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Focuses on a paper clip project at Whitwell Middle School in Tennessee. Commemoration of victims of the Holocaust; Jews and Germans' interest in the project; Newspaper articles by Peter Schroeder and Dagmar Schroeder-Hildebrand; Symbol of protest against Nazi atrocities.

Reports on the reaction to increasing paper prices by schools in the United States. Implementation of paper rations for schools in Portland, Oregon; Percentage of price increase in Gary, Indiana; Memoranda sent by the school board in Des Moines, Iowa to anticipate the increase; Comments.

Offers a look at the use of research or term papers in United States' high schools. Report that the focus on creative writing, fear of plagiarism, prevalence of PowerPoint presentations, and lack of time are factors in the decline of the research paper use; Inexperience in the area of writing papers of students entering college; Reference to a study by the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation on the state of English and social studies standards; Advantages of the history term paper.

Reports on the petition filed by students at Liberty Middle School in Ashland, Virginia, to have an abbreviated version of the United States Constitution printed on the back of the dollar bill. Version of the students' proposal which was considered for legislation; Lawmakers' support for the proposal.

The article presents seven studies that compare paper and computer test scores in the U.S. Topics include online assessment and the comparability of score meaning, maintaining score equivalence amid the transition of online tests, and the mode effects of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in mathematics. Other topics discussed include the performance of 4th-grade students in the 2012 NAEP computer-based writing pilot, and the Mathematics Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment.

This article reports that the U.S. worried about complying with the No Child Left Behind Act should consider increasing the supply of high-quality charter schools and mapping out plans for converting failing schools to charter status, argue a pair of policy papers scheduled for release this week by the Education Commission of the States. Although the 21/2-year-old federal law holds school districts responsible for allowing children to transfer from schools that are repeatedly rated as needing improvement, states can play an important role in seeing that the school choice provision is more than a hollow promise, says one of the papers.

The article focuses on a set of studies conducted by the Princeton, New Jersey-based Educational Testing Service, which conclude that how students perform on computer-delivered tests depends, in part, on how familiar they are with the technology. The studies looked at how students performed when given mathematics and writing items from the National Assessment of Educational Progress by paper and pencil vs. computer. The results of the studies were released this month by the National Center for Education Statistics, which oversees the federal testing program.

The article discusses U.S. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan and comments that Kagan wrote on educational policy memoranda that circulated in the White House when she was an aide to U.S. President Bill Clinton. Inferences are made from Kagan's handwritten notations about her policy views on kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) education.

Focuses on the system set up by quarterly journal 'The Concord Review,' to read and rate history papers written by high school students in the United States, against an international standard. Impetus for the set up of the National Writing Board; Value of the rating for students seeking entry into a college; Universities that have agreed to accept the rating; Basis for the evaluation criteria.

The article reports that when the deadline for outfitting every public school classroom with a "highly qualified" teacher rolls around at the end of the 2005-06 school year, many states are likely to claim they have met it. U.S. Department of Education officials and other proponents of the federal law contend it is making the national teacher corps stronger. The view of Deborah A. Kasak, the director of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, represents a certain ambivalence among educators and experts, who generally applaud the aim of the teacher-quality provision and at least some of the efforts made to reach the goal it sets.

The article discusses educational research about the incorporation of best practices from charter schools into U.S. public schools to increase academic achievement, according to a 2012 article by professor Roland Fryer of Harvard University's Hamilton Project, which proposes economic policy.

The article presents views of former federal education official Cheri Pierson Yecke on the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Yecke, who was shocked by the Minnesota state Senate's refusal to confirm her in her position as education commissioner, promptly signed on with a Minneapolis-based think tank, and earlier this month, released a 56-page study of how the federal NCLB Act is working there. The report, "Education Accountability in Minnesota: No Child Left Behind and Beyond," contains her suggestions for tackling some of the problems caused by the nearly 3-year-old law, in both her state and at the federal level.

This article reports that a Seattle newspaper and Washington state's largest teachers' union are fighting in court over when complaints of teacher sexual misconduct become part of the public record. The Seattle Times argues that any such complaints that are entered into a district's files should be open. The Washington Education Association, on the other hand, would shield unproven complaints from public view. The case has been before the state supreme court but it is drawing attention now because the newspaper recently published the stories that led to the dispute.

Federal agencies issued more than 40,000 pages of regulations in the Federal Register. The Department of Education was one such agency and on December 22, 2003 it provided a preview of forthcoming regulations that will address some of the most heavily scrutinized issues in K-12 education. In the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the right of the Scouts to exclude homosexuals and controversies over public schools treatment of the Scouts, Congress included language in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 guaranteeing the Boy Scouts equal access to schools.

When the Great Northern Paper mill, a major employer in Millinocket, Maine suddenly closed in December 2002 unemployment was a concern for the parents and students of Stearns and Schenck high schools. Shrinking finances meant that the two schools would not be able to host their yearly proms. Suggestions from the student forums headed by John Daley, a U.S. history teacher at the 800-student Kennebunk High included raising money to help pay for a prom for the Millinocket students. They raised nearly 2,000 dollars. Community businesses and school organizations became aware of the plight of the mill town's residents and offered Millinocket students discount dresses, hair styling, and accessories for the prom. Their prom is scheduled for this spring.

Reports that the newspaper 'The Cincinnati Enquirer' has sued the Cincinnati, Ohio's school board and its superintendent Alton Frailey over the secretive process. Reason for sueing the school board and Frailey; Appointment of new superintendent for the school board.

Reports on the development of a mathematic technique called 'mental math' by Brainerd, Minnesota-based school teacher Daniel Bzdok that will enable students to solve mathematic problems oral and faster. Features of the technique; Criticism on use of calculators in Brainerd schools; Recognition of the success of 'mental math' technique.

Profiles selected United States high school campus periodicals and their advisers. Overview of `The Bulldog's Growl' of Mexico High School in Missouri; Adviser of `The Granite Bay Gazette'; Format of `The Stinger' of Emmaus High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Reports on the legal action taken by the Chicago, Illinois school system against `Substance' newspaper run by dissident teachers which printed the entire sections of the district's high school tests. Details on the temporary restraining order for `Substance'; Comments from Paul G. Vallas, the district's chief executive officer; Information on the tests.

Reports on a reform platform conceived by the Communitarian Network that emphasized character building as a vital function of public education. Inculcation of values in students; Provisions of platform written by professor Amitai Etzioni; Network's primary objectives.

Reports on the order of District Court Judge Norma Holloway Johnson to the Education Department to allow public access to documents pertaining to the 1986 review of Maryland's special-education programs. Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education; State compliance to federal laws.

Explains ideas and issues for better interpretation of educational standards in the United States. Meaning of effort as against ability; International benchmarks; Content standards and performance standards; Open-ended versus multiple-choice examinations; Performance-based classrooms.

The article offers several blogs including one about the release of the U.S. government's regulations for the Race to the Top Fund, one about the end of students working on in-depth research papers as suggested in "The Cincinnati Enquirer" newspaper, and another about the image of the school principal's office.

Presents excerpts from education-related articles in the United States from a February 2001 issue of `New Republic' and `Washington City Paper.'

Undaunted by a sheet of white paper and too young to be intimidated by convention or the expectations of others, 32 of them at the Harrison Lyseth School in Portland, Maine, eagerly and earnestly attack sheets of watercolor paper with sponges, brushes, and, of course, their fingers to conjure wonderfully expressive landscapes and seascapes. The inspiration for this lesson, however, is a small ink wash of a sailboat by the late William Thon, a 20th century artist celebrated in Maine for his paintings of coastal landscapes, turbulent seascapes, sailboats, and fishing boats.

South Dakota officials announced this past winter as of May 8, 2003 that they were making the state's much-touted online testing program voluntary for districts, and instead requiring new paper-and-pencil tests to meet the requirements of the“No Child Left Behind” Act of 2001. While many experts predict the law could lead to a moderate slowing-down of computer-based testing at the state level, they anticipate a boom in low-stakes, technology-based assessments at the district level to help students prepare for the state exams. Technological innovations also could make state tests more accessible to special populations of students, such as those with disabilities or limited fluency in English, who must be included in state testing systems under the federal legislation. Schools already can opt to administer state reading and math tests in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 either electronically or on paper through the Technology Enhanced Student Assessment program, or TESA, and the state will pilot additional online tests in other grades this spring.

The article reports on a lawsuit that was filed by several high school students in MacLean, Virginia, against iParadigms LLC, the parent company of Turnitin.com. The students object to the way that the Web site archived their papers and claim that the company violated their rights under U.S. copyright law. The students were required by their schools to submit their papers to the anti-plagarism Web site.

The article discusses American high school students' attitudes towards the curriculum of the British nonprofit organization Cambridge Assessment International Education, including students' writing research papers for the course Global Perspectives. An overview of examinations (exams) offered by Cambridge Assessment, including humanities exams and the cost of exams, is provided.

The article discusses a working paper by economist James J. Heckman and colleagues that suggest that the Perry Preschool project, which was an early-intervention program for children from disadvantaged families in Ypsilanti, Michigan in the 1960s, had rates of return below 10% rather than the original 16%. Their paper, which is posted at the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research's web site, argued that the previous findings were flawed because of its randomization process and missing data.

The article presents opinion of various from the media world on work of guest journalist Michael Antonucci for the weekly electronic newsletter, "Communiqu&eacute," regarding teacher's unions in the U.S. A hybrid of journalist and commentator who has tapped into the justly celebrated power of the Internet, the one-time U.S. Air Force navigator has made himself into the nation's leading observer. Chester E. Finn Jr., the president of the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, characterizes "Communiqué" as "by far the best source in America about doings inside the unions." Paul T. Hill, a public affairs professor at the University of Washington, calls the newsletter "irreverent and smart." And a veteran teacher and union activist in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, praises Antonucci for being first and factual. A hybrid of journalist and commentator who has tapped into the justly celebrated power of the Internet, the one-time U.S. Air Force navigator has made himself into the nation's leading observer—and critic—of the two national teachers' unions and their affiliates. Among readers' suspicions, for instance, are that the newsletter is directly subsidized by conservative groups, that Antonucci himself has had a bitter run-in with a teachers' union, that his wife is a teacher, and that he himself is a former Central Intelligence Agency operative. Writing a paper for a conservative think tank on the California Teachers Association, a National Education Association affiliate, Antonucci began to hone the techniques that have served him well since.

Focuses on the efforts that teachers make in their classrooms assessments in Lincoln, Nebraska. Advantages of classroom assessments according to researchers; Teacher's pattern of preparation of assessment papers; Judgement on the effectiveness of the assessment programs.

The article discusses debate over the comparability and scoring fairness of computer versus paper-and-pencil educational tests designed for the U.S. Common Core State Standards by two state consortia to be used in 2015. Schools' transition to computer tests for English and mathematics, test validity, and educational equality are discussed, as well as the psychometric aspects of computer versus paper tests.

Announces various educational activities and events in the United States as of April 1995. Includes application deadlines for grants, fellowships and honors available to individuals; Call for papers; Free or inexpensive resources that teachers can order; Contests, scholarships and internships for students; Teaching awards. INSET: Tune-in (television programs)..

The article focuses on the comments of the authors on the paper "The Exaggerated Dropout Crisis," by economist Lawrence Mishel, that appeared in the March 8, 2006 issue. According to the authors, the paper's attack on calculations of high school graduation rates that use official enrollment statistics from the U.S. Department of Education is off base on a number of key points. In his paper, Mishel mischaracterizes the findings of the authors' previous studies and expresses an extraordinary faith in the ability of the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, to do something for which it was never meant: produce accurate calculations of high school graduation rates.

Reports that South Dakota has dropped the idea of using online testing and has switched to a paper-and-pencil standardized test in view of the federal law requirements. Implementation of the tenth edition of the Stanford Achievement Test; Guidelines for the assessment of the student according to the federal guidelines; Differences between online test and paper test systems.

Reports on the decline in the practice of introducing historical research papers in high school history classes in the U.S. Preferences of history and social sciences teachers for short stories and summaries of assigned readings; Inadequateness in the quality of research papers prepared by high school students; Influence of constraints on curriculum in the decline of historical research.

The article reports that private foundations can play a critical, catalytic role in changing American public education for the better, but they could and should be getting more bang for their bucks than they are right now. That argument runs through a diverse collection of research papers, commissioned for a conference this week, that aims to shed unprecedented light both on the scope of contemporary education philanthropy and its impact on the field. The Walton Foundation has focused particularly on charter schools, which are independent public schools, and also has backed efforts to provide low-income students with tuition vouchers to attend private schools.

Hundreds of cheerful Los Alamitos Elementary School pupils playing dodge ball and four-square on the school's vast playground on a recent day presented a sharp contrast with worries faced by their teachers and parents. Though their school is in one of the nation's richest areas, it has such a barebones budget that it can't afford such basic supplies as paper. Dozens of administrators, teachers, librarians, and clerical workers have been laid off, and the raises of those that remain aren't keeping up with the cost of living. As Los Alamitos Elementary ends the school year during what many say is the state's worst fiscal predicament ever, the impact is clear, the district's top business administrator says.

The Irvine, Calif, students discovered that if they just included predictable words, phrases, or features in their paper, the computer would view it favorably regardless of the quality of the work. The Criterion Online Writing Evaluation Program, a product of the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, N.J., helps Thornton supplement her writing instruction and monitor students' work without adding to her grading burden. Some experts worry that the products' capabilities are overstated, and they warn that the potential for misuse is great. According to at least one recent study, middle and high school students are encountering fewer and fewer writing requirements in school just as the business world is demanding more such skills from job candidates.

Offers letters to the editor in response to articles found in issues of 'Education Week.' Viewpoints on United States President George W. Bush's math and science education plan; Discussion of an article on charter schools; Benefits of smaller class-size; Importance of having students write term papers; Others.

Reports on the effect of the findings of research papers concerning school choice in the United States on a national debate over that same issue. Concerns over the nation's growing school choice movement; Background to the school choice program; Impact of unregulated choice programs; Criticisms of the research findings.

Reports on a decision made by the `Detroit Free Press' concerning the development of a procedure which will be implemented by the newspaper, to rate of schools and districts in Michigan. Examination of the procedure proposed by the newspaper; Factors linked with the results attained on test scores; Changes which the paper will implement to enhance its selection methods. INSET: Report cards on the Web.

The article reports that a national panel in the U.S. is raising concerns about the quality of much of the research on charter school achievement, and has outlined recommendations to help ensure better analyses in the future. The first in a series of white papers from the group of researchers notes that while the volume of research on student performance in charters has grown dramatically, the actual quality of that research doesn't seem to be improving. The paper was drafted by the Charter School Achievement Consensus Panel, a group convened by the National Charter School Research Project at the University of Washington in Seattle.

The article focuses on the research paper written by U.S. Judge Samuel Alito Jr. when he was a law student at Yale Law School. The paper focused on Supreme Court decisions on school released time or plans in which students are excused from public school to study religion. Alito wrote that released-time plans by states and school districts enrolled about two million students in 1948 when the court's decision in McCollum v. Board of Education struck down an Illinois district's released-time plan.

This article reports that, according to a research paper by the World Bank concludes, the fees that many countries around the world require children to pay to attend public schools are an obstacle to enrollment in primary school for many youngsters But when such fees are abolished, it's important for countries to have a source of revenue to replace the fees, or the quality of schooling can drop dramatically as school systems become overwhelmed, according to the paper. It says the World Bank is reconsidering some of its past support for policies in some countries that require fees, including textbook fees, for primary school pupils.

Though the U.S. economy is recovering, states are still struggling to balance their budgets, according to a Harvard University white paper. "The financial trends are clear," the 33-page paper says. "The existing, built-in financial demands of the states' current responsibilities are growing more rapidly than are their revenues." Education is one of those growing costs, especially expenses related to requirements under the federal special education law and the No Child Left Behind Act, the report says.

Education goals adopted at various international meetings calling for all countries to achieve universal primary schooling and equity between boys and girls in schooling by 2015 are unrealistic, a working paper by the Washington-based Center for Global Development suggests. The paper characterizes as utopian such targets as the Millennium Development Goals on primary schooling and gender parity.

Changes in charter school regulations and funding formulas could make it more feasible for "brand name" networks of the independent public schools to expand, according to a paper commissioned by the Brookings Institution and discussed at an annual conference here last week. Such systems of schools, overseen by organizations such as the for-profit, Edison Schools Inc., and guided by nonprofit models like the KIPP Academies, show promise in raising student achievement, said Steven F. Wilson, a senior fellow at the Center for Business and Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, who wrote the paper.

Reports on the emergence of anti-plagiarism Web sites in the United States that aid teachers in catching high school students who plagiarize essays and research papers. Programs that compare students' essays against papers on databases; Plagiarism among student achievers; Features of the Web tool Eve2.

The article presents books, essays and research studies about the maker movement (MM) in primary and secondary education in the U.S. These include the paper "Making Publics: The Iterative Design of High School Makerspaces," by Amy Stornaiuolo and Phil Nichols presented at the American Educational Research Association's 2016 national conference, and the essays "The MM in Education," by Erica R. Halverson and Kimberly M. Sheridan, and "The Promise of the MM for Education," by Lee Martin.