have a hard time stopping sexual assault is a misconception about who is committing these crimes. The assumption is that rapes are often committed by young men whose judgment is impaired by drinking. But one researcher says many rapists are serial predators and intentionally look for vulnerable women.
