AM News: Illinois Moves To Ban Teacher Strikes
Eight school chiefs to watch in 2011 CSM: Education reform will be on many state education agendas across the nation in 2011. The past year saw Republicans elected or appointed to top state education posts in many states. But a bipartisan group of veteran education leaders has also stepped up to call for more dramatic change in how schools operate... What's New In High School? Stress Reduction 101 NPR: With college application deadlines looming, high schools are looking for ways to reduce student stress. Some schools have done away with Advanced Placement classes, while others are focusing on teaching kids how to handle the stress with yoga classes, breathing exercises and therapy dogs... Nearly all Mass. schools meet anti-bully deadline Boston Globe: Nearly every public school district in Massachusetts has filed an anti-bullying plan with the state... Illinois Tries to Curb Teacher Privileges WSJ: Under the new plan, teachers would not earn tenure until they've been rated "proficient" or "excellent" by their principals for four years using the new evaluations. Tenured teachers rated "ineffective" for two years could lose the job protection and revert back to probationary status. And the measure would streamline the firing process, making it easier to get rid of low-performing teachers. [See previous posts: Strike Threat Blocks Reform, Say IL Reformers,Could Lowly Illinois Lead The Way?