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Evaluating Teachers In New York City Educators have long argued that standardized testing is a poor way to evaluate student knowledge. They also disagree over whether test scores are the best way to evaluate teachers. In New York City schools, a surprising compromise allows some of that data to be used. German Business Students Get Crash Course In Berlin, students at a business management school get an explanation of how the crisis developed, how it might play out, and how it might affect their own careers. Amid Financial Woes, Business Schools Adapt Teachers and professors across the nation are using the financial crisis as a lesson for their students. A class on global economics in the MBA program at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix examines the downturn. Portland, Ore., High School Eyes Money Crisis At Lake Oswego High School outside of Portland, Ore., Gerrit Koepping brings current events into the classroom every day. High school students at Koeppings' U.S. government classes are learning from the current economic crisis. Study: Everyone Should Take SAT Less Seriously The SATs can be good for behaviorally challenged slackers who just happen to be great test-takers. But is the test really good for anyone else? A new study says yes, but urges colleges, parents and students to loosen up. What Would You Ask The Presidential Candidates? Barack Obama and John McCain meet in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday evening for the second presidential debate of the 2008 election. Voters will ask the questions in this "townhall"-style debate. What would you like to hear the candidates discuss? McCain, Obama, And Leaving No Child Behind One thing both candidates agree on is that the education system — particularly "No Child Left Behind" — is broken. The question is: How would they fix it? Homework: Cheers And Fight Songs Last week host Andrea Seabrook asked you to sing your favorite school fight songs — and you gave us your best cheers and hollers. Chicago Charter School Network Defies Expectation The Noble Network of Charter Schools takes poor and immigrant students who are often two to four years behind grade level. Through an intensive learning environment, nearly all the students graduate and some go on to the country's top colleges. Paying For College During The Downturn The average tuition at a four-year private college is $23,000 and rising. We visit Seattle Pacific University, which has seen the number of student appeals to the financial aid office double in the last year. Muzzling Political Opinion On Campus Is Dangerous The University of Illinois forbids its employees from wearing political buttons or putting partisan bumper stickers on their cars. One professor laments that losing the button isn't so problematic as the chilling effect the rule could have on debate in the classroom. Amid Foreclosures, A Rise In Homeless Students The foreclosure crisis and the economic slowdown are leading to a big jump in the number of students who are homeless. Educators say they are now seeing many families who once had the means to own a house becoming homeless for the first time. School Gives Adult Students An Existential Kick "Adult education doesn't have to be dowdy," says Sophie Howarth, founder of London's School of Life. The school is a place of higher learning dedicated to "the practical application of philosophy on life's core subjects — love, politics, work, family and play." For $40K, Consultant Gets Kids Ivy-League Ready College application consultant Michelle Hernandez charges top dollar to get her clients into top schools. Starting when her clients are in ninth grade, she shapes everything from their hobbies to their college essays. Is she taking it too far? One dean says yes — that this is actually fraud. A Lifeline For College Students With Depression Johns Hopkins senior Juliana Kerrest has struggled with mental illness since her early teens. In college, she went so far as to plan her suicide. One thought that stopped her: Her work with the support group Active Minds could help others suffering from mental illness.