catalyst-chicago.org

While policymakers and recently proposed federal legislation promote expanded learning time as a strategy for school turnaround, some worry that it may be gaining steam too rapidly as a fix for schools that lack the know-how, resources, or research to implement it effectively, Education Week reports.

An important cross-country qualifying meet for Chicago elementary school students was thrown into chaos late Friday afternoon when the top race official failed to show up — because he had been laid off earlier that day, the Tribune reported over the weekend. CPS officials declined to say how many people were laid off Friday and declined further comment.

A mathematical error may mean that more than 3,000 retired Chicago teachers are being overpaid in their pension checks each month. The past and estimated future possible overpayments exceed $90 million. (Chicago News Cooperative)

IN THE STATE

A Tweeting and blogging educator from Naperville was named Illinois Teacher of the Year Saturday night. Josh Stumpenhorst, who teaches language arts and social science to sixth grade students at Lincoln Junior High School, got the nod over eight other finalists and nearly 200 nominees. The nine-year veteran credited his teaching blog, which he said gets about 10,000 hits a month, and his Twitter account with more than 4,000 followers for the recognition. Stumpenhorst wants to open up his classroom to the outside. (Tribune)

Northwest Suburban High School District 214 is making academic handbook and curriculum changes that will lead to some new courses for the 2012-2013 school year. (Daily Herald)

IN THE NATION

While schools nationwide have rushed to supply their classrooms with computers, the Waldorf School of the Peninsula in Los Altos, Calif., has a no-screen policy. Yet it has become a popular choice for children of employees who work at Silicon Valley giants like Google, Apple and Yahoo. (The New York Times)

An investigation by Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that Atlanta high schools broke rules to meet performance standards. Administrators falsified attendance records and weeded out low-performing students.

The University of Michigan Monday unveiled a new organization that will help teacher-training programs—and the teacher-education field in general—develop a more systematic approach to preparing their candidates. (Education Week)