Today, following the 45th anniversary of the march in Selma, AL (AKA “Bloody Sunday”), Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, was in Selma giving a speech refocusing attention on the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to enforce civil rights matters.  As most BoardBuzz readers know, “Education is a Civil Right,” is a phrase that has been endorsed by many educational organizations, including NSBA, and [...]

In her recent TED talk, Temple Grandin, diagnosed with autism as a child, tells us how her mind works. She gives an overview of how people on the autism spectrum think and makes the case that the world needs those people: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids. She [...]

In her recent TED talk, Temple Grandin, diagnosed with autism as a child, tells us how her mind works. She gives an overview of how people on the autism spectrum think and makes the case that the world needs those people: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids. She [...]

The Race is definitely on…and the finalists are: CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MA, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, and DC. At first glance, there seems to be no common patterns among these states for the phase I competition — about half of them are right-to-work states; some have charter school laws; [...]

The Race is definitely on…and the finalists are: CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MA, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, and DC. At first glance, there seems to be no common patterns among these states for the phase I competition — about half of them are right-to-work states; some have charter school laws; [...]

A study in the British Medical Journal shows that a structured school physical activity program can improve a child’s fitness and decrease body fat. Researchers in Switzerland studied 540 seven and 11-year-olds in 15 schools over a nine month period that were randomly selected. Students underwent a physical activity program designed by experts that involved structuring their existing [...]

A study in the British Medical Journal shows that a structured school physical activity program can improve a child’s fitness and decrease body fat. Researchers in Switzerland studied 540 seven and 11-year-olds in 15 schools over a nine month period that were randomly selected. Students underwent a physical activity program designed by experts that involved structuring their existing [...]

Do charter schools pose a threat to public education, or can they play a part in improving it? What about giving financial rewards to districts that demonstrate they are willing to implement reforms? These topics are being debated across the country these days, as Arne Duncan and the Obama administration promote their ideas for public school [...]

Do charter schools pose a threat to public education, or can they play a part in improving it? What about giving financial rewards to districts that demonstrate they are willing to implement reforms? These topics are being debated across the country these days, as Arne Duncan and the Obama administration promote their ideas for public school [...]

Earlier today, President Barack Obama spoke about high school dropouts, and how he hopes to help the cause. The numbers are scary. About 7,000 students drop out of high school a day. Yes, everyday! That’s more than a million a year nationwide and you can only imagine the consequences of all those students not completing [...]

Earlier today, President Barack Obama spoke about high school dropouts, and how he hopes to help the cause. The numbers are scary. About 7,000 students drop out of high school a day. Yes, everyday! That’s more than a million a year nationwide and you can only imagine the consequences of all those students not completing [...]

Since Congress came back from its Presidents’ Day break last week, NSBA’s advocacy team has swung into full action responding to several major developments in the legislative and executive branches. NSBA’s grassroots advocacy called on the Senate last week to pass provisions in the jobs bill to extend fiscal assistance to school districts and states for education.  Last Wednesday, the [...]

Since Congress came back from its Presidents’ Day break last week, NSBA’s advocacy team has swung into full action responding to several major developments in the legislative and executive branches. NSBA’s grassroots advocacy called on the Senate last week to pass provisions in the jobs bill to extend fiscal assistance to school districts and states for education.  Last Wednesday, the [...]

BoardBuzz has seen the devastating results of lay-offs in our school districts including: larger class sizes that do not facilitate the type of interaction and specialized instruction for many students and teachers; the loss of specialists for intervention programs such as reading and math coaches and after school tutoring; and discontinued extracurricular programs that help provide a well-rounded education program for our students.

BoardBuzz has seen the devastating results of lay-offs in our school districts including: larger class sizes that do not facilitate the type of interaction and specialized instruction for many students and teachers; the loss of specialists for intervention programs such as reading and math coaches and after school tutoring; and discontinued extracurricular programs that help provide a well-rounded education program for our students.

The spotlight is on the issue of childhood obesity these days, especially with the launch of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” Initiative. NSBA, working with and through state school boards associations, has announced it will identify at least one school board member in each state to be a “visible champion” in this effort at [...]

The spotlight is on the issue of childhood obesity these days, especially with the launch of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” Initiative. NSBA, working with and through state school boards associations, has announced it will identify at least one school board member in each state to be a “visible champion” in this effort at [...]

With all that is going around in the world of education lately, this suggestion from Ohio popped up from among the edu-chatter.  A report from the Greater Ohio Policy Center and The Brookings Institution suggests that Ohio consolidate many of its school districts and reduce the number of districts in the state from 613 to somewhere around 400 instead.  The justification is [...]

With all that is going around in the world of education lately, this suggestion from Ohio popped up from among the edu-chatter.  A report from the Greater Ohio Policy Center and The Brookings Institution suggests that Ohio consolidate many of its school districts and reduce the number of districts in the state from 613 to somewhere around 400 instead.  The justification is [...]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a plan to allow the public to take advantage of schools’ internet access during non-operating hours. Schools that receive funding from the E-rate program (more formally, the schools and libraries universal service support program) may now provide internet access to the public during non-operating hours. This change attracted broad [...]