Anniversary of Title VI Marks Progress and Reminds us that Every Child has the Right to an Education U.S. Department of Education
July 1-"Title VI was a great victory in the pursuit of equality in education," Duncan said. "But many schools are still struggling to serve students of color and students growing up in poverty. Many communities are underserved with respect to having access to college-level coursework in high school, math and science, talented and gifted programs, after school programs, and much more.


ASSESSMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND REFORM
California can't afford not to keep the high school exit exam Los Angeles Times
June 27- If there's anything to criticize about the exit exam, it's that the expectations for our graduates remain so low. They pass by getting barely more than half the answers right, a flunk in most testing situations.

Standard Deviation American Prospect
July 2- The National Governors Association first declared its support for national education standards in 1989, with then-President George H.W. Bush's blessing. Yet despite efforts during both the Bush and Clinton years, no common standards system ever emerged. Now that could change.

TEACHERS                                                                                                                                                                           Throwing a Lifeline to Struggling Teachers Washington Post
June 29-Union contracts and tenure rules tend to make it difficult to dismiss ineffective teachers. But in Montgomery, the union is teaming with school officials to weed out -- or, better yet, help improve -- teachers who fall short.

PRACTICE, POLICY, AND ED THOUGHT
SREB Urges Greater Focus on Middle Grades in South Education Week
June 30-A new report raises concerns about the achievement levels of middle school students in many Southern states and outlines steps state leaders should consider to better prepare young people for high school.


Facing Deficits, Some States Cut Summer School New York Times
July 1- But this year Florida's budget crisis has gutted summer school. Brevard classrooms are shuttered, and students like 11-year-old Uvenka Jean-Baptiste, whose mother works in a nursing home, are spending their summer days at home, surfing television channels or loitering at a mall.