11/22/2009

A big drop in number of school-age children is upon us
As if there weren’t already oceans of bad news, here’s an ugly statistic we’d better face head-on. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) projects an 11.5 percent drop in our school-age population between 2006 and 2018.

11/21/2009

Brown’s supercomputer brings tasks down to earth
High-speed machine at Brown cuts months of labor off some research projects

Cumberland schools put on high alert after threats
School officials say there have been two instances of ‘suspicious graffiti’ at the high school in the past week

Six Barrington students suspended for having alcohol
The students allegedly had alcohol in their hotel room while attending a recent leadership conference in Baltimore

Brown’s supercomputer brings tasks down to earth
Multimillion machine at Brown cuts months of labor off some research projects

E. Providence School Committee trims $1.3 million from budget
Cuts made to comply with reductions ordered by City Council

11/22/2009

At the colleges
Two local organizations recently honored the dean of the law school at Roger Williams University, one citing his efforts to introduce more diversity to the faculty and the other citing his encouragement of student public service projects.

11/20/2009

R.I. education commissioner revokes ex-Bristol teacher’s certification
Kathleen Borgia was caught driving drunk to her teaching job at a Bristol elementary school

Cranston school-performance audit nearly complete
CRANSTON — The draft copy is about 100 pages and it looks at everything from course offerings to special education to building conditions.

11/19/2009

Cranston mayor considers mayoral academy
It would follow model of mayoral academy that opened this year in Cumberland

URI students hold vigil to protest hate-filled messages found on campus
Students, staff hold a vigil after racist, homophobic messages found on campus

11/18/2009

Narragansett policy targeting nuisance houses challenged in court
BRISTOL — Cities and towns have grappled for decades with how to tamp down student partying in neighborhoods. And Tuesday, lawyers took their cases for and against one town’s effort to ease the situation to students themselves, at Roger Williams University School of Law.

Lincoln weighs partial redistricting for schools
The superintendent proposes sending children to schools close to home

11/16/2009

Forum to tackle school plans in Lincoln
LINCOLN –– A public forum Monday will give residents a chance to discuss two alternatives for configuring several schools under a plan that calls for closing the Fairlawn Early Learning Center.

11/15/2009

With Reed’s help, College Crusade aids the disadvantaged
The senator says the nonprofit group gives students the tools to stay in school and graduate

Julia Steiny: For students, emotions can get in the way of learning
“Emotions are one of the killers of academic achievement.”

11/14/2009

CCRI is spread too thin to train 21st-century work force, report finds
With more than 70,000 Rhode Islanders out of work, hard questions are being asked of the state’s only community college and its ability to train Rhode Islanders for 21st-century jobs.

Brown honors two for change efforts
Teach for America and the Providence After School Alliance recognized

CCRI is spread too thin to train 21st-century work force, report finds
With more than 70,000 Rhode Islanders out of work, hard questions are being asked of the state’s only community college and its ability to train Rhode Islanders for 21st-century jobs.

Her love of languages finally honored: $5 million for scholarships released
Prof. Beatrice S. Demers set aside millions for scholarships, but they were entangled in a legal fight following her death

N. Kingstown school board sends audit to state officials
NORTH KINGSTOWN — The School Department is sending the results of an audit of alleged irregular spending at the high school to the state police, the attorney general’s office, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission and the state Department of Education.

Judicial-selection process debated
Panel’s consensus is that it’s almost impossible to remove politics from judicial appointments

11/12/2009

State OKs new nursing program
New England Institute of Technology to welcome its first class of 50 nursing students in March

Fundraiser kicks off for R.I. Catholic schools
Providence Diocese seeks to raise $350,000 for scholarships to offset tuition cost

WWII vets get their diplomas at La Salle Academy
La Salle Academy honors former students who left school during World War II to serve in armed forces

11/10/2009

Enrollment at R.I.’s three public colleges hits record high
PROVIDENCE — Enrollments at the state’s three public colleges hit a record high this fall, with 43,412 students attending the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island, even as state support for the institutions continues to decline.

URI president expands drinking policy at events
David M. Dooley receives approval for alcohol to be sold at various campus events

11/08/2009

Pinpointing reasons for dropping out
Robert Balfanz is an accomplished, even famous researcher. But he also has one foot firmly planted in the reality of a high school, which anchors him and his research in the raw, complicated realities of being a kid these days, particularly an urban kid.

11/07/2009

R.I. education commissioner plans community forums
Education officials are inviting Rhode Islanders to share their ideas about how to improve schools at a series of community forums in five communities over the next month.

Mediator enters debate over Providence teacher-hiring plan
Union is challenging plan to abolish seniority in filling vacancies

URI students take Narragansett to court over ‘orange sticker’ policy
URI students, renters, landlords oppose policy designed to clamp down on partying

11/09/2009

Diversity Calendar: Nov. 9

11/08/2009

At the colleges
The University of Rhode Island’s Human Development and Family Studies Department recently became the only program in the state to offer provisional certification as Family Life Educators from the National Council on Family Relations.

11/06/2009

Smithfield High School accreditation nears end
A 15-member committee finishes accreditation assessment

Pallotta expected to head Burrillville schools
The interim schools chief will forgo retirement to take the job on a full-time basis

11/05/2009

Arts studio for Providence high school students receives national award
Receives $10,000 federal grant, one of only 15 programs to get Coming Up Taller Award

11/03/2009

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says he is monitoring R.I. reform efforts
Secretary Arne Duncan urges the state to seek competitive grants for federal funds for new programs

Grant to help Latino youth apply to college
The $75,000 grant will be used to set up workshops on college applications, financial aid

Petition opposes teacher seniority
Karina Wood, right, of the East Side Public Education Coalition, and Karen Feldman, of Young Voices, present the signatures of 1,200 people to Paul Vorro, of the Providence Teachers Union, urging it to drop its lawsuit seeking reinstatement of seniority. Watch a video of the coalition presenting its petition at projo.com/video.

3-year accord approved by district, union
The Chariho Regional School District and its teachers’ union have ratified a three-year contract.

East Providence High School band group racked by dissension
The support organization has been barred from working with the music program until allegations are reviewed

11/02/2009

Brown students put food in motion
PROVIDENCE — Several dozen students gathered at the snack bar of the engineering building at Brown University on Friday afternoon. They wanted food, of course. And when someone on a bullhorn said they could help themselves, they did.

Johnston R.I. committee approves plan for solar heat at school
Installation of solar-heating system hinges on availability of federal stimulus money

11/01/2009

Lincoln school officials and a student’s mom differ on the best schooling for her son
It’s a weekday morning and Alex Azar, 12, is at home, hunkered over a laptop at the dining room table, engaged in a war game.

Lincoln school officials and a student’s mom differ on the best schooling for her son
It’s a weekday morning and Alex Azar, 12, is at home, hunkered over a laptop at the dining room table, engaged in a war game.

More children are being diagnosed as autistic
Each year, more children — nationally and locally — are identified as having some form of autism.

Julia Steiny: Ending hiring of teachers by seniority will help students

10/31/2009

Brown students put food in motion
PROVIDENCE — Several dozen students gathered at the snack bar in the engineering building at Brown University on Friday afternoon. They wanted food, of course. And when someone on a bullhorn said they could help themselves, they did.

Brown students put food in motion
PROVIDENCE — Several dozen students gathered at the snack bar in the engineering building at Brown University on Friday afternoon. They wanted food, of course. And when someone on a bullhorn said they could help themselves, they did.

Providence looks to Philly to stem ‘brain drain’
Internships seen as key to keeping students in Providence job market following graduation

Brown students put food in motion
PROVIDENCE — Several dozen students gathered at the snack bar of the engineering building at Brown University on Friday afternoon. They wanted food, of course. And when someone on a bullhorn said they could help themselves, they did.

11/01/2009

At the colleges
The master’s degree program in Labor Relations and Human Resources at the University of Rhode Island is 1 of only 44 worldwide to receive accreditation from the Society for Human Resource Management and the only public college or university in New England to fully align with the curriculum guides established by the society in 2005.

10/30/2009

Senate OKs reducing tax refunds for college loan delinquents
PROVIDENCE — The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday voted to allow the state Division of Taxation to reduce a person’s state income-tax refund if the person is delinquent on certain college loans issued by the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority.

10/29/2009

Bills fly through the House at special session
Dozens of bills, including one banning indoor prostitution, advance to Senate

10/28/2009

RWU School of Law to boost pro bono work after $250,000 donation
Providence personal injury lawyer gives $250,000 to school

Task force issues recommendations for urban school districts
Task force suggests ways to improve quality of education in urban Rhode Island.

10/27/2009

RWU School of Law to boost pro bono work after $250,000 donation
The state’s only law school plans to increase the amount of free legal services it provides to low-income Rhode Islanders and groups that advocate for the needy, after a well-known lawyer donated $250,000 to expand Roger Williams University’s School of Law Pro Bono Collaborative.

R.I.’s urban children to get nature education
Children from urban areas will get to explore nature firsthand through a federal grant the Audubon Society of Rhode Island has received to promote the study of environmental science.

10/26/2009

Middle school tour has Woonsocket students impressed
The city’s two new middle schools will take the place of a building built in 1915.

10/25/2009

E-learning keeps potential failures from dropping out
Sixteen-year-old Danny drops into a chair at Woonsocket High’s E-Learning Academy like he’s a bag of loose parts. The adults ask him to tell me his story, but with a goofy smile, he mumbles that he doesn’t know anything. A sky-blue hoodie matches his sleepy blue eyes, emphasizing his sweet, baby-faced youth, even as a sparkly stud in one ear tries to be punk and tough.

Foundations back state application
PROVIDENCE — Three major philanthropic organizations have volunteered to provide the state Department of Education with a total of $245,000 to ensure that Rhode Island has a better chance to receive federal Race to the Top education monies.

Regionalization picks up steam
The North Smithfield School Committee sends letters to the boards in Smithfield, Burrillville and Lincoln to see if they would be willing to meet.

Charter school, 6 districts receive $44 million in bonds
PROVIDENCE — Six school districts and one charter school have received help from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with $44.4 million in interest-free bonds for school renovations and construction.

At this school event, everything’s debatable
During past debates, pundits have argued about everything from health care to junk food to military aggression.

10/24/2009

School superintendents told to abolish teacher seniority
The state Education Commissioner says she has the authority to end classroom assignments based on seniority.

E. Providence beads with pride
EAST PROVIDENCE — Michael Jackson’s famous “Beat It” song was playing appropriately in the background when the announcement came Friday night that the city had smashed the Guinness world record for the longest strand of beads.

Settlement house renames early learning center after McDowell
Jo-Ann Caffey McDowell, now 65, has been a leader in providing early childhood education.

School superintendents told to abolish teacher seniority
PROVIDENCE — Dropping a bombshell on the teachers’ unions, state Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist ordered school superintendents to abolish the practice of assigning teachers based on how many years they have in the school system.

10/25/2009

AT THE COLLEGES
www.neit.edu or call 1 (800) 736-7744 or (401) 739-5000.

10/23/2009

Theodore Sizer, education critic, Brown professor
Sizer, who died Wednesday, advocated that educational policy should be determined from the bottom up.

Students state case for input on R.I. teacher evaluations
At a public hearing, students tell the regents that students are the consumers who best know the good teachers from the bad.