Posted 9:40 a.m. Thurs., 03.18.10 - In Kansas City, the School Board voted to close 26 out of 61 schools. In north St. Louis County, Normandy is absorbing the Wellston School District. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, the panel whose recommendations led to a takeover of the city schools by the state is trying to figure out next steps. No one is promising -- or expecting -- quick results, but urban education has finally become a priority in a state where for a long time, city schools have seemed to be a hopeless cause.

Posted 10:27 a.m. Tues., 03.16.10 - As Congress begins reworking the No Child Left Behind law, the Obama administration's proposals have been met with opposition from teachers' unions and GOP lawmakers. The new plan includes broad outlines of changes in academic standards and identifying failing schools but lacks specifics. | New York Times

Earlier in the Beacon: Local educators would welcome changes in education policy but are wary of the details.

Posted 2:35 p.m. Thurs., 03.04.10 - In the race to the top of the education heap, Illinois has opened a big lead over Missouri. Illinois, which sought $510 million, is among the 16 first-round finalists for a share of the $4.35 billion grant program, Race to the Top. Winners will be announced in April. Missouri, which was seeking $743 million, did not make the list, but Chris Nicastro, commissioner of education, says work is already beginning on the second round of funding.

Posted 4:47 p.m. Wed., 02.24.10 - A new report on the racial makeup of students in the nation's charter schools says that as more students attend charter schools, which are funded by tax dollars but separate from traditional districts, integration too often has been ignored. As a result, said researcher Gary Orfield, "The charter school movement has been a major political success, but it has been a civil rights failure," a conclusion disputed by charter school advocates. 

Posted 4:30 p.m. Fri., 02.21.10 - Steven Gibson had no idea what to expect. In the past, events put on by the Cultural Diversity Club have drawn as many as three people. Gibson, a junior at Francis Howell Central High School, got a nice surprise Feb. 17. More than 50 people gathered at FHS in Cottleville. The teachers, administrators, parents and students from surrounding schools came to a discussion about race.

Posted 10:10 a.m. Fri., 02.12.10 - St. Louis University, Washington University and the University of Missouri St. Louis are pooling their resources in an effort to further the understanding of the Latino community regionally (estimated to be as large as 90,000 people) and statewide (thought to be at least 170,000 people). The faculty-driven collaboration comes as SLU professors are pushing for a Latino research center on campus.

Posted 4:10 p.m. Tues., 02.02.10 - At Mason School of Academic and Cultural Literacy in the Clifton Heights neighborhood of St. Louis, news of the earthquake in Haiti hit hard for students and faculty because one of the teacher's assistants, Marcelle Theodor, is Haitian. An art teacher took the lead, got students involved creatively and raised  $1,200 for relief efforts. This is one of many stories of children finding ways to help.

Updated 4:41 p.m. Thurs., 01.28.10 - With health care stuck in neutral, political gridlock in the Senate, millions still out of work and two wars grinding on, President Barack Obama's spotlight on schools in the State of the Union address was a welcome bright spot for local educators. And apparently for legislators, too. His declared support for education, especially community colleges, won applause, sometimes even from both sides of the aisle. (Photo from sxc.hu)