More K-12 State Spending Cuts are Expected
About 25 states are expected to cut K-12 spending for fiscal 2011 as they continue to feel the effects of the struggling economy. The cuts could lead to bigger class sizes and teacher layoffs, warns Daniel G. Thatcher of the Denver-based National Conference of State Legislatures. States are facing even bigger deficits as federal stimulus money dries up, leading Education Secretary Arne Duncan to tell a group of governors last month that he's "very concerned" about the potential fallout. (*Education Week, March 1, 2010)

> Read More

Schools Face Big Budget Holes as Stimulus Runs Out
School districts across the country are experiencing the effects of state budget cuts combined with dwindling federal stimulus funds, and many are implementing teacher layoffs, increasing class sizes and offering fewer electives and after-school activities to balance their budgets. Experts warn the dire financial picture could undermine the Obama administration's goals for education reform, contribute to increased unemployment and worsen disparities in achievement between students in low- and high-income districts. (Associated Press, February 14, 2010)

> Read More

Dueling Objectives Mark Stimulus at Halfway Point
A year ago, the federal floodgates opened for aid to education, releasing a one-time surge of up to $100 billion in economic-stimulus money aimed at both stabilizing and transforming the nation’s public education system. The results so far have been mixed, as weighed against the Obama administration’s twin goals for its unprecedented infusion of education funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. (*Education Week, February 10, 2010)

> Read More

15 States Plus D.C. Are Named Race to the Top Finalists
And the highly anticipated Round One finalists are...Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee. (*Education Week, March 4, 2010)

> Read More

Stimulus Reflects Push for Teacher Effectiveness
Almost since the day the No Child Left Behind Act became law eight years ago, teacher-quality advocates have complained about the insufficiency of its rules for staffing classrooms with “highly qualified” teachers. Formal qualifications, they pointed out, don’t necessarily make for effective, engaging teachers. (*Education Week, February 5, 2010)

> Read More

Title I, Spec. Ed. Aid Casts Long Stimulus Shadow
Programs serving the nation’s economically disadvantaged students and those with disabilities are receiving massive funding boosts through the federal stimulus package—$13 billion for Title I aid and $11.3 billion for special education—but how school districts choose to use the money may set them up for problems when it dries up. (*Education Week, February 5, 2010)

> Read More

House Panel Questions Duncan on ESEA and Budget
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan got a warm reception—but also plenty of pointed questions—from both Democrats and Republicans on the House Education and Labor Committee, which is kicking off the reauthorization process for the Elementary and Secondary Act. (*Education Week, March 3, 2010)

> Read More

Final Rules Unveiled for 'i3' Innovation Fund
The U.S. Department of Education today unveiled the final rules for its $650 million Investing in Innovation, or i3, grant program, standing fast in the face of criticism that its proposed guidelines demanded too much from applicants in the way of private-sector match and evidence to back up their proposals. (*Education Week, March 8, 2010)

> Read More

Arizona District Task Force to Study Better Use of Instructional Time
School officials in Scottsdale, Arizona have commissioned a task force to investigate how the school district uses time. It will look at the possibility of a four-day school week or a 200-day school year for its students. The panel will look at research and outcomes on the use of teachers' time throughout the country and world and prepare reports on how to better structure instructional and professional-development time. (The Arizona Republic, February 15, 2010)

> Read More

New Jersey Freezes State Aid for Schools
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said the state will withhold $475 million in aid to K-12 schools for the remainder of this school year as part of a plan to shore up the state's budget. Many school administrators said the plan, which also freezes $62 million in funding for the state's public colleges, could mean widespread cuts in staff and programs. "You're making school districts bleed, and that's not good for children," one district's superintendent said. (The Record, February 12, 2010)

Closing the Achievement Gap
A wide-ranging bill in Massachusetts was recently signed into law with the aim of closing the achievement gap. One notable section of the law creates innovation schools, which are public schools with increased autonomy and flexibility in one or more of the following areas: (1) curriculum; (2) budget; (3) school schedule and calendar; (4) staffing policies and procedures; (5) school district policies and procedures; and (6) professional development.

Unions Balk at School Aid Program
Although many school districts in Massachusetts have rushed to take part in a federal program that offers new funds in exchange for cooperation on educational reforms, a number of others will have to sit on the sidelines because their teacher unions opted out. (The Boston Globe, February 4, 2010)

Proposed Budget Includes Deep Cuts for Rhode Island Schools
Rhode Island's proposed budget for fiscal 2011 includes at least $27 million in spending reductions for schools -- the largest cut to education in the state in about 20 years. Under the plan, schools would see a 3.8% across-the-board cut in state aid from this year's levels, which officials said would have a significant effect on schools. "Continued cuts in state aid to local school districts will further compromise our school district's ability to deliver crucial educational services to our students," the superintendent of the state's largest school district said. (The Providence Journal, February 3, 2010)

Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, and Vision
Vision problems can lead to reading problems — but they are not the cause of LD or dyslexia. Get a link to the recent joint statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Council on Children with Disabilities, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which summarizes what is known about visual problems and dyslexia. (Reading Rockets, February 2010)

New Technologies Affect Braille Literacy
The advantages of improved technology for people with visual impairments may also have a downside by contributing to low rates of Braille literacy. Milwaukee educators and advocates are supporting efforts to encourage more students to learn Braille, which they say is the key to literacy for people with visual impairments. "People realize that Braille is literacy," one educator said. "You can't spell or punctuate with a tape recorder." (Milwaukee Journal, February 2, 2010)

Off the Press is a monthly summary of education news relevant to WLT staff and trainers.

Please Note:Links to the news articles provided in the Off the Press monthly e-mail distribution come from third-party information providers who are not affiliated with Wilson Language Training Corporation. Wilson does not necessarily endorse any of these sources, websites or organizations, nor the information or merchandise contained or offered by them. The views expressed in the articles published are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Wilson Language Training Corporation. Links to articles in the Off the Press are provided strictly "as is" and without warranty of any kind.

*Education Week only allows non-subscribers to view a maximum of two articles per week before paying a subscriber’s fee. Please remember this when clicking on Education Week articles. If you receive the print version of Education Week, you can access the online content free with registration. Click here to register for free access to two Education Week articles each week.

Please feel free to contribute stories by sending an e-mail to Cara at coconnor@wilsonlanguage.com.