Many states have tax-free weekends over the summer months and yours may be just around the corner. These weekends are a critical time for thousands of educators across the nation who start the school year without enough supplies and need to stock up on a budget. But even for those who are lucky enough to get the supplies they need to last the school year, these weekends can be just as important for those living on a teacher's salary.
Here's a list of participating states, the dates of their respective tax-free weekend, and the items covered under each state's holiday:
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In an effort to remove distractions and enhance learning, several Washington, D.C. area public schools are experimenting with classes by separating boys and girls into single-sex learning environments. The practice is becoming a new trend in education reform. Continue Reading...
Useful Resources for Turning Hurricane Sandy into a Timely Lesson
posted by: Ruthie | October 31, 2012, 11:27 am
This week Hurricane Sandy slammed the Eastern Seaboard, forcing local officials to close schools from a couple of days to possibly even longer. With the effects of the storm fresh on students' minds, incorporating hurricane science into curriculum can be especially effective.
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Stranger Than Fiction: Students Paid to Attend Summer School
posted by: Alix | July 31, 2012, 12:04 pm
Large urban school districts often struggle with low student performance and dismal graduation rates. Washington, D.C. public schools are no exception and the District is often listed as one of the poorest performing school systems in the country. In an effort to combat these systemic issues, school leaders have instituted a controversial new program that pays students to attend summer classes in order to get a jump start on the school year.
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As the 2011 legislative session draws to an end, state legislatures across the country are proceeding with bills that seeks to curb union power and implement sweeping education reform. While Wisconsin and Ohio have received the bulk of the media attention, nearly the entire country will see historic changes in the coming year.
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International Summit on Teaching Profession Convenes in New YorkLast week, the Department of Education hosted a two-day conference focusing on best practices in building a world-class teaching force. Held in New York City, the conference brought American teachers and administrators together with several foreign high-performing countries.
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Education Week released its annual report on the state of education in the United States this week. Entitled "Quality Counts," the report awards grades to individual states for their policy and overall education performance coupled with school budgets and reform efforts. The report comes on the heels of what economists note is the end of the "Great Recession." Schools boards across the country are feeling the heat from slashed budgets and fewer resources making for a challenging year in public education. Continue Reading...
Stranger Than Fiction: Inner-City Parents Take Over School
posted by: Alix | December 10, 2010, 10:16 am
This week, an elementary school in Compton, California is receiving national attention after a group of parents banded together to force improvements at the failing institution. Yelling "yes we can!" and "si se puede!" a busload of parents on Tuesday became the first in California to try to force reforms at their children's school using a new law designed to help parents take back schools.
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On the heels of this week's Foundation for Excellence in Education conference in Washington D.C., the group has announced the formation of a new alliance of education reformers called the "Chiefs for Change". Comprised of education leaders throughout the country, they are committed to providing a strong voice for reforms on the federal, state, and local level.
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Congratulations! AAE Teacher Scholarship & Classroom Grant Winners
posted by: Jill | December 01, 2010, 05:26 pm
Winners for the fall AAEF Teacher Scholarship and Classroom Grants competition have been announced.
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Study: Teacher Pensions Underfunded by Nearly $1 Trillion
posted by: Colin | April 19, 2010, 09:08 am Bad news this morning regarding teacher pensions, so I hope you've had your coffee. A recent study by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research states that teacher pensions nationwide are underfunded by nearly $1 trillion—three times the estimate of government officials. The difference in estimates is because teacher pensions, unlike their private counterparts, assume a much higher—if unrealistic—return on investment and enjoy more freedom than private pension funds. Continue Reading... Today the Department of Education announced the states that will advance as finalists for phase 1 of the Race to the Top competition. Race to the Top is a $4.35 billion effort to reward reforms, such as Continue Reading... West Virginia State Sen. Erik Wells, a Democrat representing Kanawha, killed his own charter schools bill, criticizing the unions who opposed the legislation. "Who's standing up for students of this state?" Wells asked during his speech on the senate floor, "It's not AFT, it's not WVEA." Sen. Wells accused the unions of attacking his family because he sends his daughter to private school. Although Sen. Wells was elected in 2006 with union support, one teacher union has endorsed Wells' primary opponent. Continue Reading... Some AAE staff traveled to sunny Atlanta, Georgia (a welcome change from snow-covered Alexandria, Virginia) to attend the 2010 Coalition of Independent Educator Associations at the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) headquarters. Independent educator associations are dedicated to putting students first, to treating educators as the professionals, and to providing teachers a choice in professional associations. AAE, PAGE, and other associations discussed membership recruitment, legislative and legal affairs, professional learning, and charitable efforts. Continue Reading... |