Happy Friday.

Below I've compiled some of the most interesting education reporting I've stumbled upon this week. These stories deal with a variety of topics, from prescription drug abuse to lengthy explanations of new federal legislation. They aren't place in any particular order but they have, or will hopefully, influence my future reporting.

"Still in a Crib, Yet Being Given Antipsychotics" via The New York Times' Alan Schwarz

When Andrew screamed in his sleep and seemed to interact with people and objects that were not there, his frightened mother researched Risperdal and discovered that the drug was not approved, and had never even been studied, in children anywhere near as young as Andrew.

"Buildings with fresher air linked to better thinking" via The Seattle Times' John Higgins

Classrooms that are noisy, poorly lit, too hot or cold or stuffy can all undermine learning.

"Failure Factories" this is an ongoing investigative project via The Tampa Bay Times

This the story of how district leaders turned five once-average schools into Failure Factories.

"Online schools are losing support, creating divisions in the national charter school movement" via The Plain Dealer's Patrick O'Donnell

Poor test results at online schools are creating divisions in the charter school community in Ohio and nationally, leading some national leaders to question whether e-schools should even be part of the charter school movement anymore.

"ESEA Reauthorization: The Every Student Succeeds Act Explained" via Education Week's Alyson Klein (In terms of storytelling this is the driest of the bunch, but it's a very thorough, and insightful examination of the new federal education law).

So what is in the ESSA, when it comes to accountability, testing, programs, and more? And how does it compare to No Child Left Behind Act, Classic Edition, and the Obama administration's NCLB waivers?

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