Does merit pay really increase teacher rentention?

educationviews.org

In an effort to keep teachers in classrooms longer especially in hard-to staff schools, many districts across the country are experimenting with incentive programs. But does offering teachers more money make them less likely to leave the profession? 

United States University: Latinos serving Latinos

Spotlight: Your Educational Opportunities

by Adriana Villavicencio

Photo: United States University

According to the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center, only 19.2 percent of Latinos have a college degree, less than half the national average of 41 percent.

There are many factors contributing to this, including language barriers, occupation and family responsibilities, and perhaps the most daunting: rising tuition costs. However, there are credible, affordable options to make higher education more accessible for traditionally under-served communities of students, including Latino students.

The state of our community 2012

by Hector Luis Alamo, Jr.

According to TV’s political analysts, President Obama’s State of the Union address was the one of the most impassioned, lackluster, articulate and deceptive speeches the nation has seen in at least a decade. Depending on which news channel you watch at home or which radio station you listen to on the way to work, the President’s speech either exceeded all expectations or fell completely flat.

What it takes to get into college

For many students, dreams of college never become a reality. Sometimes, even when they are able to get the right grades and test scores to gain admission, they aren’t able to make it to graduation.

Digital DNA to prevent cheating on the SAT exam

Photo: Stony Brook University

Names on a page. That’s all students are when they take the SAT and ACT tests. Depending on the name, you won’t be able to tell if the student is supposed to be a boy or a girl, or even what they look like. This was one of the reasons that some students were able to pay others up to $3,600 to take the test for them.

“A moverse” to combat childhood obesity

Photo EFE

Over the years, the rise in childhood obesity has been an issue that many have spoken out against. The lack of nutrition in school lunches and the fact that some school have gotten rid of recess, haven’t necessarily helped the matter.

Beware of shiny objects: How not to fill the Latino leadership void

by Nick Baez

Some of you may recall an alarming study conducted a little over a year ago by the Pew Hispanic Center, in which Latinos were asked a simple question: “name the person who you consider to be the most important Latino leader in the country today.”

A whopping 64 percent of respondents answered “I don’t know.” These findings support a growing line of research that suggests the current U.S. Latino community is experiencing a leadership void on a national level. 

Finding a good school requires homework

Homework is not just for your children. Before they can step into the building that will be their place of learning for at least four years, it is important that you know what options you have. This means researching potential schools and their credentials, attending open houses and information sessions, and speaking with currently enrolled students and parents, if possible. And this is just to get your student into high school.

Apple won’t be taking over education just yet

On January 19, Apple announced it’s new iPad textbook experience and iBooks authoring tool. Continuing the digitization of books, these new additions to the ever-growing Apple experience are sure to change the way students interact in the classroom, how teachers present materials, and cut the costs of textbooks.

Saying ‘no’ to Oxford

It is the time of the year for early decisions from colleges. The SAT scores are in and checks have been written by beleaguered parents, for all those college applications. We all hope that our children will not go too far from home but we put on a brave face as we drive – or fly – to visit college campuses. We hope and pray that the financial aid packages will match the hope that we see in our children’s eyes.