Special education students are facing even more significant problems than the busing issues  that continue to keep them spending almost as many hours en-routeto school as in the classroom. Despite such snafus, the Times editorial board endorsed the reinstatement of mayoral control, only with the changes recommended last week by the Public Advocate's commission of experts. Meanwhile--as the future of mayoral control hangs in the balance--a  former New York City chancellor is being fired from his new job, and the DOE is investing a million dollars in its own think tank, hoping that the schools can teach each other a lesson. Several NYC lessons have leaked down south where schools in Washington D.C., called the "worst" in the country by Education Week, have seen significant changes with Klein-protege Michelle Rhee at the helm. 

Obama laid out his education plan and the Times analyzed McCain's school policies while advertisements (mis)claiming that Obama wanted to teach sex ed. to kindergarteners hit the airways. The good news: Education issues have suddenly moved to the forefront of the national race. Kindergartners in New York may not have sex ed. class, but many of them will have the Big Kid experience of sitting for standardized tests this year--principals have gone gaga over the proposal. And on Tuesday, the Post ran a glowing profile of PS 8 principal Seth Phillips, just two days before the news broke that his school would receive an F on its report card this year. 

New York students who want to learn about international politics can no longer visit the United Nations on a field trip--at least until the mayor feels confident that they won't be in immediate danger while on international property.  A more likely menace, however, rears its very ugly face on the pages of the Daily News, as well as in classrooms and on heads across the city.