Teacher professional development is a chief concern of states, districts, and schools in the wake of high-stakes accountability measures such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The goals and practices of professional development are often disconnected, and this misalignment affects art teachers in unique ways. Art teachers are often "left…

When Corbell Elementary opened its doors in 2006 in Frisco, Texas, its newly formed PTA faced the challenge of implementing a productive fundraiser to get the school off to a great start. The new board chose to focus its efforts on a single fundraiser, rather than a series of smaller ones. They wanted to avoid having the children selling any kind…

Despite the importance of educational journals to teachers and other educational professionals, little attention has been given to educational communication or journalism, particularly those published by a minority teachers' state or local association. This study examines the "Texas Standard," which, beginning in 1926, provided…

"Education Matters" is the monthly newsletter of the Association of American Educators (AAE), an organization dedicated to advancing the American teaching profession through personal growth, professional development, teacher advocacy and protection. This issue of the newsletter includes: (1) Notes from the Front Lines: Study Reveals…

Parent involvement is widely acknowledged as a central component in both overall school success and the academic success of individual children. Recognizing this, the federal No Child Left Behind Act mandates that states, districts and schools make extraordinary efforts to enhance effective parent involvement. Now, more than six years after the…

The Texas legislation requiring testing of teachers holding "life" credentials is reviewed. The reactions of teachers groups to the Texas Examination of Current Administrators and Teachers (TECAT) and to the Governor's support for testing are described. (Author/MT)

Lack of respect for teacher preparation programs is pervasive. Various education associations' recommendations have spawned three kinds of policy activity: state limitations on teacher preparation programs, alternative certification programs, and increased local school district authority for continuing teacher development and recertification.…

A study summarized the voting patterns to form a political profile of Texas teachers. A questionnaire was sent to 500 teachers who were members of the Texas State Teachers Association in 1983. General information was collected on nineteen characteristics of teachers, including such categories as sex, marital status, place of birth, place of…

Published by the Texas Junior College Teachers Association (TJCTA), this newsletter reviews events affecting Texas' community junior colleges and their faculty, chronicles the efforts and activities of the TJCTA, and provides a forum for discourse on topics in community college education. This document consists of all 25 newsletter issues…

In response to a survey questionnaire, 278 elementary school teachers and secondary school mathematics, science, and social studies teachers in Texas expressed opinions that the teaching of problem solving is important and that it can be taught successfully. While most of the teachers reported that teaching of problem solving was not encouraged in…

Examines administrator attitudes toward faculty collective bargaining as determined by a survey of the presidents, chancellors, and chief executive officers of the community and junior colleges in Texas. Analyzes personal and institutional factors related to collective bargaining formalization. (JP)

Two statewide surveys of Texas public school teachers who were members of the Texas State Teachers Association were conducted in l980 and in 1982. The 1980 survey, with 291 respondents, revealed that many teachers were considering leaving teaching. Of these, almost half cited low salaries as the chief reason. The survey also revealed that holding…

Published four times a year by the Texas Community College Teachers Association (TCCTA), formerly known as the Texas Junior College Teachers Association (TJCTA), this newsletter discusses events affecting Texas community colleges and their faculty, chronicles the efforts and activities of the TCCTA, and provides a forum for discussion of topics…

This compilation of reprinted journal and newspaper articles covers the following topics: (1) The Front Lines; (2) Federal Policy; (3) Charter Schools; (4) School Choice; (5) Standards, Tests, and Accountability; (6) Teacher Quality; (7) Curriculum and Content; (8) Higher Education; and (9) Grab Bag. Each section is preceded by commentaries on…

A recent Fifth United States Circuit Court of Appeals decision stipulates that a school board may regulate "employe expression" only in rare circumstances--to prevent, for example, serious disruption of school activities--and only where the board has allowed for a timely review of the superintendent's decisions about distributing…