Half of Americans say U.S. schools are doing only a fair to poor job preparing kids for college and the work force. Even more feel that way about the skills kids need to survive as adults, an Associated Press poll released Friday finds. (Associated Press)

One of the most ambitious pay-for-performance initiatives in Washington area schools is drawing strong teacher interest and local union support even though many national labor leaders have long asserted that it is unfair to link teachers' paychecks directly to their students' test scores. (Washington Post)

Middle schoolers need longer school days, specially trained teachers and more challenging academics if school officials hope to reverse a decades-long trend of sagging achievement rates, according to a report presented Tuesday to the State Board of Education. (Baltimore Sun)

State Education Commissioner Richard Mills called the results “encouraging and exciting,” saying they were evidence that the state’s emphasis on giving more money to needy school districts and focusing on high standards was successful. (New York Times)

The Boston Herald editorializes, "So at least everyone’s on the same page: It’s time for a “new era” of education reform." (Boston Herald)