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Reports on the arrest of two students at the Walton High School in New York City for inciting a riot that disrupted classes.

Reports on the state of the New York City public school system as viewed by the city government and by union leaders. Benefits cited by city officials; Unions' criticism of city government's handling of public education issues; Problems posed by budget process.

Reports that Amistad Academy, a high-performing New Haven, Connecticut, charter school, is planning to open five similar schools in New York City. Among 56 charter schools that Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein is seeking to create; Observation that Amistad students, most of whom are poor, perform far better than their peers statewide.

Reports that parents are asking for waiting lists at schools with open seats in New York City. Dozens of seats unfilled at the city's most prized high schools.

Reports on how fourth graders in New York fared in the state mathematics test. Students tested; Performance levels; Percentage meeting standards.

This article reports on a proposal to turn over New York City's Julia Richman Education Complex to Hunter College. The Julia Richman building has been a pilgrimage site for educators, serving as the United States' premier example of a failing urban high school turned into a campus of successful small schools. The educational culture of the Julia Richman schools is also discussed, as well as Hunter College's plans with the building.

This article discusses the closing of the ReadNet Bronx Charter School at Metropolitan College of New York amid money problems and scant evidence of academic success. Charter schools are privately run but receive significant amounts of public financing and supporters believe that the schools bring innovators and new ideas into the classroom. The schools are held accountable by being forced to shut down if they fail to perform.

Like many other parents, Lisa B. Donlan was cautiously optimistic back in 2002 when Joel I. Klein, a former federal prosecutor and Bertelsmann executive, was appointed chancellor of New York City's public schools. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg had just won control of the schools from Albany, and while Ms. Donlan was happy with her own children's school, she knew that parts of the system were badly broken. ''Back then, people were hopeful, people were open-minded,'' Ms. Donlan recalled this week. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

When Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg released stark new report cards last fall, grading all schools on a scale of A through F, the Acorn High School for Social Justice, in Brooklyn, was branded with an F. Later on, its principal, Joseph Parker, resigned under pressure. But now, the Acorn school is on another, more auspicious list. It is one of 335 schools that are performing so well that their principals and assistant principals are eligible for bonuses. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

It is there in black and white: New York City public schools cannot be named after living people, according to the chancellor's regulations, the set of rules and policies governing the city's school system. But the regulations say nothing about naming entire school campuses -- like a cluster of schools offset by lush greenery -- for those who are still alive. Or, for that matter, for those who are living, breathing politicians gearing up for contested re-election campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article offers information on the New York City School System opening the Khalil Gibran International Academy to teach Arabic language and culture in Brooklyn, New York City in September 2007. It would eventually be undertaking half of its classes in Arabic language. The school would cater to both American and Arab-American students irrespective of their background in relation to Arabic language. It is being opened in collaboration with a nonprofit group New Visions for Public Schools.

The article presents information on 46 city schools in New York City that have been newly identified as unsatisfactory students' rating under the U.S. law. In the state, 27 other schools, which are failed in the performance standards have been facing penalties. A total of 52 schools in the state have shown good performance.

The article reports on an e-mail received in regard to the ban on the usage of mobile phones in the New York City schools. The e-mail, sent by the public advocate Betsy Gotbaum states that cellphone bans are not worthy as many cases have happened where the parents or guardians of the wards need to be contacted urgently, but was not possible. Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg has defended the ban claiming that cellphones instigates cheating and are used by pupils to call friends for fighting.

The article presents news briefs on various socio-political issues in the U.S. A formal procedure for students seeking medical exemption from cellphone use in schools has been issued by the City Department of Education in Manhattan, New York City. Consumer price for natural gas from Public Service Electric & Gas is to go down, while an increase in electricity price has been ruled in New Jersey. Music director Robert F. Tate has been arrested on the charges of child pornography in Connecticut.

The article reports that the U.S. government is investigating whether there is discrimination against special education students in the New York City school system.

Reports on the grant of a new policy by the Board of Regents in New York state to middle schools that offers the latter more freedom to change time requirements that students spend in specific subjects. Permission provided by the board to a limited number of middle schools to abandon the state's scheduling requirements entirely; View on the regulations governing schools in the state; Approval of the policy after a nearly three-year process; Implication of the new policy for the educational system in the state.

Looks into the savings gained from cutting bureaucracy in New York's school system. Failure of the Department of Education to document its claims that extra money had been spent on services for students; Overstatement of the cost savings made; Views of people regarding the matter.

Reports on the transfer of students from failing schools in New York City. Conditions under the federal No Child Left Behind Act; Basis of the failing designation on test scores and other factors; Cause of anger from lawmakers and children's advocates; Evidence that the Department of Education decision to abandon choice for poor people.

Reports on the decline in the number of school children seeking to transfer to better schools in New York. Reasons behind the decline; Emphasis of putting into effect the city's federal law; Efforts done by Chancellor Joel Klein in creating charter schools and small schools.

Reports on an education policy of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to hold back fifth grade students who do not have adequate test scores. Proclamation of Bloomberg that the program to hold back third graders has been a success; Promise of providing $20 million for Saturday classes and tutoring; Details of the program involving third graders; Reservations about the program cited by opponents; Reasons for applying the program to fifth graders.

Reports on the first graduating class at the New York City Leadership Academy, perhaps the most intensive and costly principal training program in the country. Description of the academy, whose centerpiece is the aspiring principals program; Expectations as city's schools open next week and the academy's principals take up their posts; Potential for dozens of top notch principals from the three-year $75 million project to turn around some of the city's worst schools.

Reports that hospital officials and lawyers have said that New York City, New York public schools have flooded hospital emergency rooms with hundreds of children as a way to deal with everything from behavior problems to undiagnosed learning disabilities. Principals are not supposed to send children to emergency rooms without parental consent; Factors that explain why the practice has become more common.

Reports that the special education system in New York City's public schools is not as troubled as previous studies have claimed according to a survey from the state Dept. of Education. Suggestions that fewer students are awaiting special education services; Types of problems that the city government has addressed.

Focuses on tensions between small schools within larger schools in New York City. Example of Bronx Aerospace Academy High School, which is inside Evander Childs High School; Challenges of addressing the needs of both schools; Role of New York City as a nationwide leader in the small schools movement; Efforts of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to overhaul the school system; Creation of small schools using private money; Criticism of the city's Department of Education; Comments of school administrators, teachers and students.

Reports on the documentation of the performance of various students in New York City. Efforts of the teachers to post the test scores of the students at the Web site of the Department of Education; Enhancement on the curriculum of several schools; Improvement on the quality of education.

Reports on the inventory for the number of personal computers being used among public schools in New York City. Doubts on the inventory released by the Department of Education; Amount paid by the Department of Education to Dell Computer Corp. in order to conduct the inventory; Number of computers identified by the Dell inventory.

The article focuses on the fall in the crime while a rise in the non-criminal incidents in schools with extra officers. The number of citations for non-criminal incidents has risen 72 percent, to an average of 14.8 percent in January from 8.6 percent in November. In January, each school was visited by a team of educators, police officers and a community worker. These teams observed some common themes like the lack of enforcement of rules against skipping classes and wearing hats, and chaotic conditions outside the schools in the mornings. They further made some recommendations for an appropriate change.

Reports on the concerns of the New York City Department of Education regarding the creation of new parent councils among the community schools in the city. Plan to replace community school boards with the new parent councils; Efforts of finding applicants to serve on the parent councils; Lack of candidates for positions on the parent councils.

Reports on an accusation by New York City comptroller, William C. Thompson Jr., against Snapple, which won an exclusive deal to sell beverages in city schools and on city property. Intent of Thompson to go to court, if necessary, to challenge the contract; Comments of Thompson at a news conference; Thompson's audit of the deal; Details of the contract, which was announced by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in September 2003; Bloomberg's defense of the Snapple arrangement.

Reports on the expansion of the Manhattan East School for Arts and Academics. Plan of Department of the Education to provide more room for neighborhood children; Opposition of parents, teachers, and the principal to the plan; Reason for the opposition.

Reports on the decrease in the number of New York City schools that are at risk of being closed for poor academic performance. Removal of seventeen city schools from the state watch list; Improvement in the academic performance of Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn; Other schools that were removed from the list.

Offers a look at strains faced by the New York City public school system after an overhaul by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. Benefits of the citywide literacy curriculum and classroom libraries; Delays school administrators and teachers face in receiving their paychecks; Problems with the disciplinary system; Concerns of educators and parents, including special education services and evaluations; Relations between parents and schools; Membership of the Board of Education, renamed the Panel for Educational Policy; Praise for the New Beginnings centers for disruptive high school students.

Reports on a declaration by New York City Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein that teachers union contracts need to be renegotiated. Concerns of Klein in regards to the teacher contracts, such as pay scales, seniority rights and tenure; Plans of his reform plan; Past deliberations between the teachers union and Klein.

Comments on the hiring of parent coordinator's for the New York City school system. Schools Chancellor, Joel I. Klein, who hopes to increase parental involvement; Schools with existing strong parental involvement which complain about the program; Concern that the position might create a barrier between principals and parents; Coordinators who are making themselves known in the schools; Program which may succeed where the PTA did not.