Behind LA's dramatic decline in gang violence

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/24/gang-violence-decline_n_6656840.html?cps=gravity_2659_7317138142693194709

Ann Brenoff

The Huffington Post

24 February 2015

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In the past, Los Angeles was a dangerous city fraught with gang wars. Lately, though, LA has become a safer city due to six changes enforced by the police cracking down on public violence and gangs.

A By-the-E-Book Education, for $5 a Month

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/a-by-the-e-book-education-for-5-a-month

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

22 May 2013

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For-profit companies are making good private schools available even to Africa’s poor. They can do it – and can do it on an enormous scale – by hiring neighborhood residents to teach, and scripting out every word of every lesson on an e-reader.

Big Ideas in Social Change, 2014

https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/12/11/big-ideas-in-social-change-2014

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

11 December 2014

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A overview of 2014's Fixes columns - connecting the dots between 60 or so ways that people are trying to change the world.

Coming Together to Give Schools a Boost

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/coming-together-to-give-schools-a-boost

David Bornstein

The New York Times

7 March 2011

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A 2006 report noted that Ohio and Kentucky were lagging behind other states in college attainment rates - community leaders were concerned about remaining competitive in a global economy. A group of leaders in the Cincinnati area are improving school systems by using data for progress, not punishment.

Does class size matter? Research reveals surprises

http://seattletimes.com/html/education/2024894748_edlabsmallclassesxml.html

John Higgins

The Seattle Times

28 October 2014

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Research in the U.S. suggests that a small class size is not enough but in combination with teacher training it leads to a change in achievement.

Empathy, not Expulsion, for Preschoolers at Risk

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/empathy-not-expulsion-for-preschoolers-at-risk

Sara Neufeld

The New York Times

20 February 2015

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Preschoolers in the U.S. who misbehave are increasingly being expelled. In Connecticut, trained counselors educated teachers about how to deal with emotionally traumatized kids which reduced expulsions.

Fighting Bullying With Babies

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/fighting-bullying-with-babies

David Bornstein

The New York Times

8 November 2010

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The Canadian federal government has identified bullying as a national problem. Roots of Empathy, based in Toronto, encourages empathy in elementary kids by having them interact with babies.

Education lessons from Maine, New Hampshire

https://digital.vpr.net/post/education-lessons-maine-new-hampshire

Jane Lindholm

Patti Daniels

Vermont Public Radio

7 April 2015

Radio / Over 15 Minutes

As Vermont struggles to create legislation regulating school district management and financial efficiency, the state looks to models in Maine and New Hampshire for guidance. In Maine, school districts have tried to save money and resources through consolidation; in New Hampshire, officials have reworked the way schooling is financed altogether.

A Fla. District Leads in Violence Prevention

http://www.pulitzer.org/files/2012/public_service/assault09.pdf

Kristen A. Graham

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network)

1 April 2011

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Palm Beach County, Florida has many of the same social problems that Philadelphia has, including “gangs, drugs, and poverty.” However, their school system has managed to keep students safe by employing “safe-school case managers” who build relationships with students, and they offer a youth court that is a system run by students who peer-review cases of unrest. The initiatives in this county has prevented school violence from happening without metal detectors and just two police officers.

Charter school takeovers: As York schools near privatization, lessons from New Orleans and Michigan

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/01/busted_unions_and_broken_promi.html

Daniel Simmons-Ritchie

PennLive

12 January 2015

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York schools are considering changing public schools into charter schools, following the example of New Orleans and Michigan, in order to help their crumbling school system. The privatization of these schools can help the facilities become more financially stable, in turn preventing school closures and instability for their students.