UPDATE, 12:02 p.m.: Philly Schools Chief Arlene Ackerman will be paid $905,000 to walk away from her job, according to the Inquirer. 

E-Learning Expands for Special-Needs Students (Education Week – August 22)

The Education Department is putting $1.5 million into a Center on Online Learning and Students With Disabilities.

Why Parents Should Leave Their Kids Alone at College (The Answer Sheet – August 22)

Parents get mixed signals about what role they should take in their child’s college experience, but psychology professor Laurie L. Hazard warns that parental over-involvement can prolong childhood.  

Americans Split on Key Educational Issues (U.S. News & World Report – August 22)

Up for debate: Which careers should talented high school students pursue, how much should we invest in classroom technology, and what role should teachers unions play? The American public is split over these questions, according to a recent release by Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll.

Review of Census Data Reveals Information Tied to Schools (New York Times – August 19)

The Census Bureau is adding up back-to-school figures, from $7 million spent on school clothes to an estimated 55 million students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through high school this fall.

Census: Parents Reading More with Their Children (Education Week – August 19)

The Census Bureau found that parents today are more involved with their young children compared to a decade ago. Research has shown that family "quality time" can improve children’s academic careers.

PHILADELPHIA: Arlene Ackerman is out as Philly Superintendent (Inquirer - August 22) 

Ackerman's departure as schools chief has been rumored for months, but an official announcement will reportedly be made around 11:30 a.m. EST today. The school district will pay about $500,000 to buy out her contract, which runs through 2014. 

CALIFORNIA: The Tarnished State of California’s Golden College System (TIME – August 22)

The "Master Plan" for California's three higher-education systems – the University of California, California State University and the community colleges – once ensured a spot at a university for all qualified students. But now, years of budget cuts are making it difficult for the system to keep up with a growing population and increased demand for skilled workers.

CALIFORNIA:  Chocolate Milk? Not in the Schools (Los Angeles Times – August 21)

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is scheduled to vote this week on whether or not to eliminate sugared milk from school lunches. 

SOUTH DAKOTA: South Dakota School Districts Eliminate Friday Classes to Save Money (Huffington Post/AP – August 21)

As school aid is slashed, several rural school districts have adopted a four-day school week to reduce costs.

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