"Building a Better Admissions Test" (Inside Higher Ed, 11/11/08)

Most standardized admissions tests — from the SAT and ACT to those used for admission to graduate and professional schools, such as the Law School Admission Test — promise one thing: to predict academic success in the first year enrolled. Most standardized tests also face growing skepticism because white and Asian students tend to outperform, on average, black and Latino students.

What if a standardized test managed to predict much more than first-year success? And what if there existed the possibility of having standardized tests that didn’t have ethnic or racial gaps, but better predicted long-term success?

"A School District Asks: Where Are the Parents?" (NYTimes, 11/11/08)

The new diversity of a New York school district has revealed a cultural chasm over the meaning of parental involvement.

"Mrs. P Has a Story for You, Kids" (LATimes, 11/10/08)

Mrs. P is the title character of a new children's storytelling website debuting at the beginning of National Young Readers Week. Los Angeles Times, November 10, 2008

"Learning How the Brain Learns May Be Boon in the Classroom" (Miami Hearld, 11/4/08)

The Education and Brain Research Program at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore is conducting a study to understand the neurological differences among students who are skilled readers, those who have difficulties, and those with diagnosed learning disabilities. Miami Herald, November 4, 2008

"Fair-Use Help for Internet On Its Way" (EdWeek, 11/11/08)

The National Council of Teachers of English was part of a group of media literacy organizations to produce "The Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education," which was released today.  Education Week, November 11, 2008

"New course is needed for No Child law, educators say" (San Diego Union-Tribune, 11/10/08)

Change is coming to the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

With Barack Obama heading to the White House and dozens of additional Democrats elected to Congress, President Bush's signature education bill almost certainly will face profound revisions, experts across the country say.

"Obama's Possible Candidates for Education Secretary" (Chronicle of Higher Ed, 11/5/08))

If history is any guide, Barack Obama will spend several weeks chugging through higher priorities on his presidential to-do list before choosing an education secretary.

And if he follows past trends, Mr. Obama is not likely to choose a secretary on the basis of higher-education policy. His nominee will be the ninth U.S. secretary of education, and nearly all of the previous eight were known more for their backgrounds at the elementary and secondary levels.