Rise in College Applications Fuels Uncertainty
Posted on March 20th, 2011 by Mary Lord
As anxious students hover by computer screens or mailboxes for news of college admissions, they face even more disappointment than even the record-breaking class of 2009. Though the number of high school seniors fell in many states last year, they continue to apply to more schools. The average now tops 4.5, with a hefty percentage applying to eight or more colleges.
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Starting in 2014, new teachers in Florida could see their pay and promotions linked to their students’ performance on state assessments. Bills being considered in the legislature also would allow school boards to fire teachers more easily for mediocre results. Similar legislation was vetoed last year by the former governor, who considered it too extreme, but Gov. Rick Scott seems poised to approve this somewhat gentler version.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan warned last week that 82 percent of the country’s schools soon could be considered failing if the No Child Left Behind law is not changed. The administration is seeking to relax some accountability measures in the law. “The law has created dozens of ways for schools to fail and very few ways to help them succeed,” Duncan said.
A new government study suggests that smart recrafting of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) can help save taxpayers a bundle. Meanwhile, a group of moderate Senate Democrats plans to introduce a series of bills in the next few weeks to jump-start the overhaul.
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Is America ready to join Europe and Asia in embracing a common curriculum? A bipartisan group of educators, business leaders and labor representatives thinks so. Citing the common English and math standards some 40 states have adopted, the group announced support this week for a proposal to provide specific guidelines for schools and teachers about what should be taught in each grade.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates says the nation isn’t getting its money’s worth in education, and faults two assumptions that have led to rising costs: that reducing class size will boost student achievement, and that teachers must be rewarded on the basis of seniority. He suggests identifying the top 25 percent of teachers and paying them more to teach more students. 
Teachers nationwide could face sharp reductions in their ranks as state and local governments tackle crippling budget shortfalls. Providence, R.I., sent notices to teachers last week warning all of them could lose their jobs. New York City’s preliminary budget calls for thousands of layoffs. How is your district faring? 
Farewell, bulky backpacks–at least in Florida. State education officials recently rolled out a five-year proposal that calls for all students in K-12 to use only “electronic materials” delivered by Kindles, iPads and other similar technology by 2015.
