Paul Katula

President Obama's White House issued a report last weekend, pointing out that teachers are losing their jobs, early childhood programs are being cut, and school days and years are being shortened across the country. He blames the economy, but says it would be worse under the Republican budget recently approved in the House.

Hispanic students are more numerous on college campuses and in the nation's public schools, a Pew Hispanic Center report says. In addition, more Hispanic young adults report that they have finished high school than ever before.

Illinois students in the graduating Class of 2012 scored higher on the ACT than students in any of the nine states that mandate the ACT for all high school graduates.

The finalists for Maryland Teacher of the Year were announced today. Here they are!

A national leadership organization for secondary students announced several winners from Illinois and Maryland at a recent conference in San Antonio. Congratulations to these hard-working students. Check out the organization.

Back-to-school spending was expected to increase this year, following a 2-year decline. Some families in Anne Arundel County, Md., came to an expo at which school supplies were given away for free to students whose families were unable to purchase all the needed supplies.