Quick Hits

Teachers increasingly are less experiencedToday's students more likely are to have a teacher withtwo years of experience or less, according to data from the 2007-08 school year -- compared with the late 1980s, when it was more common for teachers to have 14 years of experience. Experts attribute the decline to increased pressure on teachers, an uptick in retirements and more educators leaving the profession for higher-paying jobs. Experts say inexperience does not reflect teacher quality. However, they also are concerned about the trend, particularly because past generations stuck with teaching while 50% of today's new teachers leave the profession within five years. (MSNBC)

Do teachers need training in online instruction?:  Colorado needs more programs to train online teachers, according to a recent review by the state's education department. Some predict that within the next decade a certificate or credential for online educators will be developed. Others, however, find that traditional classroom teaching can translate into an online environment. "A good teacher is a good teacher," said Leeann Fields, an instructional designer at the University of Colorado Denver. "The technology isn't necessarily an impediment to that. But if you're not a good teacher, the technology will expose you." (The Denver Post)

Virginia begins teaching students financial literacy:  Beginning with this year's high-school freshmen, students in Virginia are required to pass economics and personal finance to graduate. One Richmond school has partnered with a credit union to open a student-run branch at the school, saying the hands-on lessons will help students with financial literacy. The new curriculum will include lessons in the economy, managing a household budget and credit cards. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Denver schools take several approaches to math:  Denver schools are using various instructional methods for math, now that schools are being given great autonomy to choose their own teaching methods.The district's main curriculum, Everyday Mathematics, uses familiar scenarios, such as sharing toys, to teach math concepts. However, some schools also use Investigations Math -- a technique that focuses on computational fluency -- and other schools are using Singapore Math to learn one topic before moving on to the next. (The Denver Post)

Examining the importance of school superintendents:  Education writer Jay Mathews examines the leadership and effects of the superintendents in two high-achieving districts in the Washington, D.C., area. Mathews looks at Fairfax County, Va., led by Superintendent Jack D. Dale and Montgomery County, Md., led until recently by Jerry Weast, and finds many similarities. However, he writes, that while each leader is individually talented, the secret to their success might be those who put them in leadership positions -- and then were smart enough to get out of the way so they could do their jobs. (Class Struggle blog)

Students share advice with teachers:  Students want teachers to know that standardized tests do not measure critical thinking, everyone learns in different ways and technology will make classroom lessons more interesting, said student panelists at NBC's Education Nation event. Blogger Lisa Nielsen compiled a list of their tips for teachers, including advice about the importance of connecting with students, positive feedback and community involvement in schools. (Innovative Educator blog)

Maryland district's curriculum focuses on critical thinking, problem-solving:  A Maryland district has expanded its "Curriculum 2.0," which focuses on instruction in critical thinking and problem-solving, plus broad concepts, but it also has daily and weekly objectives. The elementary-school curriculum, based on national academic standards, now is being used in all kindergarten and first-grade classes and some second-grade classes. However, some have criticized the new curriculum, saying it might not be rigorous enough for high-performing students. (The Gazette)

District sees advantages of putting iPads in students' hands:  An Illinois district recently purchased iPads they hope will enhance the classroom experience. The devices are especially helpful to special-education teachers because the hundreds of apps allow them to individualize their teaching based on a student's needs. "The goal of having iPads as a tool in the classroom is to give the students more individual access to the lessons so that they can better grasp and communicate their understanding of the material," said Maureen Langholf, the district's special-education director. (Peoria Journal Star)

What do states have to do to receive NCLB waivers?:  A new guidebook from the U.S. Education Department reveals what a panel of judges will be looking for when deciding whether to give states No Child Left Behind waivers. It shows that the judges will examine whether the state plans to adopt college-and career-readiness standards, a differentiated accountability system and guidelines to improve teacher and principal effectiveness. The criteria, however, appear to be open for interpretation and the judges' backgrounds likely will determine outcomes, Education Week reporter Michele McNeil writes. (Politics K-12)

School follows Khan Academy model with lectures at home:  The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Lawrenceville, Ga., now uses class time for hands-on instruction and discussion. Rather than teachers lecturing during school hours, the students listen to instruction online at home. This "flip model" is based on the growing popularity of the online tutoring venture Khan Academy. Critics of the method say more needs to be done to give student access to technology first. (Education Week)

CDC to study concussion protocol for student athletes:  Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., announced Tuesday that the CDC will create an expert panel to conduct research and create nationwide protocols for sports-related concussions among student athletes. The panel also will look at possible guidelines for doctors on how best to diagnose and treat pediatric concussions. (SeattlePI.com)

Research links risky health behaviors in teens to sleep deprivation:  A survey of more than 12,100 high school students found more than two-thirds don't get enough sleep, CDC researchers reported. More than 50% of sleep-deprived teens admitted to alcohol use, nearly 25% said they smoked and 17% had thought of committing suicide, compared with 37%, 15% and 9.8%, respectively, of their well-rested counterparts. Researchers said that chronic sleep deprivation increases the likelihood that teens will give in to peer pressure. (The Wall Street Journal)

Temporary flexibility is offered ahead of NCLB waivers: The U.S. Education Department will accept requests from states to keep this year's proficiency targets at last year's levels for those states interested in applying for No Child Left Behind waivers, but are unable to do so by the deadline. Waiver applications will be accepted in November and February, and officials say the goal is for all who apply to be granted waivers. Until then, officials say the temporary fix will offer some needed flexibility. (Politics K-12)

Can students discuss controversial topics respectfully?:  Students can and should have respectful conversations about controversial topics, says author and professor Diana Hess. She writes about teacher Ann Twain, who assigns students various viewpoints for a large, town hall discussion. Students begin the 90-minute debate defending assigned viewpoints but end by discussing their own views. Other ways teachers can encourage students to respect each other is to prepare students for the topic of discussion, highlight examples of respectful debates and require they address each other by name, Hess writes. (Educational Leadership)

Students with special needs receive anti-bullying training:  Zach's Place, an after-school and respite-care center in Colorado is providing specialized anti-bullying training to students with special needs. Classes focus on teaching students the skills they need to deflect and cope with bullying and recognize dangerous situations. "While any kid may be vulnerable to bullying and abuse, research tells us that people with disabilities are particularly susceptible," said Jan Isaacs Henry, executive director of Kidpower of Colorado Springs, which helped provide the training. (The Gazette)

Researcher - Test scores should not be used to rate individual teachers:  Students' test scores should not be used to rate individual teachers, according to a new policy brief by Derek Neal, an economics professor at the University of Chicago. Neal recommends using standardized tests to rate teachers in groups and rank students by percentile. He suggests teachers at the same school who teach the same grade level should be evaluated together. (The Huffington Post)

More education policies are being challenged in court:  A growing number of state education policies are being challenged in court, with laws on merit pay and vouchers, plus changes to tenure and pensions, the subject of lawsuits. "We've seen an uptick in [legal] activity because more programs are being passed all of a sudden," said Dick Komer, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice. (Education Week)

Planned reforms in Charlotte, N.C., include merit pay:  Officials in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C., district plan to consult with teachers as they prepare to change the way the district hires, pays, trains and evaluates educators. An attempt last year by the district to introduce performance pay and value-added assessments was met with resistance from teachers and the community. This year, officials say pay and evaluations are included in the reforms, but the focus is on building a talented team of educators. (The Charlotte Observer)