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The article reports on reviews which were conducted on English language learning programs in school districts in Boston, Massachusetts, Buffalo, New York, Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington and found that the programs did not provide special help for English language learning to students who were entitled to it under federal law. Legal guidance which the districts are seeking from federal officials as a result of the reviews is discussed.

The article discusses a classroom behavior intervention program in use at Sylvester Middle School in Burien, Washington. The author describes the impact of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) discipline approach on improved student behavior in the school. Similarities between the approach and response to intervention methods are addressed. The approach evaluates students in five areas of behavior: promptness, preparedness, politeness, positive attitude, and productiveness.

The number of states facing budget deficits this fiscal year has decreased dramatically—from 31 states to 10—compared with fiscal 2003, according to a new report from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Scott D. Pattison, the director of the Washington-based National Association of State Budget Officers, said that the economic climate is improving for states only in an "incremental, slow way," and that budgets will continue to be tight at least through fiscal 2005. The report shows that some states have balanced their fiscal 2004 budgets only after making drastic cuts in education this year or in previous years.

Becoming a spiritual leader takes some getting used to for Roman Catholic school principals who previously worked in public schools. In Catholic schools, they're supposed to guide students and staff members in spiritual growth. To help ease new principals into their roles as spiritual leaders, the Washington-based National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) provided several sessions on the topic during its annual principals' academy here in July. The NCEA helps principals of Catholic schools nurture the spirituality of students and teachers because faith expression in the school climate is what distinguishes Catholic schools from many other private schools.

Reports on efforts of some young Native Americans to revive American Indian languages in public schools under a pilot program approved by the Washington state board of education in January 2003. Details of the program; Committee that proposed the program; Comments of members of the committee on making the proposal; Description of a similar program launched by Montana state in 1995.

Presents updates on technology-related issues in schools in the United States. Development of a security technology measure to prevent school violence; Possible Internet-based election in Woodland High School, Woodland, Washington.

The article focuses on a study which suggests that, at the elementary school level, the nation's English-language learners are largely concentrated in a relatively small number of schools. Produced by the Washington-based Urban Institute, the study found that nearly 70 percent of elementary-level English-language learners are enrolled in 10 percent of the nation's elementary schools. The researchers also noted that nearly half, 43 percent, of the nation's elementary schools don't have any students with limited proficiency in English.

The article reports that Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates has given $40 million to Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington the private school he graduated from in 1973. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's donation is the largest in the history of the independent school, which serves 773 students in grades 5-12.

The article reports that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has released a statement focusing on what it sees as a need for the Roman Catholic community and the broader society to support Catholic schooling. The bishops issued the 17-page statement June 17, 2005 at a meeting in Chicago, Illinois. According to Bill Ryan, a spokesman for the Washington-based bishops' conference said that they began drafting it four years ago. The statement describes the financial challenges of keeping Catholic schools open, particularly in low-income neighborhoods.

Teachers at a recent peace forum in Washington demonstrated one of the recurring themes of the meeting: Creating a culture of peace in the classroom doesn't necessarily mean avoiding conflict. About 135 teachers attended the October 17 forum, "Teachers Building a Culture of Peace: Classroom Responses to War and Terrorism," at American University. It was sponsored by the Alexandria, Virginia-based Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. The teachers are among a small group of educators across the country who are committed to bringing lessons about peace and nonviolence to their classes. The attendees included an educator from Washington looking for ways to talk with her students about a recent gang-related murder in their neighborhood. A teacher from Alexandria, meanwhile, wanted to learn how to help students from Liberia cope with past war experiences.

Presents news briefs related to education in the United States, as of May 9, 2001. Arizona's topping of a list of states based on support for the charter school movement; Legislation on charter schools signed into law by Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon; Teachers' walkout in the state of Washington in protest of recent voter initiatives.