Struggling Schools Get Fewer Resources (Urban Education)

The big story this week -- not just for California -- has to be the Education Trust West's timely report on pay gaps between schools in the same districts: Study finds big gap in teachers' salaries (Pasadena Star), Teachers paid less at poorest schools (The (San Jose) Mercury News), and Teacher pay gap debate fueled (Sacramento Bee).

The findings, which show how school budgeting systems favor better-off schools, could play a part in promoting c changes in how students are paid: Study could trigger meaningful talk on teacher pay (Sacto Bee). For some, that means merit pay: Pair Merit Pay, School Choice (Cato Institute), Teacher-Pay Plan in Denver Gets Foundation Boost. But the big story here is inequities among schools -- not necessarily related to merit pay.

Best of the Rest:

District may offer 4-year-old kindergarten Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
San Diego's academic juggernaut is on a roll
Bersin Paints Gloomy Picture For Public Education Voices of San Diego
R.I. State Commissioner Imposes Plan of Action on Providence School
Philadelphia Lands Grant for Principal-Training Effort EW
From Street Punk to Principal Philadelphia Inquirer
District chief urges Edison's departure Philadelphia Inquirer
Students, officials lament court ruling on school funding Boston Herald
Change Is Promised in Houston New York Times
Report Takes Aim at First Year of D.C. Voucher Program EW
Almost a quarter of D.C. students were truant Washington Times
Is city mulling a takeover of public schools? Seattle Post-Intelligencer
A Teachers Union for 2005 Los Angeles Times
Has NEA Reversed Its Membership Fortunes? EIA