Pumping up middle school academics

Last week's Baltimore Sun had an interesting article: "A Focus on the Needs of School 'Tweens," by education writers Gina Davis and Liz F. Kay (via the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development's SmartBrief -- click here to sign up).

"There's an awakening nationally about the need to reform the middle grades and accelerate the rigor to get students ready for high school," according to Gene Bottoms, senior vice president of the Southern Regional Education Board, which oversees the Making Middle Grades Work initiative used in 21 states.

Check out the article to see what kinds of ideas are on the table. Very interesting stuff.