Editor's Note: This is our weekly news roundup of education-related events nationwide and in our launch regions, compiled by one of our amazing interns.
National:
+ Cyber-school unionizes - First of its kind (Boston.com)
+ Student denied diploma for blowing kiss to mom at graduation ceremony (MSNBC)
+ Military academies report significant rise in applicants (New York Times)
+ Survey says that students use cell phones to cheat (USA Today1)
+ Sen. Colburn's list of wasteful stimulus projects includes education funding (EdWeek)
+ Study finds 8th grade art education is lacking (New York Times)
+ The rise and fall of cash for grades (Scholastic)
+ Military backed public schools on rise (USA Today)
+ Ending the summer brain drain (Washington Post)
+ For colleges, small cuts equal big savings (New York Times)
+ First Lady hosts White House jazz workshop (NPR)
+ A unique way to pay for colleges (New York Times)
+ Tell the truth about colleges (Education Sector)
DC Metro:
+ 250 teachers given pink slips (Washington Post)
+ The end of one teacher's first year (<Washington Post)
+ Specialized high school diplomas (Washington Post)
+ A new way of doing mandatory summer reading (Washington Post)
+ GI Bill has problems with DC Private schools (Washington Post)
New York:
+ InsideSchools.org in danger of going under (Scholastic)
+ Success at small schools has a price (New York TimesY)
+ Despite economy, Columbia manages to increase spending plans (New York Times)
+ Families urge Bloomberg to save after school vouchers (New York Times)
This week, there was an especially large number of articles and blog post focused on charter schools. A special section devoted to all sides of the argument:
+ US charter school movement gains momentum (NPR)
+ Close under performing charter schools, reward the ones that work (Education Sector)
+ The birth of a charter school (NPR)
+ Charter schools aren't that great (NPR)
+ Deciding to go to a charter school or not (NPR)
1. Author's note: While many of my friends, myself included, would send text messages during class, I know of no one who used phones to cheat on tests, despite the fearmongering of the administration at the time. Honestly, there are easier and less conspicuous ways to cheat; students don't need to use cell phones.