Counting down: The top education stories of 2010
Tired of top 10 lists yet? Just two more--today's list is the top 10 U.S. education stories of 2010; tomorrow's list is the top 10 education stories of the decade. Here's today's (listed Letterman-style, 10th to first):
10. Reauthorization of the Education and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) stalls in Congress: Upon taking office in early 2009, Education Secretary Arne Duncan called No Child Left Behind a "toxic brand" and returned to its old name, ESEA, pledging a revision of the law that was less punitive on schools but equally demanding of achievement. Early this year, the Administration released a blueprint for revising ESEA, but Congress hasn't made much progress on the work. Now that control of Congress has shifted to Republican hands, that work could go even slower. Prognosis for 2011? Don't hold your breath for a bold redesign of the Bush Administration's signature education law, but Obama insiders say reauthorization will be a top priority in the new year.
9. Billionaires, everywhere, dabbling in education: Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook fame and fortune (and "The Social Network" ignominy) gave $100 million to Newark, N.J. public schools. Mr. Zuckerberg's generous donation was enough to prompt New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to cede some authority over Newark public schools to its high-profile Mayor, Cory Booker. The donation follows similar investments in other education projects by billionnaires Bill Gates, Eli Broad and Warren Buffett; it also, fittingly, has spawned a satiric Facebook group--Billionaires for Educational Reform.
8. The "parent trigger" comes to Compton: A mini thunder-clap hit California in early December, when parents at a Compton Unified elementary school announced they had collected enough
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/rnorton/detail?entry_id=80075#ixzz19hSDp6jh