Electronic Message Symbols Becoming Common in Schoolwork

See "Informal style of electronic messages is showing up in schoolwork, study finds," NYT, 4/25/08, at A16

-email, text, social networking posting styles used such as LOL, no capitalization

-27 percent have online journal, 11 percent have website, more than 50 percent have myspace or facebook page

Brooklyn Tech HS Dropping in NYC Rankings

See "Brooklyn Tech's drop in class," NYP, 4/21/08, at 22

-large number of students hurts, falls behind Staten Island Tech,

-8 city elite schools,

-dropped from 3 to 7 in last 4 years-Stuyvesant, Bronx Science are #1 and 2

UFT President Randi Weingarten defends teacher tenure

See"Halt Assault on Teacher Tenure," NYDN, 4/22/08, at 33

-blames lack of mentoring, says NYCDOE should adopt California Standards for the Teaching Profession

Democratic Student Group at Penn Exercises Significant Influence

See "In Philadelphia, a Democratic student group at Penn bucks the powers that be," NYT, 4/18/08, at A16

-3258 students pulling for Obama despite Dems supporting Hillary

Congress Passes Bill to Expand Loans for Students

See "House Passes Bill to Expand US Loans for Students," NYT, 4/18/08, at A22

-31k through federal programs to be made available to dependent students (up from 23k); 57500 for independent students

UFT files age discriminination lawsuit against NYC Department of Education

See "Bias suit filed on behalf of older teachers," NYP, 4/17/08, at 22

See also "UFT charges DOE guilty of age bias," The Chief, 4/25/08, at 1

-disincentive for principals to hire older higher salaried teachers as Fair Student Funding shifts budgeting to principals

-more than 80% of Absent Teachers Reserve Pool of subs older than 40, compared to 57% of public school teachers overall

BusRadio becoming popular on school buses

See "Radio on the bus fosters quiet, but not peace," NYT, 4/17/08, at B1

-Massachusetts company wires buses in 175 school districts but barred blasting commercials, public service announcements, songs, but barred in NYC and other districts that ban advertising on school property

AT&T Gives $100 Million Gift to Fight High School Dropouts

See "AT&T Giving $100 Million to Fight Dropouts," NYT, 4/17/08, at A21

-AT&T Foundation follows Goldman Sachs gift to promote women's business education in developing world

NYCDOE Students Avoid Summer School Through Controversial Credit Recovery Programs

See "Lacking the credits to graduate, some students learn a shortcut," NYT, 4/11/08, at A1

-NYCDOE students use credit recovery programs to avoid summer school, but critics protest it devalues diplomas

Yale Student Accused of Lying on Transfer Application to Gain Admission

-See "Yale Student Accused of Lying on Transfer Application and Other Papers," NYT, 4/10/08, at B5

-Akash Maharaj claimed straight As from Columbia U, got $32k scholarship from Yale

NYCDOE to Broaden Gifted and Talented Program

See "City seeks looser rule for selecting gifted pupils," NYT, 4/10/08, at B1

-students in top 10% on admission tests would be guaranteed a slot in K or 1st grade gifted and talented programs

-formerly a 5% rule-3000 seats citywide

Unacceptable PCB Levels Found in NYC Public Schools

See "Tests show PCBs are present but officials say there's no danger," NYDN, 4/7/08, at 7

-8 of 9 schools tested showed PCBs in window and door caulking

Hartford Connecticut Schools to Increase Racial Diversity as Part of Settlement

See "New agreement is reached in Hartford desegregation," NYT, 4/5/08, at B3

-94% of Hartford's 22000 students minority; 41% to be placed in suburban districts within 5 years

Catholic Schoo Teachers in NYC Strike

See "Catholic school teachers strike over health care and plan another walkout," NYT, 4/5/08, at B3

-277 schools, 107,000 students serviced despite nearly 15% decline in enrollment since 2000

Randi Weingarten Expected to Take Over AFT Helm

See "A school veteran girds for a broader battlefield," NYT, 4/3/08, at B1

-Randi Weingarten expected to become AFT President over summer

One Year Statute of Limitations Held to Govern Teacher's Illegal Workplace Discrimination Claim in New York

See Amorosi v. South Colonie Independent Central School District, 9 N.Y.3d 367 (Dec 18, 2007)

-Section 296 claim against district governed by 1 year, rather than 3 year SOL

High School Graduation Rates Below 50% in Several US Cities

See "Report: Low grad rates in US cities", AP, 4/1/08

-lowest graduation rates reported in Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland, according to a report released Tuesday.

-about 70 percent of U.S. students graduate on time with a regular diploma and about 1.2 million students drop out annually.