Education - Las Vegas Sun

Fee hikes may become too steep to endure: HIGHER EDUCATION: Top-notch candidates would be priced out of grad school by another increase, some worry; By Charlotte Hsu; From developing photovoltaic cells to interviewing witnesses of atomic blasts at the Nevada Test Site, graduate students play a key role in research at UNLV.

Henderson students discuss controversial issues during event: By Frances Vanderploeg; Students from Henderson took advantage of the annual Sun Youth Forum to weigh in on the potential budget cuts in the Clark County School District, which could amount to $120 million per year cut from the budget for 2009-2011.

Help students read between the lines to expand vocabulary: A Teacher's View:; Cathy Estes; Numerous studies have shown that children with a good vocabulary will perform better in reading comprehension and can read with much better fluency and expression than their counterparts.

High school students discuss controversial issues during event: By Frances Vanderploeg; The Sun Youth Forum Nov. 25 changed the way Hillary Williams thinks about school. She went from an attitude of "school is school" to realizing the importance of athletic achievement versus academic achievement, she said.

Henderson education in brief: By Home News Staff; News briefs from Henderson area schools.

District: Public wants after-school activities, sports saved from cuts: Block scheduling, modified sports schedules and staff reductions possible; Wednesday, December 3, 2008; By Emily Richmond; Extra-curricular activities and sports were at the top of the list of programs the public says should be protected from the next round of school budget cuts, according to a district presentation Wednesday.

School boundaries to be shuffled to ease crowding: EDUCATION:; Wednesday, December 3, 2008; By Frances Vanderploeg; A Clark County School District panel agreed Tuesday to move forward with two proposals that would move up to 450 students from Palo Verde High School to Bonanza High School beginning next school year.

Accused teachers can be shed after all: SCHOOLS: First test of option involves educators allegedly involved with drugs, porn, sex crimes; Tuesday, December 2, 2008; By Emily Richmond; For years, Nevada’s education officials have waited until teachers accused of wrongdoing were convicted before suspending or revoking their licenses. It now appears they could have taken immediate action all along.

Scheming to achieve high school’s highest honor?: LOOKING IN ON: EDUCATION: Students say some pick and choose easiest class schedule to earn valedictorian status; Monday, December 1, 2008; By Emily Richmond; A sore spot for some of the Clark County School District’s hardest-working students is the formula used to declare the class valedictorian — or, more accurately, the multiple valedictorians who share what was once a solo honor.

Nevada’s rate of default on college loans among highest in the nation: HIGHER EDUCATION:; Sunday, November 30, 2008; By Charlotte Hsu; The latest numbers from the federal government show Nevadans who began repaying federal student loans in fiscal 2005-06 defaulting at higher rates than borrowers in 45 other states.

Graduates' burden: Student-loan payments: HIGHER EDUCATION: Debt accrued over years of study often surprises, and straps, borrowers; Sunday, November 30, 2008; By Charlotte Hsu; “Why would they give some kid $60,000? What gave me the privileges to take out loans like that?” These are the questions Eric Jones, 24, has been asking, to no one in particular, since he graduated two years ago from The Art Institute of Las Vegas with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design — and a heap of debt. A graphic artist for a national firm headquartered in Las Vegas, Jones earns about $33,000 a year before taxes. His monthly student loan payments total more than $700.

To test out of high school class, one standard: looking in on: carson city:; Saturday, November 29, 2008; By Cy Ryan; State Education Department officials are preparing to set the bar at 70 percent for high school students who test to earn credits.

Packed with care, gift boxes for troops hold spirit of holidays: Holidays:; Thursday, November 27, 2008; Bob Miller Middle School students filled row after row of white cardboard boxes. The 220 packages, en route to military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, will arrive in time for the holidays.

Summerlin education in brief: Thursday, November 27, 2008; By Home News Staff; News briefs from Summerlin area schools.

Prescription drug crisis dribbles into public schools: Wednesday, November 26, 2008; By Jeff Pope; Prescription drug abuse could be the next illicit drug menace for teens in the Las Vegas Valley, Clark County School District Police say.

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