Many American children engage in no physical activity outside of school, and slashed state budgets mean even fewer phys-ed classes in some districts. But new studies indicate that aerobic exercise can strengthen minds, as well as bodies.

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Tags: Education Policy, Health, Public Policy, Research, Research on Learning, Sports

The Obama Administration has pushed for greater use of merit pay to reward teachers when students make gains in standardized tests. Yet, a new study has found that merit payments of up to $15,000 didn’t improve academic performance.

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Tags: Education Policy, Math teachers, Public Policy, Research on Learning, Teacher Training, Teachers

Schools and public libraries in poor and rural communities may soon get a faster and lower-cost way to hook up to the Internet as part of an overhaul of the federal E-Rate program. An anticipated FCC order would let them use federal dollars to buy unused communications lines.

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Tags: Outreach for Schools, Public Policy, Technical Communications, Technology for Learning

Math teachers who want to refine their teaching methods might want to check out a new volume of articles that presents the latest research findings for improving math education. Published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the articles are jargon-free and include references and a handy use guide.

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Tags: Math teachers, Mathematics, Publication, Research, Research on Learning

The debate over the efficacy of classroom technology continues, but so does the onslaught of new devices. Some cutting-edge technologies may soon be wending their way to American schools, via South Korea. One example? A robot with a screen in its tummy that displays lecture videos.

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Tags: Classroom Technology, Technology Education, Technology for Learning

A presidential advisory panel is calling for the federal government to recruit and train 100,000 “great STEM teachers” over the next decade, recognize a master corps of the best educators, and create 1,000 schools devoted to science, technology, engineering and math.

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Tags: Education Policy, Math teachers, Public Policy, Science Teachers, Teacher Awards, Teacher Training, Teachers

Tufts university will loan state-of-the-art lab equipment to four Boston area high schools, to help support better lab instruction and to hook kids on science inquiry.

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Tags: Free equipment, Laboratory Experience, Technology for Learning, University outreach

The Challenger Center for Space Science Education operates 45 Learning Centers across the United States, using space-mission simulators and interactive exhibitions to make STEM subjects fun for students in grades 5 through 8. Now, a new center will open next spring in West Virginia targeting K-2 students.

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Tags: Elementary Education, Grades K-2, NASA, Science Center

The defeat of Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty in the Sept. 14 Democratic primary could have repercussions for school reform efforts nationwide. That’s because much of the campaign revolved around Fenty’s hand-picked public schools chief, Michelle Rhee, and her high-profile shake-up of the city’s troubled school system.

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Tags: Education Policy, Public Policy