A daily dose of education news around the nation – just in time for a little mid-day break!
Federal funding: South Carolina may not be able to get $143 million in stimulus money to save teacher jobs because it doesn’t currently spend enough on higher education. (Bloomberg Businessweek)
Teacher evaluations: Parents and community members argue both for and against Seattle teachers being judged on student test scores, although the decision will ultimately be made behind closed doors. (Seattle Times)
“Sample” college: Students who think they want to attend the University of Phoenix’s Southern Arizona campus but don’t have much college experience will take an orientation class before enrolling. And, perhaps more importantly, the class will be free – no need to borrow money until after it’s over. (Arizona Daily Star)
Ninth grade: The Orlando Sentinel takes a look at some of the reasons freshman year is difficult for many students, and what high schools are doing to ease the transition.
Delaware’s New Castle County Vocational Technical School District is hoping it made a difference by having school staff visit incoming ninth-graders at home over the summer. (DelawareOnline)
ACT results: Papers across the country are reporting on ACT results, from the good to the bad to just more of the same. In Oregon, scores are up, but “few students are considered college ready.” And in Wisconsin, the scores were the lowest they’ve been in over a decade, with a large gap between white and minority students. (various)
