Morning Announcements: November 16, 2010

The Washington Post reports on a panel of top educators that is recommending major revisions of teacher training programs. Maryland, California, Colorado, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee have pledged to implement the recommendations. To read more about individual states’ commitments: Check out stories in the Oregonian and the Denver Post.

The Washington Examiner, New York Times, and USA Today all report on a recently released study, from the Council of Great City Schools, finding that the nation’s young black males are in a state of crises. Is the newsletter going to be posted soon? If so I can link to the article in Straight A’s.

Washington Post reporter Donna St. George writes about how West Potomac High School, in Alexandria (VA), is banishing the letter grade F from student report cards: “Depending on whom you ask, West Potomac High School’s latest change to student grading is either another sign of a coddled generation or a necessary step to help struggling kids.” The editorial board also weighs in writing, “Whether the decision by a local high school to downgrade F as a failing grade helps or hinders student learning depends on how the change is implemented.”

In Louisiana, the state underestimated the number of public school students this year, leaving the funding formula for school districts short an estimated $42 million and adding to the financial problems facing the Jindal administration and lawmakers, according to The Associated Press.