From The Philadelphia Inquirer: The Archdiocese of Philadelphia plans to close four Catholic high schools, and 44 elementary schools will be closed or partnered with other schools. West Catholic, St. Hubert, Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast in Drexel Hill and Conwell-Egan in Fairless Hills will be shuttered in June. The news came as members of a 16-member commission presented the recommendations from their yearlong study of Catholic education. Video statement from Archbishop Charles J. Chaput (You Tube) EARLIER…March 2011: Philadelphia Archdiocese says it will close seven schools at the end of 2010-11 school year. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
SACRAMENTO — Over the objections of angry college students and worried faculty members, California community college leaders voted Monday to support a systemwide overhaul that could end many free classes for older adults and squeeze out students who fail to move quickly through the system.
The 22 recommendations approved by the college system’s Board of Governors are intended to address a devilish problem: Essential classes are in critically short supply and thousands of students are turned away from classes they need because of the state’s economic crisis.
Board member Peter MacDougall, chairman of the Student Success Task Force that drew up the recommendations over the last year, said colleges can no longer afford to put out the welcome mat they have offered for generations.
“As wonderful as having open admission is, if it’s a false promise, it fails,” he said.
Under the new plan, all students will be expected to set up an education plan to move quickly toward an associate’s degree or vocational certificate.
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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — When it comes to area colleges and universities, 2012 may never match the drama and the chaos of 2011.
For some schools, that’s probably not a bad thing.
Between the five major colleges and universities in the Huntsville area, all had significant story lines in 2011 that continue into 2012.
In fact, 2011 was so tumultuous that Alabama A&M President Andrew Hugine felt compelled to say in an interview with The Times last month, “Despite what has happened, we are still standing.”
As the school gained reassuring, albeit not official, closure on the SACS inquiry last month, Hugine discussed the future at Alabama A&M without that relentless specter casting an unwavering shadow.
“One of the things about challenges — you learn from them and they make you better because they cause you to dig deep and pull something out you don’t even know is there,” Hugine said.
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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Charleston County school leaders want students in special education classes to be able to receive high school diplomas, but right now that can’t happen.
The Post and Courier of Charleston reports that South Carolina currently lacks an alternative diploma for students with special needs.
County school leaders are now working to change that.
Charleston educators have discussed the issue with local lawmakers, and they plan to make a formal proposal for changes after the winter break.
They also want to see a greater range of testing options for students with disabilities. Most special needs students currently take the same tests as other students, and advocates say that’s not a good measure of their progress.
Students with disabilities make up nearly 10 percent of Charleston County’s student enrollment.