Colleges 
K-12 
Bilingual Education 
The Teacher Corps 

Tocco: Lack of Education Experience an Asset not a Liability 
Chairman of the Board of Higher Ed says it is better to have an open mind than a point of view 
Boston Herald 

The Blight of New England Colleges 
John Leo surveys a disordered system of higher education 
US News & World Report 

U-Mass Students Stage Sit-In to Protest New Admission Policy 
Activists want decisions to be more race-based 
Springfield Union-News 

Student government president: Agree with us or "your time here  
is up" 
Northampton Gazette 

Brandeis Student Senate Attempts to Silence Conservative Opinion 
Liberals failed to revoke charter, but will  now attempt to cut off funding 
Conservative News Service 

Bradford College Offers Indoctrination as a Major 
"Studies for Social Justice" program to train activists 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Some Professors Speak Out for Post-Tenure Review 
Say threats to academic freedom are exaggerated 
Northampton Gazette 

UMass Appoints Interim Admissions  
Director 
As college moves away from raced-based admissions, head of minority engineering program is named director 
Springfield Union-News 

UMass Study Finds Children Suffer No Harm from Day Care 
May be better off than children of stay-at-home mothers because family has more income 
Boston Herald 

UMass Students Protest End of Race Preferences in Admissions Policy 
Angry students threaten to shut university down 
Northampton Gazette 

State College Professors Resist Tenure Revision 
Educators fear plan to increase accountability would stifle academic freedom 
Northampton Gazette 

Race-Based Policy Supporters Assail Color-Blind Admissions at UMass  
Fear that "diversity" will be diminished 
Northampton Gazette 

Activists:  Shift away from racial preferences is cowardly 
Springfield Union-News 

UMass Students React to Abandonment of Race-Based Admissions 
Many expect protest at highly politicized university 
Springfield Union-News 

Center for Equal Opportunity to Review UMass' Admission Policies 
University takes closer look at "diversity" based admission policies  
Northampton  Gazette 

Heston Challenges Harvard Law Students to Think for Themselves 
Actor turned conservative activist urges fight against intellectual repression and conformity 
Boston Herald 

Massachusetts Colleges Deny Race-Based Admissions Standards 
National lawsuit alleges private colleges discriminate against whites 
Springfield Union-News  

Liberal Reveals Loss of Free Speech on Massachusetts Campuses 
Universities curb freedom of expression 
Nothampton Gazette 

Jesuits Denounce Vatican Rules for Catholic Colleges 
Read what the Jesuits have to say 
Commentary 

State Colleges Face Tough New Performance Standards 
Failure to comply would mean loss of state funding 
Boston Herald 

Catholic College President Hopes for Compromise on Bishops' Plan 
Hopes to avert loss of federal funds that might result from plan to restore clerical control 
Springfield Union-News 

UMass Professors Resist Post-Tenure Review 
Decry threat to "academic freedom" 
Northampton Daily Hampshire Gazette 

Boston Lawyer's New Book Attacks Colleges' Abandonment of Individual Rights 
An interview with Harvey Silverglate 
Boston Phoenix 

Merrimack Valley School Officials Rankled by School Rankings 
Say Cellucci's Proposal is Unfair to Poor and Minorities 
The Eagle-Tribune

School Officials Blast Cellucci's Call for Accountability 
South Coast Schools Condemn Ranking Plan 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

Western Mass. Educators are Bracing for their Report Cards 
Springfield Union-News 

Cape Officials Bristle at the Idea of Ranking Schools 
Cape Cod Times 

Haverhill's 'Alternative' High School Forced to Close 
75-Percent Enrollment Drop Has School Officials Scurrying to Help 'At Risk' Students 
The Eagle-Tribune

Governor Threatens Schools With Loss of Local Control 
Cellucci's New Education Initiative Calls for "Character Education" in Public Schools 
Boston Herald

Springfield Students to Wear Photo IDs 
ID Badges Part of New Push for School Safety 
Springfield Union News

Peanut Products Banned at North Andover School 
One Student's Allergy Means Limits on all Students' Choices 
The Eagle-Tribune

Springfield Mayor Wants to End Race Based Education 
Local NAACP opposes Albano's plan 
Springfield Union-News

Activist, Grader: MCAS Discriminates 
Maine teacher laments that MCAS does not make allowances for special education students in the grading process 
Boston Herald 

Massachusetts Schools Increase Security for New Year 
Officials cite "Columbine hangover" as reason for increased student surveillance, and police presence 
Boston Herald 

Officials Eye Changes in MCAS 
Some suggest tiered system of diplomas to address impending "train wreck" 
Boston Herald 

Dapper: Schools Should be Responsible for Classroom Violence 
City Councilor will ask for an ordinance calling for city to pay medical bills 
Boston Herald 

MCAS Requirement Means Huge Percentage of Class of 2003 May Not Graduate 
Students, Parents Cry Foul At State's Attempt to Institute Graduation Standards 
Boston Herald 

South Coast Superintendents Discuss Troubled Schools 
Educators address MCAS, violence, special ed 
New Bedford standard-Times 

Pep Squads Encourage Peers to Ace the MCAS 
Squad cheers as Barnstable pupils take state test 
Cape Cod Times 

Education Commissioner Open to Merit Pay for Teachers 
Student performance on MCAS might provide standard 
AP  

MCAS Leaves No Time for Student-Teacher Discussion 
South Coast students level new charge against state assessment exam 
New Bedford Standard-Times  

Live by the Bible, Pioneer Valley Graduates Are Told 
Christian High School turns out believers 
Springfield Union-News 

Medication of Lawrence Students Exploding 
In twelve years number of students on prescription medicine has gone from 2 to 977 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune  

Boston School Committee Eyes Proposal for Separate Over-Age Student Program 
650 students in schools are currently 20 or older 
Boston Herald 

Parents Angered by Bus Driver's Attempt to Discipline Kids 
Driver trying to return unruly youngsters to school is blocked by parents 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Massachusetts Joins Multistate Effort to Raise Math Proficiency 
Cambridge-based "Achieve" will develop new curriculum and test 
New York Times 

Lowell High Shut Down Its Marilyn Manson Gang Two Years Ago 
School's crisis intervention counselor identified members, and notified parents of groups threatening behavior 
Lowell Sun 

Haverhill High Turns Up the Heat on Frosh 
Students must earn a "D" in order to advance to tenth grade 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Special Education Increases Demand for School Nurses 
Parents tell Methuen School Committee that they want  
more nurses 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Education Forum Looks Beyond the Classroom 
Participants conclude that preparing children is too important to be left to educators 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

Payzant Says Charter Schools are Robbing Public Schools 
Superintendent laments lost dollars for pupils who choose to attend charters 
Boston Herald 

Legislative Committee Torn on Charter School Expansion Plan 
Reformers' proposal to triple number of independent public schools worries Lane, unions 
State House News Service 

Chicopee Superintendent Looks to Staff to Help Reduce Costs 
Decreased state funding causes school district to take hard look at current expenses 
Springfield Union-News 

Amherst Man Seeks End to $50K D.A.R.E Program 
Wants town meeting to consider dropping program, which he says has not been shown to be effective when studied 
Northampton Gazette 

State Education Board Considers Special Education Changes 
Over Cellucci's veto, Legislature to study special education standards 
State House News Service 

Recertification Protest Ends Teacher's Career 
Boxboro resident will not be rehired because he refuses to follow Ed Reform Acts mandate 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

State Pays $2M Extra to Teachers to Increase MCAS Scores 
Haverhill official tells paper that results of spending may not be immediately reflected in test scores 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Department of Education Encourages Students to be Tolerant of Homosexuality 
Mount Holyoke College lesbian tell kids she struggled with homosexuality while in high school 
Springfield Union-News 

Charter Schools:  Who Gains, Who Pays? 
A profile of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts charter school 
Hatfield Valley Advocate 

North Andover Girl Wants to Play Hardball 
Fights school rule that limits girls to softball 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Wareham Students Searched, but No Drugs Found 
"Zero-tolerance" drug policy means warrant less searches of lockers, backpacks and pocketbooks will continue 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

Children Schooled at Home Do Better, Study Says 
Nearly ten thousand Massachusetts children are home schooled 
Boston Herald 

Committee Considers Bill to Require Parents to "Opt In" to Sex Ed 
Would amend current "opt out" requirement 
State House News Service 

Schools Explore Possibility of Teaching Foreign Languages in Elementary School 
Officials say younger students have better chance of becoming proficient 
Springfield Union-News 

Educators Seek More Federal Money 
Fall River official calls level of spending "obscene" 
Fall River Herald-News 

Driscoll Promises Massive Education Changes 
New commissioner wants to overhaul special ed and bilingual programs 
Boston Herald 

Schools Spend Over $1 Million on Consultants 
Haverhill and Lawrence pay for advice on sexual harassment 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Cellucci Calls for More Competition in Education 
Tells legislature to do away with cap on charter schools 
Boston Herald 

Gifted Kids Shortchanged by Public Schools 
Experts say that smart kids have special needs too 
Wellesley Townsman 

Up to $2M available for tutors to help students with below average MCAS scores 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

Majority of Haverhill Parents Have 
No Confidence in  Public Schools 
Survey finds poor reputation, incompetent teachers, and student safety concerns leading parents to choose private schools 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune  

Reputation of public schools continues to decline 
Boston Herald 

US Supreme Court: Nurses Mandated for Disabled Kids 
Ruling will stretch strained Bay State school budgets even further 
Boston Herald 

Haverhill Mayor guarantees more nurses for schools 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Silber May Resign Education Post 
Ouster of controversial Board of Education chairman may be part of deal to make Peyser new commissioner 
Boston Herald 

More Parents Say Their Kids Get Too Much Homework 
Report children stressed out by excessive study 
Springfield Union-News 

Board of Education Recommends Early Foreign Language and Building Maintenance 
Kindergartners may be taught foreign languages 
Boston Herald 

Demand maintenance accountability in return for more money 
Springfield Union-News 

Schools Face End of Reform-Based State Funding 
Schools now seek reform in special education funding 
Springfield Union-News 

Study Finds Accelerated "Flight to Quality Schools"  
Economist says MCAS may increase accountability in below-average schools and stanch exit 
Wellesley Townsman 

School Committee Member Accused of Sex Bias 
Reports claim that Kouloheras said technical school director should be a male so that students can have a "role model" 
Lowell Sun  

MetroWest Parents Choosing Catholic Schools Over Public 
Despite "excellent" public schools, parents like schools that can teach morals 
MetroWest Daily News 

Ad Hoc Committee Blasts Teacher Tests 
Group sees no correlation between state tests and other exams; urges immediate suspension 
State House News Service  

Suburbs Unite to Lobby for More Money 
50 cities and towns want more equity in distribution of state funding, 
especially for education 
Marblehead Reporter 

Finneran:  House Members Intrigued By Education Vouchers 
Speaker listens to calls for the next step in education reform 
State House News Service 

Guidance Counselors' Role Shifts from Academics to Social Problems 
Schools focus on eating disorders, sexual orientation, depression and drug abuse 
Lowell Sun  

High School Students Teach Peers About Sexual Harassment 
"Teens Against Sexual Harassment" help schools comply with new requirements to publicize policies 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

Cellucci Proposes More Spending, Charter Schools 
Governor outlines education goals 
State House News Service 

Public Schools Use Teens to Teach Peers About Sex 
Haverhill area teenagers are mentors on sex, drugs and STDs 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Cellucci Presses Plan to Test Incumbent Teachers 
Union officials call bill "insulting" and vow to defeat it 
Boston Herald 

Teacher Union Applauds House Speaker's Education Plan 
MTA likes Finneran's call for more programs and resources 
Massachusetts Teacher Association 

In Massachusetts School Reform Effort, Charter Schools Are Still Controversial 
Some see independents siphoning public funds, others say they provide needed competition 
CT Central 

Haverhill Parents Upset Over School System's Neglect of Top Students 
"People for the Advancement of Curriculum Excellence" lobbies school committee to challenge smart kids 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Students Struggle with Homework 
Home problems, after school jobs and extracurricular activities often impede effort 
Lowell Sun 

Local Schools Will Be Pressured to Teach "Sex Ed" 
Planned Parenthood lobbies to make sex ed a core subject 
Massachusetts Physicians Resource Council 

Schools Strive to Raise Self-Esteem of Students Upset over MCAS Scores 
Only one Haverhill school meets state average 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Silber says failed bilingual programs are responsible for low MCAS scores 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

UMass Report:  Minority Students Are Better Prepared 
Enrollments drop but quality rises on state campuses 
Springfield Union-News  

Public Education Needs Radical Reform to Avoid Extinction, College President Says 
Bard College's Leon Botstein tells Massachusetts college audience how to save the American school system 
Berkshire Eagle 

Teacher Union:  Don't Blame Us if Students Fail 
President of MTA says teachers cannot be judged by student performance 
Boston Herald 

Wareham Schools Promote Social and Civic Skills Through "Service Learning" 
"Hidden curriculum" instills self-esteem, teaches community relations and environmental awareness 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

Petition Drive Seeking Signatures to  
Remove Ban on School Vouchers 
Group takes first steps toward constitutional amendment  (temporarily unavailable) The Massachusetts News 

Rival Teacher Union Proposes Training Changes in Massachusetts 
Cellucci welcomes union plan to change teacher certification requirements 
State House News Service 

"School Choice":  The Civil Rights  
Issue of the 90s, Says Alveda King  
Niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., promotes school choice, sanctity of life, and color-blindness at Massachusetts Family Institute 
The Massachusetts News 

Massachusetts Board of Education Reviews Bilingual Education 
Proposal would give local communities control over programs for non-English speakers 
Boston Herald 

Unions: Teachers are Cheating Because of Test Related Pressure 
Officials say that as importance of testing increases, so will teacher cheating 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Lawrence Teacher Cheats on Iowa Reading Tests 
Officials are forced to ask tha results of test be thrown out, because third graders received unfair help 
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 

Teacher Union May Be Weakened By New Proposal 
"Two strike" proposal will hold teachers more accountable 
Springfield Union-News 

Recertification Protest Ends Teacher's Career 
Boxboro resident will not be rehired because he refuses to follow Ed Reform Acts mandate 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

Teacher Says Education Reform Act Is Unconstitutional 
New Bedford teacher says recertification requirements deprive him of contractual rights 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

New Teachers Improve on Latest Test 
Education Commissioner:  57 percent passing rate is good news 
New Bedford Standard-Times 

Feds Want to Control Access to Teaching Profession 
Education Secretary announces national licensing plan, teacher union applauds 
USA Today 

Teacher Union:  Give Us More 
MTA condemns teacher-testing proposal; demands smaller classes, new programs and buildings 
State House News Service 

Schools Have Growing Need for "Adjustment Counselors" 
American International College begins degree program to supply social workers in schools 
Springfield Union-News 
 

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