The Economist – Staff Writer

“Rômulo Paes de Sousa, the executive secretary of Brazil’s social-development ministry, talks about “old” and “new” poverty—old being lack of food and basic services; new being drug addiction, violence, family breakdown and environmental degradation. These “new” problems are more complex. Where they are being overcome, it is taking the combined efforts of the police (to reclaim the streets), new shops and commerce (to make life more bearable), Pentecostal churches (which give people hope)—and Bolsa Família.”(more)

USA Today – Jayne O’Donnell and Jillian Berman

“College students will be able to shop around more for deals on textbooks, thanks to a new law that took effect this month.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act requires colleges to release required book lists at the time of class registration. Publishers must disclose prices and revision information to schools.”(more)

The Tennessean – Jaime Sarrio

“About half of Tennessee’s public school students failed to meet state academic standards this year, the result of a more rigorous curriculum, harder exams and tougher grading. The dismal results didn’t come as a surprise to state leaders, who for years have said that Tennessee schools are too easy and that the state does not accurately report academic performance.”(more)

The New Vision (All Africa) – Conan Businge

“The Government is to recruit 9,549 primary school teachers to cover almost all districts in the country.”(more)

The Des Moines Register – Staci Hupp

“Iowa schools will move from local to national standards for what students should master in math and English within two years. Members of the State Board of Education adopted the new national standards Thursday in place of the Iowa Core Curriculum in those subjects. “We want our Iowa students best prepared for a global world,” said Rosie Hussey of Clear Lake, the education board’s president. “We need to move forward.”"(more)

The Examiner – Peter McBride

“While explaining the essential points of his Race to the Top program, the President added “…..there’s going to be one more ingredient to really make a difference: parents are going to have to get more involved in their children’s education.””(more)

The Miami Herald – Kathleen McGrory

““This would be a tremendous infusion of resources into our schools at a time when budgets are tight,” Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday. “It would benefit Florida’s students and teachers in a substantial way.””(more)

China Daily – Staff Writer

“China published in full the country’s national education plan for the next decade Thursday, pledging to shape a learning society and turn China into a country rich in talent by 2020.”(more)

The Australian – John Carroll

“This television production has a far truer understanding of education than many who plan in government departments of education, or engineer new teaching models in schools and universities. It understands the potential in individuals, and how to cultivate it.”(more)

The Wall Street Journal – Aaron Rutkoff

“It’s been one day since New York state raised its standards for proficiency in reading and math, reversing years of evident progress for New York City students on standardized tests. Response to the news from education observers and pundits has been pretty grim.”(more)