Education law gets mixed reviews -  As of this month, No Child Left Behind has been in effect for five years.  But is the federal law doing what it was intended to do?

Pledge of Brawny Budget Leaves Education in Lurch - Opinion: There is a lingering stench of hypocrisy in the White House these days.  No matter how many promises for education reform the president gave when he entered office, his actions continue to contradict his declarations.

Unrealistic goals? - Alabama - one of the first states to submit its plan for enforcing NCLB - was strict in its interpretation of the new law: By 2014, 100 percent of the schools are to have 100 percent of their students achieving all of the academic goals the state set out.

NEA responds to merit pay study - The National Education Association issued a preliminary response Monday, Jan. 22, to a review of the beginning of a merit pay experiment for teachers in Little Rock elementary schools.

Governor, Legislature deaf to parents’ school choices - Opinion: Since 1997, enrollment in traditional public schools in Arizona has increased 18 percent, actually less than the general population increase over the same period.  Enrollment in charter schools, however, has increased 302 percent.  That’s a strong statement by parents and children. Policy makers should be listening. But it doesn’t appear that they are.

Parents sound off on Detroit school plan - 300 parents gathered Monday to hear Detroit Public Schools’ bid to reverse its financial shortfall by closing, consolidating or relocating schools.

Governor Visits North Louisiana - Governor Kathleen Blanco laid out her plan on economic development and education reform.

The Secret Irony of Education Reform - Opinion: While America hankers for the discipline and rigor of Asian schools, they are ditching rote learning in favor of creativity and innovation.

Author to discuss work on education - Carletta D. Washington, founder and chief executive officer of Education 4 All Inc., a nonprofit community organization, will discuss her recently published book, "Education Reform: The Role and Responsibility of Schools, Parents, Students, and Communities."

Reorganizing the Schools (Again) - A look at the education proposals made by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his State of the City address.

State of the Schools Address - Transcript of remarks by Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, superintendent in Charleston, S.C.

Governor Promotes Educational Emphasis on Math and Science - Governor Matt Blunt has outlined a proposal to give Missouri students an edge in math, engineering, technology and science.

Thinking small to spur creativity - Third in a series on challenges and reforms in Charlotte, N.C. schools.

Teachers’ backgrounds not shared in hiring - Education officials in California have realized districts are not always getting a complete history of a potential hire’s background.

Flaws mar plan to fix our schools - Opinion: After reading Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s "Schoolhouse" plan for improving LAUSD schools, I have to admit, that, as a teacher, there’s a lot about it I like.  The problem is, like with many schoolhouses in the Los Angeles Unified School District, once you look a little closer, flaws start to appear, and questions start to arise.

School-choice deadline nears - Applications for San Diego’s public school choice plan are due by Jan. 31.

Salt Lake City School District showcases options at Choice Fair - Salt Lake City School District will hold the third annual School Choice Fair today to showcase the education options within the district.

School voucher bills ripe for debate - Some Georgia families fed up with public schools might have their best chance this year of using state money to send their children to private campuses, but not before a highly charged debate about whether tuition vouchers will improve student learning.

Democrats signal concern over school voucher legislation - House Democrats in Utah on Monday voiced opposition to school voucher legislation that may be introduced as early as this week.

House Demos attack tuition voucher bill - House Democratic leaders in Utah met Monday to express their opposition to a bill that would give government vouchers for private school tuition.

Report explores ways to bridge achievement gap - The achievement gap between black males and other students in Maryland is a “work force development issue” for the state, University System of Maryland Regent Orlan Johnson told The Examiner Monday.

Learning Gap Takes Priority - Editorial: In choosing Mark K. McQuillan as the state education commissioner, the State Board of Education sent a message that it wanted a leader who knows Connecticut well enough to hit the ground running and who holds the promise of closing Connecticut’s worst-in-the-nation achievement gap between low-income and minority students and their white middle-class counterparts.

Educators assail No Child Left Behind - Colorado teachers, principals and administrators overwhelmingly say the federal education law No Child Left Behind is unrealistic and underfunded, according to a survey conducted by U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar’s office.

Some want No Child law assessed - As President Bush readies to rally support for renewal of the No Child Left Behind law, many local parents and educators aren’t optimistic he will own up to the law’s weak points during tonight’s State of the Union address.

Handy quits state job for McCain post - Winter Park, Florida entrepreneur Phil Handy, who as chairman of the State Board of Education marshaled through Jeb Bush’s education-reform plan, reversed course Monday and announced he will not serve another term on the panel.  Handy will now volunteer as a policy adviser for Republican Sen. John McCain’s possible 2008 presidential bid.

UPDATE:

Choice Location - The Alliance for School Choice will move its headquarters from Phoenix to the nation’s capital and has hired a new president and added a lobbyist to represent the 3-year-old group in federal policy.  

Desire to reform education drives teacher to Legislature - The freshman legislator, a long-time teacher from Burnsville, says a dedication to public service and a desire to help his fellow teachers have brought him to politics. 

Mayor’s Promise To Reform Teacher Tenure Process Sparks Speculation - Just last month the press called the quick agreement on a new contract a “love fest” – a far cry from now, when Weingarten suspects standardized tests could help determine whether a teachers gets tenure or not. 

Education starts to rise from rut - Opinion: The existing public schools need champions. But so, too, do the alternatives. Be optimistic. The future has to be better than the recent past. 

Subcommittee Chiefs Named for House Education Panel - Rep. George Miller, D-Calif, the new chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, announced his subcommittee chairmen last week, including those whose jurisdiction includes education. 

O’Malley Introduces 2007 Legislative Agenda - Education, Healthcare, Environment, StateStat Top O’Malley’s Agenda. 

School starting dates: Return flexibility to districts - Opinion: ‘Save Our Summers" was the battle cry during the 2006 legislative session.

State of the Union address tonight expected to cover energy, health care, education - Bush will push for Congress to renew his education law, No Child Left Behind, which expires this year.