Tuesday, May 21
College Authorization
Confusion on State Authorization
The Education Department announced that it would push back by a year the deadline for complying with a rule requiring states to authorize colleges within their borders. A court overturned a provision of the rule that would have required distance education programs to get permission to operate from every state in which they enroll students. But the other college authorization sections remain in the rule. (Inside Higher Ed, 05/20/13)
Kindergarten/Preschool Funding
All-day Kindergarten Approved in Education Bill
Most Minnesota parents will have access to free, all-day kindergarten beginning in 2014 under a $15.7 billion education funding approved by the legislature. All-day kindergarten will be optional, but sponsors expect most districts to provide it. The bill includes $485 million in new money and a $40 million boost in scholarships for lower-income families to send their children to high-quality preschools. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 05/19/13)
Lead Teachers
Recognizing 'Master Teachers'
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, along with SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, announced a four-year, $60,000 stipend to high-performing science and math teachers willing to serve as mentors and coaches. Once chosen, these master teachers will work to help other secondary level science and math teachers become more effective. (Albany Times-Union, 05/20/13)
Online Tests/Common Core
All Virginia Students to Use Computers for Standardized Tests
All Virginia students will have to log on to a computer to take this year's Standards of Learning tests, making Virginia one of the only states to wholly abandon the nearly ubiquitous paper-and-pencil bubble sheets. The move means that Virginia, one of the few states that did not adopt the Common Core standards, has become a model for the dozens of states that did. (Washington Post, 05/20/13)
Testing/Cheating
40 States Probed Alleged Cheating on Tests, Federal Report Finds
A new report from the Government Accountability Office has found that most states have looked into allegations of cheating by school officials on state tests in the past two years. The study found that 33 states confirmed at least one such case of cheating, and 32 reported invalidating test scores as a result of cheating. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/17/13)
Monday, May 20
College Readiness/Success
Motivation Matters
A new assessment from the Education Testing Service (ETS) seeks to measure non-academic variables and social behaviors, like whether students show up for class, that could be factors in college readiness and success. ETS' SuccessNavigator could help colleges identify students in remedial tracks who can pass credit-bearing, college-level courses, said officials. (Inside Higher Ed, 05/20/13)
Financial Aid
So Much for Consensus
The U.S. House Committee on Education approved H.R. 1911, which would create a variable interest rate for student loans. The interest rate on student loans will double to 6.8% July 1 if Congress doesn't act to create long-term plan. The committee also approved H.R. 1949 to study higher education data and transparency. (Inside Higher Ed, 05/17/13)
Kindergarten to College
Will San Francisco's Kindergartener Bank Accounts Catch On?
San Francisco has launched the nation's first college savings accounts for kindergarteners. At the outset, each child receives $50 from the city, deposited into a trust fund under the city's name. For low-income children, the initial deposit is $100. Families can add money into the account and can only withdraw funds for educational purposes once the child is enrolled in postsecondary education. (Governing, 05/15/13)
School Safety
Gov. Haslam Signs Bill Allowing Armed Personnel in Schools
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has signed S.B. 6, which allows districts to let people with police training be armed in schools. The measure allows schools to hire retired law enforcement officers after they meet certain requirements. The legislation makes information about which teachers are armed or which schools allow the guns confidential to anyone but law enforcement. (Tennessean, 05/17/13)
Science Standards
Common Science Standards Face Capacity Issues
States now must decide whether to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards developed by a coalition of 26 states and national organizations. The capacity challenges for states and districts are immense as they contemplate taking on the standards, which call for bringing greater depth to science understanding and asking students to apply that knowledge. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/15/13)
Friday, May 17
College Transfers
University of Wyoming to Automatically Accept In-state Community College Graduates
Students who earn associate degrees from Wyoming community colleges will be automatically accepted by the University of Wyoming beginning this fall. The admissions policy is designed to encourage community college students to finish their associate degrees before transferring. The policy also is in response to higher GPAs when community college students transfer with an associate degree. (Casper Star-Tribune, 05/15/13)
Competency-based Grad Requirements
Colorado Board of Education Approves New Graduation Requirements
The Colorado board of education adopted a new set of graduation standards to be phased in over the next seven years. The requirements are based on competency in four core subjects instead of "seat time." They offer a menu of options for students to meet the minimum standards, ranging from standardized test results to scores on Advanced Placement tests to a variety of yet-to-be-determined measures. (Denver Post, 05/15/13)
Early Learning Assessments
Pre-K Assessments Fall Short on Teacher Performance, Study Says
Twenty states use student performance in the early grades to assess teachers, yet current evaluation systems don't provide an accurate picture of what's happening in the classroom, asserts a New America Foundation study. Researchers studied three types of assessments and found that none of them gauge what the youngest students know, nor can their results be applied to teacher performance. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/15/13)
Performance Funding
Panels Endorse Revised Nevada Higher Education Funding Formula
Members of a joint legislative panel formally adopted a new funding formula for Nevada’s universities and community colleges. Under the new formula previously adopted by the Board Regents, funding would be based on how many class credits students complete. Additionally, upper-level courses would be given more weight in the funding balance because they cost more to offer. (Reno Journal-Gazette, 05/15/13)
Teacher Preparation
Toughened Teacher Preparation Standards in Delaware Win Final Approval
Delaware lawmakers approved S.B. 51, which strengthens teacher preparation standards, a proposal that part of Gov. Jack Markell’s legislative agenda. The measure sets a minimum grade-point average for students who wish to study education, though it provides several ways to get around that requirement. A rigorous test will screen those who are certified to teach in public schools. (Wilmington News Journal, 05/16/13)
Thursday, May 16
Achievement Gaps
Gap Widens among High-Achieving Students
To close the achievement gap, an Education Trust report calls for more efforts to help low-income and students of color succeed at the highest academic levels. While fewer of these students are scoring "below basic" in reading and math national assessments, the report shows that they aren't making similar progress at "advanced" levels, and the problem is even more pronounced in high school. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/15/13)
College Enrollment
Reaching Students Early
College-going rates could go up significantly if students in high school received counseling as freshmen, and not just when they are juniors and seniors, a study from the National Association for College Admission Counseling says. The report makes several recommendations, including that counselors spend more time addressing college applications and preparedness with 9th graders and their parents.
(Inside Higher Ed 05/16/13)
Common Core
Deal Signs Order Addressing Common Core Standards
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executive order putting in place restrictions on the Common Core State Standards. Under the order, the state will be prohibited from collecting certain information on students and their families. The order also requires any proposed changes to state educational standards shall be posted for public review and comment for at least 60 days. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 05/15/13)
Early Literacy/Retention
House Revises Reading Plan for Ohio Schools
In response to concerns over Ohio's new early reading guarantee, the House approved S.B. 21 to expand the pool of teachers who can provide reading instruction and tutoring for students. The bill also says that districts or charters that score a D or F on the K-3 literacy-progress test for two consecutive years and have fewer than 60% of 3rd-graders proficient on the English test must submit reading-improvement plans. See ECS' summary of reading policies. (Columbus Dispatch, 05/16/13)
Higher Ed Accountability
Texas Launches Online Tool to Compare State's Higher Education Institutions
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board launched Compare College TX, an online interactive tool designed to make the most relevant data about public higher education. The online comparison tool allows users to access and interact with information for every public university and community college, including tuition and fees, graduation rates, and salaries for graduates by major. (Houston Chronicle, 05/15/13)
Wednesday, May 15
Common Core
Common Core Supporters Firing Back
Supporters of the Common Core are moving to confront increasingly high-profile opposition to the standards at the state and national levels by rallying the private sector and initiating coordinated public relations campaigns as schools continue implementation. State education officials, the business community, and advocacy groups are ramping up efforts to buttress support for the standards and to counter what they say is misinformation. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/14/13)
Low-performing Districts
Mo. House OKs Quicker Intervention in Districts
The Missouri House approved S.B. 125, which could allow state education officials to intervene more quickly in struggling districts while expanding the menu of actions to possibly take. The state board could prescribe conditions under which the existing school board can continue to oversee the district, establish a special administrative board, merge the district with neighboring ones, split the district into several new ones, or design an alternative structure. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 05/14/13)
Online Courses
Florida Poised to Expand Online Providers
The Florida legislature approved H.B. 7029, which would allow virtual providers without prior experience to be conditionally approved by the education department. Normally, online providers need to have shown "prior, successful experience offering online courses" to operate in the state. The bill also would expand eligibility to offer massively open online courses, or MOOCs, in K-12 schools. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/13/13)
Workforce Development
Federal Spending that Works
The Department of Labor's $2 billion in workforce development funding for the sector was designed to encourage two-year colleges to make lasting, ambitious changes. The 15 community colleges in Massachusetts, for example, have created new or redesigned credentials, which are aimed at unemployed or underemployed adults. The colleges also have sharpened their focus on career services. (Inside Higher Ed, 05/14/13)
Tuesday, May 14
College Preparation
GEAR UP Counters Critics, Welcomes Evaluation
After a Brookings Institution policy brief called into question the effectiveness of federal college-prep programs, the GEAR UP community defended its work and called for resources to conduct more rigorous evaluations. The National Council for Community and Education Partnerships issued a written response to the brief that was published last week. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/13/13)
District Leadership
Top Jobs Opening Up in Nation's School Districts
Schools chiefs or interim superintendents will be leaving this year or next in at least 17 well-known districts, including Baltimore; Boston; Clark County, Nev.; and Indianapolis. While school officials in some places have indicated they intend to continue on paths laid out by their departing leaders, the turnover elsewhere may signal major changes—and go hand in hand with a shift in district priorities or governance restructuring. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/13/13)
ELL Students/Kindergarten
Sandoval Targets English Language Learners with Proposal to Increase Program Funding
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval announced a proposal to allocate a $60.5 million projected increase in tax revenue to education priorities. About $21 million would provide additional support for English Language Learners. Another $39.5 million would lower class sizes in 199 all-day kindergartens. Sandoval already proposed expanding all-day kindergarten from 124 programs to 199 by 2015. Check out ECS' kindergarten report. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 05/13/13)
Higher Ed Accountability
Idea Whose Time Has Come?
Congressional lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require public colleges to provide information about students' salaries by major and program, graduation and remediation rates, success rates for students who receive a Pell Grant or veterans' benefits, and other benchmarks. The legislation also calls for a federal "unit record" database that could track students through college and into the workforce. (Inside Higher Ed, 05/13/13)
Student Data
Alerts Raised Over Mass. Plan to Manage Student Data
An experiment by Massachusetts education officials to better manage student records and software teaching tools has privacy advocates concerned it could expose information of schoolchildren to hackers and identity thieves. Massachusetts is among a handful of states participating in a project with inBloom, which is designed to standardize the ways that schools keep information on students and performance. (Boston Globe, 05/14/13)
Monday, May 13
Education Reforms
Financial Issues Dominate Colorado Legislature's Education Agenda
Colorado lawmakers enacted groundbreaking education measures this session. The Colorado ASSET bill will allow students who arrived in the country illegally to pay the much less expensive in-state tuition rate. The Future School Finance Act would overhaul pre-K-12 funding, but voters must approve $1 billion dollars in revenue for the formula to take effect. Lawmakers also passed bills on sex education, school breakfasts, and teacher evaluation oversight. (Denver Post, 05/10/13)
Financial Aid
Lawmakers Propose Long-Term Solutions for Student-Loan Interest Rates
As the July 1 deadline approaches, there's a growing desire—both in Washington and among college-access groups—to come up with a longer-term plan that takes student loan rates out of the realm of yearly political wrangling in Washington. Several proposals have been introduced that tie loans to the interest rate the government pays in the market through the 10-year treasury note. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 05/10/13)
Native Students
States Sharing Native Students' Results with Tribes in Effort to Boost Achievement
A recent change in the federal law governing access to student test scores is providing more information to tribal nations. Native-student advocates say this information sharing will be a boost to efforts to improve the educational opportunities for their children. Oklahoma and Utah are two states that plan to use the newly available data. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/09/13)
Preschool Teachers
TFA Finds Climate Ripe to Train More Pre-K Teachers
Seven years after Teach for America (TFA) expanded its training program to include preschool teachers, the organization has produced 800 instructors in 22 high-poverty sites around the country. The organization's leaders see the current climate as ripe for further expansion. With President Barack Obama's interest in early childhood education, TFA aims to be an increasing part of the mix. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/09/13)
School Choice/Remedial Ed
LePage Bill Lifts Cap on Charter Schools, Lets Public Money Go to Religious Schools
Maine Gov. Paul LePage unveiled a proposal that would lift the cap on the number of charter schools, make it easier for low-income students to transfer to other schools, and allow public money to flow to religious schools. A second proposal would push the cost of remedial courses needed by higher education students to their home districts. (Bangor Daily News, 05/09/13)
Friday, May 10
College Enrollment
Latino High School Grads Enrolling in College at Record Rates, Outpacing Whites
In the class of 2012, a record 69% of Hispanic high school graduates went on to pursue higher education, compared with 67% of white graduates, according to a Pew Research Center report. In 2000, just 49% of Hispanic graduates enrolled in college the following fall. Overall, 66% of high school graduates in the class of 2012 enrolled in college, including about 63% of black students and 84% of Asians. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/09/13)
Early Learning Accountability
Jindal Pre-K Education Overhaul Approved by Louisiana House Panel
The Louisiana House Education Committee passed legislation backed by Gov. Bobby Jindal to enforce new accountability standards for early childhood education programs. Senate Bill 130 would create the network authorized by Act 3, a law passed last year to consolidate all pre-kindergarten and day-care programs into one network and give them letter grades. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 05/08/13)
School Vouchers
School Vouchers Expand as Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Signs Measure
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed into law House Enrolled Act 1003, which builds on what was already the nation's most open school voucher program. The bill lifts some of the restrictions that were in the original legislation passed two years ago. Pence said the bill will allow more students to join the more than 9,300 already receiving vouchers, called choice scholarships. (Indianapolis Star, 05/10/13)
Teacher Preparation
Diversity at Issue as States Weigh Teacher Entry
As more states eye policies to select academically stronger individuals for their teaching programs, concerns are surfacing about their potential consequences—particularly whether they will result in a K-12 workforce with fewer black and Latino teachers. On nearly all the measures states are considering, from GPAs to licensure-test scores, minority candidates tend to have weaker scores than their white counterparts. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/08/13)
Tuition/Foster Youth
Free Tuition for Arizona Foster Kids Advances
Arizona's foster children came one step closer to qualifying for free tuition at the state's three universities under a bill that requires one more vote to reach Gov. Jan Brewer's desk. Senate Bill 1208 establishes a five-year pilot program intended to more than double the number of Arizona foster youths who attend and graduate from college each year. (Arizona Republic, 05/08/13)
Thursday, May 9
Affirmative Action
In California, Push for College Diversity Starts Earlier
If the Supreme Court justices decide to curtail or abolish the use of race and ethnicity in college admissions nationwide, then the experience in California and other states that have outlawed affirmative action could point to new ways for public universities to try to compose a diverse student body. Those states have tried new approaches to giving applicants a leg up for overcoming disadvantages. (New York Times, 05/07/13)
Charter Schools
NC Senate Passes Bill Creating Separate State Board for Charter Schools
The North Carolina Senate passed S.B 337, which creates a separate regulatory board for charter schools that would be responsible for handing out new charters and shutting down inadequate schools. The bill abolishes a state board of education committee that recommends actions on charter applications and otherwise reduces the state board's authority with respect to charter schools. (Raleigh News and Observer, 05/07/13)
Low-performing Schools
Gov. Inslee Signs Law to Turn Around Struggling Schools
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed S.B. 5329, which directs the state superintendent's office to develop a process to identify persistently lowest-achieving schools, as well as create guidelines for how to turn around struggling schools. For schools that don't improve substantially after three years, the department could impose its own improvement plan and potentially close poor-performing schools. (The Olympian, 05/08/13)
Teacher Certification
Licensing-Test Gaps Exist in Every State, Federal Data Show
Every state sets the cutoff score on its teacher-licensing tests below the mean of test-takers, according to a report by the Department of Education. The report shows the gaps range from 10.1 points in Arizona to 22.5 points in Nebraska. For the nation, the average certification-test cutoff score is set nearly 15 points below the mean score of candidates. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/07/13)
Teacher Evaluations
Gov. Deal Signs Teacher Evaluations Bill
Gov. Nathan Deal has signed H.B. 244, which standardizes annual evaluations for Georgia teachers and principals based, in part, on student performance. The evaluation system is based on a pilot program launched with Race to the Top funds. Teacher evaluations will be based 50% on student growth and achievement and 50% on other factors, including classroom observations and student surveys. (Athens Banner-Herald, 05/07/13)
Wednesday, May 8
Assessments
ACT to Start Giving Tests Digitally
Starting as early as spring 2015, the ACT college admissions exam will go digital, reflecting students' tech savvy and the demand for quicker results. The tests still will have multiple-choice options, but they also will expand to include interactive portions, such as a simulated science lab for students to conduct experiments or space for students to explain concepts in their own words. (Huffington Post, 05/06/13)
College Preparation
Tough Words for TRIO
A Brookings Institution report says that the federal government's college preparation programs—including TRIO Programs and GEAR UP—for low-income students should be overhauled. The report calls for the funding to be consolidated, creating $1 billion in federal grants. Colleges, districts, and for-profit and nonprofit agencies could apply for the grants, which would be awarded for evidence-based interventions. (Inside Higher Ed, 05/08/13)
College Readiness
Early-College-Readiness Assessments for High School Students Growing
Concern over high school graduates being unprepared for college has educators and policymakers looking for ways to identify learning gaps earlier. A review by the Community College Research Center finds some form of early-college-readiness assessments are offered in 38 states, and 29 states have interventions to help reduce the need for remedial coursework for incoming college freshman. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/07/13)
Education Policymaking
Rifts Deepen Over Direction of Ed. Policy in U.S.
In statehouses and cities, battles are raging over the direction of education policy—from the Common Core standards to how test results will be used to evaluate teachers. Not since the battles over desegregation has the debate about education been so intense and polarized, observers say, for rarely has an institution that historically is slow to change been forced to deal with so much change at once. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/07/13)
School Vouchers
Louisiana Supreme Court Rules Voucher Funding Violates the State Constitution
The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that the current method of funding the state's school voucher program is unconstitutional. Act 2, part of Gov. Bobby Jindal's 2012 package of education reforms, diverts money from each student's per-pupil allocation to cover the cost of private or parochial school tuition. The act authorizes both the Louisiana Scholarship Program and the new Course Choice program. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 05/07/13)
Tuesday, May 7
Common Core
Many Teachers Say They Need Training in Common Core Standards, Poll Says
Most teachers feel unprepared to teach the Common Core standards that are rolling out in 45 states and the District of Columbia, according to a survey by the American Federation of Teachers. While a clear majority—75%—of teachers surveyed said they support the Common Core, less than one-third said their districts have given them the training and resources to teach to the new standards. (Washington Post, 05/05/13)
Community Colleges
Low Bar, High Failure
Community colleges set a low bar for students during their first year of enrollment, with lax academic standards in literacy and math, according to a National Center on Education and the Economy study. And many students fail to meet even those minimal expectations. But there are no simple fixes because community colleges likely are reacting to the inadequate preparation of incoming students. (Inside Higher Ed, 05/07/13)
Education Reforms
Lawmakers Boost Education Spending, Expand Online Learning
Florida teachers won raises. Districts got a boost in per-pupil funding. Charter schools nearly doubled their construction and maintenance dollars. When it came to the state budget, education was one of the session's biggest winners. Lawmakers also tweaked the state's high-school graduation requirements and put new emphasis on career and technical training. And online learning was expanded for K-12 and higher education. (Miami Herald, 05/05/13)
High School Exams/Grad Requirements
Texas Senate Votes to Roll Back High-stakes Testing in High School
The Texas Senate has approved its version of H.B. 5, which would sharply roll back high-stakes testing of high school students. Students would have to pass only five end-of-course tests to graduate—instead of the current 15. The Senate bill also would replace current graduation requirements with a new system under which students would select one of multiple paths to graduation, called "endorsements." (Dallas Morning News, 05/06/13)
Student Bullying
Absolutely Everything Researchers Know about Bullying
The American Educational Research Association released a thorough new analysis on the state of bullying research in the United States. The report includes several action items for improvement, aimed at both scholars and schools. Each part addresses a specific aspect of bullying, with 11 parts in total, including the fact that researchers do not agree on the definition of bullying. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/06/13)
School Safety
Pence Set to Sign School Safety Bill; Officers to Be More than Protection
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is expected to sign S.B. 1, which will make money available to schools to hire resource officers—specially trained staff whose jobs are about far more than keeping students safe from outside threats. The officers serve as guidance counselors, educators, and confidantes as well. The bill encourages schools to hire resources officers by offering grants of up to $50,000. (Evansville Courier & Press, 05/06/13)
Monday, May 6
Assessments
House Bill Exempts High-performers from Some STAAR Tests
The Texas House continued to chip away at state-mandated testing by approving H.B. 866, which would allow elementary and middle school students to skip some standardized exams if they earn top test scores in earlier grades. A 4th-grader, for example, would not be required to take the STAAR exam in reading and math if he or she earns high test scores on the 3rd-grade tests. (Austin American-Statesman, 05/02/13)
Common Core and Higher Ed
The Common Core on Campus
As K-12 schools in 45 states and the District of Columbia work to implement the Common Core, the new standards remain largely unknown among college and university faculty members and all but a few top administrators. If the Common Core is implemented as intended, its effects could transform dual enrollment, placement tests, and remediation, and force a more uniform definition of "college ready." (Inside Higher Ed, 05/03/13)
Diploma Options
State Board of Education Sets Standards for College and Career Diplomas
North Carolina high school graduates will have seals on their diplomas in a few years showing whether they are ready for work or college under new criteria the state board adopted. The board set out three paths for students earning seals on their diplomas: career, community college, and four-year university. (Raleigh News and Observer, 05/02/13)
NCLB Waivers
Rewards for Schools Key Facet of NCLB Waivers
The 34 states and the District of Columbia that received No Child Left Behind waivers have promised cash bonuses and other rewards to high-performing schools and those that show significant progress. States came up with criteria for defining reward schools, one of three categories based on school performance, along with ideas for giving those schools something extra for their efforts. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/06/13)
Teacher Preparation
Grading the Teachers' Teachers
Following Louisiana's lead, policymakers in a growing number of states are evaluating teacher preparation programs based on the test scores of their graduates' students. So far, eight states have policies requiring them to do a similar analysis, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality. Louisiana's experience speaks to the promise and peril of the new approach. (Hechinger Report, 05/02/13)
Friday, May 3
Accountability
Three-quarters of Maine Schools at, Below Average Under Controversial New State Grading System
Three-quarters of Maine's schools received a grade of C or lower under a new ranking system unveiled by the state education department and promoted by Gov. Paul LePage. Only 10 high schools received an A grade. Maine is the 14th state, along with New York City, to implement a school grading system. (Bangor Daily News, 05/01/13)
College Credits
Conventional College Route Shifts to 'Education Buffet'
Increasingly, a new type of college student is emerging: one who doesn't start and finish at a single brick-and-mortar campus, but picks and chooses credits toward a degree or job from a veritable buffet of education options. These include dual-enrollment courses, advanced-placement programs, military or corporate training, career and life experience, and classes taught online. (Hechinger Report, 05/01/13)
Common Core/Online Tests
States' Online Testing Problems Raise Common Core Concerns
Widespread technical failures and interruptions of recent online testing in three states have shaken the confidence of educators and policymakers in high-tech assessment methods. The glitches also raise serious concerns about schools' technological readiness for the online tests related to the Common Core standards that begin in 2014-15. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/03/13)
Early Learning Support
Local Business Say They're Working to Boost Early-Childhood Education
Half of the local chambers of commerce polled in a new 49-state survey by America's Promise Alliance say they've taken steps aimed at boosting expansion and improvement of early-childhood education. The chambers have, for example, lobbied for early-childhood education in statehouses, provided legislative testimony, made speeches, and undertaken specific educational projects. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 05/01/13)
Online Courses
MOOC Skeptics at the Top
It would be easy to think that the leaders of American higher education are all in when it comes to massive open online courses, or MOOCs, given all the attention and activity. According to a new Gallup poll, however, most college presidents don't seem sure that MOOCs are going to transform student learning, or reduce costs to students—claims made by enthusiasts and several politicians and pundits. (Inside Higher Ed, 05/02/13)
Thursday, May 2
Competency-based Learning
Report: Federal Rules Impede Competency-Based Learning
A few states like New Hampshire, Maine, and Oregon are moving towards implementing competency-based learning models throughout the entire state. And 40 states have at least one district experimenting with the model. But despite this growth, its proponents say federal policies for accountability and assessment are holding the movement back, according a report by KnowledgeWorks. (KQED, 04/29/13)
Online Courses/Teacher Prep
Online Provider Offers Courses in Education, Teacher Training
A leading online course provider announced that it will offer free professional training and development courses to prepare teachers worldwide for web-based classes. Coursera created a "teacher professional development" category, offering K-12 teachers and parents the courses in subjects such as content development, the Common Core curriculum, and blended learning strategies. (Los Angeles Times, 04/30/13)
Preschool Programs
Hawaii Legislature Approves Gov. Neil Abercrombie's School Readiness Program
The Hawaii legislature has passed S.B. 1093, which sets aside $1.16 million in administrative costs and $6 million in subsidies to help 4-year-olds prepare for school. The bill expands the state's existing Preschool Open Doors program in the Department of Human Services. The legislature also passed S.B. 1084, which proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the state to fund a full-fledged preschool program. (The Republic, 05/01/13)
School Vouchers
Nearly 8,000 Students Receive Voucher Seats for 2013-14
The number of students attending private and parochial school at taxpayer expense is going up by at least 3,000 in 2013-14, the second year of the Louisiana Scholarship Program. Gov. Bobby Jindal announced that nearly 8,000 students had been matched with vouchers in the first round of applications. The state received almost 12,000 applications, counting the 4,700 students currently enrolled. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 05/01/13)
Teacher Advisers
McDonnell to Create 'Teacher Cabinet' to Advise on Va. School Policies
Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell announced that he will create a Teacher Cabinet of advisers to influence high-level decisions that affect schools. The teachers who will comprise most of the cabinet will develop recommendations for new ways to engage parents and close achievement gaps, and they will work on methods for improving the collaboration between schools, colleges, and workplaces. (Washington Post, 05/01/13)
Wednesday, May 1
Common Core
Teachers' Union President: Halt All High Stakes Linked to Common Core
AFT President Randi Weingarten is calling for a moratorium on all stakes associated with the Common Core State Standards, saying that teachers have not had enough time or support to understand them deeply and shift their instruction accordingly. In a speech, Weingarten said that it's unfair to judge students, teachers, and schools on test scores that reflect material that hasn't been adequately taught yet. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/30/13)
Low-performing Schools
Senate Kills Parent Trigger Bill in Dramatic 20-20 Vote
Florida's parent trigger bill died a dramatic legislative death the same way it did last year: in a surprise tie vote in the Senate during the final week of session. The bill would have let parents demand major changes at failing schools, including having the them transformed into charters. Most observers expected the S.B. 862 to win approval in the Senate since an amendment allowed school boards to override parent demands. (Miami Herald, 04/30/13)
Pre-K Funding
State May Halt Slide in Preschool as Report Faults Funding Decline
Like much of the nation, Ohio has slashed enrollment and funding in preschool for children in low-income families, according to a new report. But a $70 million Race to the Top grant is paying for new standards, a rating system, and child assessments. And, Gov. John Kasich's proposed two-year budget includes an $18.5 million increase in aid for preschool in 2013-14 and an additional $2 million the following year. (Columbus Dispatch, 04/30/13)
School Choice
Arizona Moving Ahead with Expanded School-voucher Plan
Thousands of Arizona students in poorly performing schools could soon get what amounts to a voucher to go elsewhere—or even get educated at home. Lawmakers gave approved a limited program in 2011 designed to help students with disabilities. Last year, legislators expanded the program to entitle students in a school rated D or F, or nearly 10% of the more than 2,000 traditional public and charter schools in the state. Check out ECS' voucher/tax credit report. (Arizona Star, 04/29/13)
Undocumented Students
Lower Tuition for Immigrants Becomes Law in Colo.
Immigrant students who meet certain criteria will pay in-state tuition at Colorado colleges under S.B. 33, which was signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper. Colorado becomes the 14th state to allow immigrants who graduate from state high schools to attend colleges at the tuition rate other in-state students pay, rather than a higher rate paid by out-of-state students. (Denver Post, 04/29/13)
Tuesday, April 30
Accountability
Maine Public Schools to Be Assigned Letter Grades
Instead of handing out report cards Maine school officials will get grades themselves, as the education department announces A-through-F grades for the state's 600 public schools. In general, the grades are based on standardized test scores in math and English, students' growth and progress, and the performance and growth of the bottom 25% of students. (Portland Press Herald, 04/29/13)
College Attainment
66 by 2020: Utah Has 7 Years to Reach College Degree Goal and Top the Nation
Seven years from now, Utah will lead the nation in degree attainment. That's the goal put forward by Gov. Gary Herbert, higher education officials, members of the business community, and the legislature. The "66 by 2020" goal calls for two-thirds of all Utah adults to hold a credential by 2020. Roughly 43% of Utah's adult population currently holds a postsecondary degree or certificate. (Deseret News, 04/28/13)
Common Core/Vouchers
Lawmakers Expand School Voucher Program, Pause Common Core
The Indiana legislature enacted H.B. 1427, which revises the state's A to F school ratings and pauses its participation in the Common Core by temporarily halting implementation of the standards. House Bill 1003 awaits a final vote and would extend eligibility for vouchers to siblings of those already in the program, students in special education, or those living within the boundaries of a school rated a D or F. (Indianapolis Star, 04/27/13)
Competency-based Ed
Traditional Ways Upended in College of Competence
College for America, created by Southern New Hampshire University, demolishes one of the most fundamental building blocks of college: course credit. Instead, the college asks students to master—at any pace—120 competencies. The U.S. Education Department approved College for America for federal financial aid funding, the first time the government has signed off on a non-credit based degree program. (Boston Globe, 04/29/13)
Teacher Evaluations
Brewer Signs Bill Creating New Teacher Evaluations
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has signed a bill that makes it easier to fire some low-performing teachers. House Bill 2500 allows experienced teachers to be placed on probationary status if they received the lowest rating on one yearly performance review. That status allows a school board to fire a teacher with little notice. (Arizona Daily Sun, 04/29/13)
Monday, April 29
Early Literacy/Retention
New 3rd-grade Reading Requirement Goes into Effect this Fall
Next year, Arizona 3rd-graders must pass a state reading test or risk being held back. But some research indicates that retaining students may not improve a student's reading ability, can create social stigmas, and lead students to drop out of high school anyway. According to an ECS report, 32 states and Washington, D.C., have laws that identify and retain students if they are unable to read by 3rd grade. (Arizona Republic, 04/26/13)
Financial Aid
Mo. May Tighten State Scholarship Guidelines
The Missouri Senate is considering a bill to toughen attendance requirements for students receiving state-sponsored college scholarships in an effort to encourage them to graduate on time. Under S.B. 378, students would have to be continuously enrolled for a certain number of credit hours per semester in order to continue receiving state aid. (St. Louis CBS Local, 04/27/13)
High School Exams
Minnesota Senate Passes Education Bill that Ends High-stakes Tests
The Minnesota Senate approved its version of the $15.7 billion education funding bill that switches to a new testing system that is focused on career and college goals and on early intervention. Opponents said the loss of a strict graduation test requirement means the state is cheapening the high school diploma. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 04/25/13)
Online Courses
Only Sometimes for Online
The wholesale replacement of community college curriculums with online courses might not be the best idea, according to new research from the Community College Research Center. That's because community college students prefer face-to-face courses over their online equivalents in certain subjects, particularly courses they consider difficult, interesting, or important. (Inside Higher Ed, 04/26/13)
Preschool Funding
Report Catalogs a Decade of Declining Spending for State Preschool
Spending on state-funded preschool dropped by more than half a billion dollars in 2011-12 compared to the year before, creating a hole that some states are only now attempting to fill, according to the State of Preschool 2012. State funding per child for pre-K declined in 27 of 40 states with programs. In 13 states, per-child spending fell by 10% or more from the previous year. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/29/13)
School Meals
Bill Would Ensure Free Breakfast for Texas' Poorest Students
Offering free breakfasts to all students in low-income areas, not just to those who qualify under federal guidelines, is a program that some Texas legislators are trying to expand to schools in poor neighborhoods. The Senate passed S.B. 376, which would require schools to offer free breakfast to all students at schools where 80% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. (Texas Tribune, 04/26/13)
Friday, April 26
Charter Schools
Charter School Research Largely Positive, Says New Summary
A new research summary from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools found that the research on charter school performance over the past four years has been largely positive. The report examined 14 different studies from 2010-13 and found that all but one showed charter students outperforming their regular public school peers. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/24/13)
Common Core
Michigan House Approves Budget Stripping Common Core Funds
The Michigan House has approved a budget that would prohibit any general funds from being spent to implement the Common Core State Standards or the Smarter Balanced assessments. See page 184 of H.B. 4328. The push against the Common Core this year began with H.B. 4276, which would prohibit the Common Core from being implemented in the state. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/24/13)
Financial Aid
Deal Signs HOPE Bill
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed H.B. 372, which reinstates the 2.0 grade-point average requirement for students in the Technical College System of Georgia to be eligible for the HOPE Grant scholarships. The new rule responds to criticism and concerns that thousands of students lost the award—and dropped out or decided not to enroll—because they were unable to meet the higher 3.0 GPA rule. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 04/24/13)
Grad Requirements
Ambitious University of California Requirements Could Backfire
More California districts are requiring teens to take a course load that exceeds the state's minimum requirements—the same courses required for admission to the University of California—to graduate from high school. A new report says these ambitious requirements could backfire by making graduation too difficult for some students, and cause them to drop out or fail to earn diplomas after four years. (San Jose Mercury News, 04/25/13)
Pre-k Funding
SFPS to Double Pre-K Program with Boost in State Funding
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez announced that she is expanding the state's pre-kindergarten programs. All applicants will receive funding for pre-K programs in the 2013-14 school year. A dozen new programs will be able to start up statewide, and 1,380 more students will be served. The program began in 2005 and serves four-year-old students on a voluntary basis. (Santa Fe New Mexican, 04/26/13)
School Safety
School Safety Legislation Since Newtown
After the devastating school shootings in Newtown, Conn., in December, state lawmakers around the country vowed to act. The mission: Devise ways to prevent a similar tragedy. An Education Week analysis of nearly 400 bills found that state lawmakers have proposed a host of solutions, including arming teachers, adding police officers, and improving school buildings. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/24/13)
Thursday, April 25
Accountability
State Ed Boss Unveils New Accountability System
Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams unveiled plans for a new accountability system that still rates schools largely on student performance on standardized exams. The rating system will use four measures: student achievement, student progress, closing performance gap, and postsecondary readiness. All will use the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, test. (San Antonio Express-News, 04/23/13)
At-risk Students
Sandoval Touts High School Student Jobs Program
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said that a new program to help at-risk high school students already has shown signs of success in Nevada. Sandoval launched the Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) program in six high schools and is seeking legislative approval to expand it to 50 schools. Nationally, about half of JAG students go on to college and the rest to the working world. (Las Vegas Review Journal, 04/24/13)
Civics Education
Exemplary Civics Programs Highlighted
In the recent buzz about civics education comes a new brief by ECS outlining six best practices in that discipline and featuring several programs that focus on those approaches. The paper points out academic skills to focus on that create a good basis for civic engagement, such as public speaking and the ability to mount a strong argument on both sides of an issue. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/25/13)
Kindergarten/Early Learning
House OKs $15B Education Bill with Free All-day Kindergarten
The Minnesota House decided to pay for free all-day kindergarten statewide, to make early-childhood education programs more affordable, and to pump more money into K-12 classrooms. The House passed the K-12 education-funding bill with hopes of wiping out the achievement gap and attaining 100% high school graduation by the time today's preschoolers graduate from high school in 2027. Check out ECS' reports on kindergarten inequalities and policy characteristics. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 04/23/13)
Online Learning
Florida to Open First Online-Only Public University in U.S.
Public university students in Florida will be able to start working toward college degrees without actually going to college, under S.B. 1076, which was signed by Gov. Rick Scott. The state-run University of Florida plans to start a series of online bachelor's degree programs next year. California and Texas also are developing totally online university programs. See pg. 119 of S.B. 1076. (Huffington Post, 04/22/13)
Wednesday, April 24
College Completion
2 Groups Describe Efforts to Push More Community-College Students Toward Degree Completion
Students who enter community colleges with vague goals and shaky academic backgrounds often end up in remedial courses or on "a meandering path through an overwhelming number of course options," according to Completion by Design and Jobs for the Future. At a meeting, the groups described their efforts, working with state policymakers and higher-education associations, to create structured pathways to graduation. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 04/22/13)
Higher Ed Accountability
Brown Wants to Tie Some Funding of Universities to New Proposals
Gov. Jerry Brown wants to tie some state funding for California's public universities to several new requirements, including 10% increases in the number of transfer students from community colleges and the percentage of four-year graduation rates. The plan includes raising the overall number of graduates and a stipulation that more students coming from community colleges finish their studies within two years. (Los Angeles Times, 04/22/13)
Nation at Risk
A Nation at Risk: Where Are We Now?
This week marks the 30th anniversary of the release of A Nation at Risk, the landmark report declared that "the educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a nation and a people." Here is a look at comparative data on American education over the decades since the report, highlighting academic, demographic, and other trends. Check out comments on Nation at Risk. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/23/13)
Online Learning
How to Improve Public Online Education: Report Offers a Model
Public colleges and universities have been slower than their for-profit counterparts to embrace the potential of online learning to offer degrees. A new report suggests policies that states and public higher education systems could adopt to do some catching up. The report analyzes where public online-education efforts stand now and finds that access to high-quality, low-cost online courses varies widely from state to state. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 04/22/13)
Preschool Programs
San Antonio Sets Sights on Preschool Leadership
Last year, San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro persuaded his constituents to spend $248 million to pay for an ambitious preschool program for poor 4-year-olds. The city is partnering with seven districts to launch the Pre-K 4 SA program to deliver high-quality academics to 22,400 children over eight years in addition to intensive professional development for staff members and extensive parental supports. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/23/13)
Tuesday, April 23
Common Core
Alaska Joins Student Assessment Consortium
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development announced that the state is joining a consortium developing tests aligned with the Common Core State Standards. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, which includes about half of all states as well as the United States Virgin Islands, aims to bring language arts and math curricula more in line with the new standards. (Juneau Empire, 04/21/13)
Competency-based Ed
Credit without Teaching
Earlier this year Capella University and the new College for America began enrolling hundreds of students in academic programs without courses, teaching professors, grades, deadlines, or credit hour requirements, but with a path to genuine college credit. The two institutions are among a growing number that are giving competency-based education a try. Other examples include Western Governors University. (Inside Higher Ed, 04/22/13)
Ed Policymaking
Ed. Companies Exert Public Policy Influence
Some education observers are alarmed at what they see as increasingly aggressive moves by companies to make money from the K-12 system; others say the expanding role of for-profit ventures is just a natural evolution of the interplay between the private and public sectors in efforts to improve schools. Several examples suggest the influence education companies are trying to exert on policymaking and legislation. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/22/13)
Online Courses
Amended but Not Commended
A closely watched California bill to allow online courses from unaccredited providers to count for credit at public colleges has been amended in an effort to calm faculty concerns. Senate Bill 520 would require the state's 145 public colleges and universities to grant credit for low-cost online courses offered by outside groups, including classes offered by for-profit companies. (Inside Higher Ed, 04/22/13)
Teacher Evaluations
Teacher Groups Fail Bills Tied to New Evaluations
While many states in recent years have started to change the way they evaluate teachers, Texas has largely avoided that controversy. But that is changing as lawmakers prepare to debate S.B. 1403 and H.B. 2977, both of which would dramatically restructure the 15-year-old framework used by most school districts for teacher evaluations. (San Antonia Express-News, 04/22/13)
Monday, April 22
Dual Enrollment
Dual Enrollment Gives Struggling Students a College Try
California students who took courses in community college while still in high school were more likely than their classmates to graduate, attend and stay in a four-year college, and earn more credits even among students who are historically underrepresented in higher education, a Community College Research Center report found. According to an ECS presentation, 46 states have dual-enrollment policies and more are considering such programs. (Kitsap Sun, 04/19/13)
High School Reforms
High School Redesign Gets Presidential Lift
Reforming high schools continues to receive a lot of attention—including from President Obama—but some in the education community worry whether the expectations for change come with enough resources and flexibility to allow schools to tailor the redesigns to their communities. Others think the emphasis on the STEM subjects is too narrow and bigger policy shifts toward competency-based learning need to occur before real change can happen. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/17/13)
Online Certificates
Online Certificate Programs at Colleges and Universities Gain Popularity
As employers demand more skills, many people are turning to online certificate programs to acquire a specific expertise that can lead them to a job, a promotion, or to ensure that they hang on to their current position. Institutions offering online certificates typically require a student to take four to six online courses and pass a proctored exam. Certificate programs do not usually have prerequisites, but enrollees typically have a bachelor's degree. (New York Times, 04/18/13)
Performance Funding
New University Funding Model Based on Outcomes
Mississippi's eight public universities soon will receive state funds based on a performance model that looks at completed courses and graduation rates, among other factors. The Board of Trustees approved the new guidelines to distribute funds equitably and reward universities for operating efficiently and achieving a number of outcomes. (Jackson Clarion Ledger, 04/18/13)
Teaching Quality
Otter Signs as Law Limits on Teachers
Five months after Idaho voters resoundingly rejected laws limiting schoolteacher contract rights, lawmakers resurrected many of them. Gov. Butch Otter signed five bills into law to revive parts of Proposition 1, including limiting negotiated teacher contract terms to just one year and allowing school districts to cut teacher pay without declaring financial emergencies. (Spokane Spokesman-Review, 04/20/13)
Friday, April 19
College Readiness
ACT Survey Finds Gap on College Readiness
New survey results from ACT, Inc., show that 89% of high school teachers surveyed said students who finished their classes were well or very well prepared for college work. But only 26% of college instructors say incoming students are well or very well prepared for first-year courses. The results echoed previous findings in 2009, even though there has been intensive focus on college readiness. (Washington Post, 04/17/13)
Common Core/ELL
PARCC Releases Draft Policy on ELL Accommodations
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, which is designing assessments aligned to the Common Core standards, released its recommendations for the types of supports that can be used to help English-learners demonstrate their content knowledge and skills. The draft policy lists three conditions that an accommodation must meet. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/18/13)
Higher Ed Governance
Legislators Vote to Rescind Governor's Power to Appoint College President
The Connecticut Senate approved a bill that rescinds the governor's authority to appoint the president of the state's largest public college system. Senate File 237, instead, will place the responsibility of selecting a president and setting all the employment terms for the leader solely with the Board of Regents. The bill follows a series of missteps made by the college leaders. (Connecticut Mirror, 04/18/13)
Teacher Evaluations/Dismissal
Arizona Districts Could Dismiss Poor Teachers Easier Under Plan Going to Brewer
The Arizona Senate approved H.B. 2500 that permits districts to put not only some new teachers on probation but also permits a district to give that same status to veteran teachers whose evaluations show they are not properly doing the job. That would trigger performance improvement plans and regular evaluation. If a teacher's performance does not improve, then he or she eventually could be dismissed. (East Valley Tribune, 04/17/13)
Teacher Preparation
State Board Approves New Principles to Strengthen Teacher Training
A new set of principles approved by the Connecticut board of education aims to improve the caliber of future teachers by toughening training programs for educators. The strategy also seeks to improve communication and cooperation between districts and higher education programs. (Hartford Courant, 04/16/13)
Tuition/Higher Ed Accountability
Senate OKs Higher Ed Bill to Hold Down Tuition Rates
The Minnesota Senate passed its higher education budget, a $2.8 billion package that bars Minnesota State Colleges and Universities from increasing tuition by more than 3%. The budget also holds back about $30 million in 2015 until they meet three of five performance metrics like boosting graduation rates and cutting administrative costs. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 04/18/13)
Thursday, April 18
Charter Schools
Charter Schools' Funding Lags, Study Finds
Charter school students receive about $4,000 less in per-pupil funding than their regular public school peers according to an analysis of five regions across the U.S., a new report has found. The report compared per-pupil funding rates between charter and regular public schools in Denver, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Newark, and the District of Columbia from 2007-11. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/17/13)
College Remediation
40% of Colorado High School Grads Need Remediation before College
Nearly 40% of Colorado's high school class of 2011 needed remedial courses in at least one subject before beginning college-level work, according to a an annual report. While the percentage was on par with most of the country, Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia said that Colorado is pursuing initiatives to reduce the rate, including enrolling underprepared students in college-level courses with extra support and intervening in high school. (Denver Post, 04/16/13)
Competency-based Ed
Big Disruption, Big Questions
Several colleges are taking the competency-based approach to its potential end game, by offering "direct assessment" academic programs that are untethered from both course material and the credit hour. At the same time, a small but growing group of accreditors, foundations, and higher education associations have begun discussing what academic rigor might look like in this emerging model. (Inside Higher Ed, 04/17/13)
Early Learning
Early Years Coalition Forming to Support Obama Budget
Now that President Barack Obama has used his budget to outline his plans for an expansion of early-childhood education, Washington supporters are mobilizing to find a means to throw their weight behind that plan and make it a reality. The Strong Start for Children Campaign will bring at least 13 organizations interested in funding Obama's early-childhood education initiative together. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/12/13)
Workforce Training
Tired of Waiting, Employers Provide Just-in-time Education
Rather than waiting for students with the right skills to be produced by universities, a dozen Fortune 500 companies now offer their own in-house training classes that are eligible for college credit in specific areas they need their workers to know now. Several colleges recognize the training for academic credit through the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service. (Hechinger Report, 04/15/13)
Wednesday, April 17
Common Core
Before Tougher State Tests, Officials Prepare Parents
New York City's education department launched an ad blitz to get the message out that students are being held to the new higher Common Core standards, the day before students start taking tougher state tests. State Education Commissioner John King Jr. said he wouldn't be surprised if the number of students deemed proficient in math or English dropped by 35 percentage points. (Wall Street Journal, 04/15/13)
Compulsory Attendance
Beshear Supports Grants for Raising Dropout Age
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear defended a plan to delve out $570,000 to help as many as 57 districts with the costs of raising the minimum age for quitting school to 18. The legislature passed a law specifying that after 55% of districts increase the dropout age to 18, then all remaining districts must follow suit within four years. Check out ECS' updated summaries on attendance age limits and compulsory age policies. (Bowling Green Daily News, 04/15/13)
Early Learning
Birth to Five Policy Alliance Changes Name to Reflect Expanded Focus
The Birth to Five Policy Alliance, an 8-year-old organization that has brought together major education philanthropies with the goal of supporting early-childhood policies, has rebranded itself as the Alliance for Early Success. With the new name comes a renewed focus on children from birth to age 8, said the organization's executive director. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/15/13)
Financial Aid
Trying Again on 'Gainful'
The Education Department announced that it would seek to rewrite regulations on for-profit colleges, tighten underwriting standards for some student loans, and introduce new rules on using preloaded debit cards for financial aid. The Federal Register notice also indicated that the Obama administration intends to bring its regulatory authority to bear on broader issues of college access, affordability and completion. (Inside Higher Ed, 04/16/13)
Teacher Evaluations
Florida Unions Sue Over Test-Score-Based Evaluations
The National Education Association, on behalf of three affiliates of its Florida chapter, sued the state education department contending that the formula used to assess some teachers based on student test scores under S.B. 736 violates their constitutional rights. Many states are facing challenges to similar laws and issues surrounding educators who teach in "nontested" subjects. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/16/13)
Tuesday, April 16
Community College Reforms
Lifetime Limit on Community College Units Rejected by California Legislature
Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to make California's community college system more efficient and increase access for students hit a road block as lawmakers rejected his proposal to set a lifetime limit on the number of units students can take at reduced in-state rates. The governor's proposal includes efforts to increase graduation and transfer rates by discouraging students from lingering or taking courses without an academic plan. (Sacramento Bee, 04/15/13)
GED Tests
Some States Dropping GED as Test Price Spikes
Several dozen states are looking for an alternative to the GED high school equivalency test because of concerns that a new version coming out next year is more costly and will no longer be offered in a pencil and paper format. Developers say the new version is needed because nearly all states are adopting the tougher Common Core standards to ensure students are prepared for college and careers. (Associated Press, 04/14/13)
Higher Ed Governance
Oregon Higher Education Stands to Get Powerful New Overseer
Say goodbye to a powerful Oregon State Board of Higher Education and hello to a much-more-powerful Higher Education Coordinating Commission, or HECC. House Bill 3120, which is still being written, would remove power from at least four governmental bodies, including the legislature, to put a single entity in charge of funding and coordinating public higher education. (Oregonian, 04/14/13)
School Safety
Indiana House Passes School Resource Officer Bill—without Gun Mandate
Indiana schools could get grants to hire officers to serve as protection and resources for students under legislation passed by the House. Senate Bill 1 provides $50,000 for larger schools to hire resource officers while smaller schools could receive $35,000 for the positions. However, the bill no longer requires that all schools have someone carrying a weapon on site every day. (Evansville Courier-Press,04/15/13)
STEM Programs
As STEM Education Programs Take Hold, Colorado Seeks Common Vision
Colorado stakeholders from education and business are seeking to apply greater coordination to dozens of disparate STEM programs. At this point, the definition of a STEM program in K-12 education can mean almost anything, from programs that emphasize math and science, to schools that offer an engineering course, to districts that want to integrate STEM throughout the curriculum. (Denver Post, 04/15/13)
Monday, April 15
Charter Schools
Charter Schools Bill Advances
Texas could have 100 more charter schools and state officials could more easily close them if they perform poorly under S.B. 2 that was adopted by the Senate. The bill slowly raises the number of charters from 209 to 305 possible schools by 2019. At the same time, the legislation sets strict grounds for closing schools that fail to meet state accountability standards. (San Antonio Express-News, 04/11/13)
Common Core
State Board Adopts Standardized Tests Aligned with Common Core
The state board approved a resolution making Alabama the first state to adopt a new testing system aligned with the Common Core State Standards. ACT Aspire will become the annual reading and math assessment for grades three through eight. ACT Inc., reports the system is "fully aligned" with the common core standards that some lawmakers attempted to repeal earlier this year. (AL.com, 04/11/13)
Grad Requirements/Online Learning
Lawmakers Approve Major Changes in Graduation Requirements, Online University
Florida lawmakers approved S.B. 1076, which would create distinct high school diplomas for college-bound students seeking an academic challenge and students headed into the workforce. The sweeping bill also would designate a "preeminent research university" based on student performance, research spending, and national rankings, among other factors. Those universities would receive additional money to create an online learning institute. (Miami Herald, 04/12/13)
Legislative Education Issues
K-12 Issues in Mix as State Legislatures Wrap Up
State lawmakers continue to grapple with high-profile K-12 issues as legislative sessions approach or cross the finish line nationwide. School choice, school safety, and education funding are prominent among them. And despite setbacks in two Southern states for efforts to force withdrawal from the Common Core State Standards, bills that would do so are alive in three states in the Midwest. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/10/13)
Performance Funding
Gov. Signs Bill Creating School Performance Plan
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed S.B. 1293, which sets up a pilot project that provides simulated base funding of $6,500 per student in grades one through eight and $7,500 for high school students for a handful of districts and charter schools. Half the money would be tied to students' performance, and an additional $250 awarded for each student that gets a B or better on math and science classes. (Arizona Daily Star, 04/11/13)
Friday, April 12
Common Core
State Website Measures Whether Florida Schools Are Ready for New Standards and Testing
At an upcoming meeting, the Florida state board will discuss the technology needed to implement the new online Common Core assessments. The main concern is whether the proper equipment will be in place for testing in all districts. The state education department has come up with a readiness gauge to measure each district's progress toward meeting Common Core and digital learning deadlines. (Florida StateImpact, 04/10/13)
Distance Learning
Former Education Secretary Seeks to Simplify States' Distance-Education Rules
A group of higher-education leaders, accreditors, and regulators led by former Education Secretary Richard Riley is seeking to streamline distance-education and state-authorization regulations to make it easier and more affordable for colleges to enroll students across the country. The group's report proposes a plan for interstate reciprocity, based on the voluntary participation of states and colleges. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 04/11/13)
Online Courses
Taking on Accreditors and Faculty
A Florida bill, S.B. 940, would allow state officials to accredit individual courses on their own—including massive open online courses (MOOCs) offered by unaccredited for-profit providers. The Florida plan is similar to a California bill. Both would force public colleges and universities under some circumstances to award credit for work done by students in online programs unaffiliated with their colleges. (Inside Higher Ed, 04/11/13)
Preschool Access
Federal Support Could Close 'Preschool Access Gap,' Center Says
The Center for American Progress released a new analysis that says President Obama's preschool budget proposal bolsters the need for federal support. Researchers at the center say that though states have acted on their own to expand preschool programs, they are still not reaching many children, creating a "preschool access gap." (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/10/13)
Report Cards
State Officials Release Comparative 'Performance Reports' for Every NJ Public School
New Jersey education officials released "performance reports" on every school, saying new categories for student growth, absenteeism, success in advanced courses, college readiness based on SAT scores, and other measures will give parents more information than the report cards of the past—and create more pressure for schools to improve. (NorthJersey.com, 04/11/13)
School Safety/Discipline
With Police in Schools, More Children in Court
As districts across the country consider placing more police officers in schools, youth advocates and judges are raising alarm about what they have seen in the schools where officers are already stationed: a surge in criminal charges against children for misbehavior that many believe is better handled in the principal's office. (New York Times, 04/12/13)
Thursday, April 11
Education Reforms
Analysis: Education Focus Shifts to Implementation
If 2013 was the education session for Mississippi's legislature, it will be followed by the implementation season. State leaders will have to create structures to authorize charter schools and fund prekindergarten programs. Literacy coaches will have to be hired to implement a new focus on K-3 reading, along with training for thousands of teachers. And more money will be required to bring the plans to fruition. (Biloxi Sun-Herald, 04/09/13)
Federal Ed Budget
Obama Budget Would Invest in Pre-K, High School Overhaul
President Barack Obama's budget proposes new money for a big expansion of prekindergarten programs, a new competitive-grant program for high school improvement, a new Race to the Top competition focused on higher education—and level funding for the two formula grants districts depend on most: Title I grants for disadvantaged students and special education. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/10/13)
Graduation Options/College Remediation
Senate Adopts Key Changes to High-school-graduation Rules
The Florida Senate passed S.B. 1076, which alters graduation requirements to make a diploma easier for some students to earn and encourage more teenagers to gain job skills while in school. More demanding courses—and more tests—would be needed for those who want a "scholar" diploma. The Senate also passed S.B. 1720, which requires community colleges to merge remedial education with a credit-earning course. (Orlando Sentinel, 04/10/13)
Graduation Requirements/Tests
Texas Considers Backtracking on Testing
In the state that spawned test-based accountability in schools and spearheaded one of the nation's toughest high school curriculums, Texas lawmakers are now considering a reversal that would cut back graduation requirements and standardized testing. Texas requires more than double the number of end-of-course exams used in the states that mandate that students pass such exams, according to an ECS report. (New York Times, 04/10/13)
Workforce Skills
'More Than a Major'
Business executives care more about their new hires' thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills than they do about their undergraduate majors, according to a survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. The report shows business executives' response to a number of statements, and the results suggest that these employers are not just looking for STEM majors—or for any one kind of major. (Inside Higher Ed, 04/10/13)
Wednesday, April 10
Charter Schools
Maine Education Chief Wants to Make All Districts Responsible for Charter School Funding
Maine Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen presented a concept to lawmakers that would drastically change how charter schools are funded, spreading the financial responsibility to every district. Currently, charter schools receive tax dollars from their students' sending districts, which are required to contribute a per-student amount to the charter based on the state's funding formula. (Bangor Daily News, 04/10/13)
Early College
Early College Hopefuls
The early college high school model is being lauded as a way to provide low-income students with a road map to and through college. Early college high schools seek to rectify week graduation rates—especially for low-income students—by merging high school and some college. Students can earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree, and some are set on the path to a four-year degree. Check out ECS' database on early college. (New York Times, 04/09/13)
Financial Aid
Calls Mount for Changing How Interest Rates Are Set on Federal Student Loans
President Obama's 2014 budget is expected to propose moving to market-based interest rates on federal student loans. Under current law, student-loan interest rates are set by Congress. On July 1 the rate on Stafford loans will double from 3.4% to 6.8%. Some interest groups and members of Congress are calling for changes in how the rates on all types of federal student loans are set. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 04/09/13)
Higher Ed Accountability
Community Colleges to Offer Web Data on Their Performance
California community colleges launched a new tool that provides a snapshot of performance at all 112 campuses, designed to help students pick the right school and push the institutions to improve. The Student Success Scorecard makes key measures as completion rates, retention of students, and job-training success accessible to the public and policymakers in an easy-to-use format. (Los Angeles Times, 04/09/13)
Science Standards
Common Science Standards Make Formal Debut
The final set of standards aimed at reshaping the focus and delivery of science instruction in schools has been unveiled, setting the stage for states—many of which helped craft the standards—to take the next step and consider adopting them as their own. The Next Generation Science Standards are designed to provide a greater emphasis on depth over breadth in studying the subject. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/09/13)
Tuesday, April 9
College Affordability
Designing $10,000 Degrees Tests Colleges
Since Texas Gov. Rick Perry challenged institutions to create $10,000 degrees, 13 such programs have been established across the state. But cost creep has marked some of the programs. To attain the degrees at their lowest advertised cost, students must clear significant hurdles—accruing college credits while in high school, maintaining good grades, taking heavy course loads, or receiving federal aid. (San Antonio Express-News, 04/07/13)
Early Literacy/Retention
Grade Retention Compromise on Track
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback's plan to hold back struggling readers may yet reach his desk this year. The Senate approved a heavily amended version of H.B. 2140 that would hold back struggling readers in 1st grade rather than 3rd, but only in districts that have a high percentage of students struggling on reading assessments. The bill also would form a task force to study strategies for improving reading. (Topeka Capital-Journal, 04/07/13)
Financial Aid
'Rethinking Pell Grants': Group Suggests Separate Pathways for Younger Students and Adult Learners
A group of experts is proposing a new approach for the federal Pell program: creating separate pathways to promote social mobility for younger students and job training for adult learners. Today, 60% of Pell Grant recipients are older, independent students who often have different goals and needs than younger students. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 04/09/13)
Online Learning
Virtual Learning Bills Gain Momentum in Legislature
Bills moving through the Florida House and Senate are seeking to expand virtual education, both in the public school system and in higher education. House Bill 7029 would enable out-of-state online education providers to qualify for public dollars. House Bill 843 would require Florida's top public university to set up a virtual branch. (Tampa Bay Times, 04/08/13)
Student Discipline
New Analysis Bolsters Case Against Suspension, Researchers Say
A new analysis of suspension data that show staggering rates of the punishment's use at some schools are even more reason to rethink that common method of disciplining students, researchers said. The report found that 36% of all black male students with disabilities were suspended in 2009-10. Researchers also identified "hotspot" districts where any one group of students was suspended at a rate of 25% or more. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/09/13)
Monday, April 8
Accountability
Georgia About to Roll Out New Grading System for Schools and Districts
Georgia will roll out new school report cards that will base grades on graduation rate, test performance, student attendance, academic growth, and success in closing performance gaps. Schools and districts can earn extra points by offering special programs, including for STEM, or by improving the performance of poor students, students with limited English skills, and students with disabilities. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 04/04/13)
Differentiated Tuition
One Price in California
The new chancellor of California's community colleges has indicated that he is opposed to attempts at charging "differential tuition" for certain programs or courses. Brice Harris said that such efforts, even if proposed for seemingly good reasons, go against California law and the deep commitment to affordable, open access at its community colleges. (Inside Higher Ed, 04/05/13)
School Tax Credits
Montana House Backs Private School Tax Credits
The Montana House has given initial approval a measure that would provide $2.5 million in private school scholarships and public school grants. Senate Bill 81 would give tax credits to people who donate to organizations that provide scholarships to private schools and grants for new programs at public schools. (Great Falls Tribune, 04/06/13)
School Vouchers
A Voucher Showdown During House Budget Debate
The Texas House sent a clear signal about their position on school vouchers with their approval of a budget bill amendment that would ban the use of public dollars for private schools. The Senate education chairman has proposed S.B. 23 that would allow businesses to receive up to a 15% state tax credit to pay for economically disadvantaged and at-risk students to attend private schools, including religious institutions. (Texas Tribune, 04/04/13)
Teacher Licensure
State Still Waiting for Teacher Candidates Two Years into Alternative System
More than two years after Minnesota lawmakers created easier ways for people to become teachers that doesn't involve years of college, the state is still waiting to license a single teacher under the effort. The problem: no organizations have applied for approval to start training under the so-called alternative teacher licensure effort. (Minnesota Public Radio, 04/05/13)
Friday, April 5
Charter Schools
Mississippi Senate Gives Final OK to Charter Schools, Headed for Governor's Signature
After two years of struggle, a bill to make it easier to create charter schools in Mississippi is on its way to Gov. Phil Bryant. Under H.B. 369, school boards in districts graded A, B, and C would get vetoes over charter schools in their boundaries. Students couldn't cross district lines to attend a charter school in another district. (Gulflive.com, 04/03/13)
Kindergarten Policies
Report: State Kindergarten Policies Show Inequities
In 11 states and the District of Columbia, full-day kindergarten is a requirement, but in five states, the decision to offer kindergarten is left up to districts, according to a new ECS report. A "full day" of kindergarten can range from four to seven hours. And in 35 states, kindergarten attendance is not mandated even if it is available. The variation in policies means that some children are not receiving strong early-learning opportunities. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/03/13)
Preschool Programs
Some Head Start Providers to Lose Their Federal Aid
Twenty-five out of 125 low-performing Head Start providers that went through a recompetition process to maintain federal funding have lost their entire service area, the Office of Head Start announced. Fourteen additional grantees will see their money split between new and existing providers. Eighty providers will continue to receive their existing funds. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/03/13)
School Report Cards
New School Report Cards Coming from State Ed Dept
New Jersey’s annual report cards will now include new indicators of student performance. The report cards will compare high schools based on students' PSAT scores and Advanced Placement course participation. They'll also show which middle schools have the worst rates of chronic absenteeism and the highest numbers of students enrolled in Algebra I courses. (Newark Star-Ledger, 04/03/13)
Teacher Evaluations
Bill Gates: A Fairer Way to Evaluate Teachers (Commentary)
As states and districts implement new teacher development and evaluation systems, there is a risk they’ll use hastily contrived, unproven measures, warns Bill Gates. One example is the rush to develop new assessments in grades and subjects not currently covered by state tests. Of particular concern is the possibility that test results alone will be used to determine a large part of how much teachers get paid. (Washington Post, 04/03/13)
Tuition Waivers
Bill Could Waive College Tuition for Academically Strong Students Living in Poverty
A proposed bill in Maine would cover college tuition for high-achieving high schoolers living in poverty. Under LD 962, students living in Maine households making less than $30,000 annually could go to college in the state without paying tuition if they graduate in the top 25% of their senior classes academically. (Bangor Daily News, 04/05/13)
Thursday, April 4
College Readiness/Completion
Maryland Explores Mandating High Schoolers Take Four Years of Math
A proposed Maryland bill would require high school students to take four years of math and assess high schoolers to find those in need of extensive remedial classes in college. Under S.B. 740, students would have to complete a degree plan after 45 credits, and universities would reach out to "near completers," students who are close to meeting graduation credit requirements when they drop out.
(University of Maryland Diamondback, 04/03/13)
Low-performing Schools
Crucible of Change in Memphis as State Takes on Failing Schools
Tennessee is removing schools with the lowest test scores and graduation rates from the oversight of school boards and pooling them in a special state-run district. Memphis is ground zero with 80% of the bottom-ranked schools. Most of the schools will be run by charter operators. All will emphasize frequent testing and data analysis. Many are instituting teacher performance pay, but will not offer tenure. (New York Times, 04/02/13)
Online Courses
Stanford to Join Harvard, MIT in Online Education
Stanford University announced that it is joining forces with Harvard and MIT on developing a computer system that allows colleges to offer free massive open online courses, or MOOCS. Stanford still plans to offer some of its courses through Coursera, a commercial Internet course provider founded by two Stanford professors. (Boston Globe, 04/03/13)
Pre-K Programs
Miss. Lawmakers OK Partially State-funded Pre-K
Mississippi would directly fund a limited preschool program for the first time under a bill on its way to Gov. Phil Bryant. Senate Bill 2395 would create a preschool program that could serve 1,325 4-year-olds in its first year, using a $3 million appropriation. Groups of preschool providers would have to apply for grants and would use private donations, federal money, or other funds to match the state money. (Hattiesburg American, 04/02/13)
Vouchers
Gov. Bill Haslam Drops Voucher Plan
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam withdrew his proposal for school vouchers after he and the bill's sponsor in the state Senate failed to get guarantees from fellow Republicans that they would not try to expand the measure. Proposed amendments to S.B. 196 would have doubled the number of vouchers that Haslam wanted and raised a family's income level for eligibility. (Tennessean, 04/03/13)
Wednesday, April 3
Accountability
Williams: Texas Will Get A-F School Rating System
Education Commissioner Michael Williams told the Senate education committee he plans to simply order Texas to begin rating schools based on A-F letter grades starting next year—without waiting for bills proposing to do the same thing to work their way through the legislature. The current system features four classifications ranging from Exemplary to Academically Unacceptable. (Austin American-Statesman, 04/02/13)
Common Core Assessments
Test Groups Weigh Unified Accommodations Policies
With a rollout of the new Common Core assessments expected in 2014-15, test developers are aiming to streamline the types of testing supports offered by states to special education students and English-language learners. They also want to make sure the tests are designed to be as broadly accessible as possible to all students, regardless of their profiles. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/03/13)
ELL/Kindergarten Funding
Gov. Sandoval Announces More Funds for K-12 Education
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval announced that he wants to spend $25 million more than he previously proposed on K-12 education in the next biennium to help English language learners and expand all-day kindergarten. It will bring the total new commitment to the two priorities in Sandoval's recommended budget to nearly $60 million. See ECS' new reports on full-day kindergarten and kindergarten policies. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 04/01/13)
Teacher Evaluations
What Will New Evaluation Systems Cost?
The cost of new teacher-evaluation systems is likely to vary based on how states and districts choose to establish student-growth measures for all teachers, according to a new analysis. The report compares three different ways of creating these growth measures, something nearly all states are facing because "value added" measures only cover a fraction of the teaching population. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 04/01/13)
Undocumented Students
Gov. John Kitzhaber Signs Tuition Equity Bill
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber signed into law H.B. 2787 that grants in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants who have attended school in the country for at least five years, studied at a state high school for at least three years and graduated, and show intention to become a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Oregon joins at least a dozen states in allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates. (Oregonian, 04/02/13)
Tuesday, April 2
Assessments/Accountability
Lawmakers Examine High-Stakes Testing in Lower Grades
When it comes to high-stakes testing, Texas lawmakers have so far focused most of their attention on high school students. But as more than 3 million students begin to take standardized exams this week, some legislators are examining the plight of younger test-takers. A couple of proposed bills address the time students spend on tests and the number of exams that they take. (Texas Tribune, 04/02/13)
Charter Schools
Fordham Institute Recommends New Charter Governance Laws
A new brief by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute outlines suggestions for changes in how charter schools are governed. The report pinpoints three areas: the ability of high-performing charter schools to grow and replicate; oversight of charters; and oversight of virtual charter schools that serve students across a state. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/28/13)
Performance Funding
Indiana Links College Performance, Aid
Indiana has developed an evolving performance-based funding formula in an effort to increase the number of college graduates. The formula rewards schools for growth in number of overall degrees, on-time graduation rates, retention, and number of degrees in STEM and for students receiving Pell grants. Lawmakers want to raise the performance-based calculation from 5% to 7% of each school's state funding. (Indianapolis Star, 03/31/13)
School Turnarounds
Kentucky Sees Success Taking Over Failing Schools in Other Districts, but Can It Work for JCPS?
During the past three years, the state education department has led the turnaround efforts at eight of the 41 Kentucky schools forced to undergo overhauls for consistently poor academic performance. Many of these schools have made significant gains in student achievement. Now, several low-performing schools in Jefferson County Public Schools could face similar state interventions. (Louisville Courier-Journal, 03/31/13)
Teacher Evaluations
Curious Grade for Teachers: Nearly All Pass
More than half the states now require new teacher evaluation systems that are intended to provide meaningful feedback and, critically, to weed out weak performers. But early results show that in many states nearly 100% of teachers are receiving effective or better ratings. Advocates of education reform concede that such numbers are worrisome and offer explanations for why change is not occurring more rapidly. (New York Times, 03/30/13)
Monday, April 1
College Enrollment/Outreach
Attracting the Missing Students
In December, a study revealed that most low-income, high-achieving high school students aren't applying to a single competitive college. Now a follow-up project has found that relatively inexpensive methods exist that could get many more of these talented, low-income student to apply to, enroll at, and succeed at the most competitive colleges. (Inside Higher Ed, 04/01/13)
Pre-K Accountability
Jindal Proposes Letter Grades, New Accountability Standards for Public Pre-K Programs
The Jindal administration will spearhead legislation to enforce new accountability standards for Louisiana's early childhood education programs, the governor's office announced. Three bills would require public pre-K programs to conform to quality and readiness standards to receive state funding. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 03/28/13)
Pre-K Program Evaluations
What's Needed for Preschool to Pay Off? Two Studies Offer Insights
Two new studies of preschool programs in New Jersey and Boston have shown significant gains for students. The studies identified factors that contribute to success, including: teacher's educational backgrounds, pay, and support are higher than typical; programs are full-day and open to all students of a certain age group, regardless of family income; curricula offerings are linked to system-wide educational standards; and districts monitor teacher and student improvement. (Christian Science Monitor, 03/28/13)
Teaching Quality
States Look to Raise Standards for New Teachers
Several states are shifting the conversation from the performance of teachers in the classroom to an emphasis on improving the quality of future teachers and keeping the good ones in the profession. Governors in Delaware, Iowa, Mississippi, and New York are pushing proposals to address these issues. Meanwhile, several education groups are focusing on ways to improve the teacher-production pipeline. (Stateline.org, 03/29/13)
Virtual Education
Southern States See Changes in Virtual Education
Online learning has undergone a series of significant changes in recent years as it has entered the mainstream of K-12 education, concludes a new report. The Southern Regional Education Board's latest report about online learning examines the evolution of the region's state-run virtual schools over the past seven years as well as examining how e-learning has grown at the district level. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/28/13)
Friday, March 29
Assessments
States Can Afford Better Tests by Restructuring Costs, Study Says
States can afford higher-quality assessments by reallocating the money they currently spend on tests. A new report argues that states can replace as many as half of the multiple-choice items on their current tests with essays and performance items without spending more money, and they'd get assessments that offer good learning experiences for students and valuable feedback for teachers. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/28/13)
Assessments/Common Core
Alabama Could Be First State to Use Standardized Tests Aligned with Common Core
Alabama elementary and middle schools could be the first in the nation to adopt "next generation" standardized tests from the makers of the ACT test. The new assessment system, called ACT Aspire, is "fully aligned" with the controversial Common Core State Standards, reports ACT Inc. The state board plans to consider the proposal at an upcoming meeting. (AL.com, 03/29/13)
College Costs/Online Courses
Online Rx for 'Cost Disease'
Universities must slow the rising cost of higher education or risk losing the support of the American public, argues President Emeritus of Princeton University William Bowen in his new book. To do that, college administrations should turn to online courses to combat the "cost disease." But there remain more questions than answers about online learning. (Inside Higher Ed, 03/29/13)
School Meal Programs
Senate Bill Gives Every W.Va. Public School Student Free Breakfast, Lunch
West Virginia lawmakers unveiled S.B. 663 that would provide free breakfasts and lunches to all public school students. The bill would allow the state education department and school boards to set up nonprofit foundations that would raise money to help fund the meal programs. Currently, only low-income students get free and discounted meals at school. (Charleston Gazette, 03/27/13)
Teacher Tenure
House Panel Amends, Advances Teacher Tenure Bill
The Alaska House is considering H.B. 162 that would require teachers to work in the same district continuously for five full school years to be eligible for tenure. Currently, teachers who work for three continuous years or accept a contract for four consecutive years can get tenure. Districts could terminate tenure if teachers do not meet student academic achievement goals for two of the five years.
(Juneau Empire, 03/28/13)
Thursday, March 28
Early College
Early-College High Schools Show Promise
Students in early-college high schools have a 93% graduation rate, compared with the national average of 78%, according to Jobs for the Future, which has 246 early-college schools in its network. The first semester after graduating early college, 76% of graduates in JFF's network enroll in college vs. the national rate of 68%. Early-college grads from JFF schools in 2011 earned an average 36 college credits. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/25/13)
Exit Exams/Common Core
Arizona House Votes to Eliminate AIMS as High School Graduation Requirement
The Arizona House approved H.B. 2047, which scraps the AIMS tests that have been administered for more than a decade and a graduation requirement since 2006. Instead, the state might not require an exam for a diploma and replace AIMS with the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), which is tied to the Common Core standards. (East Valley Tribune, 03/26/13)
Online Degrees
Economies of Online Scale
The State University of New York and Florida's university system are seeking to offer new online degree programs while consolidating authority and avoiding redundant efforts by different campuses. In New York, this means the system office is taking the reins. In Florida, it means the University of Florida is likely to lead an online effort on behalf of the system and gain thousands of new students in the process. (Inside Higher Ed, 03/27/13)
School Choice
With Vouchers, States Shift Aid for Schools to Families
A growing number of lawmakers are taking steps to redefine public education, shifting the debate from the classroom to the pocketbook. Instead of simply financing a traditional system of neighborhood schools, policymakers are headed toward funneling public money directly to families, who would be free to choose the kind of schooling they believe is best for their children, be it public, charter, private, religious, online, or at home. (New York Times, 03/27/13)
School Climate
States Use School Score Cards to Target Climate Problems
In 11 states, a new score card for high schools has been designed to measure school climate in an attempt to put safety and discipline, student engagement, and students' connection to school on the same footing as their performance in math and reading. States are enacting the new measures with support from Safe and Supportive School grants from the Department of Education. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/26/13)
Wednesday, March 27
AP Courses
More Advanced Placement Classes to Be Offered Online
Maine is increasing funding and expanding courses for a program that provides free online Advanced Placement courses to students who can't get them at their local high school. The program initially was funded with federal money, but went on hiatus for a year when that money ran out. Then the state re-launched it at the urging of the legislature's education committee. (Portland Herald-Press, 03/24/13)
Financial Aid/Workforce Development
Mass. Gives $2m in Scholarships for Needed Degrees
In a renewed effort to boost the number of college graduates in fast-growing fields, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced a $2 million scholarship program for students pursuing degrees in science, business, and health care. The initiative is the first time the state has broadly encouraged career choices through financial aid. (Boston Globe, 03/26/13)
Higher Ed Funding
State Budget Officers Call on States and Colleges to Fix Higher-Ed Finance
A National Association of State Budget Officers' report concludes that the way states and colleges pay for higher education is unsustainable. The report offers recommendations for state lawmakers and campuses to fix the problems, including a focus on performance, tuition controls, and efficiencies. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 03/27/13)
Graduation Requirements
Texas House Votes to Reduce High-stakes Testing, Change Graduation Requirements
The Texas House approved H.B. 5 that reduces from 15 to five the number of end-of-course exams needed for graduation from high school. The bill also replaces the current "4x4" graduation plan -- four years of English, math, science, and social studies -- with several different paths to a diploma. The aim is to increase flexibility for students, particularly those seeking career training. (Austin American-Statesman, 03/26/13)
School Vouchers
Ind. School Voucher Ruling Could Influence Others
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld the nation's broadest school voucher program in a ruling supporters say could set a precedent as other states look to build or expand programs that use public money to allow students to attend private schools. The state's highest court unanimously upheld a 2011 law providing vouchers for low- and middle-income families and cleared the way for an expansion of the program. (Boston Globe, 03/26/13)
Tuesday, March 26
Affirmative Action
Supreme Court Takes Up Challenge to Michigan Ban on Race-Conscious Admissions
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to weigh the constitutionality of Michigan's voter-passed ban on the use of racial or ethnic preferences in public-college admissions. Similar bans exist in six other states. In a separate case, the Court is expected to rule in a legal challenge to a race-conscious undergraduate admissions policy adopted by the University of Texas at Austin. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 03/25/13)
College Access/Enrollment
Community College Report: Hundreds of Thousands Have Been Shut out in California
With the number of course sections down by as much as 20% since 2008, enrollment at California's community colleges has hit its lowest point in two decades, concludes a new report. The system counted 2.4 million students in 2011-12, down from 2.9 million in 2008-09. The community college chancellor reports that a half-million students have been shut out of the system in recent years because they couldn't get into classes. (Oakland Tribune, 03/26/13)
Common Core
Testing Group Approves Performance-Level Descriptions
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium approved a set of "achievement-level descriptors" for how students must perform in order to score at each level of its test. These are likely to undergo revision, so the organization is calling them "initial" descriptors. But even at this stage, they offer a glimpse into the group's thinking as it designs assessments for the Common Core standards. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/22/13)
District Takeovers
Cerf Calls Camden Schools 'Human Catastrophe' as State Seizes Control
Calling the problems "chronic and severe," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced the state will take over the city's school system, making it the fourth district under state control. Christie said it's too early to set a timeline for how the Camden school board could regain control. Since the takeover law was enacted in the late 1980s, the state has not given back control of any district. (Newark Star-Ledger, 03/25/13)
Ed Policy and Research
Connection to Education Research Elusive for States
State education officials are open to using research to shape policy and practice decisions, but they say that it remains difficult to make practical use of most studies, according to a new report. State leaders said they need considerably more support from so-called "knowledge brokers," who can boil down research findings and translate them for the specific state's context. See ECS' research studies database. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/22/13)
Monday, March 25
Education Reforms
Governor Acts on K-12 Measures, Will Amend School Takeover Bill
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell signed legislation that extends the probation period for new teachers to up to five years and allows teachers to be fired after at least one unsatisfactory evaluation. McDonnell also has signed a measure to assign A to F grades to schools. The governor plans to amend a new law that allows a statewide school district to takeover low-performing schools. Education advocates have questioned its constitutionality. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 03/23/13)
High School Reforms/Common Core
Carnegie Report Outlines Principles for High School Redesign
Noting that "nowhere is the need for redesign greater or more urgent that in American high schools," a Carnegie Corporation report outlined 10 principles for high-performing secondary schools. It contends these practices need to be embraced in high schools if students are going to be successful under the demands of Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/21/13)
International Comparisons
'A-Plus' Countries Falter on International Math Study
Ongoing overhauls of state math standards are intended in part to prepare American students to compete with their international peers. Yet an analysis of the most recent Trends in International Math and Science Study suggests that so-called "A-plus countries" have not sustained that achievement in more recent exams, and that better examples of academic leaders might be found closer to home. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/21/13)
Undocumented Students
Senate Approval Clears Way for Tuition Equity to Become Law after Decade-long Effort
The Oregon legislature approved H.B. 2787 that grants in-state tuition for undocumented students who have attended school in the country for at least five years; studied at an Oregon high school for at least three years, and graduated; and show intention to become a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Oregon joins at least a dozen states in allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates. (Oregonian, 03/21/13)
Friday, March 22
Higher Ed Funding/Tuition
Higher Ed Cuts Mean Major Tuition Hikes
Tuition at public colleges has increased significantly over the past five years, the result of cuts to higher education funding, according to a new report. While enrollment grew by nearly 1.2 million students during that time, states cut overall higher education funding by $16.8 billion, or $2,353 per student. Only Wyoming and North Dakota increased funding, but students still saw a 9% increase in tuition. (Stateline.org, 03/21/13)
Low-performing Schools
More States Consider 'Parent Trigger' Laws
The push for the "parent trigger" option for turning around struggling schools continues, with new laws under consideration in 12 states' legislative sessions. Lawmakers in Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, and elsewhere are reviewing parent-trigger bills. Meanwhile, California, Indiana, and Texas are considering revisions to their existing parent-trigger laws. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/21/13)
Online Learning
Digital Learning Now! Grades States on Ed-Tech Policies
Only six states—Utah, Florida, Minnesota, Georgia, Virginia, and Kansas—earned an A or B on the 2012 edition of the Digital Learning Report Card, by the group Digital Learning Now! States were graded based on 39 metrics that correlate to the organization's 10 essential elements for high-quality digital learning. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/21/13)
Pre-K Program Evaluation
Report Demonstrates Continuing Value of Preschool for New Jersey’s Poorest Kids
By the time they reached the 4th or 5th grade, kids who attended New Jersey's pre-K program in the poorest cities were on average three-quarters of an academic year ahead of their peers who didn't. according to a new study. They also were significantly less likely to either be held back a grade or routed to special education services. The study follows up on similar findings when students were in 2nd grade. (Hechinger Report, 03/20/13)
School Closings
CPS to Close 61 Buildings, Affecting 30,000 Kids
With Chicago Public Schools facing a financial meltdown, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration targeted 61 school buildings for closing. Officials said the shutdowns would affect 30,000 students, almost all in grades K-8 and most now attending poorly performing schools where enrollment has sagged in recent years. (Chicago Tribune, 03/22/13)
Thursday, March 21
Education Governance
Can Better Organization Produce More Graduates?
Under Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber's education overhaul, every student will have to meet academic milestones on the road from preschool to college. To reinforce this unified approach, Kitzhaber appointed a chief education officer who is charged with overseeing every stage of education. Oregon is part of a small but growing number of states trying to improve academic results by aligning the education system. (Stateline.org, 03/20/13)
Higher Ed Innovations
SUNY Signals Major Push Toward MOOCs and Other New Educational Models
The State University of New York's Board of Trustees endorsed an ambitious vision for how SUNY might use prior-learning assessment, competency-based programs, and massive open online courses to help students finish their degrees in less time, for less money. According to a news release, the system ultimately wants to add 100,000 enrollments within three years. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 03/20/13)
Pre-K Program Evaluation
Georgia Children in State-Run Preschool Show Growth, but Classroom Quality Could Improve
An evaluation of Georgia's state-funded universal preschool program showed that the children made significant growth in language and literacy skills, math skills, general knowledge, and behavioral skills. The children in the program who had the greatest gains were those who came in with limited English proficiency. However, classroom practices remain, in general, at "medium quality," the report noted. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/19/13)
Teacher Preparation
Teacher Ed. Programs Show Signs of Improvement, AACTE Finds
Teacher education programs are using data, technology, and monitoring/tracking systems to improve, but still have a ways to go, according to a report from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. The report offers several recommendations for the programs, which include diversifying the teacher workforce pool and adopting performance-based exit measures for teacher-candidates. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/20/13)
School Choice
Idaho House Favors Private School Tax Credits
The Idaho House approved H.B. 286, which would provide a tax break for those who donate to private and religious school scholarships. The bill would create tax credits worth up to $10 million annually. Only students who are transferring from a public school or entering kindergarten or 1st grade would be eligible. (Salem Spokesman-Review, 03/20/13)
Wednesday, March 20
Charters/Low-performing Schools
Georgia Charter-school Law Would Be Different from Other States
Seven states have so-called "parent-trigger" laws through which low-performing schools could be converted into charter schools. But Georgia's H.B. 123, which already passed the House, would let parents and teachers trigger that charter process in any public school in the state. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 03/18/13)
Financial Aid
Latino Blueprint Offers New Ideas for Financial Aid Policy
Excelencia in Education is seeking to shake up current thinking about federal policy with a collection of new ideas that would re-imagine student financial aid. A new report by the organization proposes to allow students to change the financial aid formula for work-study, allow students to use financial aid for remedial courses, and require that students file financial aid forms at the same time they apply to college. (Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 03/18/13)
Online Courses
New MOOC Offers Technology Training for K-12 Administrators
A new, free online course is aimed at giving thousands of district administrators around the country help in using technology to meet their schools' needs. The project, which is being dubbed a MOOC-Ed, or a massively open online course for educators, is the work of the Alliance for Excellent Education and the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/19/13)
Race to the Top
Race to Top Winners Can Apply for Extra Year to Finish Work
The Department of Education will consider, on a case-by-case basis, granting the original 12 Race to the Top winners an extra year to finish their work. Next school year was set to be the fourth and last year for the program, but delays have plagued many winning states as they seek to make good on their promises, and states have been slow to spend their money. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/18/13)
School Safety
Gov. McCrory Announces New Effort to Make Schools More Secure
Gov. Pat McCrory announced the creation of a new center to study ways to make North Carolina’s schools safer. McCrory said the new center will hold hearings and meet with school and law enforcement officials to consider a range of options, including increased security and better mental health counseling in schools. (Charlotte Observer, 03/19/13)
Tuesday, March 19
Competency-based Education
Beyond the Credit Hour
The Department of Education has endorsed competency-based education with the release of a letter that encourages interested colleges to seek federal approval for degree programs that do not rely on the credit hour to measure student learning. The letter also opens the door for institutions to attempt the "direct assessment" of learning—meaning no link to the credit hour–and also be eligible for federal financial aid. (Inside Higher Ed, 03/19/13)
Education Innovations
Business Roundtable Stages Competition for Education Funding
The Business Roundtable has issued a request for proposals meant to direct corporate backing toward the scaling up of successful education programs. The BRT will judge applicants and make competitive awards to projects and ideas that are backed by research and focused on issues such as improved teacher education, technology, literacy, and college preparation. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/15/13)
Education Technology
N.C. Aims to Ramp Up Tech. Training of Teachers, Administrators
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has signed into law a pair of bills designed to expand the use of educational technology. House Bill 44 sets an overall goal to have the state shift to funding digital textbooks, and away from the paperbound variety, by 2017. House Bill 23 directs the state board to create and oversee new "digital teaching and learning standards" for educators and administrators. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/18/13)
Financial Aid
The Great Aid Gap
Certificates are the fastest-growing form of postsecondary credential and are prized by employers for equipping workers with skills in high demand. Last year, the nation's colleges awarded one million such certificates. Yet, federal financial aid goes overwhelmingly to students in traditional degree programs, while little goes to the many students in noncredit certificate programs who may need it more.
(New York Times, 03/18/13)
High School Options
House, Senate Bills Would Alter Some Graduation Requirements
Florida's House and Senate education panels are advancing bills that would delete some must-pass classes and state tests as prerequisites to graduation. In their place would be industry-based courses that could give students the skills needed to take jobs in decent-paying, high-demand fields. See H.B. 7091 and S.B. 1076. (Orlando Sentinel, 03/17/13)
School Calendar
Iowa Likely to Change Schools' Calendar Count
Iowa lawmakers are poised to approve legislation that does away with the 180 instructional days requirement school calendars are based on and change that to 1,080 instructional hours. Proponents say the switch would give school boards more say over how to design a school year that's best for their students. Iowa is one of 18 states and the District of Columbia that uses a days calculation, according to an ECS summary. Note: the summary will be updated this week. (Quad-City Times, 03/16/13)
Monday, March 18
Accountability
Controversial School Grading Bill Passes Legislature
Utah lawmakers passed S.B. 271, which would mandate a specific system for assigning schools grades of A-F next school year, despite concerns about its meaning for schools. The bill proposes a different plan than the one education leaders have been working on since original school grading legislation was signed into law in 2011 as part of the state's NCLB waiver. (Salt Lake Tribune, 03/14/13)
College Completion
Colleges Use Project Win-Win To Boost Graduation Rates and Award Degrees
The Project Win-Win has helped community colleges and four-year schools in several states find hundreds of ex-students who have either earned enough credits to receive associate degrees or are just a few classes shy of getting them. As the Lumina Foundation-backed project winds down, some participating schools plan to continue the effort on their own. (Huffington Post, 03/17/13)
Low-performing Schools
Department of Education Announces $5 Million to Turn Around Failing Schools
Louisiana State Superintendent John White announced that the state will use $5 million in federal professional development funds to train educators interested in turning around failing district-run schools. The Believe and Succeed grants, which will average $50,000, cover a year of advanced training for the new school leaders. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 03/13/13)
NCLB Waivers
NCLB Waiver Effort by Calif. Districts Wins State Board Backing
The nine California districts seeking a No Child Left Behind waiver got an endorsement from the state board of education. If approved by the Department of Education, the districts would operate under an entirely different accountability system than the rest of the state. California's own attempt to secure a waiver was rejected, largely because the state did not embrace a new teacher evaluation system. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/15/13)
Virtual Schools
TN Senate Approves Virtual-school Enrollment Cap
The Tennessee Senate has passed Gov. Bill Haslam's proposal to tighten enrollment requirements at privately run online schools. Senate Bill 157 would allow beginning online schools to start with an enrollment of 1,500 and continue to expand as long as they meet performance requirements. If they failed to do so, then the state could cap enrollment, or direct the local school board to close it. (Tennessean, 03/15/13)
Friday, March 15
Common Core
State Takes Closer Look at National Education Standards
Nebraska's refusal to adopt the Common Core standards could cost students, teachers, and taxpayers as 45 other states press full steam ahead to implement them, some educators say. Critics, however, believe that adopting the standards amounts to forfeiting education decisions to Washington. Amid this debate, the state board voted to pay a consultant to compare Nebraska's standards to the Common Core. (Omaha World-Herald, 03/12/13)
Common Core
Survey Suggests Hurdles for Math, Science Teaching
A new set of survey data on math and science teachers highlights some big challenges the nation faces if it hopes to significantly increase student achievement in those disciplines. It also drives home, experts say, the huge need to support teachers as districts begin implementing the Common Core math standards, and as an effort to develop common standards for science nears completion. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/13/13)
Financial Aid
Reimagining Financial Aid
The first results of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's effort to redesign the federal financial aid system are in: 15 white papers that call for an overhaul of at least part of the nation's system for helping students pay for college in order to improve graduation rates. But the recommendations in the papers do not offer any consensus on what an ideal financial aid system would look like. (Inside Higher Ed, 03/14/13)
Remedial Education
Program Offers a Quicker Path to College Credit for Students Mired in Remedial Courses
A developmental math program shows promise in helping students avoid the remedial quicksand that prevents many from graduating, according to a report by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The "Statway" program, tested at 21 colleges, more than tripled the rates at which remedial students earned college math credit. The students got there twice as fast, too. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 03/13/13)
Suicide Prevention
Utah Lawmakers Pass Teen Suicide Prevention Programs
The Utah legislature passed H.B. 134, which would require schools to notify parents of bullying and/or suicide threats. They also approved H.B.154, which would implement suicide prevention programs in junior highs and high schools. That bill also would fund a suicide prevention coordinators at two state agencies. (Salt Lake Tribune, 03/13/13)
Thursday, March 14
College Readiness
State Education Boards Develop New Post-high School Readiness Definition
Massachusetts’ board of higher education voted to accept a new definition of college readiness, which already was adopted by the K-12 board of education. Some of the required abilities include: reading and comprehending “sufficiently complex tests”; effective writing and researching skills; and workplace skills, like working under the direction of others. (MetroWest Daily News, 03/12/13)
Ed Technology/Common Core
Maine Leading Initiative for Multistate Tech Buys
A group of states has joined forces to arrange the purchase of a comprehensive set of educational-technology devices and services. The initial partners in the multistate venture are Maine, Hawaii, and Vermont, but other states are interested in coming on board. Leaders of the undertaking say that a major factor driving the collaboration is the development of the Common Core State Standards. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/13/13)
Kindergarten Readiness
Fewer than a Third of New Kindergarteners Statewide Are Prepared
Just 28% of Kentucky’s incoming kindergartners are prepared with skills such as knowing shapes, letters, numbers, and telling right from left, according to new pilot data released by the education department. Next year, all districts will have to take part, for the first time giving officials comparable data showing how ready the state’s 50,000 children are when they start kindergarten. (Louisville Courier-Journal, 03/12/13)
Online Courses
California Bill Would Promote Statewide Online College Courses
Students locked out of overcrowded core courses at California's state colleges and universities should instead be able to take those classes online, according to proposed legislation—sending shock waves through academia nationwide. Senate Bill 520 calls for online classes—even those offered by for-profit companies—as potential substitutes for the most oversubscribed lower division courses.(Los Angeles Times, 03/14/13)
Value of Degrees
Job Prospects, Salary Report of Colorado Colleges
Some Colorado colleges—and the degrees they offer—are a better value than others, according to an assessment of the average first-year earnings of recent graduates from two- and four-year schools. For example, students who earn associate's degrees in applied sciences earn a median salary of almost $7,000 more than those who get a bachelor's degree from four-year institutions. (Denver Post, 03/14/13)
Wednesday, March 13
Compulsory Attendance
Compromise School Dropout Bill Sent to Gov. Steve Beshear
Kentucky school districts could require students to stay in school until age 18 under a compromise bill the legislature sent to Gov. Steve Beshear. Under S.B. 97, if 55% of districts choose to raise the dropout age to 18 from the current requirement of 16, the policy would become mandatory statewide four years after the threshold was met. (Louisville Courier-Journal, 03/11/13)
Early Learning Programs
Lawmakers Eye Early Childhood Expansion
In response to President Barack Obama's proposals to expand prekindergarten access to more low-income 4-year-olds, some members of Congress have released legislation aimed at similar goals. One proposed bill would offer competitive grants to states to establish and operate high-quality prekindergarten programs and help governors expand on pre-existing early childhood education systems.
(Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/11/13)
Education Technology
Senate Passes Slew of School Technology Bills
The Utah Senate passed more than $15 million worth of school technology-related bills. Senate Bill 279 provides funds to implement a web-based math program for grades K-6. Senate Bill 209 expands a program to give schools more tablet computers for students and S.B. 257 provides money to buy an educator evaluation software. Senate Bill 284 expands a smart schools technology program and S.B. 260 expands a software literacy program in schools. (Salt Lake Tribune, 03/12/13)
NCLB Waivers
Details Trickling Out on Latest NCLB Waiver Bids
With the addition of three longtime holdouts of states seeking NCLB flexibility, nearly every state has sought to design its own accountability system to replace the outdated law. But the waiver applications from Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wyoming are by no means a sure thing. Texas' application, for example, omits some key elements that federal officials require as a condition of receiving waivers. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/13/13)
Race to the Top
Race to Top Grants Not Worth Costs, Officials Say
About 80 Ohio districts and charter schools have backed out of the state's Race to the Top grant program, including an initial flurry of withdrawals because school officials realized that grants weren't enough to cover the requirements. But some districts that have received money for years are reconsidering now, partly in response to costs but also because of new teacher evaluations tied to the grant. (Columbus Dispatch, 03/10/13)
Tuesday, March 12
Assessment Reforms
Commission Calls for 'Radically Different' Tests
The Gordon Commission on the Future of Assessment in Education released a report that lays out a 10-year plan for states to develop assessment systems that go beyond identifying student achievement for accountability purposes and toward improving classroom instruction and giving greater insight into how children learn. The commission calls for states to create a permanent council on educational assessments, modeled on the Education Commission of the States. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/13/13)
Financial Aid
Low-income Students Get Break with New Scholarship
State lawmakers approved a needs-based scholarship program and seeded the investment with $1.5 million—making South Dakota the last state to offer such assistance. Once the governor signs S.B. 237, residents accepted into the state's postsecondary institutions who can't make the bottom line work even after pooling their own investment with other financial aid will have one more option. (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 03/12/13)
Middle Schools
Tomblin Orders Review of Middle School Curriculum
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin commissioned a review of the classes offered by West Virginia's middle schools, signing the first of several executive orders expected as part of his push to improve education in the state. The order follows up on a recent study by the Southern Regional Education Board that called for beginning college and career readiness in the middle grades. (Charleston Gazette, 03/11/13)
Preschool Funding
N.M. Could Become First State with Pre-School Funding Constitutionally Guaranteed
New Mexico is weighing a bill that could make it the country's first state to protect early education funding in its constitution. The Senate majority leader introduced a resolution that would let the state vote on a constitutional amendment to fund preschool by an additional $100 million annually. The money would come from an annual disbursement of 1% of New Mexico's Land Grant Permanent Fund. (Huffington Post, 03/09/13)
School Facilities
Report: Half Trillion Need to Update Schools
America's schools are in such disrepair that it would cost more than $270 billion to get buildings back to their original conditions and twice that to get them up to date to help students learn and keep teachers healthy, according to a new report. In the foreword, former President Bill Clinton said "we are still struggling to provide equal opportunity" to children and urged a federal study of school buildings. (Boston Globe, 03/12/13)
Monday, March 11
Early Literacy/Retention
States Draw a Hard Line on Third-graders, Holding Some Back Over Reading
A growing number of states are requiring children to pass a reading test in 3rd grade or be held back from 4th grade. Thirteen states have adopted laws that require schools to identify, intervene and, in many cases, retain students who fail a reading proficiency test. Lawmakers in several other states and the District of Columbia are debating similar measures. See ECS' summary of literacy policies. (Washington Post, 03/10/13)
Low-performing Schools
Parent-Trigger Bills Progress in States' Legislatures
At least three states have advanced parent-trigger laws, although none of those efforts have yet become laws. In Florida, H.B. 867 passed the House education choice and innovation subcommittee. The Georgia House passed H.B.123, which would allow parents and teachers to petition their local school boards to turn regular schools into charters. And in Oklahoma, S.B. 1001 has cleared the Senate. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/13/13)
NCLB Exemptions
Arizona House Passes Anti-federal Education Bill
The Arizona House passed H.B. 2318, which would allow roughly 130 district and charter schools that don’t receive federal money to ignore federal and state mandates. The schools would be able to throw out federal education policy regulating academic standards, teacher evaluation requirements, and student tracking systems. (AZ Capitol Times, 03/08/13)
School Closings
Rational Decisions and Heartbreak on School Closings
In districts around the country--including Chicago, Newark, and Washington--officials have been citing low enrollment and budget gaps as they draw up lists of schools to close. District officials also say they need to close underperforming schools so that students can move to schools where they have a better chance of succeeding. But critics say these schools can serve as refuges in communities that have little else. (New York Times, 03/09/13)
School Safety
Daugaard Signs Bill Allowing Armed Personnel in Schools
Despite opposition from the education community, the school sentinel bill was signed into law by South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard. House Bill 1087 gives school boards the authority to allow armed personnel in school buildings. The Senate added requirements that said school boards must discuss the program in open meetings and decisions to adopt the programs can be referred to public vote. (Rapid City Journal, 03/08/13)
Friday, March 8
Charter Schools
Charter School Law Rewrite Now Halfway through Idaho Legislature
The Idaho House passed H.B 206 that would give charter schools money for facilities. House lawmakers also approved H.B.221, which would allow colleges, universities, and nonprofits to authorize charters. That's in addition to districts and the state charter commission which can do that now. The bill also creates performance requirements for the schools and requires periodic renewal of their charters. (Boise State Public Radio, 03/0
Education Advocacy
Diane Ravitch Launches New Education Advocacy Counterforce
Education historian Diane Ravitch is launching a new advocacy organization that will support political candidates who oppose high-stakes testing, mass school closures, and what her group calls the "privatizing" of public schools. The new Network for Public Education is meant to counter organizations that promote other state-level education reforms. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/06/13)
Education Innovations
At South by Southwest Education Event, Tensions Divide Entrepreneurs and Educators
Who should lead innovation in education—teachers or entrepreneurs? That key question was in the air at this year's South by Southwest Edu conference. In a keynote address, Bill Gates made the case for why more venture capitalists and businesses should invest in building education products and services to kick-start new ways of teaching with technology. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 03/07/13)
Graduation Rates
Graduation Rates for Individual High Schools Unveiled
The Department of Education posted online data on the graduation-rate performance of individual schools. The new data follow state-level graduation rates for 2010-11 that the department previously released. Both sets are based on states' use of a common measure for graduation rates, making it easier to compare student success across states and schools. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/06/13)
Teacher Evaluations
Teacher Tenure, Evaluation Regulations Introduced at State BOE
The New Jersey state board introduced regulations governing the state's new teacher tenure and evaluation system. Classroom observations will account for half a teacher's rating, and measurements of student learning will account for the other half. Districts can choose to use standardized test scores to calculate up to 50% of the rating, though state officials said they recommend test scores account for 35%. (Newark Star-Ledger, 03/06/13)
Thursday, March 7
Accountability
Oklahoma House Passes Bill Changing A-F Grading System
The Oklahoma House approved a bill intended to improve the state's A-F grading system for schools, which has drawn criticism from school administrators since the first grades were issued last year. House Bill 1658 would lessen the effect of the lowest 25% of test scores on a school's grade and should improve a district's score, said the measure's author. (Oklahoman, 03/05/13)
Common Core
Assessment Consortium Releases Testing Time Estimates
New tests being designed for the Common Core will take eight to 10 hours, depending on grade level, and schools will have a testing window of up to 20 days to administer them, according to guidance released by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium already has come out with time estimates for its tests. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/06/13)
Early Learning Teachers
Obama Proposal Raises Issue of Pre-K Teacher Prep
Amid the attention stemming from President Barack Obama's focus on early-childhood education, some advocates are wondering what the proposal will mean for teacher expectations with his call for "qualified" teachers. While some advocates see the remark as an acknowledgment of the specialized training early-childhood educators need, others worry that it could signal a focus on pure credentials. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/06/13)
Education Funding
Governors Take Varied Paths in Boosting K-12 Aid
As states consider increases to K-12 spending amid better economic conditions, governors on opposite sides of the partisan divide are proposing significantly different plans and arguments for the best ways to use new education aid. Governors in Minnesota and Ohio, for example, are intent on pumping more money into education—and sharply contrasting visions of how to do it. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/06/13)
Low-performing Schools
House Passes ‘Parent Trigger’ Charter Schools Bill
The Georgia House passed H.B. 123—also known as the "parent trigger" measure—that would force a local school board to consider a petition to change a traditional school into a charter when a majority of the school’s student households request it. Parents and teachers at low-performing schools also could petition to have the board use a variety of methods to improve school performance. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 03/05/13)
Undocumented Students
Colorado House Gives Initial Approval to In-state Tuition for Illegal Immigrants
Ten years after it was first introduced in the legislature, a bill allowing illegal immigrants in Colorado to attend public colleges at the in-state tuition rate appears to be just days away from passage. The House is expected to give final approval to S.B. 33 and send the measure to Gov. John Hickenlooper, who said he will sign it. (Denver Post, 03/06/13)
Wednesday, March 6
College Costs
Students and States Near a 50-50 Split on the Cost of Public Higher Education
Public higher education is about to cross a historic threshold, in which students pay a higher percentage than do states of the operating costs of colleges, according to a State Higher Education Executive Officers report. Net tuition revenue made up 47% of colleges' educational costs in 2012, an increase of more than six percentage points from the previous year. (Chronicle on Higher Education, 03/06/13)
Early Learning Programs
Growing Number Ask for Higher Spending in Early Childhood Education
A Nebraska bill, L.B. 190, would set aside $20 million in the next two-year budget to help more at-risk kids and their parents through the Early Childhood Education Endowment Cash Fund. In 2011, 63% of 4-year-old children in Nebraska were not served by preschool or Head Start. The bill's sponsor and other supporters testified about the benefits of early learning programs. See ECS' policy database on preschool. (Lincoln Journal Star, 03/04/13)
Low-performing Schools
Kentucky Senate Approves Charter School Option
The Kentucky Senate approved a bill that would give low-achieving schools the option of becoming a charter school. Senate Bill 176 would allow parents or teachers to petition the local board of education for a charter if a school persistently underachieves. It would serve as one of five alternatives that schools have to turn around poor performance. (Louisville Courier-Journal, 03/05/13)
Online Learning
Rise of Customized Learning
Western Governors University (WGU) and several other institutions continue to expand competency-based education amid excitement about President Obama's praise of the approach. Missouri and Tennessee recently established WGU programs. These online programs are typically self-paced and emphasize the testing of competency, sometimes even of learning that occurs outside of the classroom. (Inside Higher Ed, 03/05/13)
Student Data
Student Database Backed by Gates Foundation Jazzes Tech Startups
A $100 million database recently was built to chart the academic paths of K-12 students and it holds information on millions of children. Learning disabilities are documented, test scores recorded, attendance noted. In some cases, the database tracks student hobbies, career goals, and attitudes toward school. Several states plan to enter data from select districts or for all students. (Huffington Post, 03/03/13)
Tuesday, March 5
College Graduates
A College Degree Sorts Job Applicants, but Employers Wish It Meant More
While employers value a four-year college degree, half of the respondents to a survey said they had trouble finding recent graduates qualified to fill positions at their company. Nearly a third gave colleges just "fair to poor" marks for producing successful employees. And they dinged bachelor's-degree holders for lacking basic workplace proficiencies, like communication skills and the ability to solve problems. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 03/04/13)
Performance Funding
Brewer's Plan for Education Performance Funding Advancing
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's performance-based education funding model for districts and charter holders is advancing through the legislature. Under S.B 1444, the maximum amount of performance funding per student would be $500 for achievement and $500 for improvement. In the first year, the amount would be capped at a maximum of $180 per student. (East Valley Tribune, 03/03/13)
School Choice
Families Zoned for 'Failing' Schools Would Get $3,500 Tax Credit
Alabama families zoned for "failing" schools—even if their child goes to a private school now—would receive up to a $3,553 income tax credit to offset private or alternate public school tuition costs, under a bill approved by the legislature. The tax credits for school choice provision was added to the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013, which deals with waivers from school policies. (AL.com, 03/02/13)
Teacher Effectiveness
Best and Worst Teachers Can Be Flagged Early, Says Study
New teachers become much more effective with a few years of classroom experience, but a working paper by a team of researchers suggests the most—and least—effective elementary teachers show their colors at the very start of their careers. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/06/13)
Teacher Tenure
Judge Throws Out Tenure Law
One of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's signature laws that makes it harder for teachers to earn and retain tenure was declared unconstitutional. A district judge, who previously upheld the tenure provision, reversed himself after hearing new arguments from both sides. The decision also could throw a wrench into new teacher evaluation system that is being implemented in the state. (Baton Rouge Advocate, 03/04/13)
Monday, March 4
Accountability
School Report Card Legislation Advances
The Missouri House passed H.B. 388, which would give schools letter grades based upon how well they perform on state standards. The report cards are to indicate the standards that apply to the school, how the school scored, and the corresponding letter grade for each standard. Schools would not receive an overall letter grade. (Jefferson City News Tribune, 03/01/13)
Common Core
New State Academic Standards Are Said to Require $56 Million Outlay for City Schools
It will cost about $56 million to buy new textbooks and other materials to help New York City school students meet the Common Core standards, city officials announced. The costs are not unexpected, but they drew a round of scrutiny at a time of austere budgeting, particularly as the city is facing a possible decline in state and federal aid. (New York Times, 03/01/13)
Higher Ed Efficiency
Hours in the Classroom
Ohio Gov. John Kasich has proposed in his budget bill that boards of colleges and universities be given the ability to unilaterally increase the workloads of faculty members. The increased workload would become the new minimum for faculty members to maintain. The proposed change is the latest in a string proposals that Kasich has argued will save taxpayer funds and make institutions more effective. (Inside Higher Ed, 03/04/13)
NCLB Waivers/Teacher Evaluations
Teacher-Evaluation Plans Bedevil Waiver States
Even though 34 states and the District of Columbia have No Child Left Behind waivers, many of them are still negotiating with the Department of Education over their teacher-evaluation systems—a crucial component if they want to keep their flexibility. More than six months after waiver recipients turned in their guidelines, only 12 waiver states have gotten the green light for their evaluation systems. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 03/04/13)
School Vouchers
Colorado Appeals Court: Douglas County School Voucher System Legal
In a case being watched by school-choice advocates, legal experts, and both pro-religion and secularist groups around the country, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that Douglas County School District's voucher system is legal. The high-performing suburban district would operate the first voucher program in the state and most of the schools involved are religious in nature. (Denver Post, 03/01/13)
Friday, March 1
College Readiness/Transfers
College-Ready in California
High school achievement tests can be good predictors of how students will fare in community college and whether they require remedial education, according to a new study. But the research found that Latino and black students are less likely than their Asian and white peers to take and pass transfer-level college courses. That gap occurs even among students who performed well on their high school tests. (Inside Higher Ed, 02/27/13)
Digital Gap
Survey Finds Gap in Internet Access Between Rich, Poor Students
Technology has become essential to middle school and high school learning, but a gap in access to the Internet between the rich and poor is leading to troubling disparities in education, according to a Pew survey of teachers. Half of all students in higher income families have access to the Internet at home. The figure drops to 20% for middle income children and just 3% of students from poor homes.
(Washington Post, 02/27/13)
Education Innovation
Education Innovator Wins $1 Million TED Prize
The winner of the first $1 million TED Prize for education innovation is Sugata Mitra for his plan to start the "School in the Cloud," which is essentially a computer lab where children in Indian can learn in a student-driven environment. His plan is to engage communities, parents, schools, and afterschool programs worldwide, to transform the way kids learn. (Washington Post, 02/27/13)
ELLs/Common Core
Push Is On for Common Ways to Identify ELLs
The Common Core standards and assessments could bring a more uniform process for identifying which students are English-learners and when they reach proficiency in the language. Policy officials and ELL experts say that such an agreement will allow true comparability among states for how well they are teaching English-learners and more confidence that ELLs are served equitably. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/27/13)
School Vouchers
Gov. Scott Walker Backs Report Cards for Voucher Schools
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker indicated a willingness to compromise on his proposal to expand private school voucher programs to districts beyond Milwaukee and said that voucher schools should also have to participate in the new school report card system. The report card system for schools places them into one of five categories related to an A-F grade. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/28/13)
Thursday, February 28
Achievement Gaps
Black Students' Learning Gaps Start Early, Report Says
African American students in Los Angeles County demonstrate significant learning gaps by 2nd grade; those gaps widen with age and lead to the highest school dropout rate among all races, according to an Education Trust report. Black students are far less likely to take the rigorous college preparatory classes and miss more school days because of suspensions than their white counterparts. (Los Angeles, 02/26/13)
College Readiness
Utah Senate Passes Bill to Test High School Juniors for College Readiness
The Utah Senate passed S.B. 175 that would require schools to give a college readiness test, such as the ACT, to all high school juniors and could require schools to give other tests in earlier grades geared toward predicting success in higher education. The bill also would require schools to offer students access to an online program to help them prepare to take the readiness test. (Salt Lake Tribune, 02/27/13)
Common Core
Teachers Say They Are Unprepared for Common Core
Even as the Common Core State Standards are being put into practice across most of the country, nearly half of teachers feel unprepared to teach them, especially to disadvantaged students, according to a new survey. More than two-thirds said they were not well enough prepared to teach the standards to English-language learners or students with disabilities. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/27/13)
Ed Entrepreneurship
Universities Create Ed. Entrepreneur Programs
Efforts to promote an evolving area of study—entrepreneurship in education—are taking hold in graduate schools across the country. Universities are crafting programs and courses focused on cultivating school leaders and private-sector developers capable of bringing new ideas, and possibly new products and technologies, to schools. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/27/13)
SAT Tests
College Board Plans an 'Improved' SAT
The College Board's new president has hinted that change is coming to the SAT. While offering few details, David Coleman said the group would better connect elementary and secondary schools with colleges and universities by developing "a more innovative assessment that sharply focuses on a core set of knowledge and skills that are essential for readiness, access, and success." (Chronicle of Higher Education, 02/26/13)
Wednesday, February 27
Charter Schools
KIPP Schools Boost Academic Performance, Study Finds
A new report finds that students in KIPP charter schools experience significantly greater learning gains in math, reading, science, and social studies than do their peers in traditional public schools. For example, the Mathematica Policy Research study concludes that KIPP students, over a three-year period, gained an additional 11 months of learning in math and eight additional months in reading. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/27/13)
College Completion
Only Half of First-Time College Students Graduate in 6 Years
A new National Student Clearinghouse Research Center report digs deeper into college graduation rates. It finds that of the 1.9 million students enrolled for the first time in all degree-granting institutions in fall 2006, 54% had graduated within six years. Another 16.1% were still enrolled in some sort of postsecondary program after six years, and 29.8% had dropped out altogether. (New York Times, 02/26/13)
Full-day Kindergarten
All Chicago Public Schools Will Offer Full-day Kindergarten
All Chicago Public Schools will provide full-day kindergarten under an initiative announced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett. Currently, schools have the option of offering full-day kindergarten—rather than the minimum half-day required by state law—and most do. The change will make full-day kindergarten available to 30,700 children next fall—4,200 more than this year. (Chicago Sun-Times, 02/25/13)
Pre-K Programs
States Size Up Obama Pre-K Proposal
More than a dozen states—including some that have had no state-financed preschool programs in the past—are eyeing proposals to launch or expand early education. Leaders in those states say that they're interested in President Obama's still-evolving early learning proposals. But some say they don't want any federal money that could come with cumbersome requirements. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/27/13)
Teaching Credentials
Bill Would Open the Door to Undergraduate Teaching Credentials
For the first time in decades, aspiring teachers in California would be able to major in education as undergraduates and get both a preliminary teaching credential and a baccalaureate degree in four years if S.B. 5 becomes law. Distinct among the states, students wishing to become teachers in California are required to major in subjects other than education, then must go through a lengthy process to obtain a teaching credential. (EdSource, 02/25/13)
Tuesday, February 26
Accountability
Virginia Lawmakers Seek to Simplify School Ratings with A to F Grades
To simplify an ever-growing list of school rankings, Virginia lawmakers have approved H.B. 1999 that will rate schools using A to F letter grades. Gov. Robert F. McDonnell championed the A to F scale as a simple way to bolster accountability. The grading formula will use a combination of existing state and federal rating systems based on test scores and measures of a school's improvement over time.
(Washington Post, 02/23/13)
Ed Governance
Deal Suspends Six of Nine DeKalb School Board Members
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal suspended two-thirds of DeKalb County's school board, plunging the state's third-largest district deeper into a leadership limbo as it faces a threat to its accreditation. Now he will attempt to put the board back together again while dodging legal complications, opposition from some ousted members, and the likelihood that the board could be unable to make key decisions for weeks. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 02/25/13)
Federal Ed Funding
White House Estimates Impact of Across-the-Board Cuts by State
The White House released state-by-state reports that detail how many teachers and teacher aides could potentially lose their jobs if the federal sequester cuts go through. The report also looks at the number of children who could potentially be shut out of Head Start and Early Head Start programs. It also highlights cuts to other federal services for children, such as vaccine funding. Also see a map of teacher layoffs. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/24/13)
STEM Councils
State Councils Propel STEM Education
As STEM education gains ever more prominence, statewide organizations are springing up to advance and better coordinate the cause. They typically bring to the table a diverse set of players in the state. A national coalition called STEMx counts 16 member state networks, but the numbers go well beyond that, including with the Governor's STEM Advisory Council in Iowa. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/27/13)
Teachers Unions
More Mergers for NEA, AFT Affiliates
North Dakota has become the fifth state in which the branches of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers have united. The movement is notable not only as the latest sign of attempts by the teachers' unions to marshal their forces during a period of uncertainty in the profession and, indeed, the labor movement, but also for the different contexts in which the mergers are occurring. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/21/13)
Monday, February 25
Education Reforms
School Turnarounds, Teacher Training Next 'Mission' for Louisiana
Louisiana superintendent John White laid out a reform plan that he said would be the second stage of the state's education mission. Louisiana Believes would create pilot networks to educate all 4-year-olds and train teachers, help prepare schools for the Common Core State Standards, overhaul the Career Diploma track, and match funds for new partnerships to turn around low-performing schools. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/21/13)
Graduation Rates
Some States on Pace to Hit 90% High School Grad. Rate by 2020
A 90% high school graduation rate by 2020 was a lofty goal set by the Grad Nation campaign in 2010. But the latest report from the coalition of education organizations shows that, with a 78.2% graduation rate in 2010, the pace of improvement is picking up—putting some states on track to meet that goal if the progress continues. Still, significant disparities remain between white and minority students. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/25/13)
Online Courses
Who Benefits From Online Ed?
Online education is often held out as a way to increase access to higher education, especially for those who have historically been underrepresented in college. A new Columbia University study suggests that some of the students most often targeted in online learning's access mission are less likely than their peers to benefit from—and may in fact be hurt by—digital as opposed to face-to-face instruction. (Inside Higher Ed, 02/25/13)
Student Well Being
Bill Requiring School Seminars on Bullying Headed to Governor
The Utah Senate approved H.B. 298, which requires districts to host annual parent seminars on substance abuse, bullying, mental health, and Internet safety. The bill does, however, allow districts to opt out if the local school board determines the seminar unnecessary. (Salt Lake Tribune, 02/22/13)
Undocumented Students
Colorado Senate Gives First OK to In-state tuition for Illegal Immigrants
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle kept the Colorado Senate spellbound with testimonials of support for a bill allowing illegal immigrants to attend public colleges at the in-state tuition rate. The Senate gave initial approval to S.B. 33, which would allow students who graduate from high school and have attended a Colorado school for at least three years would be eligible for the in-state tuition rate. (Denver Post, 02/22/13)
Friday, February 22
Dual Enrollment
Colorado High Schoolers Who Are Enrolled in College Classes up 15 Percent
About 19% of Colorado high schoolers participated in dual enrollment programs— up by more than 15% from a year earlier, according to the state’s annual report. Overall, about 85% of dual-enrollment students go on to college, with analyses showing the participants are likely to have higher grade-point averages and to stay in school beyond their freshman year. (Denver Post, 02/21/13)
Low-performing Schools
Bill to Allow Takeover of Failing Schools Heads to McDonnell
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s bid to take over struggling schools is headed to his desk, but the proposal depends on available funding. Senate Bill 1324 would create a statewide school division, run by a board of state lawmakers and gubernatorial appointees, that could take over schools that have been denied accreditation or are in their third year of warning. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 02/21/13)
NAEP Analysis
5 Largest States Rival or Lag Nation on NAEP Results
The nation’s largest states matched or fell below recent nationwide averages on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in reading, math, and science, a new study says. The first-time examination of NAEP scores from 2009 and 2011 for students in California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas reveals that Texas alone beat the national average more than once in any of the three subjects. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/21/13)
School Finance
Senate Approves Constitutional Amendment to Remove Courts from School Finance Decisions
The Kansas Senate approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would remove the courts from school finance decisions and give exclusive power to the legislature on how much state funding schools receive. The proposal must be approved by the House. The action comes as the state is dealing with a ruling that the legislature has failed its constitutional duty to adequately fund schools. (Lawrence Journal World, 02/20/13)
Transfer and Articulation
California Community Colleges Now Offer More Transfer Degrees, but Still Far to Go
California community colleges now offer more than 550 associate degrees that guarantee admission to California State University campuses but that is about one-third of the goal set by college leaders. The transfer arrangement stems from legislation that requires two-year colleges to develop associate degrees that guarantee students admission with junior standing into similar bachelor’s programs at the Cal State schools. (Los Angeles Times, 02/20/13)
Thursday, February 21
AP Courses/Exams
Student Performance on AP Exams Improves
Nearly one in five public high school graduates in the class of 2012 passed an Advanced Placement exam, reflecting a steady increase in performance over the past decade, new data by the College Board show. The AP program is expanding, as well. Still, many more students could succeed on an AP course but fail to sign up, especially Latino and African-American students. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/20/13)
College Remediation
Many Students Don't Need Remediation, Studies Say
Recent research findings from Columbia University and Harvard suggest a significant portion of students who test into college remedial classes don't actually need them. The studies conclude that more comprehensive measures beyond single test scores should be used to gauge students' college readiness. The problem is coming to the fore as states move to align their standards with the Common Core. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/20/13)
Common Core
Bennett: Fla. Needs 'Plan B' for FCAT Replacement
A "Plan B" is needed in case the anticipated replacement for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, fails to materialize or is delayed, said Education Commissioner Tony Bennett. The new test is being developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Colleges or Careers (PARCC) in conjunction with the adoption of Common Core State Standards. (Miami Herald, 02/18/13)
Funding Formulas
Sen. Mike Johnston Unveils Bill to Revamp School Finance in Colorado
Colorado's first major school finance bill in nearly 20 years would trigger new ways to calculate how state and local money pays for education and—if voters approve—add additional revenue for items like full-day kindergarten for all and preschool for at-risk kids. The draft bill also includes extensive measures to ensure transparency in the way districts spend their money. (Denver Post, 02/19/13)
High School Diplomas
Bill to Overhaul High School Requirements Advances
The Texas Senate education committee approved S.B. 3 that would replace the three-tiered diploma tracks with one program and reduce the number of math and science credits required of all students. Students also would choose from four tracks: business and industry; arts and humanities; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); or distinguished. (San Antonia Express-News, 02/19/13)
Teacher/Principal Survey
Teacher Job Satisfaction at 25-year Low
Job satisfaction among principals and teachers has decreased in the past five years, with teacher satisfaction reaching its lowest levels in 25 years, according to the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher. According to the survey, only 39% of teachers reported being very satisfied in their job. The findings come at a time when most states have revised academic standards and implemented new teacher evaluation systems. The survey also found that three-quarters of principals said that their job was too complex. (Hechinger Report, 02/21/13)
Wednesday, February 20
College Readiness
Redefining College-Ready
Two community colleges have learned that better collaboration with local high schools may be the best way to dramatically reduce the number of students who fall into the quagmire of remedial coursework. Long Beach City College is using high school grades to help determine whether incoming students have remedial needs, while South Texas College has a dual-enrollment program in place. (Inside Higher Ed, 02/19/13)
Compulsory Attendance
Mandatory School Age Bill in Washington State Contains Loopholes
Washington and Pennsylvania are the only states that don't require kids to start their formal educations before turning eight. A measure, H.B. 1283, gaining traction in the Washington legislature would push that age to six, but a loophole would exempt kids whose parents say they are homeschooled. See ECS' summary of compulsory attendance ages. (Huffington Post, 02/16/13)
Early Assessments
Federal Grant Prospect Reignites Kindergarten-Assessment Debate
A Department of Education grant program in the works to help states jump-start kindergarten-entry assessments is renewing debate among early-childhood educators about the benefits and pitfalls of evaluating young children. The department aims to distribute $9.2 million for the readiness-to-learn initiative through an existing grant program intended to help states devise better tests at all grade levels. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/20/13)
Education Equity
Federal Commission Urges Bold Steps to Boost Education Equity
A federally appointed education-equity commission is proposing a five-pronged agenda for states and the federal government to help the 22% of children living in poverty and eliminate the achievement gap. The agenda includes: equitable school finance; improved teachers, leaders, and curricula; expanding high-quality early education; mitigating poverty's effects; and tackling accountability and governance. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/20/13)
School Choice
Scott Walker Proposes Expanding Voucher School Program, Raising Taxpayer Support
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is proposing to increase by at least 9% the taxpayer funding provided to private and religious voucher schools—an increase many times larger in percentage terms than the increase in state tax money he's seeking for public schools. The governor's education funding proposals set the stage for an unprecedented expansion of private voucher schools and charter schools.
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/18/13)
Tuesday, February 19
College Completion
New Online Degree Program for College Dropouts
The University of Louisiana System has a new two-year online bachelor's degree program for adults who left college about half-way through, with 60 credit hours and at least a solid C average. People with fewer than 60 credit hours to start with can take tests to earn credits or get assessments of skills learned on the job. Each school will offer a different specialty. (Shreveport Times, 02/18/13)
Financial Aid
Pell Grant Commitment in 9th Grade Could Aid College Planning
Imagine that as early as 9th grade students know how much they can count on in federal grants to pay for college. Giving students a "Pell Promise" that would guarantee the amount of federal money available after high school graduation is among the policy consideration unveiled by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/15/13)
Online Courses
States Struggle to Keep Online Schools Accountable
More than six times as many students enrolled in online K-12 courses now as compared to a decade ago, according to Department of Education data. But the rapid growth of online education is raising concerns—especially as more for-profit companies launch programs. In response, many states are considering ratcheting up their oversight of online educators. (Stateline.org, 02/15/13)
Pre-K Programs
Pre-K Bill Passes House
Some of Indiana's poorest children would have a chance to go to preschool under a proposed Indiana bill. House Bill 1004 creates a pilot program to make early childhood education available to four-year-old children in five counties. Scholarships of up to $6,800 would be made available to students in low-income families, with the state's initial obligation in the pilot project capped at $7 million. (Indianapolis Star, 02/18/13)
Teacher Preparation
Overhaul of Teacher-Prep Standards Targets Recruitment, Performance
A set of proposed standards for teacher-preparation programs by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation are leaner, more specific, and more outcomes-focused than any prior set in the 60-year history of national teacher-college accreditation. The standards would for the first time require accredited programs to adhere to a prescribed minimum-admissions standard. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/15/13)
Friday, February 15
Education Goals
Oregon Education Czar Demands Another, Tougher Set of Education Goals
Oregon Chief Education Officer Rudy Crew and his board approved ambitious performance targets. By 2015, for instance, 15% more 3rd-graders will read at grade level, 65% of high school students will graduate with at least nine college credits, and 10% more minority and low-income students will enroll in college. They also pledge a 20% increase in children prepared for kindergarten and that half of low-income and minority parents will be meaningfully involved in their child's education. (Oregonian, 02/12/13)
ELL Assessments/Common Core
California Drops Out of ELL Assessment Consortium
California has dropped out of a consortium of states that had organized to develop a new English-language proficiency assessment that will measure the language demands of the Common Core State Standards. California recently adopted new English-language development standards, but under an assessment consortium agreement all member states would have to adopt the same standards. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/13/13)
English-language Learners
Dayton Wants to Boost Funding for English Language Learning
In hopes of boosting student achievement, Gov. Mark Dayton wants to boost funding for Minnesota's English language learning programs by about $4.5 million a year, a 12% increase over current levels. English learners make up 8% of the state's total K-12 enrollment, but their numbers are increasing. (Minnesota Public Radio, 02/15/13)
Federal Ed Budgets
Duncan: Sequestration Cuts Could Take a Major Toll on Higher Ed
Calling it a case of "educational malpractice, economically foolish, and morally indefensible," Secretary of Education Arne Duncan pleaded with a Senate committee to stave off the 10% across-the-board cuts set to take place throughout the federal government on March 1. In his testimony, Duncan said the cuts would be particularly harmful to the neediest students at the pre-K-12 and higher education levels. (Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 02/14/13)
Financial Aid
Aid System Could Better Serve Latino Students, Says Report Calling for Reforms
The federal student-aid system does not serve Latino and other post-traditional students as well as it could, according to a report by Excelencia in Education. The report, commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, calls for changes in the formula used to determine family need and for increased spending on college preparation and work-study programs. It also suggests making the Pell Grant an entitlement. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 02/13/13)
Pre-K Programs
Obama Promotes Preschool Education in Georgia Visit
President Obama unveiled more details for providing high-quality preschool programs for "every child in America." The White House proposal includes a federal-state partnership to provide preschool funding for any 4-year-old whose family income is 200% or less of the federal poverty level. Obama also is proposing an Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership program to serve children 3 years and younger. (USA Today, 02/14/13)
Thursday, February 14
College Scorecard
With New 'Scorecard,' Obama Seeks to Give Students a Tool for Comparing Colleges
The Obama administration released a College Scorecard to assist students and families find institutions that will give them "the most bang for your educational buck." The online interactive tool is designed to help students gather information about individual colleges and compare them to similar institutions by providing data on costs, potential earnings, and average student-loan debt. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 02/13/13)
Financial Aid
Pell Grant Restrictions Hurt Enrollment at Community Colleges in the South, Study Finds
Community colleges have seen lower enrollments this year for a number of reasons, including a recovering economy and budget cuts that have led to fee increases and fewer course offerings. A new study argues that in the Deep South, where state student-aid programs are less substantial, two-year institutions also have been hard hit by changes in Pell Grant eligibility that took effect last year. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 02/12/13)
Kindergarten Readiness
Students Must Learn More Words, Say Studies
Children who enter kindergarten with a small vocabulary don't get taught enough words—particularly, sophisticated academic words—to close the gap, according to the latest in a series of studies by Michigan early-learning experts. The findings suggest many districts could be at a disadvantage in meeting the increased requirements for vocabulary learning from the Common Core State Standards. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/12/13)
NCLB Waivers
NCLB Waivers Weaken Graduation Rate Accountability
Many states granted waivers from No Child Left Behind are relaxing or ignoring federal regulations designed to hold schools accountable for the number of students who graduate from high school on time, according to an Alliance for Excellent Education study. The waivers are potentially allowing low-performing students to fall through the cracks once again, the report says. (Huffington Post, 02/13/13)
School Vouchers
Milwaukee Public Schools Outperform Voucher Schools in Program, Report Says
A new report has found that the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, which enrolls about 25,000 students in private schools through the state's voucher program, has similar demographics and poverty levels as Milwaukee Public Schools. But students in the voucher program perform slightly worse on standardized tests in math and reading. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/13/13)
Wednesday, February 13
Accountability
Utah Schools Get New Accountability System
Utah educators are hard at work implementing a new program they've named the Utah Comprehensive Accountability System (UCAS). Under UCAS, each school will be graded based on a 600-point system—next year they hope to nix the point system and offer a letter grade—based primarily on two categories: growth and achievement. (Salt Lake Tribune, 02/12/13)
Federal Ed Proposals
Obama Urges Big Preschool Expansion in State of the Union Speech
President Barack Obama called on Congress in his State of the Union address to significantly expand access to preschool to all 4-year-olds from moderate- and low-income families, and to create a new Race to the Top program aimed at pushing high schools to adopt curricula that better prepare students for the jobs of the future. The proposal also would entice states to offer full-day kindergarten. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/12/13)
Federal Ed Proposals
On Notice, Again
In his State of the Union address and accompanying documents, President Obama called on Congress to either require accreditors to take college prices and educational value into account or to create an alternative system based on performance and results. Either could mark a significant shift in how the federal government judges higher education quality and eligibility for financial aid programs. (Inside Higher Ed, 02/13/13)
Race to the Top
Hawaii Gets Partway Out of Race to Top Doghouse
The Education Department has removed part of Hawaii's $75 million Race to the Top grant from "high-risk status" after the state showed progress hitting milestones in two areas: standards and assessments, and data systems. Meanwhile, Hawaii still keeps the status for four other parts of its grant: teachers and leaders, low-performing schools, STEM, and state success factors. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/11/13)
Undocumented Students/Tuition
Gov. John Kitzhaber, Business Leaders Throw Support Behind Tuition Equity Bill
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and several business leaders threw their support behind a tuition equity bill, H.B. 2787, that would grant in-state university tuition rates for undocumented high school graduates who meet certain criteria. (Oregonian, 02/11/13)
Tuesday, February 12
Common Core
Georgia Students Struggle on Test Tied to Common Core Math Course
Judging from students' initial experience in a new math course, Georgia's move to a Common Core won't be painless. Less than 59% of students did not meet the standard set for an end-of-course test after they took a new algebra course tied to the Common Core. The test was the first student-performance measure since the state moved to Common Core curriculum. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 02/11/13)
Early Learning Programs
Louisiana Launches Preschool Pilot Program
The Louisiana Department of Education announced it is launching a pilot program that would allow districts and other organizations to create a seamless birth-to-5 early-education system. The request for applications says that up to five pilot networks will be chosen. The state says that these pilot networks are meant to address the fact that only 54% of 5-year-olds enter school ready to learn. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/08/13)
Education Priorities
School Reform Shifts to Students
The South Dakota education department has outlined the primary focus areas for its reform agenda: ensuring reading proficiency by grade 4 and math by grade 9, improving college and career readiness for high schoolers, and closing the Native American achievement gap. The state also is pursuing ways to tie together teacher quality and student data. Meanwhile, the state is implementing the Common Core Standards, along with new computer-based tests. (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 02/09/13)
Financial Aid
With Financial Aid, Colleges Should Be Accountable to Taxpayers and Students, Paper Argues
The gap in college attainment between children of high- and low-income families casts a shadow over both our national economy and the American dream. Improving the financial-aid system won't close that gap, but could certainly narrow it. Those are the premises of a new white paper that is part of a series sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 02/12/13)
Performance Funding
Should Community Colleges Be Paid Only for Students Who Complete Courses?
California Gov. Jerry Brown has rekindled a debate about whether the state's community college funding formula should be based instead on how many students actually complete their courses. His budget plan is proposing that such a shift be phased in over five years. The plan would redirect whatever money is lost in a college's base funding into targeted funds to be spent on student support services. (Venture County Star, 02/10/13)
Monday, February 11
Financial Aid
Deal Proposes HOPE Changes for Technical Colleges
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal backed a proposal that gives technical college students a better chance at earning the lottery-funded HOPE Grant. Students will be eligible if they maintain a 2.0 GPA. This is down from the current 3.0 GPA rule and returns to the same standard that existed before lawmakers tightened eligibility requirements and reduced awards in 2011 to prevent the scholarship program from going broke. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 02/07/13)
High School Diplomas
McCrory-backed High School Bill Passes NC Senate
The North Carolina Senate approved legislation supported by Gov. Pat McCrory to create new kinds of high school diplomas and course plans that emphasize vocational or career paths that don't require four-year college degrees. Senate Bill 14 requires the state board to develop diplomas that carry new seals endorsing graduates as "career ready," “college ready" or both, depending on their courses. (Winston-Salem Journal, 02/07/13)
Immigrants' Children Performance
Success of Immigrants’ Children Measured
Americans who were born to immigrant parents, many of them the adult children of a wave of immigrants who began arriving in the 1960s, are doing better than the foreign born on important measures of socioeconomic success, and in at least one area—education—have outperformed the population as a whole. Those were among the findings in a new report by the Pew Research Center. (New York Times, 02/07/13)
Performance Funding
Budget Links Ohio College Graduation Rates to Funding
Ohio Colleges and universities with higher graduation rates will be rewarded with more state money under a new funding formula included in Gov. John Kasich's latest budget proposal. Under the formula, half of the state's higher-education funding for each four-year school would be tied to its average graduation or degree-completion rate from the previous three years. (Columbus Dispatch, 02/09/13)
Special Education
Public Schools Special Education Overhaul Proposed by State
Only 29% of special education students in Louisiana are graduating from high school, and how the state supports them needs to be overhauled, state superintendent John White said. He unveiled his plan to the Special Education Advisory Panel, which advises the state board. The new rules would link state aid to: specific disabilities, where and how the student is educated, and academic performance. (Baton Rouge Advocate, 02/09/13)
Friday, February 8
District Takeovers
State Takeover of KC Schools Advances
Missouri is one step closer to a potential takeover of Kansas City Public Schools. The Senate unanimously approved legislation eliminating a two-year waiting period for the state to intervene in an unaccredited school district. Now the debate moves to the House, where passage is far from guaranteed. (Kansas City Star, 02/07/13)
Early College Credit
Oregon Bill Would Require College Credit in High School
A proposed Oregon bill, S.B. 222, would require college credit for six of the 24 high-school classes necessary to earn a diploma, starting with the class of 2020. The move would increase the number of students going to college, make their degrees more affordable, and encourage students not considering college to continue in higher education, said the sponsor. (Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 02/06/13)
NCLB Waivers
No Child Left Behind Hearing Features Waiver Attack By Obama Ally
The Obama administration has been under fire for watering down No Child Left Behind by granting waivers that exempt states from its stringent test-based annual goals. A new Education Trust report raised several concerns about the waivers and said schools can get good ratings under NCLB, despite low performance for some groups. (Huffington Post, 02/07/13)
NCLB Waivers
Waivers and ESEA Renewal Get Hard Look from Senators
The Obama administration has issued more than 30 waivers to help states get relief from parts of No Child Left Behind. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the waivers yesterday. Committee members debated whether Congress should move forward on the long-overdue reauthorization of the law, or step back and allow waivers to take hold in states, and then learn from them. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/07/13)
Online Courses
American Council on Education Recommends 5 MOOCs for Credit
In what could be a major step toward bridging the gap between massive open online courses and the credentialing system that they are supposed to disrupt, the American Council on Education endorsed five MOOCs for credit from three top universities. If a course passes muster, ACE advises its member colleges that they can be comfortable conferring credit on students who have passed that course. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 02/07/13)
Thursday, February 7
Common Core
States Move Ahead to Implement Common Core
With assessments only two years away, states are moving toward putting the Common Core State Standards into practice. Most have completed plans in three key areas: professional development for teachers, developing instructional materials, and devising teacher-evaluation systems linked to the new standards, a new study found. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/04/13)
Course Credit
R.I. Students Gaining 'Badges,' Credits Outside School
Many schools encourage students to get real-world experience outside school walls. But very few offer course credit and digital "badges"—virtual records of skills and achievements—for those experiences. Now, the Providence, R.I., school district initiative appears to be breaking new ground in giving academic credit and recognizing skills and achievements out of school. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/05/13)
Dual Enrollment
Lawmakers Advance Bill to Charge Teens Fees for Concurrent Enrollment
The Utah Senate Education Committee passed S.B.162, which modifies a law passed last year allowing colleges to charge high school students to take concurrent enrollment classes for college credit. This year's bill seeks to narrow the number of exemptions to students having to pay fees that made administration of the law overly difficult. (Salt Lake Tribune, 02/06/13)
Opinions on Higher Ed
Americans Value Higher Education but Question Its Quality, National Survey Finds
Americans overwhelmingly view a higher education as essential to landing a good job and achieving financial security, but they have doubts about its quality and affordability, according to a new report from Lumina Foundation and Gallup. And a majority of respondents to a survey underlying the report said they support awarding credit for prior learning and skills acquired outside the classroom. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 02/05/13)
Preschool Programs
Center for American Progress Proposes Preschool-for-All Plan
A new Center for American Progress report provides a road map for how the Obama administration could move forward with pre-kindergarten programs for all 3- and 4-year-olds. For families with younger children, federal subsidies for child care would increase to an average $7,200 per child and the number of students in Early Head Start programs would double. (Huffington Post, 02/07/13)
Wednesday, February 6
P-20 Funding Proposals
Performance Funding Adds Millions to Higher Education
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon rolled out his education funding proposals, which included $34 million in performance funding for the state's two- and four-year public higher education institutions. Schools that achieved their five performance goals got the maximum allotment allowed, which is 4.3% of their core funding from the state. (St. Joseph News Press, 02/02/13)
Principal Quality
States Lack Data on Principals, Study Says
While principals increasingly are moving to center stage in debates over school improvement, a new study finds most states have little or no information about how their principals are prepared, licensed, supported, and evaluated. The George W. Bush Institute's report finds that even states with otherwise comprehensive data systems collect limited information about principals. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/04/13)
School Choice
Two Reports Take Deeper Look into School Choice
A recent Friedman Foundation report offers a nationwide overview of the various private school choice programs in play in the states. A second report by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute explored the effect of government regulations on the participation of private schools in school choice programs such as vouchers and tax-credit scholarships. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/31/13)
School Vouchers
Voucher Program for Schools Would Grow Under Indiana Legislature Bill
Indiana's voucher program would be greatly expanded if H.B. 1003 were to move forward. The biggest change eliminates the need for students seeking vouchers to first attend a public school for at least two semesters. The bill also would extend eligibility for vouchers to children of active duty military personnel, students with disabilities, and children in foster care. (Indianapolis Star, 02/05/13)
Teacher Evaluations
Teachers' Ratings Still High Despite New Measures
The first results trickling out from states' new systems to measure teacher effectiveness paint a picture of a K-12 system that remains hesitant to differentiate between the best and the weakest performers—as well as among all those in the middle doing a solid job who still have room to improve. The observation components of the systems tended to produce the highest scores. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/05/13)
Tuesday, February 5
College Costs/Tuition
Gov. Rick Scott Pushes “Finish in Four” Tuition Plan to Save College Students Money
Florida Gov. Rick Scott's budget proposal includes a call for tuition to be held steady for four years for students entering a state university this fall or afterward. A summary packet makes the case for "Finish in Four," which alludes to the hopes that the tuition guarantee will encourage students to finish their degree in four years. Scott has also challenged state colleges to offer at least one degree for $10,000. (Miami Herald, 02/02/13)
Condition of Youth
In First Annual Report, Raise D.C. Offers Snapshot of D.C. Youth
Only four in 10 3rd-graders in the District of Columbia can read proficiently, and only about four out of 10 young adults in the city have a full-time job, according to a new report. A coalition has assembled baseline data in five targeted areas: kindergarten readiness; high school graduation; college completion; full-time employment; and reconnection with either education or job-training opportunities after dropping out of school. (Washington Post, 02/03/13)
Educational Leadership
Leaders To Learn From
In the first of what will be an annual report, Education Week’s Leaders To Learn From spotlights 16 district-level leaders from across the country who seized on creative but practical approaches to improving their school systems and put those ideas to work. The leaders were chosen from nominees submitted by readers, education reporters, school administrator groups, and experts. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/04/13)
Math Courses/Common Core
California Abandons Algebra Requirement for Eighth-graders
By falling in line with other states, California's state board voted last month to shift away from a 15-year policy of expecting 8th-graders to take Algebra I. The state will allow them to take either Algebra I or an alternate course that includes some algebra. New state standardized tests will focus on the alternate course—the same one adopted under the Common Core. (San Jose Mercury News, 02/04/13)
School Finance Litigation
Judge: Texas School Finance Plan Unconstitutional
The system Texas uses to fund public schools violates the state's constitution by not providing enough money to school districts and failing to distribute it fairly, a district judge ruled in a landmark decision that could force the legislature to overhaul the way it pays for education. Several lawsuits were consolidated as Fort Bend ISD v. Texas Education Agency. (Houston Chronicle, 02/04/13)
Monday, February 4
Charter Schools
Report: 2012 Brought Political Victories, New Laws for Charters
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools' latest report ranking states against the organization's model charter law found the top-rated states were Minnesota, Maine, Washington, Colorado, and Florida. Overall, 2012 will be remembered by charter advocates for having brought political victories, in some cases after years of setbacks, said NAPCS' president. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/30/13)
College Degrees/Reverse Transfer
Transfer Students to Get Boost in Finishing AA Degrees
As a way to increase the number of students earning associate degrees, the Credit When It's Due program targets students who transferred from community colleges to state universities, without receiving an associate degree. Ten Florida state colleges and four state universities are taking part in the program, funded by Lumina Foundation. Scale-up efforts will be supported in 12 states. (South Florida Times, 01/31/13)
Common Core
Pressure Mounts in Some States Against Common Core
Opponents of the Common Core State Standards are ramping up legislative pressure and public relations efforts aimed at getting states to scale back—or even abandon—the high-profile initiative, even as implementation proceeds and tests aligned with the standards loom. Critics of the common core are targeting several states, including Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, and Utah. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/04/13)
Community Colleges
Community Colleges Make Case for Greater Public Investment
Going to a community college is a bargain. For students, tuition is a fraction of what is compared to private or public four-year schools. For the government, the return on investment is substantial as graduates pay more in tax dollars because they make more money. A new policy brief chronicles how more education translates into higher earnings and, therefore, higher taxes paid. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/30/13)
Ed Funding/Vouchers
Education Reform Aims to Expand Voucher Program, Reduce Funding Gaps
Ohio Gov. John Kasich's school-funding plan attempts to reduce the wide gaps in spending among poor and wealthy districts while calling for a sweeping expansion of the state’s voucher program for low-income students. The proposal would provide districts with grants to improve teaching and learning. It also will provide schools with early literacy tutoring and intervention services. (Columbus Dispatch, 01/31/13)
Ed Research/Federal Grants
Ed. Dept. Raises Evidence, Research Ante in Grant Awards
The Education Department plans to make research and evidence far more important factors as it awards competitive grants. The goal is twofold: to reward projects that already have established a research-based track record of success and to encourage grant winners to produce rigorous evidence detailing the extent to which their project does—or does not—work. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/30/13)
Friday, February 1
Charter Schools
Charters' Path to Success or Failure Set Early, Study Finds
Charter schools' academic success or failure during their first year is a strong predictor of whether they will excel or struggle in later years, a new study finds. The study also concludes that significant improvements in charter school performance over time is rare among middle and high schools, though it occurs more often in elementary schools. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/30/13)
Financial Aid
Colleges' Aid Eligibility Should Be Tied to Students' Backgrounds, Report Says
The latest in a series of proposals for restructuring the federal financial-aid system recommends evaluating institutional performance based on the backgrounds of students enrolled and redefining institutional eligibility for some federal aid programs. The report presents ideas to balance admissions selectivity, increase access to higher education, and improve completion rates. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/30/13)
Low-performing Schools
Governor Proposes Plan for Failing Schools
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is proposing legislation to create a statewide school division that would take over management of chronically low-performing schools. A new board would determine how to operate the schools so they obtain full accreditation, which could include turning it into a charter school or college laboratory partnership school. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 01/31/13)
Pre-K Programs
New Pre-kindergarten Bill Moves Quickly in Mississippi
Mississippi is one step closer to funding state-wide pre-kindergarten after a bill passed the Senate Education Committee. Senate Bill 2395 would phase in a pre-k program, and mandate early childhood programs in underperforming districts. Mississippi is the only state in the south, and one of 11 in the nation that does not currently fund pre-k. (Hechinger Report, 01/31/13)
Race to the Top
Race to Top Winners Make Progress, Face Challenges, Ed. Dept. Reports
At the midway point of the Race to the Top program, the list of accomplishments for the 11 winning states and the District of Columbia is getting longer, but the challenges are getting more formidable, according to an Education Department report. The report reveals that the majority of winners are struggling to implement teacher- and principal-evaluations, and building and upgrading data systems. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/01/13)
Thursday, January 31
Financial Aid
Report on Student-Aid Reform Calls for Making Pell Grants an Entitlement
Expanding the Pell Grant program, reducing student-loan debt, and eliminating tuition tax breaks are necessary steps toward improving the federal financial-aid system, according to a new report. The report proposes specific policy changes that would reorganize several hundreds of billions of dollars in spending to deal with what the authors say are inefficiencies in postsecondary financial aid. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/29/13)
Higher Ed Funding
State Higher Ed. Funding Shows Signs of Improvement
State financial support for higher education declined just 0.4% from fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2013, according to the most recent Grapevine survey. The previous year, average state cuts were 7.6%, which translated into $6 billion less for salaries, course offerings, and other expenses. Compared to five years ago, total fiscal support for public higher education is 10.8% lower on average in states. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/28/13)
Noncogntive Learning
Rethinking the Notion of 'Noncognitive' (Commentary)
David T. Conley suggests that in elevating content-cognitive knowledge above noncognitive attitudes and beliefs we miss a richer, more nuanced view of learning that includes all learning processes and behaviors. Gaining insight into noncognitive issues "would enable educators to teach students how to learn, as well as what to learn," he writes, advocating for the term metacognition instead of noncognitive. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/23/13) Note: This article appeared in the January 30 e-Connection, but we have provided a more accessible link.
Principal Evaluations
Hawaii Principals to Be Evaluated on Student Growth
Hawaii has announced that half of a principal's evaluation will be based on growth in student performance. The other half will be based on principal leadership practice, which consists of professional growth and learning, school planning and progress, school culture, professional qualities and instructional leadership, and stakeholder support and engagement. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/29/13)
STEM Interest
STEM Interest on Rise Among High Schoolers, Report Finds
High school students are increasingly interested in pursuing STEM majors and careers, a new report finds, with about 1 in 4 now stating such an inclination. But a longstanding gender gap is widening, with fewer females than males signaling STEM interest. Overall, STEM interest has climbed by 21% among high schoolers when comparing the class of 2004 with the class of 2013. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/30/13)
Wednesday, January 30
College Costs
Gov. Scott Gets All of Florida's Four-year Colleges to Embrace $10K Challenge
Governor Rick Scott announced that all 23 of Florida's colleges that offer bachelor's degrees have embraced his call for making available a $10,000 degree program. The cut-rate programs will be limited to specific areas of study at most of the colleges. (Palm Beach Post, 01/28/13)
College Readiness
High Schools May Have to Pay for Unprepared Graduates
Mississippi and Maine are the latest states to question whether districts should be held financially responsible when students arrive at college unprepared. Advocates say colleges should not be held responsible for the failings of high schools and that the increased accountability could prompt K-12 systems to improve. Others say the real issue is a lack of alignment and cooperation between high schools and higher education. (Hechinger Report, 01/28/13)
Early Learning Budgets
Governors Tackling Early-Childhood Education in Budget Proposals
Governors around the country—including in Indiana, Massachusetts, and Michigan—are outlining their priorities for the next budget year, and for several of those states early-childhood education is at or near the top of the list. Early childhood expansions also have been proposed in Vermont and Hawaii. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/29/13)
Education Governance
Wyoming Gov. Mead Signs Superintendent Bill into Law
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead signed into law the most dramatic changes to the duties and powers of a statewide elected official in decades, and Superintendent Cindy Hill answered with a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the changes made to her office. Senate File 104 replaces the state superintendent as head of the education department with a director appointed by the governor. (Casper Star-Tribune, 01/29/13)
Education Initiatives
Haslam Touts Education Initiatives
In his State of the State address, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam called for spending increases for higher education and buying more computers and technology for K-12 schools. The governor also endorsed a "limited" school voucher program. Haslam announced a plan to partner with Western Governors University to establish an online university to increase degree attainment rates. See ECS' summary of state of state addresses. (Tennessean, 01/28/13)
Tuesday, January 29
Assessment
Issue to Watch: School Testing
At least four governors are looking to join more than a dozen other states that have passed laws requiring 3rd-grade students to demonstrate that they can read at grade level before entering 4th grade. While a couple of states are questioning whether there is already too much testing, other governors are pushing schools to be graded on an A to F scale based on student performance. And more than 30 states have made test results a factor in measuring teacher performance. (Stateline.org, 01/25/13)
College Degrees/Workforce Demands
Millions of Graduates Hold Jobs that Don't Require a College Degree, Report Says
Millions of college graduates over all—not just recent ones—suffer a mismatch between education and employment, holding jobs that don't require a college degree, according to a new report. Out of 41.7 million working college graduates in 2010, 48%—more than 20 million people—held jobs that required less than a bachelor's degree. Thirty-seven percent held jobs that required no more than a high-school diploma. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/28/13)
Early Learning Budgets
Early Childhood Ed. Gets Boost from Dayton's Budget Proposal
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton's budget proposal includes an additional $92 million in support for early learning, including scholarships, and other help for families to afford high quality childcare. The governor's proposal also includes $40 million to help pay for all-day every day kindergarten. Right now the state only pays for half-day kindergarten. (Minnesota Public Radio, 01/28/13)
Financial Aid/Completion
Fewer Bucks, More Bangs
The Colorado Commission on Higher Education approved a new state policy that will increase financial aid awards when students meet certain credit milestones and eventually decrease awards if students do not graduate in a timely manner. The policy shifts the aim of state aid programs from making college affordable to motivating students to complete credits and institutions to help students get there. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/29/13)
School Improvement
D.C. Council Members Fear Schools Near Tipping Point as Students Flee System
The District's traditional public school system is in danger of shrinking significantly unless officials make changes that persuade parents to stop fleeing to public charter schools, D.C. Council members said. Charter schools have grown quickly in the past 15 years and now enroll more than 40% of the city's students. (Washington Post, 01/23/13)
Monday, January 28
College Readiness/Financial Aid
Indiana Legislature Bill Aims to Boost College Readiness by Tying Financial Aid to State Exams
Students who fall behind in high school will have to brush up their skills if they want state financial aid to attend college under a bill passed by the Indiana's House Education Committee. House Bill 1005 aims to reduce the number of students who start college in remedial classes and direct them into free programs sponsored by the state. (Indianapolis Star, 01/24/13)
Common Core/School Improvement
Calif. Districts Team Up to Push School Improvements
Frustrated by their own state's pace and direction of school improvement, eight California districts have banded together to move ahead on rolling out the Common Core State Standards and designing new teacher evaluations based in part on student performance. The districts, which include Los Angeles and San Francisco, also are mounting a major breakaway from California in seeking their own NCLB waiver. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/23/13)
Financial Aid
Report Suggests Replacing Pell Grants with a Federal-State Matching Grant
Pell Grants and other non-loan federal student aid should be replaced with a single federal-state matching grant, according to a report from the Committee for Economic Development. The report, commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, also proposes eliminating federal tax credits for higher education, and suggests streamlining the process of applying for student aid and repaying loans. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/24/13)
Student Athletics
Students with Disabilities Have Right to Play School Sports: Obama Administration
The Education Department's Office of Civil Rights is sending districts a guidance document that spells out the rights of students with disabilities to participate in school athletics. The guidance document outlines five principles with specific examples for enforcement of the law. (Huffington Post, 01/25/13)
Teaching Quality
NCTQ Gives States D-plus on Teacher Preparation Policies
The National Council on Teacher Quality released the latest edition of its State Teacher Policy Yearbook report. Although a number of states improved their showing from last year, the states still only averaged a D-plus on the full set of their policies. Only four states—Alabama, Florida, Indiana, and Tennessee—received the report's highest grade of a B-minus. (Educationnews.org, 01/25/13)
Friday, January 25
Charter Schools
Miss. House OKs Charter School Bill
The Mississippi House passed H.B. 369, which would expand charter schools in the state. The House version differs from the Senate bill, limiting charters to 15 a year, giving school boards in districts rated A, B, or C a veto, and prohibiting students from crossing district lines. The Senate bill does not include these provisions. (Biloxi Sun-Herald, 01/23/13)
College Completion/Financial Aid
College Dropout Crisis Revealed in 'American Dream 2.0' Report
A group of college presidents, civil rights leaders, and advocates sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is highlighting what it calls a growing higher education dropout crisis and seeks to fix it in part by linking financial aid with successful graduation. The group's report, "The American Dream 2.0," said 46% of America's college students and 63% of African American students don't graduate college within six years. (Huffington Post, 02/24/13)
Common Core
Urban Districts Report Far-Reaching Changes for Common Core
Most urban districts plan to have fully implemented the Common Core State Standards by the 2014-15 school year, according to a report from the Council of the Great City Schools , and more than half of districts have already begun. Districts have adjusted professional development, assessments, curriculum, evaluation, and communications plans to account for the Common Core. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/23/13)
Teacher Recruitment
NM Gov. Susana Martinez Announces $2M Teacher Initiative Plan
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez announced a $2 million initiative to hire math and sciences teachers in low income and rural schools. The plan will include a loan forgiveness program and pay incentives for teachers. The governor also proposes up to a $5,000 pay bonus for the best 125 highly effective math and science teachers who move to underserved schools. (Las Cruces Sun-News, 01/23/13)
Thursday, January 24
College Completion
College Chiefs Contemplate Completion
College leaders should embrace the goal of getting college degrees into the hands of more Americans, which may require changes in campus culture and more aggressive steps to improve graduation rates, a group of college presidents wrote in an open letter to their peers. The letter is the final report of the National Commission on Higher Education Attainment. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/24/13)
Education Governance
Bill to Demote Hill Moves to House Floor
The Wyoming House Appropriations Committee adopted Senate File 104 that would strip away many of the duties from the state superintendent of public instruction position. The bill proposes that a director appointed by the governor would run the department of education. The governor also appoints the state board. There still would be an elected state superintendent, but the duties would be scaled back. (Wyoming News, 01/23/13)
Online Courses
MOOCs for Credit
Georgia State University announced that it will start to review MOOCs—massive open online courses—for credit much like it reviews courses students have taken at other institutions. And Academic Partnerships, a company that works with public universities to put their degree programs online, announced an initiative in which the first course of these programs can become a MOOC and offered for credit. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/23/13)
School Efficiency
Kansas Lawmakers, Education Groups React with Caution to Efficiency Task Force Report
The final report from Kansas Governor Sam Brownback's School Efficiency Task Force issued recommendations, along with a list of proposed best practices intended to "get more money in the classroom and less in administration and overhead costs." One question, however, is how to define a classroom expense and a recommendation calls for forming a task force to establish a definition. (Lawrence Journal World, 01/22/13)
Undocumented Students
New Legislatures Revisit In-State Tuition for Immigrants
Long-bottled-up bills that address state policies on whether to offer in-state tuition to undocumented students could become law this year because of changes in party control of legislative chambers and changes in federal policy. The tuition issue is expected to be debated in several states, including Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Oregon. At least 12 states offer in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. (Governing, 01/22/13)
Wednesday, January 23
Community Colleges
Brown Seeks to Reshape California's Community Colleges
Governor Jerry Brown has placed a renewed focus on California's struggling community colleges with recommendations aimed at keeping community colleges affordable, keeping classes accessible, and moving students faster through the system to allow them to graduate or transfer to a four-year university at higher rates. For example, he is seeking to limit the number of credits students can accumulate. (Los Angeles Times, 01/20/13)
Education Reform Plans
Vermont Governor Launches Four-Point Ed. Initiative
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin used his second inaugural address to outline an education reform plan that includes additional investments in early-childhood education, school meals for students from low-income families, and dual-enrollment courses. He also wants to create personal learning plans for K-12 students and a scholarship program for students who graduate with a degree in STEM fields. See ECS' summary of state of the state addresses. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/23/13)
Financial Aid
What Student Aid Research Shows
Two well-regarded researchers have scanned 50 years of financial aid practice and research to "review what is known and what is not known about how well various student aid programs work," they write. After outlining the history of financial aid and explaining the difficulty of evaluating which policies are effective and which aren't, their paper offers four major lessons. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/22/13)
School Finance Litigation
State Finance Lawsuits Roil K-12 Funding Landscape
As state budgets slowly recover from several years of economic contraction and stagnation, significant court battles continue to play a related yet distinct role in K-12 policy, even in states where the highest courts have already delivered rulings on the subject. School finance cases are at various stages in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, and Washington. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/23/13)
Teacher Supply/Demand
Colleges Overproducing Elementary Teachers, Data Find
Data suggest that some states are producing far more new teachers at the elementary level than will be able to find jobs in their respective states—even as districts struggle to find enough recruits in other certification fields. Education Week examined data from states' own labor projections and from supply-and-demand analyses, then cross-checked them with federal data submitted by the states.
(Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/23/13)
Tuesday, January 22
Anti-Poverty Programs
Anti-Poverty Program Found to Yield Few Academic Gains
Ten to 15 years after leaving neighborhoods of concentrated poverty, children of the Moving to Opportunity program are in most ways no better off than their peers who stayed put. But new findings from the ongoing study suggest more comprehensive school-neighborhood improvement initiatives stand a better chance of breaking the cycle of poverty. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/16/13)
Community Colleges/Degrees
Evolution or Mission Creep?
Michigan gave its community colleges the legal authority to issue bachelor's degrees, becoming the 21st state to do so. But the practice remains controversial despite its rapid expansion. Four-year universities in Michigan argue the authorizing legislation will lead to duplication of degree programs and harm their collaboration with community colleges. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/22/13)
Federal Ed Policies
Crush of Education Laws Await Renewal in Congress
The new Congress faces a lengthy list of education policy legislation that is either overdue for renewal or will be soon in a political landscape that remains consumed with fiscal issues. The list of policies includes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and higher education and early child-care grants. Longtime Capitol Hill aides can't remember a time when Congress was this jammed up. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/18/13)
Governance/Ed Reforms
State Board of Education Sworn In, Begins Work on Reforms
Nevada's newly constituted board of education was sworn into office and got down to work on Governor Brian Sandoval's education reform agenda. Historically, Nevada voters chose the board's 10 members. Voters now elect four board members to join three appointed members and four nonvoting members. The governor now has the authority to appoint board members and the state superintendent, who previously was appointed by the board. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 01/14/13)
Graduation Rates
National High School Graduation Rate Climbs
The national high school graduation rate has improved notably, with 78.2% of students receiving a diploma in 2009-10, up from 75.5% the year before, according to figures from the National Center for Education Statistics. There were 38 states with an increase of one percentage point or more in the most recent analysis. Still, one in five students are not getting a diploma. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/20/13)
Teacher Evaluations
L.A. Teachers Union Members OK New Evaluation Method
A landmark agreement to use student test scores in evaluating Los Angeles Unified teachers was approved by union members. But the agreement limits the value-added method to analyze a teacher's impact on student learning. Instead, teachers will be evaluated with such data as raw state test scores, district assessments, high school exit exams and rates of attendance, graduation, suspensions, and course completion. (Los Angeles Times, 01/19/13)
Friday, January 18
Charter Schools
Miss. Senate Approves Expanded Charter School Bill
A bill, S.B. 2189, to expand charter schools in Mississippi easily cleared the Senate. Mississippi has a charter school law that allows a small number of existing schools to convert to charters, but none have done so. The bill would give districts rated A or B a veto over whether charters can locate there, while C and lower-rated districts wouldn't get a veto. (Hattiesburg American, 01/16/13)
Common Core
Common Assessments Hold Promise, Face Challenges, Study Finds
Tests now being designed for the Common Core standards are likely to gauge deeper levels of learning and have a major impact on instruction, according to a new study. The report concludes that the assessments hold promise for improving teacher practice and student learning. But the authors caution that the test-making projects face key financial, technical, and political challenges that could affect their success. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/16/13)
Literacy/Retention
Social Promotion Still a Goal for Gov. Susana Martinez in Legislative Session
Nearly half of New Mexico's 3rd graders cannot read to grade level, according to standardized test results. Governor Susana Martinez and her Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera are expected to ask lawmakers for the third straight year to limit social promotion. But opponents say current law is working and doesn't need to be changed. See ECS' summary of literacy policies. (Alamogordo News, 01/12/13)
Post-graduate Earnings
New Pressure on Colleges to Disclose Grads' Earnings
Efforts to disclose the earnings potential of degrees in specific majors from colleges and universities are picking up steam, promising to bring competitive pressure to bear on institutions by steering students away from programs with lower market value and colleges whose graduates fare poorly. Wage information has been made available in several states and a bill in Congress would require every college to disclose such data. (Hechinger Report, 01/16/13)
School Leadership
D.C. Principals, Georgetown Launch Leadership Program
A group of 25 principals of D.C. schools began a master's-degree program at Georgetown University, part of an effort to improve the quality of leadership in the city's schools. D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson helped launch the program. The program mirrors Georgetown's Executive Master's in Leadership program in the McDonough School of Business. (Washington Post, 01/16/13)
Wednesday, January 16
Charter Schools
Michigan Home to High-Performing Charters, Study Finds
Charter school students in Michigan gained an additional two months of learning over the course of a single academic year in reading and math than their traditional school counterparts, according to study by Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes. The center has analyzed charter school performance in many states, including Indiana and New Jersey, and found similar results. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/14/13)
International Comparisons
Global-Achievement Study Casts U.S. Scores in Better Light
U.S. student achievement looks more favorable on the global stage when comparisons take into account the especially large share of American adolescents who come from disadvantaged social backgrounds, concludes a new study. The gap, for instance, between U.S. students and those from top-scoring nations on one global assessment would be cut in half in reading and by at least one-third in math. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/15/13)
Online Courses/College Costs
California State U. Will Experiment with Offering Credit for MOOCs
California universities are turning to low-cost online course options for students. San Jose State University announced a pilot project with Udacity, a for-profit provider of the massive open online courses, to jointly create three introductory math classes. The courses will be free online, but students can pay a reduced rate to earn credit. The California State University project began when Governor Jerry Brown contacted Udacity’s founder. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/15/13)
Teacher Evaluations
Should Students Grade their Teachers?
One of the options available to New Jersey districts as they build teacher evaluation systems is including student surveys among the multiple measures of student achievement. The idea is gaining popularity, at least among policymakers. Several districts that are part of the pilot program testing evaluation models have included or plan to include student surveys, although not necessarily as part of a teacher’s grade. (Hechinger Report, 01/14/13)
Undocumented Students
Colorado Democrats Back in-state Tuition Break for Illegal Immigrants
Two Colorado lawmakers plan to push a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to attend public colleges and universities at the in-state rate of tuition. The move comes after two years of failed attempts to pass a compromise bill permitting illegal immigrants to pay tuition lower than out-of-state rates but higher than in-state rates. The 2013 proposal, S.B. 33, does not include the compromised tuition level. (Denver Post, 01/15/13)
Tuesday, January 15
College Applications/Recruitment
A Hidden Supply of High-Achieving, Low-Income Students in Non-Metro Areas
High-achieving, low-income students who don't live in major metropolitan areas are less likely to end up in highly selective colleges. The problem is not a dearth of these students, according to new research. Rather, the vast majority of those students don't ever apply because they lack information or the encouragement that their high-income, high-achieving counterparts have. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/14/13)
Education Overhaul
N.Y. Governor Unveils Education Agenda
Expanding the amount of learning time for students and creating a new class of higher-paid master teachers are among the major changes that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is proposing, along with opening more community schools that would provide health care and family-counseling services. Much of Cuomo's education agenda is based on a recent report from a state task force. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/14/13)
Education Reforms
$187 Million Education Reform Plan Focuses on Teacher Career Paths
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad unveiled his education proposal that calls for a complete overhaul of educator duties and compensation. The plan would create new career paths for teachers and calls for teacher and administrator evaluations to take student achievement into account. Other items include developing college-ready and career-ready diploma seals and expanding Iowa Learning Online. (Des Moines Register, 01/15/13)
Student Engagement
Gallup: Student Engagement Drops with Each Grade
With every year that passes between 5th and 12th grade, the number of students who are engaged in school declines steadily, according to a recent Gallup Student Poll. A majority of elementary school students—almost eight in 10—qualify as engaged. By middle school, however, that number drops to six in 10 students. And when students enter high school, it drops to four in 10. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/11/13)
Teacher Tenure/Quality
White: High Standards Limit Teacher Tenure
Relatively few public school teachers will earn tenure in the future because Louisiana's new standards are "uncompromisingly high," state Superintendent of Education John White said. Among White's proposed changes: teachers who finish in the 80th percentile would be rated as "highly effective" rather than the current requirement, which is the 90th percentile. (Baton Rouge Advocate, 01/15/13)
Monday, January 14
Higher Ed Governance
Connecticut's Reorganization
In 2011, Governor Dannel Malloy floated the idea of consolidating Connecticut's community college system and its state university system. The ideas were bold. The execution was quick. The result has left many people—faculty members, administrators, students, legislators, taxpayers—skeptical about the effectiveness, if not the underlying strategy, of Connecticut's higher education reorganization.
(Inside Higher Ed, 01/14/13)
School Climate
Schools Aim to Craft Environment for Learning
The 2013 edition of Education Week's Quality Counts report takes aim at an issue with emotional as well as policy implications: the impact of a school's social and disciplinary environment on students' ability to learn, and on the teachers and administrators tasked with guiding them. A growing consensus also recognizes that the elements that make up school climate play a crucial part in laying the groundwork for academic success. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/09/13)
School Finance Litigation
Court: State Must Increase Education Funding
A three-judge panel determined that the Kansas legislature is not meeting its K-12 school funding obligations under the state constitution. The decision said that the previously set $4,492 per-pupil base state aid funding floor established by the Kansas Supreme Court may not be lowered. State officials said it would take an additional $442 million to bring the state in line with the court's decision. (Topeka Capitol-Journal, 01/11/13)
Student Demographics
The Pupil Cliff
The country likely peaked at about 3.4 million high school graduates in 2011 and will see a modest decline over the next few years, according to a Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education report. While the total number of white students has declined, there has been a huge increase in the number of Hispanic and Asian-American/Pacific Islander students. The demographic change will force states and institutions to rethink how they serve new segments of the population. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/11/13)
Friday, January 11
Common Core
Testing Group Picks 'College Readiness' Exam
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Colleges and Careers, or PARCC, has decided that students' college readiness in math in 22 states and the District of Columbia will be determined by an end-of-course test in the last of a three-course sequence. College readiness will be determined by students' scores on the Algebra 2 or Math 3 exam, depending on their course sequence. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/09/13)
Higher Ed Funding
Study Links State Higher-Education Spending to Demographics and Economy
A new analysis of spending on higher education finds that states with a diverse economy, low unemployment, and a history of support for higher education are likely to maintain public spending on colleges. Conversely, states that do not have those characteristics have a hard time overcoming fiscal challenges to create a robust system of higher education. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/08/13)
Race to the Top/Teacher Evaluations
Nearly $40 Million in Race to Top Funds for Maryland in Jeopardy
A letter from the Education Department to Maryland placed several major conditions on $37.9 million of the state's $250 million Race to the Top grant. If the state doesn't make good on those conditions, it risks losing that part of its grant. Maryland, like most other Race to the Top states, is struggling to implement its teacher- and principal-evaluation system exactly as it promised. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/09/13)
Teacher Recruitment
New Program Seeks to Address Teacher Shortages in State’s Schools
University of Arkansas and state education department officials are encouraging college seniors who are interested in teaching to apply for fellowships under the new Arkansas Teacher Corps program, which seeks to address teacher shortages in high-need subject areas and economically disadvantaged districts. Fellows will receive a $5,000 stipend per year in addition to their teacher salary. (Arkansas News Bureau, 01/09/13)
Value of College
A Degree Still Helps
Amid much public discussion about whether college is a good investment for graduates, a Pew Economic Mobility Project report considers whether or not a degree still helps people find better jobs and earn more money. The simple answer is yes. And, as the study's main finding suggests, the impact of a college degree has not been affected by the recession nearly as much as some reports. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/10/13)
Thursday, January 10
College Completion/Technology
O'Malley Calls on Colleges to Use Technology to Boost Graduation Rates
Governor Martin O'Malley called on Maryland's higher education institutions to devise new ways to use technology to bolster graduation rates. O'Malley has called for 55%—up from 45%—of Maryland adults to have a college credential. O'Malley urged educators to explore "new ways to use the Internet, online learning, and course redesign" to broaden access to higher education. (Baltimore Sun, 01/08/13)
Common Science Standards
New Science-Standards Draft Includes Many Changes
A second and final public draft of common standards aimed at reshaping K-12 science education was released for comment. A final set of standards will be ready in March. Twenty-six states are "lead state partners" in crafting the standards. Although they are not bound to adopt them, all have pledged to give serious consideration to doing so. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/08/13)
Early Literacy/Retention
Gov. Susana Martinez Proposes $13.5M to Improve Reading for Children through 3rd Grade
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez said she'll recommend the legislature provide $13.5 million to improve reading skills of K-3 students, an increase of $5 million over current spending. Martinez also will ask lawmakers to approve a measure requiring schools to retain 3rd graders who can't read proficiently, rather than promoting them to the next class. See ECS' report on early literacy. (The Republic, 01/08/12)
Online Courses
Paying for Proof
Coursera will offer a fee-based pathway with identity verification for students who want to earn a more meaningful certificate of completion, the company said in an announcement that also sheds light on an emerging business model for the largest massive open online course (MOOC) provider. The for-profit Coursera has enrolled more than 2.2 million students so far in its 213 free online courses.
(Inside Higher Ed, 01/09/13)
State Ed Indicators/Policies
States Show Spotty Progress on Education Gauges
The 2013 edition of Education Week's Quality Counts continues the tradition of tracking key education indicators and grading the states on their policy efforts and outcomes. A majority of states fell near the middle of the overall grading curve, with 38 states earning grades between a C-minus and a C-plus. Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia earned the highest overall grades. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/10/13)
Wednesday, January 9
Common Core
Funds Lacking for Tougher Education Standards
Arizona leaders have called for tougher new education standards, but the cost to implement the Common Core standards has fallen primarily to districts, which have seen state funding drop by about 15% since 2008. A document from the state education department pegged the implementation cost over the next two years at $131 million. (Arizona Republic, 01/07/13)
Online Learning
Growth for Online Learning
More than 6.7 million, or roughly a third, of all students enrolled in postsecondary education took an online course for credit in fall 2011, according to an annual survey. The number of online enrollees represented the smallest percentage increase in the 10 years, but overall college enrollment also fell. For the first time, the survey asked institutional officials about their views of MOOCs -- massive open online courses. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/08/13)
Teacher Effectiveness
Combined Measures Better at Gauging Teacher Effectiveness, Study Finds
Student feedback, test-score growth calculations, and observations of practice appear to pick up different but complementary information that, combined, can provide an accurate picture of teacher performance, according to a study released by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This composite measure predicted fairly accurately how much high-performing teachers would boost their students' test scores. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/08/13)
Veterans Education
Do Veterans Graduate?
Relatively little is known about the academic performance of student veterans, a growing and politically important segment of American higher education. But graduation and retention rate data may be on the way, thanks to a new agreement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Student Clearinghouse. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/08/13)
Video: Reading/Retention
Ohio Third Graders Face Retention Ultimatum: Learn to Read or Repeat the Year
Officials in Ohio elementary schools have hired reading specialists, engaged classroom teachers as one-on-one tutors, and recruited high-school volunteers to respond to a law requiring all 3rd-graders to read at grade level by or face retention. Ohio, where 30% of its 40,000 3rd-graders don't read at grade-level, is among 14 states that have passed such retention policies. See ECS' summary of literacy policies. (PBS/NewsHour, 01/04/13)
Tuesday, January 8
College Readiness/Remediation
Colleges Set Bar for Remedial Classes
Ohio’s public colleges and universities have agreed to minimum scores on placement exams that will guarantee students don’t have to take remedial courses. Previously, each school used its own means to determine whether students were ready for college work. About 41% of students who graduate from high school in Ohio take at least one remedial course when they enroll in public colleges. (Columbus Dispatch, 01/04/12)
Early Literacy
Brownback Wants to Focus on Improving Reading Scores of Kansas Fourth-grade Students
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback is preparing to lay out an agenda for the 2013 legislative session that includes putting more focus and perhaps resources into 4th-grade reading. The governor says improving reading scores also would help address childhood poverty, by preparing students with skills after high school. See ECS’ report on early literacy. (The Republic, 01/05/13)
Education Reforms
N.Y. Reform Commission Stresses Teacher Prep, More Learning Time
The New York Education Reform Commission released its report containing several recommendations for big changes to the state's K-12 schools that include setting a new, higher GPA for admissions to teacher and principal preparation programs, extending the school day, and using educational technology to overcome barriers between high school and higher education. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/07/13)
Ranking Ed Reforms
11 States Get Failing Grades on Public School Policies from Advocacy Group
StudentsFirst, the advocacy group led by Michelle A. Rhee, issued a report that ranks states based on how closely they follow the group's platform. The report examines policies related to teacher tenure and evaluations, school choice and parent empowerment, and spending funds wisely and governing well. No state received an A, two states earned B-minuses, and 11 states received an F. (New York Times, 01/07/12)
Teacher Evaluations
New Evaluation Pilot 'Skewed,' with Too Few Unsatisfactory Teachers, Officials Say
A pilot study of Georgia’s new teacher evaluation system showed only a tiny fraction of the state's teachers are ineffective. A report found that less than 1% of teachers classified as ineffective and one in five getting the top rating of exemplary. State officials say they expect more realistic outcomes as teachers and principals are better trained and have more time to adapt to the new evaluation system.
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 01/07/13)
Monday, January 7
College Remediation
Fewer Incoming College Students Need Remediation, Research Shows
A National Center for Education Statistics report sheds light on incoming college students who are taking remedial classes and how the landscape has changed in the past decade. The percentage of freshman who had to take remedial classes dropped from 1999-2000 to 2007-2008 from 26.3% to 20.4%. The report found lower percentages of white students taking remedial classes compared to black and Hispanic students. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/04/13)
Common Core
Consortium Releases Technology Guidelines for Common-Core Tests
The Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) released new guidance on the minimum technology standards states will need to meet to give the Common Core tests, beginning in 2014-15. The guidance is meant to provide direction to states and districts on the extent to which current technology meets testing standards, or whether upgrades will be required.
(Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/21/12)
Education Policy Priorities
Lawmakers Gear Up for Action on K-12 Issues
State lawmakers will attempt to tackle a range of issues in this year’s legislative sessions, from making common academic standards a reality and funding schools based on performance, to allowing armed teachers and staff members on school grounds. Their task may be complicated by the still small and spotty economic recovery, political polarization, and by federal education funding uncertainties. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/07/13)
Preschool Programs
Head Start Advantages Mostly Gone by 3rd Grade, Study Finds
While Head Start participation benefited children's learning and development during their time in the preschool program, those advantages had mostly vanished by the end of 3rd grade, a new federal study finds. The new findings are consistent with an earlier phase of the study which showed that many of the positive impacts of Head Start participation had faded by the end of 1st grade. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/21/12)
School Finance
Gov. Jerry Brown to Revisit Sweeping Plan to Alter School Funding
Governor Jerry Brown plans to pursue a sweeping overhaul of the way California schools are funded, changing the way money has been allocated for four decades. Brown wants to simplify funding streams, giving more local control to school boards and more money to districts with low-income students and those who don't speak English fluently. (San Jose Mercury News, 01/03/12)
Teacher Preparation
Missouri Raises the Bar on Teacher Preparation
Under a recently approved plan, Missouri will zero in on the effectiveness of teacher colleges. The plan includes more frequent report cards on the colleges’ performance, a more uniform evaluation of student teachers, and higher grade-point average requirements for those in the program. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 12/26/12)
Friday, December 21
College Participation/Completion
Why Do Academically Promising Students Not Choose College?
Students with the academic potential make very different choices about higher education based on the high school they attend, according to a set of analyses. One analysis found that 18% of these students enrolled in less-selective four-year colleges, two-year institutions, or no higher education at all. Moreover, students who chose less-selective colleges were less likely to earn a diploma. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/17/12)
College Remediation
Placement Tests Still Rule
Research released earlier this year found that commonly used placement tests fail to adequately determine whether incoming college students need remedial coursework. Yet most colleges rely exclusively on tests like the these exams, according to a National Assessment Governing Board study. The report found substantial variation in the cut scores that colleges used for course placement. (Inside Higher Ed, 12/21/12)
School Finance Litigation
State School Funds On Trial, Again
Overall, ten states have school finance challenges working their way through the courts, and four other states recently wrapped up legal challenges. But school-funding advocates have found that winning a lawsuit doesn't necessarily improve the quality of education--or even boost funding over the long term, as funding formula changes and budget cuts can eat into court-mandated increases. (Stateline.org, 12/21/12)
School Finance Litigation
State Supreme Court: Legislature Failing at Funding of Education
The Washington Supreme Court ruled that the legislature isn't making enough progress toward finding more money for K-12 education in answer to the court's decision in a school-funding lawsuit. In January, the court ruled the state isn't meeting its constitutional obligation to amply pay for basic education. The court determined that the legislature’s response to the decision was inadequate. (Seattle Times, 12/20/12)
STEM Teachers
STEM Teacher Fellowship Program Grows with New Jersey Plans
New Jersey has received a $9 million grant to recruit and prepare more top talent for teaching in the STEM disciplines. The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship program is intended to bolster the ranks of high-quality STEM teachers in high-need schools and transform teacher preparation programs. Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio already have established similar fellowship programs. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/18/12)
Value of College Degree
Analysis Adds to Data Showing the Economic Benefits of a College Degree
A State Higher Education Executive Officers report offers further evidence of the value of a college degree in terms of future earnings potential. Americans who complete a bachelor’s degree have a median income of $50,360, compared with a median of $29,423 for people with only a high-school diploma. The report provides national and state-level data on the wage premiums associated with degree attainment. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 12/19/12)
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