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Maine Abstains by Laura Donnelly, OurFuture.org | November 29, 2005
It seems mighty appropriate today that Maine 's state motto is "Dirigo ," or "I lead." The state just joined the small list of U.S. states that have refuse read more »No Money, More Problems by Danielle Scruggs, OurFuture.org | November 18, 2005
"You’ve got to be kidding me" is going to become my new catch phrase when it comes to Congress. read more »The Opportunity Gap by Beth Shulman, OurFuture.org | October 7, 2005
No matter what your political stripes, if you are an American you believe in equal opportunity. That is a bedrock value of our nation. read more »Can Separate Ever Be Equal? by Danielle Scruggs, OurFuture.org | September 30, 2005
Talk about adding fuel to the proverbial fire. In the wake of the Hurricane Katrina tragedy, members of the Bush administration have suspended the Davis-Bacon Act, proposed relaxing environmental regulations and suspended affirmative action for rebuilding contractors. read more »
The Latest
More Students Need Subsidized Lunches, CNN | December 12, 2008
The sagging economy is taking a bite out of federal school-meal subsidies as more students take advantage of free or low-price breakfasts and lunches, nutritionists say in a report. more »
Schools Health Experts Warn of Hunger , mcclatchydc.com | December 9, 2008
School nurse Carolyn Duff told a Senate committee that she sees signs of the financial downturn every day in the kids she treats. "More and more of the working poor are entering the ranks of unemployed, impoverished and homeless families," Duff testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee. more »
Children's Brain Tests Show Wealth Gap, BBC News | December 7, 2008
The brains of children from low-income families process information differently to those of their wealthier counterparts, US research suggests. Normal nine and 10-year-olds from rich and poor backgrounds had differing electrical activity in a part of the brain linked to problem solving. The Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience study was described as a "wake-up call" about the impact of deprivation.
Strapped Schools May Boost Class Sizes, The Washington Post | December 5, 2008
For more than a decade, billions in federal and state dollars were targeted to whittle classes so that teachers can devote more time and attention to each student, crafting lessons to fit the needs of struggling students, high-achievers and everyone in between. Nationwide, the average number of students in elementary classes dropped from 29 in 1961 to 24 in 1996. more »
Higher Education Out of Reach?, iht.com | December 3, 2008
An annual report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education found that college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007, while median family income rose 147 percent. Student borrowing has more than doubled in the last decade, and students from lower-income families, on average, get smaller grants than students from more affluent families. more »
Schools Feel Economic Pinch, Christian Science Monitor | November 24, 2008
School districts across the United States are tightening their belts in anticipation of a meager fiscal diet that could carry into 2011. As state and local revenue declines, officials are looking for the trims least likely to harm the quality of education. more »
Schools Feel The Budget Pinch, The New York Times | November 5, 2008
Schools in Alabama are getting hit hard by falling tax receipts, an early warning of the vulnerability of poor states during the economic downturn. School districts there are borrowing heavily or using savings to meet payrolls, state officials said, and superintendents are being warned not to fix leaky roofs or make other repairs. more »
Cutoff Threat Unlikely to Save Iraq Troop Pact, ipsnews.net | October 30, 2008
The threat by the George W. Bush administration last week to withdraw all economic and military support from the Iraqi government if it does not accept the U.S.-Iraq status of forces agreement has raised the stakes in the political-diplomatic struggle over the issue. However, most Iraqi politicians are now so averse to any formal legitimization of the U.S. more »
New Rules Target Dropout Rates, Associated Press | October 28, 2008
High schools are coming under pressure from the federal government to improve the nation's dismal dropout rate - one in four students. Schools and states now must track and lift the graduation rates for all students, including minorities and students with disabilities, under rules issued by Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. more »
U.S. Threatens Iraq Operations Shutdown, mcclatchydc.com | October 26, 2008
The U.S. military has warned Iraq that it will shut down military operations and other vital services throughout the country on Jan. 1 if the Iraqi government doesn't agree to a new agreement on the status of U.S. forces or a renewed United Nations mandate for the American mission in Iraq. Many Iraqi politicians view the move as akin to political blackmail. more »
