House passes $10M hydrogen prize

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs will be able to vie for a grand prize of $10 million, and smaller prizes reaching millions of dollars, under House-passed legislation to encourage research into hydrogen as an alternative fuel.

12-year undergrad postpones the real world -- again

WHITEWATER, Wisconsin (AP) -- Despite his 12 years as an undergraduate student, Johnny Lechner realized something was missing from his academic record: he'd never studied abroad.

Judge delays decision on California's exit exam

OAKLAND, California (AP) -- At the urging of state officials, a judge delayed a decision Tuesday about whether to suspend California's high school exit exam for this year's senior class.

Rising number of schools face serious penalties

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Falling short of requirements under President Bush's education law, about 1,750 U.S. schools have been ordered into radical "restructuring," subject to mass firings, closure, state takeover or other moves aimed at wiping their slates clean.

Missouri lawmakers vote to create 'virtual school'

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri (AP) -- Missouri students who are home sick, home-schooled or in need of a different approach to education could soon find their teachers on the Internet.

University naming center after Renhnquist

TUCSON, Arizona (AP) -- A new research center at the University of Arizona will be named after the late U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who sometimes taught courses at the school as a visiting jurist.

Judge may halt California's high school exit exam

SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- A judge said Monday he is likely to prohibit the state from requiring that high school seniors pass an exit exam to graduate, siding with attorneys who say the test discriminates against the poor.

Gallaudet president-elect draws controversy

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The newly chosen president of Gallaudet University, the nation's only liberal arts college for the deaf, faced student protests and a possible faculty no-confidence vote Monday in a dispute that she said comes down to whether she is "deaf enough" for the job.

Colleges throw in the towel on swim tests

(AP) -- On a recent Friday morning, a line of bathing-suit clad students stood beside a campus swimming pool, waiting to jump in. They had come to persuade the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill they were worthy of a college degree -- which they were not, in UNC's eyes, until they could swim 50 yards and tread water for five minutes.

Gallaudet president-elect draws controversy

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The newly chosen president for the nation's only liberal arts college for the deaf has drawn protests from hundreds of students, who set up a tent city on the lawn by the front gates and blocked entrances.

Parents sue over book about gay family

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- Ever since her 5-year-old brought home a book from kindergarten that depicted a gay family, Tonia Parker has felt that her parenting has been under attack in the only state that allows same-sex marriage.

School districts drop out of long-running lawsuit

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) -- Five urban North Carolina school districts told a judge Thursday they were dropping out of a long-running lawsuit filed to force the state to spend more money on education.

Florida votes to require high school majors

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) -- The Florida Legislature gave final approval to a bill Thursday that requires high school students to declare a major, similar to college students.

Bullying sidelines overweight kids, study says

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Overweight children who are victims of bullying are less likely to engage in physical activity, new research suggests. Dr. Eric A. Storch, who led the study said: "The health implications of this are clear in that these youth will receive less activity," making it more difficult for them to shed pounds.

Dallas Opera, SMU teach children through opera

DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- Antsy children froze mid-squirm when William Whitmire opened his mouth and filled the parish hall with an echoing baritone vibrato.

Connecticut student test results delayed

HARTFORD, Connecticut (AP) -- Results for Connecticut's student assessment tests have been delayed because the contractor paid to score them had equipment problems, a state official said Wednesday.

Laura Bush announces grants for libraries

CHALMETTE, Louisiana (AP) -- School libraries wiped out by hurricanes Katrina and Rita are getting grants worth $500,000 to help them rebuild, along with a rare magazine collection, first lady Laura Bush and media executives announced Wednesday.

Spelling bee goes P-r-i-m-e t-i-m-e

WASHINGTON (AP) -- For the first time in its 79-year history, the National Spelling Bee will go prime time for next month's drama-filled finals. Thanks to recent movies, books and even a Broadway musical, young spellers are suddenly hot.

Rigorous rules for college aid announced

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a rare venture into curriculum, the Bush administration on Tuesday declared which high school programs are rigorous enough to qualify students for college aid.

College graduation packs one final financial punch

BOSTON, Massachustees (AP) -- It's graduation season, time for college seniors to celebrate good friends and hard work -- and the end of those ever-rising tuition payments.