In recent weeks, there has been national media coverage of school officials' zero-tolerance zealotry. What isn't covered, however, is more troubling still: the failure to enforce at-risk students' Unsafe School Choice Option, which occupies just a few lines of the federal No Child Left behind Act (NCLB).
Earlier this month as some school officials were securing the cafeteria against a camping utensil-carrying Cub Scout, the New York Times recounted the tragic death of a 16-year-old football player in Chicago-the 67th death in 2007-08 school year that occurred before, during, or after school. Last week the Jersey Journalreported thattwo Bayonne High School students were transported to the hospital after being stabbed during an after-school brawl. Read more
It's time for Education Secretary Arne Duncan to start practicing what he's been preaching across the country, namely, that he wants to "invest in what works" by rewarding excellence and creating more choice and competition among schools. Yesterday, parents, students, elected officials, and community leaders actually did something to further that goal when they rallied in the nation's capital to save the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program Read more
