http://challengewv.org Challenge West Virginia is a statewide organization of parents, educators and other West Virginians committed to maintaining and improving small community schools. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:39:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Talkline Host Hoppy Kercheval West Virginia spends about $3.5 billion (state and federal dollars) on public education every year. That’s a lot of money, especially considering the state's small size. In fact, West Virginia ranks 8th in education spending relative to income. But West Virginia students rank below the ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/wv-public-education-needs-an-overhaul/ By Sean Cavanagh As states seek to pare down spending, a new report warns elected officials against rushing into one popular strategy for cutting costs: school and district consolidation. The report, based on review of available research, argues that claims about potential financial savings through consolidation are often exaggerated and misunderstood. The ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/go-slow-on-school-and-district-consolidation-report-says/ “I applaud the groundbreaking educational public-private partnership in McDowell County, West Virginia that the American Federation of Teachers has helped launch. This public-private partnership is helping to show communities across the nation—especially poor, rural communities—the way forward. It is helping to show all of America what we need to do ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/statement-by-us-education-secretary-duncan-on-the-formation-of-the-reconnecting-mcdowell-partnership-in-west-virginia/ by The Washington Post McDOWELL COUNTY - The American Federation of Teachers, vilified by critics as an obstacle to school reform, is leading an unusual effort to turn around a floundering school system in a place where deprivation is layered on heartache. The AFT, which typically represents teachers in urban settings, wants ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/union-moves-to-lift-mcdowell-county-schools-out-of-poverty/ CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Board of Education is set to consider revisions to an anti-bullying policy in schools that would address sexual orientation and gender identity. The board is scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon in Charleston. The proposal would blend five separate policies on student behavior and safe schools into ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/wva-school-board-to-address-bullying-policy/ As many as 150 rural post offices in West Virginia being considered for closure by the United States Postal Service will be open for at least six more months, the postal service announced Tuesday. USPS officials have been considering closing rural post offices and consolidating mail processing centers around the nation ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/rural-postal-closures-put-on-hold/ By Amy Julia Harris CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Members of the state School Building Authority awarded Putnam County on Monday with a $1 million grant -- and also approved a $1.5 million bond -- that will allow the county to build seven new classrooms, restrooms and a sprinkler system at Conner Street ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/eleven-counties-receive-sba-funds-for-school-repairs/ By The Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new report says West Virginia's efforts to address homeless children are inadequate. The America's Youngest Outcasts 2010 report released today by the National Center on Family Homelessness ranks West Virginia's state policy and planning 28th among the states. While West Virginia has a state housing ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/report-ranks-state-34th-for-homeless-children/ by The Associated Press BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. -- Two Cabell County elementary schools are experimenting with single-gender classrooms to determine whether boys and girls can learn better without distractions. Barboursville Middle School Principal Jerry Lake got permission from the county and support from sixth-grade teachers to test the concept at his school this ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/two-cabell-schools-try-out-single-gender-classrooms/ School size is a critical factor in determining educational outcomes. Research links small school size with higher levels of achievement and cost effectiveness. Small size also makes other school improvements more effective. Many urban systems have recently improved education for all students by breaking large schools into smaller units. Small ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/school-size-research-based-conclusions/