An abbreviated, Thursday edition of the Snippets this week
as I am going to spend the whole weekend refinishing my hardwood
floors.


A report on NCLB that showed some closing the the achievement gap made a lot of headlines this week. CEP's website where you can download the report.



4th Circuit: School's don't need to grant access
to e-mail & Website to outside advocates seeking to present both
sides of an issue, even when the school takes a position on an
education policy. Page v. Lexington Co. School Dist.  -- Mark Walsh.



The lead content in artificial turf fields (present at some schools) may be too high.



Pennsylvania has become ground zero in the fight over evolution. The latest salvo: Philadelphia academic institutions are now holding a Year of Evolution to celebrate Charles Darwin's 200th birthday.



The Arizona Republic, perhaps trying to do Mr. McCain a favor (since he doesn't really have an education policy at all), does a bit of a Q and A on what each candidate would mean for education.



Around the blogosphere:



Mark Walsh has the Supreme's decision to limit the death penalty in child rape cases and how it tangentially relates to schools.



Mark also has a post with a ton of links on the rehearing of the California homeschooling case.



Jen Weissman profiles the Gov. of Mass. on education.



Charles Fox puts together an impressive week: Schools using shock treatment on special ed. kids. Call for action on ADA bill. And a good lesson on how NOT to word a report.



Jim Gerl redirects us to a defense of hearing officers, which has photo evidence. Compared to mine, Jim keeps a pretty clean desk.



Mitchell Rubinstein finds the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure apply in IDEA cases
as well. Mitchell is totally right also: The person that suffers when
these claims are thrown out on procedural grounds is the student. Also,
NLRB is putting cases online.



Carolyn Dugas has info on Connecticut's updated anti-bullying law.



And for your Friday Fun: Virgin Galactic. In a couple years, they are going to be making regular trips to space. For only $200,000 you can book your flight now.
Assuming that none of you will be booking your flight, you can at least
enjoy the photos as construction seems to be progressing nicely.





Google Document Link - Friday Snippets: 06/27/08