Quick Hits

Students are honored for community water-conservation project: Fifth-graders at one Pennsylvania middle school won statewide recognition for a project to promote water conservation in the community. After conducting research, the students raised money, purchased rain barrels and conducted a community workshop to teach residents how to collect rain to use for watering gardens and washing cars. Gifted-education teacher Allison Stebbins advised students throughout the "Rainkeepers" project, which won the top prize in the state's Earth Day 40 Schools Challenge. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Higher bar for Florida high-school students sparks concerns: Educators in Florida are divided over stricter high-school graduation requirements signed into law this week by Gov. Charlie Crist that will require students to take more difficult math and science courses in an effort to help improve student achievement. Critics say the requirements could harm the state's at-risk students who are already struggling to earn diplomas, and they question the push amid a shortage of qualified math and science teachers. (Orlando Sentinel)

Teacher programs adopt medical schools' residency model: Some teacher-training colleges are adopting a residency program modeled after medical school residencies. One such program, Boston Teacher Residency, has caught national attention. Participating teachers are mentored by a master teacher, and trainees work in Boston classrooms several days each week. The Boston program has had success in teaching teachers how to teach, and it offers a support system once educators are in the classroom that has kept 85% of graduates in teaching. (National Public Radio)

Research-Teacher quality has measurable affect on student reading: A study by researchers at Florida State University pointed to teacher quality as an important factor affecting how quickly children learn how to read. Researchers cautioned, however, that variables such as behavior of classmates likely affect the results, and teacher quality can be improved with training and resources. (Google)

Teachers union seeks additional oversight of New York charters: New York state's teachers union called on state lawmakers at a legislative hearing to increase oversight of the state's charter schools, asking that no further charters be approved until additional monitoring is in place. The union cited the case of a Buffalo charter school where records were vague about how the school spent some $7.2 million in taxpayer money. (The New York Times)

Museums develop traveling programs for schools: Museums across the country are bringing lessons in science, art and other subjects to the classroom amid an increased focus on testing and budget cuts that have led to a decline in school field trips. Museum educators have developed online lessons, classroom materials and traveling programs designed to complement the curriculum, but some worry students are missing out by not visiting the museums. "In this program, they get more focus on what paleontologists actually do," an educator at Boston's Museum of Science said, "But they miss the wow factor of actually seeing that huge Triceratops skeleton." (The New York Times)

Texas school sees success with Teacher Advancement Program: A system for evaluating and training teachers is being credited for a significant rise in student test scores and decreased staff turnover at one Texas elementary school. Components of the Teacher Advancement Program -- used in about 250 schools across the country -- include performance pay, an increased number of regular and unannounced observations and evaluations, and weekly sessions with master teachers. (The Dallas Morning News)

Teaching empathy may help prevent bullying, experts say: Child-development experts say bullying may be preventable if children experience, and are taught, empathy at a young age. Studies are showing children who experience trauma, neglect or who are not nurtured as infants grow up having trouble understanding how others feel. (TIME)

Nearly 2,500 applications are expected for i3 grants: Close to 2,500 nonprofit groups, schools and districts have notified the Education Department that they will be seeking a portion of the $650 million set aside for federal Investing in Innovation, or i3, grants. The grants are designed to stimulate the development of creative fixes to four of the Obama administration's top priorities for schools: new standards and assessments; turning around low-performing schools; improved data systems; and increasing teacher and principal effectiveness. (Education Week)

San Francisco school shares model for success: San Francisco's Marshall Elementary School has been successful in its efforts to improve student performance, and national education leaders are taking notice. Implementing a dual-language immersion program, creating a school culture that engages parents and hiring quality staff -- including teachers, a social worker, a nurse and a paid parent liaison -- are some of the factors that have brought about the school's success, according to parents and educators who spoke with Deputy Education Secretary Tony Miller at the school. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Sampling of Md. teachers shows support for national standards: A sampling of Maryland teachers found they are in favor of national standards being developed by the National Governors Association for teaching K-12 students, according to a survey by The Baltimore Sun. The proposed standards -- which focus on in-depth and analytical learning -- are more straightforward and clear than the state's existing standards, the teachers said, with some math instructors praising the idea of teaching fewer concepts and some language-arts teachers supporting an increased focus on writing. (The Sun)

Is a new reading curriculum the answer for Milwaukee schools?: School officials in Milwaukee are choosing a common reading curriculum as part of the district's efforts to offset the effects of frequent school-switching among its students and improve their low reading scores. But some educators are not sure whether such a centralized approach is the answer, and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel columnist Alan J. Borsuk suggests that even the best materials cannot take the place of quality instruction and support for students. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Study looks at future demand for teachers in Louisiana: Nearly 15,000 new teachers will need to be hired in Louisiana schools over the next six years, according to a state report. That translates to an annual demand of about 2,900 new teachers, which is about the same number of teacher candidates graduating from colleges and universities in the state, the report showed. The need for new hires was attributed to the retirement of veteran teachers and younger educators leaving the profession. The report also pointed to a growing demand for special-education teachers in the state. (The Times-Picayune)

Alternative program draws 1,400 applicants for Memphis, Tenn.: A call for teaching recruits from The New Teacher Project has drawn about 1,400 applicants interested in turning around schools in Memphis, Tenn. However, they'll have just two years to prove they can improve student scores. As many as 75 applicants will be accepted to the alternative teacher-certification program. (The Commercial Appeal)

Technology aids motivation among middle-schoolers in Calif. district: A California school district has implemented a technology upgrade at all of its middle schools, thanks to a $592,000 federal grant and private funding. The principal of one school says the new technology -- from SMART Boards to laptops to online learning -- has improved students' motivation as well as their attendance at school. "This is their medium," she said. "This is their future." (Daily Breeze)

Data show benefits of preschool programs in Los Angeles County: A study from Los Angeles Universal Preschool shows that students who attended its preschool programs demonstrated improved social and emotional skills and an increased readiness for kindergarten. English-language learners made the most progress, mostly closing a proficiency gap. Their gains surpassed those of English-speaking peers in some measures after just one school year. The programs, which are primarily funded by taxpayers, serve some 10,000 students in 325 schools. (Los Angeles Times)

States are receiving $3.5 billion in school-improvement grants: The Education Department is distributing $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement Grants to states, giving them six months to launch turnarounds of their lowest-performing schools. All states are expected to receive some of the funds, which come with strict requirements and deadlines for adopting one of four federally approved reform strategies: replacing 50% or more of a school's staff, reopening a school as a charter, closing the school or overhauling the school's curriculum and teaching methods. (Education Week)

Colorado district sees early success with modified RTI approach: Educators in a Colorado school district are seeing positive results in their first year using a state-mandated Response to Intervention framework. Each school in the Aurora district has its own RTI coordinator, and the district has adapted the RTI model by adding a fourth layer of intervention between tier one and tier two to help delay or prevent the referral of at-risk students in tier two. "It keeps the focus back on good instruction at that first tier level until our achievement improves," one district official said. (Education Week)

Educators are wary of switching to digital texts in Texas: Policymakers in Texas are promoting a switch to digital textbooks in the state's schools, but some educators remain skeptical. Officials say they will ensure that electronic media used in schools complies with state academic standards, but some educators are worried about maintaining quality and ensuring equal access. "Some of the headaches that come with computers won't be any cheaper than traditional textbooks," the state's school board chairwoman said. (The Dallas Morning News)

Changes in testing systems are on the national agenda: The Obama administration wants to overhaul student assessments nationwide, and some say technology will play an important role in the new tests. In addition to allocating $350 million to states that create tests aligned with common standards in math and English, the Education Department is offering $10.7 million for the creation of innovative testing methods that are more accessible for students with disabilities and that assess multiple components of student proficiency. (eSchool News)