It’s hailed by some as a way to cut California’s 18 percent dropout rate, and condemned by others as the beginning of a two-tier education system that will limit poor students’ futures and decimate art, music and foreign-language studies, the Mercury News reports. A new law that enacts a seemingly small change, allowing students to count one vocational class as credit toward graduation, has both supporters and detractors predicting a major shift in high school education. Backers depict AB 1330 as a start toward teaching students job-market skills, through courses such as keyboarding, medical assisting and metal shop. The law goes into effect for the 2012-13 school year…
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Five characteristics of an effective 21st-century educator

Today’s educators are constantly evaluating the skills students need to compete in the global economy. But what are the characteristics or skills needed to be an effective 21st-century educator?
We recently asked readers: “What are the qualities of an effective 21st-century educator?” Here are our readers’ top responses.
You might have heard that an effective 21st-century educator should be a “guide on the side,” not a “sage on the stage,” but according to readers, there’s much more to it than that.…Read More