PBS Newshour - TeacherCast
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In India, Organization of Learning Centers Seeks to...
In India, an educational group called Pratham aims to change the perception of school as a solemn enterprise and to offer instead a love of learning to the youngest -- and poorest -- students. Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on what is possibly the world's largest campaign to improve remedial education.
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Maine School Engages Kids With Relevant Problem-Solving...
Special correspondent John Tulenko of Learning Matters reports on a public middle school in Portland, Maine that is taking a different approach to teaching students. Teachers have swapped traditional curriculum for an unusually comprehensive science curriculum that emphasizes problem-solving, with a little help from some robots.
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To Bully or Not to Bully: Using Shakespeare in Schools...
In Colorado, some schools are tapping an unlikely bullying prevention tool: the plays of William Shakespeare. The Colorado Shakespeare Festival adapts the bard's works as a way to start discussions on bullying, violence and the moment of choosing between right and wrong. Jeffrey Brown reports.
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Kentucky School District Wants Project Based Learning to...
A public school district in Danville, Ky., has turned its emphasis away from traditional testing in order to encourage creativity and let students learn by doing. NewsHour special correspondent for education John Merrow reports on "deep learning," and how it requires commitment from educators, students and parents.
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Should Public Money Be Used for Private Schools?
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld a law allowing taxpayer money to be used for private schools through vouchers. Hari Sreenivasan examines the implications with Kevin Chavous, executive counsel for American Federation for Children, which promotes vouchers, and Dennis van Roekel, president of the National Education Association.
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News Wrap: Dozens of Atlanta Educators, Former Chief...
In other news Friday, a grand jury in Atlanta indicted former school superintendent Beverly Hall and 34 others in a cheating scandal. Also, Christians around the world observed Good Friday.
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Top-Achieving Poor Students Go Unnoticed by Some Elite...
Why are some of America's top academic achievers are missing out on a shot to attend the best universities? As part of the PBS NewsHour's continuing coverage on inequality in U.S., Jeffrey Brown talks with Caroline Hoxby of Stanford University, an author of a new study on the issue, and Michele Minter of Princeton University.
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Chicago Board of Education Plans to Shut Down 54...
The Chicago Board of Education plans to close 54 schools, citing a $1 billion deficit and under-enrollment. Critics say this move will disrupt communities and put kids in danger. For both sides of the debate, Jeffrey Brown talks with Board vice president Jesse Ruiz and Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union.
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School Reform Program Targets Students at Risk of...
Currently implemented in 44 U.S. schools, a data-driven dropout prevention program called Diplomas Now targets students who start to fall behind in middle school, and offers them nurturing, mentoring relationships. Ray Suarez reports on how a Baton Rouge middle school was able to turn itself around by adopting this approach.
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Student Voices Chime in on Preventing School Shootings
In the wake of the Newtown shootings, high school students who participate in NewsHour's Student Reporting Labs from all across the country shared their views on the gun debate in a Google Hangout moderated by Hari Sreenivasan.
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Chicago Program Aims to Close Achievement Gap for...
Education correspondent John Merrow reports on a Chicago program that targets high-risk, low-income young children before they begin falling behind in school.
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To Lower Dropout Rates, Finding Potential Where Support...
Nonprofit educational organization OneGoal has partnered with Chicago public schools to push kids at risk of dropping out of high school to persist and attend college. Ash-har Quraishi of WTTW Chicago reports for our American Graduate project on a special curriculum that hones leadership skills these kids often already have.
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A Checklist to Keep Good Teachers in the Classroom
Good teachers can help students stay in school and keep them from dropping out. But what must schools do to keep top teachers from burning out and leaving the field? Hari Sreenivasan has the story of a Connecticut school that uses a checklist to evaluate and keep the best teachers in the classroom.
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Teachers Embrace 'Deep Learning,' Translating Lessons...
Special correspondent John Tulenko looks at some charter schools that institute real world applications into lesson plans and emphasize the importance of improvement over intelligence. The schools are less interested in testing but rather making sure students have the life skills they need once they leave the classroom.
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Students Speak Out on Gun Violence Prevention, Find No...
In the wake of the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., the NewsHour asked students from 45 schools around the country to provide advice on how to prevent future shootings at schools. Ray Suarez presents some of these high schoolers' takes on the gun debate, which were collected through NewsHour's Student Reporting Labs.
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In Preventing Violence, 'Very Hard to Identify'...
Ray Suarez looks at responses by lawmakers and the NRA to President Obama's gun violence proposals. Jeffrey Brown hones in on the topic of mental health with Barry Rosenfeld, a clinical forensic psychologist at Fordham University, and Dr. Paramjit Joshi of the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
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How Free Online Courses Are Changing the Traditional...
As tuition costs continue to rise, it seems counterintuitive that professors at top universities would give away their courses for free. But that's exactly what they're doing, on web-based platforms known as "Massive Open Online Courses." Spencer Michels reports on how a boom in online learning could change higher education.
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Ohio Third Graders Face Retention Ultimatum: Learn to...
Ohio is one of 14 states to put in place a retention rule that holds back students who are not reading at grade level. Special correspondent John Tulenko reports on the "reading guarantee," which educators say puts enormous pressure on them, and may not actually ensure educational success or lower dropout rates in the future.
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School of Wine: Training Students for Jobs in Washington...
With more than 700 vineyards, Washington state has become a premier location for viticulture. One community college has created a winemaking degree that fosters economic, environmental and cultural sustainability in and around the city of Walla Walla where vineyards continue to sprout. Special correspondent John Tulenko reports.
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Can Rocketship Launch a Fleet of Successful,...
John Danner has built seven "Rocketship" charter schools, whose model has produced results at or above average in low-income neighborhood by using technology, community engagement, and teaching coaches. Special correspondent John Merrow profiles the California program, which aims to mass-produce quality schools.
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Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Finding Community...
A special PBS broadcast called "After Newtown" will air Friday at 8 p.m. ET, continuing a national dialogue about the issues raised by the tragedy in Newtown, Conn. As part of the collaboration, Gwen Ifill spoke with Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Here is the broadcasted excerpt of their conversation.
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In Chicago, Public Schools and Teachers Work Towards a...
Some states, including Illinois, have recently adopted new public school curriculum guidelines called the Common Core State Standards. While some teachers feel relief at having clear guidelines, Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW reports from Chicago on a more contentious aspect of the new implementation: student and teacher evaluation.
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To Encourage Kids' Health, Pediatricians Add Reading to...
National literacy program Reach Out and Read reaches kids in a place where they are almost guaranteed to visit: the doctor's office. Special correspondent John Merrow meets a new breed of pediatrician -- part doctor, part teacher -- who help parents share books with their children to improve and encourage cognitive development.
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8th-Grade Journalist Spotlights Violence in School,...
How does violence affect students' ability to learn? That's what eighth-grader De'Qonton Davis and his classmates set out to investigate as part of the NewsHour's Student Reporting Labs project in partnership with PBS station WEDU in Tampa. The students produced a unique video report that they hope President Obama will see.
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In N.D., Oil Boom Brings Student Boom and Schools...
As people flock to Williston, N.D., for jobs in the booming oil industry, the public systems struggle to keep up, converting one-room school houses to accommodate the rapid rise in student enrollment. Like much of Williston's infrastructure, there are financial hurdles to meet needs of teachers and students. Ray Suarez reports.
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2012 Teacher of the Year on What Helps Teachers and...
Ray Suarez talks to Council of Chief State School Officers 2012 Teacher of the Year Rebecca Mieliwocki, about the learning curve for teachers in helping students succeed and graduate from middle school and high school. Mieliwocki believes that teachers are 'seekers' who uplift the natural talents of each individual student.
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Average Scores for SAT Tests Drop as Pool of Students...
Many parents and teachers have looked to SAT scores as a measure for the quality of education students receive. This year, national average scores on SAT reading and writing tests edged down while math scores remained stagnant. Ray Suarez talks to College Board's Jim Montoya and University of Oregon's Roger Thompson for more.
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Why Students Who Underperform, Fall Behind or Fail...
In the U.S., one million students leave school early each year. Ray Suarez kicks off American Graduate Week with Victor Rios, Stephanie Krauss and Adam Steltzner, three individuals who know firsthand what it's like to be a high school dropout, but who ultimately turned their lives around and returned to get more education.
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Students of Chicago Public Schools Back in Class,...
Chicago students head back to class as Chicago Public Schools and teachers unions compromise on the issues that led to a seven-day strike. Jeffrey Brown talks to American Enterprise Institute's Michael McShane and Stanford University's Linda Darling-Hammond for more on the broader education reform issues involved.
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Day 2 of Chicago Strike: Teachers Union vs....
Chicago teachers remained on strike for a second day. At dispute is tying teacher pay to student performance on standardized tests. Jeffrey Brown talks to American Federation of Teachers' Randi Weingarten and former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer on the challenges to improve standards while school budgets continue to be cut.
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From the Halls of Worrall Elementary School, News by...
News has an agenda at Worrall Elementary School in Broomall, Pa., where students with Asperger's syndrome 'go live' in their own broadcast each year. Their teachers say it's one of the best ways for students to learn to speak clearly, work together, build confidence, and gain fame all at once. Betty Ann Bowser reports.
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Ending Negotiations, 25,000 Chicago Teachers Head to the...
Despite spending more than 400 hours in negotiation, Chicago Public School teachers walked off the job over pay and health benefits and policies that would tie teacher performance to students' scores on standardized testing. Jeffrey Brown talks to WTTW's Eddie Arruza for more on the first Chicago teachers' strike in 25 years.
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Year-Round School Commits to Students from Middle School...
Rainier Scholars, a Seattle non-profit, is trying to curb high school drop out rates. Taking the long-term approach, they identify students with high barriers to higher education and ask them -- some as young as 10 -- to commit not just to finishing high school, but to graduating from college. Hari Sreenivasan reports.
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In Rhode Island, Reinventing Summer School to Prevent...
In Providence, R.I., the Summer Scholars Program has reinvented summer school by taking lower income students out of the classroom and putting them "into the field." John Merrow reports on how the new approach gets students to practice skills they struggled with during the past year and prevent additional learning loss for fall.
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Holocaust Survivor: Hatred, Tyranny Continue 'Every...
After surviving the Holocaust, Gerda Weissmann Klein emigrated to the United States where she has championed the values of immigrants and citizenship. Klein speaks with Judy Woodruff about her horrifying years in Nazi captivity and how the experience has inspired her work.
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California Community Colleges Face Dilemmas Amid Tighter...
With 2.6 million students, California's community colleges make up the largest higher educational system in the country. Spencer Michels reports on the system's efforts to reshape its future as budget problems have forced the state to cut back support and tuition hikes have sparked student protests.
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Condoleezza Rice: Education Could Be 'Greatest National...
A new Council on Foreign Relations report spelled out the need for more science, history and foreign languages in U.S. schools -- and linked education to national security interests. Jeffrey Brown discusses the report with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein.
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Colorado Students Begin to Learn Financial Discipline
A Colorado law that went into effect last year requires schools to teach public school students about financial responsibility -- from drawing coins and bills to deducting purchases from their classroom bank accounts. Correspondent Tom Bearden reports.
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Oakland Program Aims to Pique Girls' Interest in...
As part of the NewsHour's American Graduate series, correspondent Spencer Michels reports on Techbridge, an after-school program based in Oakland, Calif., that shows hundreds of female students a path to pursuing careers in science and technology, while also trying to minimize the chances of them dropping out of school.
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Driver's License Incentives Used in Some States to Keep...
A growing number of state legislatures are using driving privileges as an incentive to keep students from dropping out of high school. States' laws vary, but the general premise is the same: If a student wants to stay on the road, he or she must stay in school. Hari Sreenivasan reports.
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Report: Minority Students Face Harsher Discipline
Black and Hispanic students are more likely to be suspended than white students, according to a report released Tuesday by the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights. Jeffrey Brown discusses the disparities with Christopher Edley Jr. of the University of California, Berkeley and the Fordham Institute's Chester Finn Jr.
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New York Arts Program Brings 'Harmony' to Low-Income...
Serving mostly low-income children in New York City, an innovative music education program called Harmony provides free instruments and daily music lessons to children in third through sixth grades. Correspondent John Merrow reports on an arts program changing lives in public schools, based on a system developed in Venezuela.
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Online Public Schools Gain Popularity, but Quality...
Full-time public cyber schools are now an option in 30 states, allowing some 250,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade to press buttons to raise their hands and message their teachers. John Tulenko of Learning Matters Television reports from Pennsylvania where the demand for online charter schools is high.
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California Photographer Captures Young Faces of Juvenile...
Photographer and University of California, Santa Barbara professor Richard Ross has spent five years documenting juvenile detention facilities throughout the nation. In his own words, Ross explains what he's seen. This report is part of NewsHour's American Graduate series on the U.S. dropout crisis.
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Gang Member-Turned-Ph.D. Mentors Youth on the Fringes
Victor Rios says he has lived two lifetimes. In his first, he was a gang member, juvenile delinquent and high school dropout. Now, he's a sociology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who tries to help adolescents avoid the same mistakes he made and get second chances like he did. Ray Suarez reports.
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Should Financial Aid Be Linked to a College's...
President Obama announced Friday at the University of Michigan that he's putting colleges on notice that tuition hikes can't continue year after year. Ray Suarez discusses the proposals with Mark Yudof, president of the University of California, and Richard Vedder of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.
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In Smaller Voices, 'I Have a Dream' Echoes Again Over...
For the past seven years on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, children from a Washington, D.C., elementary school have climbed the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to proclaim "I have a dream," just as Dr. King did 48 years ago. This year, they also shared what "the most historic speech ever" means to them.
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New Study Gauges Teachers Impact on Students' Lifetime...
Replacing a bad teacher with an average or a good one has measurable economic benefits such as boosting a student's lifetime earnings by hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to a new study done in part by Harvard University economist Raj Chetty. Ray Suarez and Chetty discuss the study's findings.
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Parlez-Vous? Some Louisiana Pupils Being Immersed in...
Louisiana's French heritage is being embraced in many immersion classrooms in the state. It goes beyond language -- some students are learning math, science and social studies in French. Sue Lincoln of Louisiana Public Broadcasting and the Southern Education Desk reports.
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Detroit Tackles Dropout Crisis By Engaging Students,...
Education Secretary Arne Duncan has called Detroit, where four out of 10 children don't graduate from high school, "arguably, the worst school district in the country." Hari Sreenivasan and Detroit Public Television report on how the city's public schools are tackling poor graduation rates.
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Can Tech Startup Schools Teach #TheNextBigThing?
We explore the phenomenon of Startup Accelerators with Tech Stars, AngelPad, Thomas Korte, David Cohen, Vivek Wadhwa, Blackbox Ventures, Wade Roush. Are they helping find the next big thing or fueling a bubble.
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As Poorest U.S. City, Reading Also Struggling With High...
One city's struggle to regain its economic footing is also tied to significant problems in its schools. Jeffrey Brown reports from Reading, Pa., as part of our American Graduate series.
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Why a Lesson in Money Plus Math Equals Financial...
Sheila Bair, known for her tenacity and contrarian tenure as chairwoman of the FDIC, has a message she wants everyone to learn:Don't buy an inflatable moose head for your wall.
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Indiana Crafts Dropout Remedy Through Choice of Schools
Special correspondent John Tulenko reports from Indiana, where a voucher program allows families to choose religious schools, charter schools and public schools in neighboring districts for their children as part of an effort to provide more options when graduation rates are low.
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St. Louis Teachers Voice Struggles Over Dropouts
Teachers are struggling to find solutions to the high school dropout crisis plaguing the nation. As part of our American Graduate Project series, Gwen Ifill discusses the challenges educators are facing in the classroom with Civic Enterprises' John Bridgeland.
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Calif. University Introduces First U.S. Multi-Faith...
Claremont Lincoln University, a graduate school in California, is the first in the United States to bring together Christians, Jews and Muslims in the same classrooms to educate the future leaders of churches, synagogues and mosques. Special correspondent Saul Gonzales reports.
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Stalling Economy Forces Pennsylvania Schools to Put...
The weak economy is contributing to -- and magnifying the problems -- of some school districts around the United States. John Merrow, the NewsHour's special correspondent for education, reports on the problems one Pennsylvania district is facing.
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'The Learning' Follows Teachers From the Philippines to...
In the new documentary, "The Learning," filmmaker Ramona Diaz follows four Filipina women facing their first year as teachers in Baltimore's public schools. This excerpt is part of The Economist Film Project, a series of independently produced films aired in partnership between The Economist and the NewsHour.
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Obama Orders Revamp of 'No Child Left Behind'
Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Monday that President Obama would sign an executive order to allow schools who are falling short of No Child Left Behind to circumvent the law. Gwen Ifill discusses the policy shift with Justin Snider of The Hechinger Report.
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Atlanta Starts New School Year Under Cloud of Cheating...
Students and teachers return to Atlanta classrooms for the start of a new school year Monday, but a major cheating scandal is still raising big questions. Learning Matters Television's John Tulenko reports.
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Schoolhouse Shock: Report Finds Widespread Cheating by...
A new report found that nearly 200 Atlanta school administrators, principals and teachers cheated to raise student test scores for as long as a decade. Gwen Ifill discusses the report's findings, and the problem that has surfaced in school districts across the country with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Heather Vogell.
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Chefs Cook Up Ideas for Healthy School Lunches
A pair of chefs has stepped out of their kitchens and into school cafeterias to lend their services in hopes of crafting healthier menus for school lunches. Betty Ann Bowser has this encore report.
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Can DIY Movement Fix a Crisis in U.S. Science Education?
Miles O'Brien reports from a gathering in California on a growing movement that embraces the art of making cool things and a quirky do-it-yourself spirit. Supporters see "making" as one way to overcome a crisis in American science and math education.
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N.Y. Teacher Takes Students on a Virtual Trip to Learn...
A high school teacher in New York City decided to set aside the usual curriculum and take her students on a virtual five week journey to the Middle East to learn about the millions who have fled the war in Iraq and became refugees. Special correspondent John Tulenko of Learning Matters reports.
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Grading Schools: How to Determine the 'Good' From the...
Students get graded by test scores, but how do we best determine if a school is "good" or "bad"? Education Correspondent John Merrow examines that question.
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Is a College Diploma Worth the Soaring Student Debt?
As a growing number of students suffer soaring college debt, many questions are being raised about the value of higher education amid meager job prospects in a struggling economy. Jeffrey Brown gets four views on whether today's diplomas are worth the cost.
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'Last In, First Out' Among Teacher Layoff Policies Under...
As the end of the school year approaches, thousands of teachers across the U.S. are facing the prospect of being laid off. NewsHour special correspondent John Tulenko reports on questions over layoff policies in Hartford, Conn.
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Autism Now: Demand for Educational Resources for...
For public school systems, the demand for special educational and treatment resources for children with autism often outpaces what is available. In the fourth report in his Autism Now series, Robert MacNeil looks at how two schools in the New York City area handle teaching children and teens with autism.
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Are California's Schools Ready for the Next Big...
The earthquake in Japan is prompting concerns about the ability of U.S. buildings to withstand a similar disaster. Special correspondent Anna Werner reports on the seismic safety risks in many California schools. Her report was jointly produced by the Center for Investigative Reporting and KQED.
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John Merrow on 'The Influence of Teachers,' Education...
Many school district superintendents -- and the mayors who appointed them -- are demanding teachers be held up to closer scrutiny and tougher accountability while facing possible replacement.
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In NYC, Small Schools Touted to Make a Big Difference in...
An effort to create smaller schools in New York City has spurred some success stories -- and controversy -- among educators. John Tulenko reports.
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New Community College Standards Could Hike Graduation...
Community colleges are playing an increasing role in the country's higher educational system, but a high percentage of their students never finish their coursework. Jeffrey Brown talks to experts about a new national accountability standard aimed at bolstering graduation rates.
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New Orleans Schools See Progress Despite Troubles
In his ongoing look at efforts to turn around ailing schools in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. John Merrow reports on the use of alternative school programs in Louisiana and progress on negotiations between a teachers union and public schools in the nation's capital.
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Drastic School Reforms Spark Debate on Fixing Education
One Rhode Island school district took the drastic step of ousting teachers after they refused to implement mandated reforms to boost poor performance. Judy Woodruff takes a look at the reinvigorated clash between education reform plans and teachers unions.
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Math Wiz Adds Web Tools to Take Education to New Limits
From a bedroom in the San Francisco Bay area, Salman Khan is using the Web to teach math and science to millions. Spencer Michels reports on how the non-profit Kahn Academy is providing educational materials through its free YouTube video library.
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In Cairo's Trash City, School Teaches Reading, Recycling
For generations, the Zabaleen people have hauled away Cairo's refuse and lived on the fringes of society. But thanks to an enterprising recycling school, the poor and mostly illiterate inhabitants of "Trash City" are receiving education and job training for the first time. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from Egypt.
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Students from Haiti's Only Film School Keep Their...
When New York filmmaker Annie Nocenti became the first teacher at Cine Institute, Haiti's only film school, two years ago, she was excited to see what her students would capture. Last Tuesday, her students faced their most challenging test when a powerful earthquake ravaged the island.
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Effort to Reform D.C. Schools Stirs Fierce Pushback
John Merrow reports on the controversial steps D.C. schools chief Michelle Rhee is using to shake up the city's school system, including closing 23 schools by 2010.
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In Arizona, Schools Fighting Back Against Recession
In Arizona, public schools are buckling under the weight of a weak economy. John Merrow examines how two schools are handling the crisis.
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New Orleans Schools Try New Ways to Combat Truancy
In New Orleans, truancy is a continuing problem for schools struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. John Merrow continues his series on troubled public schools.
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Finding Good Principals Proves Critical to D.C. Schools...
Washington, D.C., schools chief Michelle Rhee closed 23 schools and fired 40 principals last summer as part of an overhaul of the public school system. John Merrow reports on one principal's reaction to Rhee's dramatic approach and how her reform efforts are faring.
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Energy, Education Nominees Begin Confirmation Hearings
Along with Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton, the nominees for Secretary of Education and Secretary of Energy began their Senate confirmation hearings Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Ray Suarez reports on the process.
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Obama Inauguration Teacher Forum
What can you do with your students before January 20 to make the experience more meaningful? How can you sustain interest in politics and civics? Two teaching experts answered your questions on teaching the Obama inauguration during a 20-minute discussion.
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Program Helps At-Risk Youth Find Corporate Jobs
To alleviate the 30 percent unemployment rate among urban youth, the Year Up program gives at-risk youth lessons in corporate culture and work ethic. Paul Solman reports on this approach to training young, would-be entrepreneurs.
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Obama Taps Chicago Schools Chief for Education Post
President-elect Barack Obama named Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan as his pick for education secretary Tuesday. Analysts examine the challenges facing U.S. schools and how Duncan's efforts to turn around troubled Chicago schools will translate to the Cabinet post.
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Confidence, Openness Mark Obama's Decision Making Style
In the second of a series of reports examining the presidential candidates' leadership styles, Margaret Warner talks to colleagues and advisers of Sen. Barack Obama about how his decision making style would translate to the White House.
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McCain Blends Instinct With Political Calculation
In the first of a series of reports on the leadership qualities of the presidential candidates, Judy Woodruff talks to colleagues of Sen. John McCain about how the GOP hopeful makes decisions and how his governing style would translate in the White House.
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D.C. School Chancellor Targets Teachers, Angering Union
Chancellor Michelle Rhee's mission to reform D.C.'s troubled schools -- by firing ineffective teachers and offering a new pay system for those who increase students' results -- has met resistance from the teachers' union. Special correspondent John Merrow reports on the growing tension.
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McCain, Obama Advisers Spar on Education Reform
Among the issues being debated among the campaigns of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama is education, with each candidate seeking to define positions on school spending and the No Child Left Behind initiative. Education advisers for McCain and Obama detail the candidates' plans.
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Schools Start Offering Students Cash for Better Grades
Some schools across the country have launched new cash reward programs to improve students' test scores, despite concerns from some educators over what role money should lplay in children's motivation. John Tulenko of Learning Matters Television reports on the debate.
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Mixed Results for School Reform Efforts in New Orleans
A year after New Orleans School Superintendent Paul Vallas took the helm, educators in the city's public schools still tackle the challenges of keeping students enrolled and helping them meet required test scores. John Merrow wraps up a series of reports on efforts to reform schools in New Orleans.
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D.C. Schools Chief Institutes Tough Changes, Weathers...
After one year on the job, Washington, D.C., schools chief Michelle Rhee has slated schools to close and planned personnel changes to help boost the struggling education system. John Merrow reports on her efforts.
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New G.I. Bill Aims to Provide Expanded Educational...
A new G.I. bill signed into law Monday doubles funding for education benefits available to military personnel who have served since Sept. 11, 2001, and allows transfer of benefits to a spouse or children. Analysts discuss the law and its meaning for veterans.
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D.C. Teachers Struggle to Adapt to School Reforms
Washington, D.C.'s schools struggle to bring students up to proficiency standards while losing thousands of them to charter schools. John Merrow talks to D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee about her first year on the job.
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New Orleans School Reforms Target Young Readers
The struggle to educate the nation's children in urban schools has long been an area of reform. In a continuing series of reports on urban school reform, John Merrow returns to New Orleans schools to examine how young students are learning to read.
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Report Aims to Debunk Myths on Gender and Education
A new report examines commonly held assumptions about the differences in how girls and boys learn and achieve in education. Experts discuss the findings and how they might help educators better address issues of learning and gender.
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Report: Federal Program Fails to Improve Reading Skills
An Education Department report disclosed the ineffectiveness of No Child Left Behind's $6 billion student reading program. State education officials Douglas Christensen of Nebraska and Michele Goady of Maryland debate Reading First's merits.
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High-tech School Prepares Students for Shifting Economy
Paul Solman reports on a high school in California that pushes its students to focus on the future by preparing for jobs in the world of high technology -- while also helping the U.S. stay competitive in a global marketplace.
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Leaders Struggle to Bolster New Orleans Schools
In the latest in a series of reports on urban school reform, John Merrow reports on how the schools chief in New Orleans plans to deal with some of the most troubled schools in a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
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Washington, D.C., Schools Chief Faces Tough Choices
In the latest in a series of reports on school reform in Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, John Merrow checks in with D.C. schools chief Michelle Rhee, who has had to make difficult -- and controversial -- decisions regarding school closures and staff cuts.
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Gunman Opens Fire at University, Killing Five Then Self
A gunman shot 21 people at North Illinois University on Thursday, killing five before turning his guns on himself. Chicago NewsHour correspondent Elizabeth Brackett reports on the aftermath of yesterday's events.
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War Vets Still Struggle With Education Costs, Despite...
John Merrow reports on how education benefits offered through the G.I. Bill are issued to soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the renewed efforts by some members of Congress to expand the bill, which has seen reduced funding over the years.
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D.C. Schools Chief Rhee Faces High Expectations for...
As part of a series of reports on how educators are attempting to reform urban schools, education correspondent John Merrow provides an update on the efforts of Washington D.C. school chancellor Michelle Rhee to turn around the city's troubled school system.
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Las Vegas Races to Expand Social Services Amid Growth...
In the next Big Picture election report from Las Vegas, the NewsHour looks at how the Nevada city's recent population increase has strained school and health care systems and local residents and leaders discuss how the burden on social services is impacting their views on the 2008 election.
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Education Leaders Attempt Reform in Washington, D.C....
In the first of two reports on leaders in education who are trying to reform urban schools, NewsHour education correspondent John Merrow investigates improvement efforts in Washington, D.C.
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Desegregation Pioneers Reflect on Education Milestone
Fifty years ago, nine black students entered Little Rock Central High School, marking a critical moment in the efforts to desegregate the nation's schools. Seven of the "Little Rock Nine" recall their experiences.
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Report Faults University for Response to Cho, Shootings
An investigation into the Virginia Tech shootings criticized the university for failing to respond to the behavior of Seung-Hui Cho and for communication problems. Panel member Tom Ridge discusses the findings.
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