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May 17th, 2012
05:11 AM ET

Early Reads for Wednesday, May 17th, 2012

We know you've got to run this morning, so here's a quick look at the big stories of the day:

Top News stories:

* How you help Facebook make billions

* Medical examiner sets autopsy for Mary Kennedy, wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

* Flesh-eating condition caused by common bacteria

Early Reads preview:

* Kindergartners in Georgia may soon help decide if their teachers get raises or get fired.

* The Florida School Board called an emergency meeting after nearly 75% of students failed the writing portion of the state's FCAT exam.

* John Lennon's killer Mark David Chapman is now at a correctional facility in Erie County, NY, after spending 30 years in Attica.

Don't forget to tune in to "Early Start" weekdays at 5am Eastern for more on the day's news.
Filed under: Early Reads
soundoff (One Response)
  1. Mike Thompson

    Mr. Velshi:

    I watched your piece about the Florida FCAT results this morning. I find your comment about "lowering standards" to be offensive, uninformed and a slight to hard working teachers (which have, for far too long, become the target of unfair criticism). If you pride yourself on being a journalist, do some real investigating. The problem Florida faces with standardized testing is not unique. Look at the new Common Core standards. Find out how tests such as FCAT are created. Interview EDUCATORS and learn what steps they take daily to prepare young people to pass these virtually impassable assessments (believe me, they work HARD). I also challenge you to take one (or several) yourself and see how well you perform. Finally, have a long talk with Diane Ravitch, author and public school advocate. You will see that our schools have been hijacked by state assessments and insanely rigorous state standards. I suspect that more schools will fail as test content becomes aligned with the Common Core. I respect you as a reporter and CNN contributor. I hope your off-handed comment was merely a slip up, and you will be more informed the next time you comment on something so serious.

    May 17, 2012 at 5:58 am | Reply

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