Mom Congress: Education News Roundup

Check out the latest education-related news from around the web -- then be sure to sign the Mom Congress petition to fix No Child Left Behind.

Fast-food standards for meat top those for school lunches (USA Today, 12/9/09)

In the past three years, the government has provided the nation's schools with millions of pounds of beef and chicken that wouldn't meet the quality or safety standards of many fast-food restaurants, a USA TODAY investigation found.

How to Choose a Charter School (U.S. News & World Report, 12/9/09)

Parents seeking options when it comes to educating children without the cost of private school will find good news in the charter school movement. And with the Obama administration's commitment of $4.35 billion to the Race to the Top program, which will reward states for embracing school reform, they can expect even more charters and choices.

Missouri middle school plans no-homework policy (STLtoday.com/Associated Press, 12/14/09)

The goal is to reduce the amount of lecture time in class and increase the amount of hands-on instruction time. That way, students will do what used to be homework in class with the teacher there to help them.

Kids can't read? Hundreds want to help (Detroit Free Press, 12/14/09)

In the wake of last week's release of the National Assessment of Educational Progress math test, Detroit Public Schools are recruiting volunteers for 100,000 service hours to help teach children to read. Detroit's fourth- and eighth-graders scored worse than any U.S. city in the 40-year history of the test.

How the iPhone Could Reboot Education (Wired, 12/8/09)

How do you educate a generation of students eternally distracted by the internet, cell phones and video games? You enable them by handing out free iPhones — and then integrating the gadget into your curriculum.