San Diego teacher Jonathan Winn has done what some would say is impossible: He’s inspired high school students to get excited about math. His AP calculus class is the most popular course in a school with a large number of low-income students for whom English is not their native language.

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Tags: Math, Math teachers, Mathematics, Teacher Awards, Teachers

A new study shows an increase in students taking rigorous high school courses and, as a result, scoring higher on achievement tests. The 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress High School Transcript Study reveals that the percentage of high school graduates completing a “rigorous” curriculum jumped from 5 percent to 13 percent.

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Tags: Honors Students, Math, Mathematics, Minority Group Students, Research on Learning

British naturalist Charles Darwin knew his theory of natural selection was controversial. Still, even he might be nonplussed at the uproar over teaching evolution. Last week, Tennessee’s House of Representatives approved a bill that encourages science teachers to explore controversial topics without fear of reprisal. Critics contend the measure will let K-12 teachers present intelligent design and creationism as acceptable alternatives to evolution.

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Tags: Education Policy, Evolution, Public Policy

More than 1 million K-12 students take online courses. Advocates say Web-based make-up classes and other offerings allow students to take a richer menu of electives and Advanced Placement courses. Critics call them an effort by school districts to shave costs on buildings and teachers.

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Tags: Education Policy, Technology for Learning

A Japanese elementary school principal’s quick thinking saved his students’ lives after March 11’s colossal tsunami hit their school building. He immediately called the first- and second-graders who were playing outside into the school before guiding a total of 90 people — students, teachers and residents — onto the top of the two-story school building.

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Tags: Elementary Education, Events

Civil rights, business, and education advocates are urging Congress and the Obama administration not to undermine a key portion of the No Child Left Behind Act in their quest to make the law more flexible—a move they fear will shortchange minority students and other historically overlooked groups in the process.

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Tags: Education Policy, Minority Group Students, Public Policy, Research on Learning

Wisconsin’s labor battle gained national attention after nearly 100,000 people, including educators, rallied in the capital to protest a bill to curb public-sector collective bargaining. Meanwhile, with far less fanfare, Ohio’s legislature approved a bill that is perhaps even tougher on unions and gives school boards and city councils a free hand to unilaterally impose their side’s final contract offer.

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Tags: Public Policy, Teachers

School districts nationwide are bracing for potentially deep cuts in their teaching ranks. While many may fare better than projected, each layoff causes a chaotic ripple of staff reshuffling as senior educators “bump” more junior teachers from their classrooms, forcing thousands to change schools, grades, or subjects.

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Tags: Education Policy, Public Policy, Teachers

Many students consider Algebra II a complex course with scant real-world value. Yet, of all of the classes offered in high school, it is the leading predictor of college and work success. In recent years, 20 states and the District of Columbia have raised graduation requirements to include Algebra II. Now, researchers wonder if that’s such smart policy.

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Tags: Education Policy, Grades 9-12, Math, Mathematics, Research on Learning