Claudio Sanchez http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101122&ft=1&f=2101122 Former elementary and middle school teacher Claudio Sanchez is education correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR). He focuses on the "three p's" of education reform: politics, policy, and pedagogy. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:56:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Claudio Sanchez http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101122&ft=1&f=2101122 Study: Teacher Prep Programs Get Failing Marks The first-ever study of more than 1,100 schools of education released Tuesday by the National Council on Teacher Quality shows that teacher preparation is in disarray. The study warns that 163 programs provide only "minimal, substandard training." Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/18/192765776/study-teacher-prep-programs-get-failing-marks?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/18/192765776/study-teacher-prep-programs-get-failing-marks?ft=1&f=2101122 The first-ever study of more than 1,100 schools of education released Tuesday by the National Council on Teacher Quality shows that teacher preparation is in disarray. The study warns that 163 programs provide only "minimal, substandard training."

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]]> Online College Courses Get A Big Boost, But Doubts Persist Degree-granting institutions are responding to austere budgets by catapulting themselves into the world of online education. But some professors point to low online completion rates as evidence that these "massive open online courses" do a disservice to students. Thu, 30 May 2013 16:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/05/30/187332572/online-college-courses-get-a-big-boost-but-doubts-persist?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/05/30/187332572/online-college-courses-get-a-big-boost-but-doubts-persist?ft=1&f=2101122 Degree-granting institutions are responding to austere budgets by catapulting themselves into the world of online education. But some professors point to low online completion rates as evidence that these "massive open online courses" do a disservice to students.

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]]> College Students Wait To See If Loan Rates Double College students could end up paying a higher interest rate on their government subsidized loans unless Congress steps in. In a replay of last year's battle, Republicans, Democrats and the Obama administration all have competing proposals. A vote is scheduled in the House of Representatives Thursday. But with no consensus in sight, it's not clear if lawmakers can keep interest rates from doubling on July 1. Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186195963/college-students-eye-calendar-wait-to-see-if-loan-rates-double?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186195963/college-students-eye-calendar-wait-to-see-if-loan-rates-double?ft=1&f=2101122 College students could end up paying a higher interest rate on their government subsidized loans unless Congress steps in. In a replay of last year's battle, Republicans, Democrats and the Obama administration all have competing proposals. A vote is scheduled in the House of Representatives Thursday. But with no consensus in sight, it's not clear if lawmakers can keep interest rates from doubling on July 1.

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]]> Long-Lost Memo Stirs Allegation Of Cheating In D.C. Schools Washington, D.C., school officials are under fire once again for not thoroughly investigating an unusual number of erasures on standardized tests that took place in dozens of schools beginning in 2008. Allegations of cheating have cast doubt on the district's impressive gains and sullied the reputation of former schools chancellor Michelle Rhee Mon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/181678191/long-lost-memo-stirs-allegation-of-cheating-in-d-c-schools?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/181678191/long-lost-memo-stirs-allegation-of-cheating-in-d-c-schools?ft=1&f=2101122 Washington, D.C., school officials are under fire once again for not thoroughly investigating an unusual number of erasures on standardized tests that took place in dozens of schools beginning in 2008. Allegations of cheating have cast doubt on the district's impressive gains and sullied the reputation of former schools chancellor Michelle Rhee

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]]> 30 Years On, Educators Still Divided On Scathing Schools Report On April 26, 1983, a panel appointed by President Ronald Reagan released an ominous report that painted a dire picture of the U.S. education system. Thirty years later, many educators point to the report as the catalyst for divides that still split education reformers. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:22:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/26/179281961/30-years-on-educators-still-divided-on-scathing-schools-report?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/26/179281961/30-years-on-educators-still-divided-on-scathing-schools-report?ft=1&f=2101122 On April 26, 1983, a panel appointed by President Ronald Reagan released an ominous report that painted a dire picture of the U.S. education system. Thirty years later, many educators point to the report as the catalyst for divides that still split education reformers.

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]]> 'Core' Curriculum Puts Education Experts At Odds Forty-five states have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Proponents say these new guidelines will significantly improve what is taught and how students are prepared for college and work. Skeptics say it's a misguided effort to create the first-ever national curriculum and tests. Sun, 14 Apr 2013 04:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/14/177175296/core-curriculum-puts-education-experts-at-odds?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/14/177175296/core-curriculum-puts-education-experts-at-odds?ft=1&f=2101122 Forty-five states have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Proponents say these new guidelines will significantly improve what is taught and how students are prepared for college and work. Skeptics say it's a misguided effort to create the first-ever national curriculum and tests.

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]]> El Paso Schools Cheating Scandal: Who's Accountable? The former superintendent of the Texas school district was sentenced to three years in prison for rigging standardized test scores. Other employees could still face charges for helping him carry out his scheme. Now, local and state education officials are blaming each other for letting it go on so long. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176784631/el-paso-schools-cheating-scandal-probes-officials-accountability?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176784631/el-paso-schools-cheating-scandal-probes-officials-accountability?ft=1&f=2101122 The former superintendent of the Texas school district was sentenced to three years in prison for rigging standardized test scores. Other employees could still face charges for helping him carry out his scheme. Now, local and state education officials are blaming each other for letting it go on so long.

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]]> Study: More Adult Pell Grant Students, Not Enough Graduating Every year the federal government gives needy college students $34.5 billion that they don't have to pay back. More than 9 million students rely on Pell Grants. A new study says in addition to many of the students being older, much of that money is going to people who never graduate. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176758085/survey-more-pell-grant-recipients-are-nontraditional-students?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176758085/survey-more-pell-grant-recipients-are-nontraditional-students?ft=1&f=2101122 Every year the federal government gives needy college students $34.5 billion that they don't have to pay back. More than 9 million students rely on Pell Grants. A new study says in addition to many of the students being older, much of that money is going to people who never graduate.

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]]> NRA Task Force Issues Plan For School Safety Right after the school shootings in Newtown, Ct., last December, lots of people wondered: What more can we do as a nation to safeguard our children at school? To answer that question, the National Rifle Association appointed a task force. The result? A 225 page proposal that's likely to add fuel to the debate over guns and school safety. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176104566/nra-issues-plan-for-school-safety?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176104566/nra-issues-plan-for-school-safety?ft=1&f=2101122 Right after the school shootings in Newtown, Ct., last December, lots of people wondered: What more can we do as a nation to safeguard our children at school? To answer that question, the National Rifle Association appointed a task force. The result? A 225 page proposal that's likely to add fuel to the debate over guns and school safety.

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]]> School Closures Pit Race And Poverty Against Budgets What was once a local issue is growing into a nationwide concern, as civil rights activists argue that school closings are disproportionately hurting minority communities. But cities are in a bind with budget shortfalls, and closing under-populated schools may offer a way to cut costs. Sat, 23 Mar 2013 06:22:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/23/175104850/race-poverty-central-to-national-school-closure-debate?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/23/175104850/race-poverty-central-to-national-school-closure-debate?ft=1&f=2101122 What was once a local issue is growing into a nationwide concern, as civil rights activists argue that school closings are disproportionately hurting minority communities. But cities are in a bind with budget shortfalls, and closing under-populated schools may offer a way to cut costs.

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]]> After Newtown Shooting, New Attention Focused On Armed School Officers The Newtown, Conn., school shooting forced people to rethink lots of things about school safety and access to guns. It also raised questions about the role of armed school resource officers (SROs). What exactly do they do? Do they really make schools safer? Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/22/175072448/after-newtown-shooting-new-attention-focused-on-armed-school-officers?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/22/175072448/after-newtown-shooting-new-attention-focused-on-armed-school-officers?ft=1&f=2101122 The Newtown, Conn., school shooting forced people to rethink lots of things about school safety and access to guns. It also raised questions about the role of armed school resource officers (SROs). What exactly do they do? Do they really make schools safer?

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]]> Snow Storm Doesn't Live Up To Its Hype In Nation's Capital Parts of the Mid-Atlantic were hit with a late winter storm on Wednesday. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/06/173648880/snow-storm-doesnt-live-up-to-its-hype-in-nations-capital?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/06/173648880/snow-storm-doesnt-live-up-to-its-hype-in-nations-capital?ft=1&f=2101122 Parts of the Mid-Atlantic were hit with a late winter storm on Wednesday.

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]]> Sequester Spells Uncertainty For Many Public Schools Most public schools are unlikely to feel the effects of the sequester before September. But educators and administrators nationwide are worried they may be forced to cut Head Start enrollment, after-school programs, reading coaches and even teachers when those budget reductions hit. Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:58:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/27/173058287/sequester-spells-uncertainty-for-many-public-schools?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/27/173058287/sequester-spells-uncertainty-for-many-public-schools?ft=1&f=2101122 Most public schools are unlikely to feel the effects of the sequester before September. But educators and administrators nationwide are worried they may be forced to cut Head Start enrollment, after-school programs, reading coaches and even teachers when those budget reductions hit.

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]]> Union Backs 'Bar Exam' For Teachers The American Federation of Teachers proposes a single, standard test to determine who's fit to teach. The exam would replace a patchwork of different certification requirements that vary by state. But it has raised more questions than answers, especially about how teachers are prepared in school. Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:41:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/29/170579245/union-backs-bar-exam-for-teachers?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/29/170579245/union-backs-bar-exam-for-teachers?ft=1&f=2101122 The American Federation of Teachers proposes a single, standard test to determine who's fit to teach. The exam would replace a patchwork of different certification requirements that vary by state. But it has raised more questions than answers, especially about how teachers are prepared in school.

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]]> Study: Latino Children Make Up For Academic Shortcomings With Strong Social Skills Mexican-American preschoolers start school way behind their white counterparts. Their poor language and pre-literacy skills put them at a huge disadvantage academically. But new research is showing that their social skills are fully developed and robust by the time they start school and are indistinguishable from their white peers. Experts believe the new findings have promising implications. Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/23/170101078/study-latino-children-make-up-for-academic-shortcomings-with-strong-social-skill?ft=1&f=2101122 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/23/170101078/study-latino-children-make-up-for-academic-shortcomings-with-strong-social-skill?ft=1&f=2101122 Mexican-American preschoolers start school way behind their white counterparts. Their poor language and pre-literacy skills put them at a huge disadvantage academically. But new research is showing that their social skills are fully developed and robust by the time they start school and are indistinguishable from their white peers. Experts believe the new findings have promising implications.

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