AM News: Obama's Late-September Schools Speech

Obama Delivers Back-To-School Speech NPR: President Obama delivered his annual back-to-school speech at Benjamin Banneker High School, one of Washington, D.C.'s top performing schools. 

Duncan Offers Short-Term NCLB Relief for Waiver Seekers EdWeek:  In a webinar for states on Tuesday, officials said that states can request to hold this school year's proficiency targets steady at last year's levels.  PLUS: Roadmap to Winning an NCLB Waiver

Rick Perry Apologizes For 'Over-Passionate' Comment: During the Fox News/Google GOP primary debate in Orlando, Fla. last week, Perry said, "If you say that we should not educate children who have come into our state for no other reason than they’ve been brought there by no fault of their own, I don’t think you have a heart." 

Students Arrested In SAT Cheating Case In N.Y. NPR: At issue is whether one of them, a 19-year-old college student, took the exams for the others in exchange for payments of up to $2,500. 

Teachers and Students Mark Banned Websites Awareness Day NYT: Students, teachers and librarians across the United States are questioning whether schools should block Web sites. 

Some teachers make house calls MSNBC: Many teachers and principals are voluntarily making house calls, claiming it’s making a huge difference in their students’ grades.  

MORE NEWS ITEMS BELOW

Chicago to lengthen school days in 2012 MSNBC: Mayor Rahm Emanuel explains why some Chicago elementary schools will add an extra 90 minutes to their days.

2 adults dead in murder-suicide at Calif. school AP: An apparent murder-suicide that left a man and a woman dead forced the lockdown of a Southern California high school on Wednesday, authorities said. No students were injured. 

Teachers Paid Less in Higher-Minority Schools EdWeek: In many ethnically diverse school districts across the country, teachers in schools that serve the top quintile of African-American and Latino students are paid significantly less—approximately $2,500 per year—than the average teacher in such districts.