Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Education Dept. Delays Rules on For-Profit Colleges - NYTimes.com

Education Dept. Delays Rules on For-Profit Colleges - NYTimes.com

The Education Department split off a decision on the treatment of for-profit college programs whose graduates do not earn enough to repay their loans.
SQUARE FEET

College and Hospital Combine Forces to Revitalize Site

In Lancaster, Pa., Franklin & Marshall College and Lancaster General plan to move their expanded operations to a 77-acre tract that will include a reconfigured rail yard.
Second graders at the Carl C. Icahn Charter School 1 in the Bronx.

New York Charter Schools Lag in Enrolling Hispanics

Although Hispanics are the largest demographic group in the city’s public schools, there are almost twice as many blacks among the 30,000 charter school students.
ARTSBEAT BLOG

Expanding N.Y.U. Sets Sights on Ground Zero

N.Y.U. is considering a new part of the city for its ambitious expansion plans: ground zero.

More Employers to Require Some College, Report Says

Jobs requiring at least a two-year associate’s degree will outpace the number of qualified applicants by at least three million in 2018, according to a report set to be released on Tuesday

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Magnolia Schools charter management organization

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Magnolia Schools charter management organization

Magnolia Schools charter management organization


This post has four sections:
  • Background information about the approval of a petition for a charter school in Santa Clara County, California. The school, Magnolia Science Academy – Santa Clara, is slated to open in Sunnyvale for the 2010-2011 school year and is currently enrolling students.
  • Revealing excerpts from an email exchange sent to me by a reader who, as a prospective parent, was in communication with a representative of the new MSA-Santa Clara school.
  • Evidence which clearly contradicts the representative’s statements.
  • Why so much about Turkey and Turkish?

UC Irvine Moves Against Muslim Student Association � Student Activism

UC Irvine Moves Against Muslim Student Association � Student Activism

UC Irvine Moves Against Muslim Student Association

The administration of the University of California at Irvine has moved to suspend the university’s Muslim Student Association for a period of one year as punishment for the disruption of a speech by an Israeli official this spring.
In a 14-page letter written last month — but only made public in redacted form yesterday — a university official declared that the disruption of the speech was “planned, orchestrated, and coordinated in advance” by the MSU, and found the group to have violated four provisions of the campus code of conduct. The MSU has appealed the decision, which is slated to take effect on September 1.
The Los Angeles Times called the ruling, which was issued by the university’s Senior Executive Director of Student Housing, “the first in recent memory at UC recommending the ban of a student group for something other than hazing or alcohol abuse.” In a statement, incoming MSU president Asaad Traina said the suspension would “deprive Muslim students — both current and incoming — of a place where they can develop a sense of

Kyron Horman vigil draws about 400 to Sunset Presbyterian Church | OregonLive.com

Kyron Horman vigil draws about 400 to Sunset Presbyterian Church | OregonLive.com


Kyron Horman vigil draws about 400 to Sunset Presbyterian Church

Published: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 8:00 PM Updated: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 9:03 PM
IMAG0043.jpgVolunteer Dottie Adams and adult ministries administrator Karen Carroll hand out candles to participants in a vigil this evening at Sunset Presbyterian Church.
Friends and neighbors of missing Kyron Horman gathered at a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening in Northwest Portland to comfort one another and pray for the 7-year-old's safe return.

Those attending, including Kyron's parents and stepparents for a brief time, sang songs, read prayers and held white candles at Sunset Presbyterian Church, 14986 N.W. Cornell Road.

Many grappled with the idea that Kyron, a bespectacled second-grader last seen June 4, might never be seen again. But they held out hope that he would be found alive.

"We know that time has passed. ... We know that time isn't necessarily on our side," said Michael Cook, 37, who helped to organize the event and is a friend of Kyron's father, Kaine Horman. "But every case is unique, and we're hopeful that Kyron is found soon and returned to his family, safely, where he belongs."

Cars began to gather in the parking lot before 6 p.m., some with "Missing" fliers featuring Kyron's smiling face taped to their side windows. By 7 p.m., the persistent rain had stopped, the sun was shining, and the large parking lot was nearly full.

The drizzly weather Tuesday was a far cry from the weekend, when temperatures pushed into the 80s and searchers mounted the final stand in their massive search, which some have called the largest by manpower in the state's history.

By Monday, the search efforts had been scaled back drastically, and crews from three states and all Oregon counties were told, "Thanks, but no more." Instead, the case was called a criminal investigation.

By Tuesday, smaller groups from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Dive Team were seen wading through waterways around the Horman family home and on Sauvie Island, about five miles to the north.

Bob and Judy Bobosky were typical of those attending the vigil. Both church members, they have a grandson near Kyron's age.

"When human efforts alone don't bring abou




Clear Channel donates billboards to help bring Kyron Horman home

Published: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 7:15 PM     Updated: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 7:20 PM
Clear Channel Outdoor of Oregon and Southwest Washington donated materials and space for the 30 billboards today in an effort to help bring Kyron Horman home.

Ten of the billboards are written in English, 10 in Russian and 10 in Spanish, according to Lt. Mary Lindstrand, a Multnomah County sheriff's spokeswoman.

All of the billboards except two in English were put up today.

-- The Oregonian

Suit challenges part of Mich. school retiree plan - Boston.com

Suit challenges part of Mich. school retiree plan - Boston.com

Suit challenges part of Mich. school retiree plan

By Tim Martin
Associated Press Writer / June 15, 2010
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LANSING, Mich.—Five members of the state's largest teachers union have filed a lawsuit challenging part of Michigan's new law related to the public school employee retirement system.
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The Michigan Education Association said Tuesday the class-action suit filed in a state court seeks to overturn a provision that requires school employees who don't retire this summer to start paying an extra 3 percent of their compensation into a fund for retiree health care starting July 1.
The union said the suit doesn't challenge a provision that gives slightly higher pension benefits to school employees who retire this summer. At least 17,000 school employees have applied for the retirement incentive and have informed the state they plan to retire this summer.
The expected retirement wave is the major reason state officials project schools statewide could save more than $500 million in the first year of the program. But the longer-term, more stable savings behind the plan relies heavily on the higher contributions to retiree health plans from employees who remain on the job.
The suit claims the contribution provision violates the contract formed when the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System was set up in 1980. The



Hawaii passes law mandating 180-day school year

A new Hawaii law enacted Tuesday requires at least 180 school days a year as the state tries to shed its reputation for having the shortest amount of instructional time in the nation.

Pittsburgh teachers, schools hail 5-year contract

Call it collaborative bargaining. When the Pittsburgh Public Schools and its teachers' union began talks last year for a new contract, the tone was decidedly different from the usual collective bargaining process. Tense face-to-face meetings, lawyers and demands were replaced with a weekend retreat at a downtown hotel, input from principals and teachers, and discussions.