AM News: What Next For NCLB - And RTTT?

Several states quick to opt for No Child waivers Stateline: Connecticut, Oregon, New Mexico and Wisconsin immediately said they would seek waivers from key requirements of the No Child Left Behind law. 

Will Arne Duncan's Education Reforms Get Left Behind? HuffED:  As with other programs for which Duncan is known, funding for [RTTT] won't automatically be replenished. 

Obama Turns Some Education Powers Back to States NYT:  With his declaration that he would waive the most contentious provisions of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law, President Obama rerouted a decade of federal influence.

Idaho Says No to Next Round of Race to Top EdWeek:Tom Luna, the state's superintendent of public instruction, is recommending that the state not apply for the competition. 

Thousands entering Calif. schools witout vaccines AP: Last year's class of California kindergartners had a record high percentage of parents who used a personal belief exemption to avoid immunization requirements, a development that concerns state health officials.

Mexican teachers push back against gangs' extortion attempts NYT: Extortion is a booming industry in Mexico, and teachers in Acapulco, who are receiving anonymous threats to either pay up or be killed, are protesting in large numbers.

MORE NEWS BELOW - SEE ALSO "WEEKEND READING"

Sesame Street now brought to you by S-T-E-M USA Today: In a bid to give young viewers a leg up in math and science, the producers of Sesame Street this fall want to help.

Mass. test scores stuck in stubborn income gap Boston Globe: Educators have made only modest gains in narrowing the gulf in achievement between low-income students and those who are better off, despite aggressive reform efforts aimed at giving underprivileged children better educations.

L.A. Archdiocese hopes to raise $100 million for Catholic schools L.A. Times: The initiative, headed by former L.A. mayor Richard Riordan, will ask supporters to make provisions in their trusts or wills for the Catholic Education Foundation.

Soros Group to Give Millions for Debating Programs International Herald Tribune: The Open Society Foundation, which is making a $20 million offer and is financed by George Soros, said it hoped to help students develop public speaking skills and to engage them in policy issues.

Mo. Lawmakers Reject Teacher Facebook Restrictions USAToday: Part of a new law prohibited teachers from chatting privately with students over Internet sites such as Facebook. A court issued a preliminary injunction shortly before it was to take hold, saying it would have a "chilling effect" on free speech.