washingtonpost.com - Education

14 Schools Named to D.C. Program to Motivate Students With Cash

Bill Turque — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

D.C. officials yesterday identified 14 schools where about 2,700 middle schoolers will be eligible for up to $100 a month in cash awards for good test scores and behavior.

A Watershed Labor Negotiation

Steven Pearlstein — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

As we head into the Labor Day weekend, it is only fitting that we consider what may be the country's most significant contract negotiation, which happens to be going on right here in Washington between the teachers union and the District's dynamic and determined new schools chancellor, Michelle...

Salmonella Outbreak Thought to Be Over

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The government said yesterday that the salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 1,440 people appears to be over, but its ultimate source may never be known, partly because of shortcomings in the nation's food safety system.

Ad Blitz Has Stern Message for County's Many Truants

Nelson Hernandez — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Prince George's County Board of Education is unleashing a barrage of television, radio and print advertising as part of a crackdown on one of the school system's most serious problems: the 6,000 students who are regularly skipping class.

Testing Change Raises Scores

Michael Alison Chandler and Maria Glod — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

A switch in testing for students who are learning English fueled a rebound in scores this year for immigrant-rich schools in Northern Virginia that had failed the year before to meet targets set under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

A Deep Breath as Class Starts

Daniel de Vise — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Thomas Anderson stood yesterday at an intersection of freshly polished linoleum hallways at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, fulfilling one of the simplest of a principal's duties on the first day of school: helping freshmen find their way to class. Room 273? "Around the corner and to...

Naval Academy's Recruiting Loses Its Starch

William Wan — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

As the Naval Academy launches into a new school year, its superintendent has unveiled a recruiting effort that includes flashy TV commercials and a graphic novel in a bid for more minority students.

Survey to Study Math Curriculum

Kameel Stanley — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Loudoun County school officials are conducting a broad review of the district's math curriculum and soon will survey teachers, administrators and parents to get their feedback on how the subject is taught.

Lessons Only Experience Can Teach

Leah Carliner — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Tuesday is the day Leah Schumaker says she has been waiting for since she was a little girl. It's the day the 23-year-old will start the third grade, this time from the other side of the desk, as an elementary school teacher.

Schools Set Sights On Truants

Nelson Hernandez — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Now that Prince George's County schools are back in session, the Board of Education is taking aim at one of the district's most serious problems: truancy.

In Manassas, The 3 R's Add Up to a Fourth: Rudimentary

Jennifer Buske — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Reading, writing and arithmetic are still the fundamental building blocks of education, but these days, they have some competition as educators reevaluate curriculum and prepare students for life in the 21st century.

Foreclosures Decrease; Mortgage Woes Don't

Megan Greenwell — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The number of foreclosures in Charles County dropped in the second quarter of the year, but residents still face significant mortgage troubles, according to a report issued this month by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

Clarifying Charter School Admission Policies

Jay Mathews — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Dear Extra Credit : I am a concerned D.C. public schools elementary teacher trying to help parents place graduating fifth-graders at good public schools. I am disturbed by the application process for Maya Angelou Public Charter School, as described on its Web site. Children must submit...

Scores Stable as More Minorities Take SAT

Maria Glod and Michael Alison Chandler — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

SAT performance held steady for 2008 high school graduates even as participation rose among minority students and those who are part of the first generation in their families to go to college, the College Board reported yesterday.

Teacher Gave Kids Drugs, Police Say

Katherine Shaver and Sarah Marston — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The students who put together the 2007 yearbook at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville dubbed Theresa C. Duarte "the coolest woman alive."

Public School Results

Post — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Here are the SAT reading, math and writing scores for the public schools' Class of 2008. They are based on a 2400-point composite scale. The year-to-year changes are in parentheses.

1,700 More Off Payroll; Record Problems Remain

Michael Birnbaum — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The District's problem-plagued summer jobs program has lopped an additional 1,700 people from its rolls for the pay day that comes Friday but still hasn't fixed its records system well enough to pay people for the hours they actually worked, officials said.

First-Day Jitters Aren't Just for Students

Nelson Hernandez — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

In those last few seconds before the beginning of the school year at 7:45 a.m., Paul Murdock's baby face was a mask of concentration. As he stood outside Room 23, a column of almost two dozen fifth-graders marched right at him. He was nervous. It was his first day of class at Langley Park-McCormi...

At Forum, College Officials Assess Tough Grading Policy's Effect

Michael Alison Chandler — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Several college officials told Fairfax County parents and students yesterday that easing the school system's grading policy could help students win some scholarships but probably would not improve their chances of admission to nearby competitive colleges.

For D.C. Schools, A Pretty Good Day 1

Michael Birnbaum and Bill Turque — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

All of the District's 123 public schools opened on time for their approximately 50,000 students yesterday as work crews scrambled down to the wire to complete a $200 million program of renovation and repair.

School Britannia: Familiar Worries, But With Classier Accents

John Kelly — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

It's funny how more than 200 years after throwing off the yoke of Limey oppression, we Americans are still prepared to feel inferior to the English. It's the accent, probably. That plummy way of talking can make us Yanks second-guess our intelligence. I know that whenever I was in conversation with...

Some Parents Struggling With Back-to-School Buys

JENNY SONG — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:38:09 EDT

CHICAGO -- Charles Lane-Bey combed through racks of blue jeans at a Salvation Army thrift store and held up a pair with potential to his 8-year-old son, Edward, who swung them over his shoulder with a smile.

Alexandria's New Superintendent Urges Educators to Stop, Reflect, Act

Theresa Vargas — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

On Morton Sherman's desk sits a brown leather journal. It is a nicer, more expensive version than the ones he handed to Alexandria school administrators a few weeks ago, but the purpose is the same.

Volunteers Helping at Baltimore Schools

The Associated Press — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:20:00 EDT

BALTIMORE (AP) -- When the school bells ring Monday in Baltimore, volunteers will be helping in school offices and lunch rooms.

New Column, Old Columnist

Jay Mathews — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:47:58 EDT

I retired in June, sort of, but not really. When I took the early retirement package The Post offered, it was clear to everyone -- my family, my colleagues and particularly me -- that I was too immature to change my daily routine in any way and not fall apart. So The Post kindly gave me a contract...

Better or Worse, It's Rhee's School System Now

V. Dion Haynes — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

After a tumultuous year of unprecedented change, the fingerprints of Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee will be found all over Washington's 120 public schools as students return today.

GMU Is Magazine's Leading 'Up-and-Coming' School

Post — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

George Mason University tops the list of "Up and Coming" national universities in U.S. News and World Report's annual rankings of the top institutions in the country.

Festivities, Anxiety Mark Kickoff Event

Bill Turque — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The morning began with the buoyant spirit of a pep rally -- all cheers, prizes and inspirational words from Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and other officials to launch the District's teachers into the fall term that starts Monday.

For Readers, A Conversation About Education

Jay Mathews — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Iretired in June, sort of, but not really. When I took the early retirement package The Post offered, it was clear to everyone -- my family, my colleagues and particularly me -- that I was too immature to change my daily routine in any way and not fall apart.

Md. to Protect 275 More Acres Of Wetlands, Forest in Charles

Megan Greenwell — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Charles County, home to thousands of acres of state-protected land, will have 275 more acres in its southwestern part preserved under Maryland's Program Open Space.

D.C. Tries Cash as a Motivator In School

V. Dion Haynes and Michael Birnbaum — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee announced plans yesterday to boost dismal achievement at half the city's middle schools by offering students an unusual incentive: cash.

China Hopes to Attract more US College Students

JUSTIN POPE — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:59:37 EDT

RALEIGH, N.C. -- China is hoping that American college students watching the Summer Olympics will want to travel there, providing a bump similar to what Australia and Greece enjoyed in 2000 and 2004.

Overseer Of School Revamp Fires Back

Bill Turque — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

D.C. school construction chief Allen Y. Lew came to his own defense yesterday, promising that all classrooms and common areas in schools under renovation would be ready for the beginning of the academic year Monday. He attributed problems in completing other key repairs to delays in council actio...

D.C. Council Chief Criticizes Quality of Some School Repairs

Bill Turque — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The quality of this summer's $163 million in renovations to D.C. schools varies widely, with some projects suffering from time pressures, poor planning and inadequate oversight of contractors, Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray said yesterday.

Lower Drinking Age Is Criticized

Susan Kinzie and James Hohmann — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

On the face of it, the notion seems counterintuitive, but to the presidents of some of the nation's most prestigious colleges, it makes a lot of sense: Lowering the legal drinking age might get students to drink less.

Students' Personal Data Posted Online

Michael Alison Chandler — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Personal information for hundreds of Fairfax County students was accidentally published online this summer by the Princeton Review, a test-preparation company.

Wind Power's Energetic Fans

Megan Greenwell — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

After years of battling the owners of the massive coal-fired power plant near his Charles County home, Ken Robinson decided that he wanted to reduce his dependence on their electricity. Now, he's taking a most unusual step.

Students' Personal Data Posted Online

Michael Alison Chandler — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:07:00 EDT

Fairfax County school officials said today that about 75,000 of their students had been affected by a technological breach this summer in which names, birthdates and other personal information was accidentally published online by the test-preparation company Princeton Review. Late last night, sch...

Assistant Principal Charged With Child Pornography

Brigid Schulte — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

An assistant principal at Freedom High School in South Riding was arrested yesterday and charged with possession of child pornography.

Success Story Stokes Hopes For New Year

Nelson Hernandez — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

For a prime example of where the Prince George's County school system has been, where it is today and where it wants to go in the school year that begins Monday, visit Flintstone Elementary School in Oxon Hill.

Schools Are Set to Open, But Staffing Is Unsettled

Daniel de Vise — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Imagine a parent sending a child off to kindergarten and then learning, a week or two later, that the child's teacher is being transferred to another school and the students scattered unceremoniously among other classrooms.

Students Reflect on a New School Year

Timothy Wilson — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

As another academic year approaches, many D.C. public school students say they are concerned about the quality of their education and want to hold top officials accountable. Here, four students share their experiences and offer suggestions on ways to improve public education.

From Obsolete to State of the Art

V. Dion Haynes — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Hardy Middle School in Northwest Washington will reopen next week with a much larger library after a two-year renovation project. After being mothballed six years ago, Phelps High School in Northeast will relaunch with an updated focus on the construction trades. And John Philip Sousa Middle Scho...

In Second Year, Rhee Is Facing Major Tests

Bill Turque — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Classroom by classroom, hallway by hallway, school by school, Michelle A. Rhee is attempting to remake a D.C. public education system that for decades has seemed impervious to change.

All the Hoos in Hooville Hit With a Sign of the Times

Theresa Vargas — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Gone are the days when athletes at the University of Virginia could look up at cheering fans and see signs asking, "Hoos your daddy?"

A New Look for the Old School

Theresa Vargas — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

When students return to Wakefield High School next month, they will find the likeness of a giant panda on the cafeteria wall. They will also be greeted by a new dressing room for the theater department, freshly planted trees across the campus and hallways lined with college-themed bulletin boards....

The County's High-Tech 'Test Case'

William Wan — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

There was electricity in the air at Nantucket Elementary this week as teachers prepared for the debut of Anne Arundel County's newest school.

Calvert, St. Mary's Students Meet Yearly Goals

Jenna Johnson — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

All public elementary and middle schools in Calvert and St. Mary's counties met state-set goals for student performance on standardized tests this year, a feat accomplished by only seven counties in Maryland.

'Proficient' Just Doesn't Cut It in Maryland

Daniel de Vise — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

For a school with one of the most economically disadvantaged populations in Montgomery County, Highland Elementary in Silver Spring is remarkably competitive on standardized tests.

Freshmen Take 1st Independent Steps

Susan Kinzie — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

On their first night at the University of Maryland, Veronica Snodgrass and Tricia Geiger were walking to Route 1, trying to decide what to do, when it suddenly hit them: They were college students, for real.

D.C. School Renovations Won't Finish on Time

Bill Turque — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Construction crews are scrambling on double shifts to finish millions of dollars in renovations to several D.C. schools that are slated to accommodate hundreds of additional students for the beginning of classes Monday, and a top city official acknowledged yesterday that some of the work will not...

Educators Urge Lower Drinking Age to Cut Bingeing

Susan Kinzie — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Scores of college presidents, including the head of Maryland's public university system and the president of Johns Hopkins University, have an unexpected request for legislators: Please, lower the drinking age.

Break on Cost Of Textbooks Unlikely Before Last Bell, 2010

Ylan Q. Mui and Susan Kinzie — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The rising cost of college textbooks has driven Congress and nearly three dozen states -- including Maryland and Virginia -- to attempt to curtail prices and controversial publishing practices through legislation. But as the fall semester begins, students are unlikely to see much relief.

A Reservoir of Learning

Aaron C. Davis — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

With the world watching Michael Phelps's epic quest for eight gold medals, some parents of young Olympic dreamers across the region say they've worked hard to keep his success in perspective for their kids.

D.C. School Choice Program Offers Few Options

Bill Turque — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Earlier this month, parents of students in 81 low-performing D.C. public schools -- almost two-thirds of the District system -- got a packet in the mail announcing that federal law entitles them to transfer their children to a stronger school.