October 2008

Resources

• Major education issues await Supreme Court action this term [HTML 7,332kb]
  When the Supreme Court begins its 2008-09 term on Oct. 6, NSBA will be closely watching three cases -- addressing employee discrimination, special education, and Title IX -- that could have a significant impact on school districts.
  
• Educators find videogames engage students in learning [HTML 11,273kb]
  Middle school students at Suffern Middle School in New York’s Ramapo Central High School District were given some money and a list of items to purchase. They worked on percentages and other math skills as they shopped for the best deals at a flea market, then enjoyed themselves at a beach party. But the students never left the classroom. The instructional material was embedded in a scenario on Second Life, a “multiuser virtual environment” on the Internet.
  
• California state board mandates algebra for all eighth-graders [HTML 3,970kb]
  The California State Board of Education’s decision that every eighth-grader must take algebra will be costly and require districts to recruit thousands of new math teachers, school board leaders say. But the underlying question is whether students will be ready to take the course.
  
• Phi Delta Kappa poll: Public gives mixed messages on national standards [HTML 6,537kb]
  The American public gives similar grades to their local schools and schools in Europe and Asia, according to The 40th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward Public Schools.
  
• Scores on SAT remain steady as more students take the exam [HTML 4,034kb]
  SAT scores remain stable even as the number of minority students taking the test continued to grow, according to the College Board’s latest report.
  
• Most schools still have recess [HTML 4,149kb]
  With so much pressure on schools to raise achievement in reading and math, there seems to be a widespread belief that elementary schools are eliminating or cutting back on recess.
  
• Federation Focus/The Northeast Region: School board leaders concerned with funding, tax relief, reforms [HTML 10,717kb]
  This is the second in our series, “Federation Focus,” which examines the issues our state school boards associations are addressing. In this installment, we look at how some of the associations in NSBA’s Northeast Region are dealing with tax relief and various school reform proposals.
  
• National Affiliate Spotlight: In the Lake Washington district, the focus is on the future [HTML 5,774kb]
  Located in the Seattle suburbs close to Microsoft’s headquarters, one would expect the Lake Washington school districts to have the latest technology. It doesn’t disappoint.
  
• NSBA President: School boards need to be models for democracy [HTML 6,982kb]
  During a visit to the Constitution Center in Philadelphia, I had the opportunity to walk among the life-size bronze statues of our forefathers. As I strolled among the figures, I was surprised by their stature as many were not much taller than me. As a matter of fact, James Madison stood eye-to-eye to my five-foot-two height.
  
• Guest Viewpoint: Character education can transform schools [HTML 6,120kb]
  Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character -- that is the goal of true education.” I agree with Dr. King. The mission of schools should include academic excellence and character development. As a nation, we’ve got serious problems on both fronts.
  
• Legal Ease/School Law Notes: Military family leave expanded: What board members need to know [HTML 4,139kb]
  Our military service men and women risk their lives to preserve our freedoms and protect our way of life.
  
• Fast Report [HTML 3,715kb]