The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education  moved to take over the Lawrence Public Schools, a district where less than half of its students graduate from high school and where performance on state tests is lowest in the state. Of course there's a depressing link between low MCAS performance and high school graduation, but that is not yet being addressed. Also of interest (and not yet mentioned by the state) is the high percentages of immigrant and English learning students in Lawrence, and how the state plans to address these important issues. More forthcoming, but here is the story.

Great article with brief video of Pinker discussing his view of universal grammar and how language is linked with thought. Note tip of the hat to multilingualism at the outset (he is from Montreal after all).

Outside Tuscaloosa, AL, a German Mercedes executive was taken into police custody on suspicion of being an undocumented immigrant. See story.

Recent, more conservative, Canadian judicial appointees are more likely to uphold governmental deportation requests than their predecessors. Story here.

Interesting article from the Tennessean on the economy's addiction to the contributions of the undocumented workforce.

This is not an unreasonable question.

Disturbing trends in New York City, with good overview of social and economic factors affecting the educational attainment of newer immigrant groups.