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Some states have introduced education standards requiring teachers to defend the denial of man-made global warming. A national watchdog group says it will start monitoring classrooms.

For decades, the prevailing wisdom in education was that high self-esteem would lead to high achievement. The theory led to an avalanche of daily affirmations, awards ceremonies and attendance certificates — but few, if any, academic gains.

The No Child Left Behind education law offered the promise of improved schools and better prepared students in a competitive world. Yet after a decade on the books, President George W. Bush's most hyped domestic accomplishment has become a symbol to many of federal overreach and Congress' inability to fix something that's clearly flawed.

Seven central Florida teenagers were arrested after authorities said they punched and kicked a 13-year-old until she was unconscious while on a school bus.

A research assistant was fatally burned when chemicals burst into flame. Her death three years ago has focused attention on safety issues. Felony charges have been filed against the University of California and a UCLA chemistry professor in connection with a laboratory fire that killed a staff research assistant three years ago. On Dec. 29, 2008, Sheharbano "Sheri" Sangji, 23, was severely burned over nearly half of her body when air-sensitive chemicals burst into flames during an experiment and ignited her clothing. Sangji, who was not wearing a protective lab coat, died 18 days later.

The Seattle School District is investigating how a fugitive from the law ended up on a school field trip Wednesday afternoon. A fellow parent recognized the man, Donald Vasser, from the TV show "Washington's Most Wanted," and police were called in.

Brandon McInerney was sentenced to 21 years in jail on Monday for the 2008 brutal slaying of his gay classmate, Larry King. McInerney was 14 when he pulled a gun from his backpack and shot King, 15, twice in the back of the head, later claiming that he believed the boy was flirting with him.

California's economic recovery is so sluggish it will likely force automatic budget cuts that could shave up to a week off the school year, according to a report Wednesday from the legislative analyst's office.

Dozens of protesters were arrested on the campus of UC Berkeley, where university police moved in to break up an Occupy Berkeley encampment.

The study found that removing soda only prompted students to buy sports drinks and other sugar-laden beverages instead.