Friday, February 10
Adult Education
States Shake Up Adult Education to Help Low-Skilled Workers
A number of states, working with private foundations, local community colleges and area employers, are redesigning their adult basic-education programs to provide career training and remedial course work at the same time. The success of Washington's I-BEST program led a group of foundations to award grants to 10 states to lay the groundwork for similar programs. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/07/12)
Advanced Placement
Diverse Questions About AP
Despite efforts to offer college-level courses to more high schoolers, new data show 80% of black graduates whose PSAT scores suggested they could have succeeded in an Advanced Placement courses never enrolled in the classes, according to a College Board report. That rate drops to about 40% for Asians and 60% for whites. The report provides state data on AP enrollment and test scores. (Inside Higher Ed, 02/09/12)
Early Graduation
ID House Approves Bill on Early College Graduation
A bill, H.B. 426, aimed at helping students complete one or two years of college by the time they graduate high school advanced in the Idaho legislature. Students who participate in the "8 in 6 Program" would take summer courses to finish their junior high and high school coursework early and then get started on college through dual enrollment courses. (Idaho Statesman, 02/09/12)
Low-performing Schools
'Parent Trigger' Laws Gain Traction, But Slowly
State lawmakers and community activists are making a new push for "parent trigger" laws, measures that let parents vote to convert academically struggling schools to charters or to radically restructure them in other ways. But proponents and critics are divided on just how profound an impact those policies are likely to have on schools, and about who is likely to guide overhauls of those schools. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/07/12)
Teacher Tenure
Malloy: Teacher Tenure Will Have to Be Earned, and Re-earned
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy is calling on legislators to link teacher tenure to student performance and teacher evaluations. Malloy's new plan would provide tenure to teachers after two-and-a-half years only if they earn exemplary grades on two teacher evaluations, based largely on student achievement. Teachers who don't pass these evaluations will be given one year to improve. (Connecticut Mirror, 02/08/12)
Thursday, February 9
Achievement Gap
State Integration Task Force Adopts Plan to Close Achievement Gap
A Minnesota task force approved a plan to better integrate schools and close the achievement gap. Among the recommendations: giving the state education department power to withhold integration funds for schools that are not showing academic growth, providing better access to college readiness programs for low-income students and creating incentives for districts that reduce racial disparities through school choice. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 02/07/12)
Financial Aid
Cal Grant Participation Connected to Default Rates
A little-known California law has dealt a blow to nearly half of the for-profit college campuses in the state, barring them from offering students a coveted Cal Grant this year. The law cracks down for the first time on schools with high student loan default rates, meaning graduates aren't paying back the money they owe even three years after leaving school. (San Francisco Chronicle, 02/06/12)
NCLB Waivers
10 States to Get Education Waiver
President Obama announced that 10 states are freed from some No Child Left Behind requirements, giving leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students. The states are Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The majority of other states also plan to seek waivers. (USA Today, 02/09/12)
Remedial Education
Colorado Colleges Become Better at Keeping Those in Remedial Classes on Path to Success
The number of Colorado high school graduates who required college remediation has gone up again, but colleges are doing a better job at helping those students complete the classes and stick around for another year of college, according to an annual report. Overall, 31.8% of Colorado graduates had to enroll in remedial courses, up from 28.6% the year before. The state's cost of those remedial courses was $22 million in 2011. (Denver Post, 02/07/12)
Teacher Preparation/Recruitment
Malloy Pushes Tougher Teacher Training, Incentives
Aspiring Connecticut teachers would face tougher requirements to enter and complete preparation programs, but could qualify for tuition reimbursement grants and loan forgiveness under certain conditions as part of a proposal unveiled by Governor Dannel P. Malloy. The plan includes funding for teacher recruitment, training and professional development, and a new evaluation system. (Hartford Courant, 02/07/12)
Wednesday, February 8
Charter Schools
Malloy Calls for New Charter Schools, with Some New Rules
Governor Dannel P. Malloy is proposing a 30% increase per student in charter school funding and the opening of five new charter schools. That increase — to $12,000 per student — includes a new requirement that each district pay $1,000 per student to the charter school that enrolls that student. The total state cost of the boost in charter funding would be $9.7 million. (Connecticut Mirror, 02/07/12)
Financial Aid
Taking on Robin Hood
In his proposed budget, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is seeking to cap the use of tuition dollars from in-state students to provide financial aid, a common practice used by colleges and universities. McDonnell said he is pushing the cap to spur conversation about aid policies and to keep down the cost of college education, especially for middle-income students. (Inside Higher Ed, 02/07/12)
Online Learning
Arizona Online School Bills Seek More Accountability, Money
Arizona's growth of K-12 online schools is spurring proposals to toughen accountability and promote additional growth. One bill would allow online providers to earn more state funding if students finish courses and demonstrate mastery on state tests. That and a House bill also could make it easier for students to take more online courses. A third bill would require online schools to supervise final exams. (Arizona Republic, 02/07/12)
STEM Education
Obama Unveils STEM Ed. Plans at White House Science Fair
President Obama unveiled a proposal that includes $80 million for a new federal competition to support effective STEM teacher preparation programs and $60 million to improve mathematics education. Also, an upcoming Race to the Top competition will once again include STEM education as a focus area, and a portion of the Teacher Incentive Fund competition will support STEM educators. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/07/12)
Student Proficiency
Shift Away from 'Seat Time' on Display in States
Thirty-six states have established policies that give districts and schools some degree of ability to award credits to students based on mastery of a subject, rather than "seat time," a National Governors Association report says. The issue brief reveals the diversity of approaches taken by states as they try to create more flexibility for students through virtual and other alternative learning options. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/06/12)
Tuesday, February 7
Compulsory Attendance
Obama Rekindles State Debates on Dropout Age
President Barack Obama's call for every state to require school attendance until age 18 may spark a flurry of action in some statehouses, but changing attendance laws will do little by itself to drive down the nation's dropout rates, experts say. Policymakers and educators must develop comprehensive strategies for making school engaging and relevant, and for spotting and addressing early signs of dropping out. See ECS' summary of state compulsory attendance policies. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/06/12)
English-language Learners
Ed. Dept. Releases Guide for States on English-Language Proficiency
The Education Department released a guidebook to help states set new proficiency standards and academic achievement targets for English-language learners. The report describes methods policymakers may use to determine what English proficiency means for students, how long it should take students to reach it and how to factor in proficiency levels when measuring academic progress. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/06/12)
Financial Aid
Deal Creates Needs-based Scholarships for Georgia
Some of Georgia's low-income students will receive up to $10,000 for college through a privately funded scholarship program unveiled by Governor Nathan Deal. The REACH Scholarship program will target middle school students who have the academic skills for college but may struggle to afford it. If the students maintain good grades and behave, they will receive annual tuition scholarships of $2,500. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 02/06/12)
Low-performing Schools
Malloy Proposes Network to Aid Failing Schools
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy proposed creating a Commissioner's Network of up to 25 low-performing schools that will get $24.8 million in funding. Network schools would either be run in partnership with the district and the state, or solely by the state. Local universities, regional education service centers and others would be called upon to help run the schools. (Connecticut Post, 02/07/12)
Teacher Evaluations
Trio of Bills Push for New Teacher Evaluation System
The New Mexico legislature will consider three bills to develop new teacher and principal evaluation systems. Two bills would evaluate educators via a series of multiple measures, including a reliance on student test scores. Another bill would create a council to develop a teacher-evaluation system based on student-learning objectives, observations and student surveys, but not on test scores. (Santa Fe New Mexican, 02/02/12)
Monday, February 6
Charter Schools
Charter School Teachers Face Exit from Arizona State Retirement System
Arizona's charter school teachers could be kicked out of the state retirement system if a proposal rule change by the IRS goes into effect in June. The IRS is accepting public comment through today on the change that would essentially strip charter schools of their status as government groups when it comes to retirement system participation. (East Valley Tribune, 02/03/12)
Chronic Absenteeism
A Quarter of Oregon Students Chronically Absent
A quarter of Oregon's school children miss at least 10% of the year, according to a new analysis by a coalition of nonprofits that believes school attendance is closely tied to student achievement. Historically, schools and districts have tracked attendance by looking at the average daily attendance of their students as a group. This analysis looks at the year-long attendance of individual students. (Corvallis Gazette-Times, 02/01/12)
Early Learning
Malloy Proposes $12 Million for Early Education
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy outlined a $12 million proposal to increase access to preschool and improve the quality of early childhood programs. The governor wants to spend $4 million to provide preschool to 500 more children and $5 million to create a quality rating system for daycare and preschool programs. Another $3 million would help support people who work with young children. (Hartford Courant, 02/02/12)
Online Learning
LePage Executive Order Seeks to Expand Digital Learning Options
Governor Paul LePage signed an executive order that directs his education commissioner to develop a plan that increases online learning opportunities for Maine's K-12 students. The strategic plan should address how students can access online classes and how schools can leverage online resources to allow students to study topics schools might not be able to offer in-house. (Bangor Daily News, 02/01/12)
Student Creativity
States Mulling Creativity Indexes for Schools
At a time when U.S. political and business leaders are raising concerns about the need to better nurture creativity and innovative thinking among young people, several states — including California, Massachusetts and Oklahoma — are exploring the development of an index that would gauge the extent to which schools provide opportunities to foster those qualities. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 02/02/12)
Thursday, February 2
Community Colleges
Multiyear Study of Community-College Practices Asks: What Helps Students Graduate?
A new report draws attention to 13 strategies for increasing retention and graduation rates of community college students, including fast-tracking remedial education, providing students with experiential learning and requiring students to attend orientation. The report suggests that colleges need to better align their programs and policies with the needs and realities of their students.
(Chronicle of Higher Education, 02/02/12)
Digital Textbooks
Obama Wants Schools to Speed Digital Transition
The Obama administration is asking every school to accelerate the transition to digital textbooks and have an e-textbook in every student's hand by 2017. The administration unveiled the Digital Textbook Playbook, which recommends that states modify the textbook adoption process, allowing K-12 schools to use taxpayer funding on iPads, Kindles and the like — as well as software. (USA Today, 02/01/12)
District Flexibility
Malloy: Cut Red Tape for School Districts
A plan to give Connecticut districts greater flexibility to hire and keep the best teachers and reduce red tape that gets in the way of improving instruction in the classroom was announced by Governor Dannel P. Malloy. Malloy's announcement aims to streamline the teacher certification process, make it easier for districts to hire out-of-state teachers and create so-called master teachers. (Connecticut Post, 01/31/12)
Remedial Education
$70M in Remedial Work for Unprepared Students Saps SUNY Budget
New York's high schools are struggling to prepare graduates for college and it is costing the state $70 million in revenue. New York spends more on remedial education for its high school graduates than it does on funding eight entire State University of New York campuses, said the system's chancellor. She said about half of all students who enter the community college system need remedial education. See ECS' Getting Past Go project on remediation. (Albany Times-Union, 02/01/12)
Teaching Creationism
Indiana Senate Backs Teaching Creationism Proposal
Indiana's public schools would be allowed to teach creationism in science classes as long as they include origin of life theories from multiple religions under a proposal approved by the Senate. Senate Bill 89 permits local school boards to offer classes that include origin theories from religions including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Scientology. (Northwest Indiana Times 01/31/12)
Wednesday, February 1
Financial Aid
Branstad Approves More Guard Tuition Money
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed a bill increasing funding for the National Guard Education Assistance Program from $3.1 million to $4.4 million. The program covers about 90% of tuition costs for returning service members at the state's colleges and universities. Demand for the program increased in 2011-12, with more than 1,400 Guard members applying for it compared to 800 who used the program last year. (Muscatine Journal, 01/31/12)
School Accountability
Educators Criticize Latest Florida School Rankings
Florida's more than 3,000 schools have been ranked in a new database that shows the best of the A's — and also the worst of the F's. For elementary and middle schools, the rankings are based on student performance and improvement on the FCAT. For high schools, they are based half on FCAT scores and half on other factors such as high school graduation rates and student success in advanced classes. (Orlando Sentinel, 01/30/12)
Science Standards
Review Gives Many States 'D' or 'F' for Science Standards
A new report offers a bleak picture of state science standards, with just over half earning a grade of D or F. Among the 10 states to receive a failing grade were Idaho, Oregon and Wisconsin. Only California and the District of Columbia were given a solid A, while four states were handed an A-minus, according to the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/31/12)
State Policy Leadership
School Chiefs' Group Elbows into Policy Fight
A cadre of current and former chief state school officers is elbowing its way into the nation's education debate at a time when states are taking more control of K-12 education. Chiefs for Change promotes teacher evaluations tied to student achievement, more school choices, rewards for successful schools and more-intensive interventions for failing ones, and more-transparent accountability systems. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/31/12)
Teacher Certification
Analysis Raises Questions about Rigor of Teacher Tests
The average scores of graduating teacher-candidates on state-required licensing exams are uniformly higher, often significantly, than the passing scores states set for such exams, according to an Education Week analysis of preliminary data from a half-dozen states. The new data raise questions about the rigor and utility of current licensing tests. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/31/12)
Tuesday, January 31
Assessments
Bill to Change School Testing Passes Utah House
The Utah House passed H.B. 15, which would the replace Criterion Referenced Tests (CRTs) with computer-adaptive tests at a cost of $6.7 million. Computer-adaptive tests change in difficulty as students take them to adapt to their skill levels. They also provide immediate results. (Salt Lake Tribune, 01/30/12)
Charter Schools
Charter School Closures Are Down, but Why?
The percentage of charter schools that are being closed when they are up for renewal has fallen for two straight years, a new report finds, though it's unclear whether the decline is a result of improved quality, or lax oversight and persistent political pressure to keep low-performers open. In 2010-11, 6.2% of charters reviewed for renewal were shut down, a decrease from 8.8% the previous year and 12.6% in 2008-09. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/30/12)
NCLB Waivers
Education: States Should Do More to Reach Students
In its initial review of No Child Left Behind waiver requests, the Education Department highlighted a similar weakness in nearly every application: States did not do enough to ensure schools would be held accountable for the performance of all students. Some states have already agreed to make changes to their applications. (Boston Globe, 01/31/12)
Teacher Evaluations
Under Education Reform, School Principals Swamped by Teacher Evaluations
As states begin implementing teacher evaluation systems linked to student growth, some are encountering pushback not just from teachers, but from principals and other administrators. In some cases, they question the practicality of the new system, and in others the entire premise on which it's built. And even a few supporters of the new teacher evaluations wonder whether rushing them in might backfire. (Christian Science Monitor, 01/26/12)
Monday, January 30
Early Learning
Gov. Bobby Jindal Proposes Grading Early Childhood Programs
A plan to rework Louisiana's uncoordinated system of pre-kindergarten and early childhood education programs is tucked in the list of Governor Bobby Jindal's education agenda. The proposal would grade preschools, streamline governance and yank funding for underperforming programs. More than 30% of Louisiana's 4-year-olds are in one of three state-funded preschool programs, about 41,000 at-risk children. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 01/26/12)
School Finance/Teacher Evaluations
Gov. Brownback’s Plan to Post Teachers’ Rankings Causes Outcry
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has formally introduced his school finance overhaul, and it includes a provision to evaluate teachers and post their rankings on the Internet. Teacher evaluations would be based 50% on student performance on state assessments, 40% on input from supervisors, peers, parents and students, and 10% on the employees' contribution to the profession. (Lawrence Journal World, 01/26/12)
School Vouchers
Ruling: Arizona School Voucher Program Is Constitutional
A new court ruling says Arizona's school voucher program for students with disabilities is constitutional. The ruling rejects arguments by opponents of the program that it violates state constitutional prohibitions on using public money to support religious or private schools. (Arizona Capitol Times, 01/26/12)
Urban School Reform
Bold Remake Proposed for Indianapolis Schools
A nonprofit organization has crafted a sweeping plan for reworking the Indianapolis school system that would place the district under the control of the city's mayor, pare down the money spent in central administration, and give principals broad authority to hire and fire teachers. The state's superintendent, Tony Bennett, said he would want to see the reform measures adopted in other districts. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/25/12)
Friday, January 27
Early Graduation
Some States Prodding Students to Graduate Early
To give students an incentive to work hard, some states are encouraging early high school graduation by ramping up curricula or giving college scholarships. The policies emphasize proficiency over seat time. By giving students the green light to move on if they are ready, the hope is to bypass a senior slump, save families tuition money and curb districts' instructional costs. See ECS' summary of early graduation strategies. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/25/12)
Higher Ed Overhaul
Obama Decries Rising Cost of College Education
President Barack Obama called for an overhaul of the higher education financial aid system, warning that colleges and universities that fail to control spiraling tuition costs could lose federal funds. He also proposed a Race to the Top competition to encourage states to better use higher education dollars in exchange for $1 billion in prize dollars. The First in the World competition would encourage innovation to boost productivity on campuses. (Boston Globe, 01/27/12)
Low-performing Schools
Many Public Schools in D.C.’s Poorest Area Should Be Transformed or Shut, Study Says; More Charters Recommended
A new study commissioned by D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray recommends that the city turn around or close more than three dozen traditional public schools in its poorest neighborhoods and expand the number of high-performing charter schools. (Washington Post, 01/26/12)
School Finance Litigation
State, Plaintiffs Settle Rural Education Lawsuit
Alaska officials agreed to settle an eight-year case over education quality. Plaintiffs claimed the state had failed to meet its constitutional obligation to provide an education to schoolchildren. The settlement calls for the state to provide $18 million to help boost achievement at the 40 lowest-performing schools. The money would have to be appropriated by the legislature. (Anchorage Daily News, 01/26/12)
Teacher Evaluation
Coming Soon: Teacher Report Cards Based on Student Performance
A group of Connecticut educators has agreed on how to properly evaluate teachers so those who are struggling are identified and put on a path to improve or be dismissed. The plan calls for student performance and testing to count for half of the grade that teachers receive. The remaining share will be linked to teacher observations and parent and peer feedback surveys. (Connecticut Mirror, 01/25/12)
Thursday, January 26
Common Core
States Anticipate Technology Challenges with Common Tests
Most states that have adopted the common standards anticipate significant challenges in shifting to a computer-based assessment system designed for those standards, a Center on Education Policy study says. The report also includes updated information on the steps states are taking to implement common standards. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/25/12)
School Vouchers
New Voucher Effort Serves Special-needs Students
Ohio is about to launch its fourth tax-funded education-voucher program, this one for students with special needs. The vouchers — up to $20,000 a year — will be available for the 2012-13 school year. The aid, which comes from the district in which the student lives, can be used to pay for private-school tuition, therapy and other special services. Enrollment will be capped at about 11,750. (Columbus Dispatch, 01/25/12)
Student Discipline/High School Diplomas
Senate OKs Bill Limiting Teachers in Restraint, Seclusion of Students
The Wisconsin Senate approved a bill that would limit the ability of school teachers and staff to seclude or physically restrain students. Senate Bill 353 outlines when and how it's appropriate to seclude or restrain a student. The Senate also approved legislation, S.B. 335, to allow schools to issue vocational high school diplomas. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/24/12)
Teaching Quality
States Weaken Teacher Tenure Rights
America's teachers are seeing their tenure protections weakened as states seek flexibility to fire teachers who aren't performing. A few states have essentially nullified tenure protections altogether, according to a National Council on Teacher Quality report. The changes are occurring as states revamp their teacher evaluation systems and base teacher layoffs on performance instead of seniority. The report grades states on several teaching quality policies. (Boston Globe, 01/25/12)
Wednesday, January 25
Achievement Compacts
Governor Proposes Consequence-free 'Achievement Compacts' to Focus Schools and Community Colleges on Results
Governor John Kitzhaber wants the legislature to require every Oregon district and community college to sign a yearly achievement compact spelling out key results it will try to deliver. The governor has said that the compacts will accelerate student learning, shift money to proven techniques, and boost high school graduation and college-attendance rates. (Oregonian, 01/23/12)
Community Colleges
Mass. Gov. Patrick: Overhaul Community Colleges
Governor Deval Patrick has proposed unifying Massachusetts' 15 community colleges under a single budget and giving the board of higher education more oversight of the schools. The board would allocate funds to individual schools based on factors such as enrollment and student performance, and help craft a unified curriculum. (Boston Globe, 01/23/12)
Special Education
State Special Education Rates Vary Widely
An analysis of Department of Education data shows that the percentage of students in special education varies widely among states. While Rhode Island tops the country at 18%, Texas, at 9%, is at the bottom. The average percentage across all states is 13%. Those differences could have major financial implications. Special education funding can account for up to 20% of school budgets. (Stateline.org, 01/24/12)
State of the Union
Obama Wants Lower College Costs, Higher Dropout Age
During his State of the Union address, President Obama called directly on universities to hold down costs in order to make higher education more accessible to the middle class. He outlined a set of proposals that include threatening universities with a loss of federal money if they are unable to tamp down tuition. On the K-12 front, Obama urged states to raise the dropout age to 18. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/25/12)
State Policy Leadership
Twelve Education Issues to Watch in 2012
The Education Commission of the States released 12 for 2012, which offers predictions of the policies that have the biggest potential to drive changes in education in the states. ECS sees state officials focusing on prekindergarten-through-3rd grade instruction, strategies to figure out ways to make the best use of limited funding and blended learning — among other topics. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/25/12)
Tuesday, January 24
College Graduation Rates
Improving Graduation Rates at Ohio's Public Universities a Priority for Gov. John Kasich, Chancellor Jim Petro
Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Jim Petro plans to implement several innovative programs to increase graduation rates. He proposes a pilot project giving students a Certificate of Career Readiness if they attend college for one year and pass a standardized test. After two years of study, a qualified student would receive an associate degree, even at four-year universities. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 01/20/12)
Higher Ed Funding
State Support Slumps Again
An annual Grapevine study finds that state appropriations for colleges and students sunk by 7.6% in 2011-12, the largest such decline in at least a half century. All but nine states experienced one-year declines from their 2010-11 totals. The 41 states that cut their spending did so by widely varying proportions, from as little as 1% to as much as 41%, with a full third seeing double-digit drops. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/23/12)
School Accountability
State of Florida Considers Tougher Rules for Grading Schools
A set of rule changes proposed by the Florida education department could result in four times as many F schools and 493 fewer A and B schools. The proposal includes FCAT 2.0 cut scores, a learning gains calculation requirement for low-performing students, giving schools credit for improving the scores of high-achieving students and making any school with less than 25% of its students reading on grade level an F. (Florida Times-Union, 01/23/12)
Teacher Evaluation
House Passes Teacher Evaluation Bill
The Kentucky House passed a bill to establish a statewide approach for evaluating teachers and school administrators based partly on student performance and other key measures. House Bill 40 would call on the state education department to partner with school and parent groups to finalize details of the new teacher assessment process by the 2014-15 academic year. (Louisville Courier-Journal, 01/20/12)
Monday, January 23
Early Learning
Study Lauds Role of Early Ed
Poor children who get high-quality day care as early as infancy reap long-lasting benefits, including a better chance at a college degree and steady employment, according to a UNC-Chapel Hill study that followed participants from birth to age 30. The latest findings, published in the online journal Developmental Psychology, are from one of the longest-running child care studies in the United States. (Raleigh News and Observer, 01/20/12)
Financial Aid
HOPE’s Future May Be More Dire
Georgia’s new Zell Miller Scholarship, launched last year by Governor Nathan Deal to provide full tuition to the state's highest-achieving students, is likely to be an even bigger drain on an already strained HOPE program as more scholars than expected qualify. As a result, HOPE scholars will see their financial awards shrink even further than predicted over the next several years. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 01/22/12)
Online Learning
Report Estimates Cost of Virtual Education
The per-pupil cost of educating a student through virtual education is significantly less, on average, than the national average for brick-and-mortar schools, says a Thomas B. Fordham Institute paper. The report also says that fully virtual programs are less expensive, on average, than blended-learning programs, but the paper does not address whether student outcomes are equal. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/17/12)
Race to the Top
Fate of $75M Hawaii School Grant Remains Uncertain After Teachers Reject Contract Deal
The fate of Hawaii's $75 million Race to the Top grant remains uncertain after teachers turned down a proposed contract that would have removed a major stumbling block in delivering on promised reforms, including a performance-based pay system. Last month, the U.S. Education Department noted Hawaii’s "unsatisfactory" performance under the grant and placed it under "high risk" status.
(The Republic, 01/20/12)
Student Bullying
Anti-bully Bill Gets Ohio Senate’s Approval
The Ohio Senate approved H.B. 116 that adds a definition of cyberbullying to school policies and to anti-bullying teacher training. It also adds school buses as places where bullying can be disciplined, and it requires schools to set up a process to allow for anonymous reporting of harassment. The bill also requires that parents be notified at home of the district’s bullying policies. (Columbus Dispatch, 01/19/12)
Friday, January 20
Charter Schools
Mixed Results Seen for Charter Networks
A follow-up to a major national study by Mathematica on the performance of charter school networks shows they are yielding varied results when it comes to their students' progress in graduating from high school and going on to college. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/17/12)
College Textbooks
5 Colleges to Test Bulk-Purchasing of e-Textbooks in Bid to Rein In Costs
An effort by college leaders to shake up the textbook industry got a boost, as five universities announced plans to try bulk purchasing of e-textbooks. The business model ends the need for students to buy their own books each semester by requiring them to pay a course-materials fee to the university, which would use the money to purchase e-textbooks at deeply-discounted prices. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/18/12)
Education Reforms
McDonnell Proposes Repealing ‘Kings Dominion Law,’ Teacher Tenure in Schools Plan
Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell unveiled a set of education reform proposals that include revamping teacher tenure, allowing school boards to set their own calendars, requiring students to take one online course to graduate, and expanding literacy intervention services. (Washington Post, 01/09/12)
Race to the Top
Reports Detail Race to Top Winners' Challenges
The winners of Race to the Top have experienced near-universal challenges in turning their multifaceted proposals into reality, among them a limited state capacity to execute fast, dramatic change and deeply rooted teacher-evaluation systems that have proved hard to transform. Reports unveiled by the Education Department detail where the 11 states and the District of Columbia are hitting their targets, and where they're falling short. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/17/12)
School Funding
Lawsuits Say States Fail to Meet K-12 Funding Duties
Ongoing or recently decided school finance lawsuits in Colorado, Texas, Washington and elsewhere underscore the challenges confronting states that have been battered by the extended economic downturn. The cases also highlight the divides over school funding in many states, with some governors and lawmakers choosing to balance budgets by making deep cuts in spending — including for K-12 — rather than raise taxes. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/17/12)
Thursday, January 19
College Degrees
Report: Idaho Students Need More Counselors, Scholarships
To improve postsecondary graduation rates in Idaho, the state should provide more high school guidance counselors and need-based scholarships, according to a report released to the legislature. The report offers other recommendations and identifies three main barriers that Idahoans face in continuing education after high school: readiness, access and affordability. (Idaho Press-Tribune, 01/17/12)
Education Reforms
Proposal Urges More Flexibility in Education
Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen unveiled a new strategic plan for moving Maine's schools toward a system that values learning flexibility and proficiency above tests and the amount of time spent in school. Students would graduate only when they can demonstrate mastery of all the standards defined in the Maine Learning Results and the national common core standards. (Kennebec Journal, 01/18/12)
Foster Students
Programs Help Foster Youth Achieve College Success
A growing number of colleges and universities are offering more services to students who grew up in foster care, including academic and social support. Spurring much of the activity is a 2008 federal law that makes it less costly for states to extend foster care beyond age 18. Research shows that 70% of youth who are aging out of foster care plan to attend college — but between 3% and 11% complete a bachelor's degree. (USA Today, 01/18/12)
International Comparisons
Matching Up States, Countries Offers Fresh Perspective
In everything from population demographics to curriculum adoption, a country like Finland may be more comparable to an individual state like Minnesota than it is to the heterogeneous expanse of the United States — leading some policymakers and researchers to reason that such state-to-country comparisons can better highlight educational practices. Yet the analysis must go beyond test scores. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/12/12)
Online Learning
National Online Teacher Certification Program Announced
Online teachers, and eventually administrators, classroom teachers, librarians and professional developers across the nation will be able to enroll in the new Leading Edge Certification program that has the endorsement of national ed-tech advocates. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/17/12)
Wednesday, January 18
Charter Schools
Colorado Charter-school Laws Seventh-strongest in U.S., Report Says
Colorado has the seventh-strongest charter-school laws in the country, a three spot drop from last year, according to an annual rankings report by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. The report says more about what's new in other states than a weakening of Colorado rules, officials said. According to the report, 10 states lifted caps on the number of charters allowed in 2011. (Denver Post, 01/17/12)
Early Learning
Expansion in Pre-K Programs Curtailed in Recession
The expansion in public prekindergarten programs has slowed and even been reversed in some states as districts cope with shrinking budgets. As a result, many 3- and 4-year-olds aren't going to preschool. Kids from low-income families who start kindergarten without first attending a quality education program enter school an estimated 18 months behind their peers. (Boston Globe, 01/17/12)
Education Overhaul
Gov. Bobby Jindal Details School Voucher, Teacher Tenure Proposals
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal outlined a far-reaching plan aimed at improving education, one that would expand the use of private school vouchers statewide, make it easier to open new charter schools and all but eliminate the job protections afforded teachers by the state's tenure laws. Preschool programs that get state funding would face tougher accountability measures. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 01/17/12)
State Data Systems
States Should Make Better Use of Academic Data, Study Says
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have built digital warehouses and filled them with academic data for every public school child, but many states are not adequately sharing the information with teachers and parents or using it in sophisticated ways to improve classroom learning, according to a new study by the Data Quality Campaign. (Washington Post, 01/17/12)
STEM Investments
State Budget Cuts for Research Universities Imperil Competitiveness, Report Says
States have cut funds for public research universities by 20% in constant dollars from 2002 to 2010, according to a National Science Foundation report. The findings show that while countries like China and India have increased their spending on technology and education, the United States has found itself hamstrung by a weakened economy. The report also examines investments in science and engineering for K-12 education. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/17/12)
Tuesday, January 17
Education Progress Measures
On Policy, Student Achievement, States Pressing to Measure Up
Despite continued fiscal pressures, states and the nation notched incremental gains on key indicators, Education Week's annual survey of education leaders finds, though challenges remain. The 2012 edition of Quality Counts presents updated scores and letter grades, for the states and the nation as a whole, in five of six areas perennially tracked by the report. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/12/12)
Kindergarten
Plan to Scrap Kindergarten Program Spurs Protest
California educators and childcare advocates are protesting Governor Jerry Brown's proposal to scrap a new "transitional kindergarten" program for kids who don't make the new cutoff date for kindergarten entrance age. The governor's budget plan for 2012-13 doesn't provide funding for program, for which an estimated 40,000 children are expected to be eligible for this fall. (Boston Globe, 01/13/12)
Low-performing Schools
Christie Signs Urban Hope Act Allowing Nonprofit-run Schools in Camden, Newark and Trenton
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed legislation, the Urban Hope Act, that attempts to expand education options in failing schools and urban districts and provide students with access to educational opportunities. The new law allows three districts — Camden, Newark and Trenton — to partner with one or more nonprofits to construct as many as four "renaissance schools" in each district. (New Jersey Newsroom, 01/12/12)
School Turnarounds
Task Force Wants to Halt School Closings, Turnarounds
An Illinois state legislative task force created to address community concerns over Chicago's efforts to shut down or completely overhaul underperforming schools is calling for a moratorium on school closings and turnarounds. Task force members said the district's guidelines for determining school closings and turnarounds remain unclear. (Chicago Tribune, 01/13/12)
Workforce Development
Texas Colleges Aim to Get in Sync with Labor Market
As the economy begins to show signs of life, efforts are under way at Texas two-year colleges to make programs more responsive to the labor market. The Texas State Technical College System, for example, has joined Credentials That Work, a national project that uses technology that scrapes information from online job postings and provides real-time labor market information. (Texas Tribune, 01/13/12)
Friday, January 13
Charter Schools
Colorado Education Board Approves Charter-school Guidelines
The Colorado State Board of Education approved a national set of recommendations for charter schools and the districts that authorize them. The new principles call for concrete direction on what districts should consider when authorizing and tracking charters and how the state should review appeals of charter-school denials or closures. (Denver Post, 01/12/12)
Common Core Standards
Few States Cite Full Plans for Carrying Out Standards
Forty-six states and the District of Columbia have adopted the common core standards, but only seven have fully developed plans to put the standards into practice, according to a new study. The report focused on three key areas: providing curriculum or instructional materials, offering professional development to teachers, and adapting teacher evaluation to reflect instruction in the new standards.
(Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/12/12)
STEM Programs
STEM Works Initiative to Expand to More School Districts
An Arkanas pilot program that emphasizes STEM education will expand to include 15 school districts and one technical center in the 2012-13 school year. The STEM Works program seeks to educate more students in fields that have the greatest need for qualified workers and have the greatest potential to enhance the state's economy. (Arkansas News Bureau, 01/11/12)
Teacher Pay
Haslam Targets Teacher Salaries
Tennessee teachers may lose the promise of annual raises based solely on years of service and number of degrees. Governor Bill Haslam said he wants to give districts the option of ditching a state-mandated salary scale and creating pay plans that address their own needs and are based on student performance, how tough a teaching position is to fill and other measures. (Tennessean, 01/11/12)
Teacher Pay
Mayor Takes On Teachers' Union in School Plans
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, directly confronting leaders of the teachers' union, proposed a teacher merit-pay system that would award top performers with $20,000 raises and threatened to remove as many as half of those working in dozens of struggling schools. He also said the city should offer to pay off up to $25,000 in student loans for top college graduates who teach in the city’s schools. (New York Times, 01/12/12)
Thursday, January 12
Career/Tech Ed
Brownback Proposes Giving High Schools Tech-ed Incentives
Kansas high schools could get a $1,000 credit for each student who receives a technical education certificate under a plan unveiled by Governor Sam Brownback. His proposal would provide $20.5 million for student tuition, transportation, marketing of technical education and the $1,000-per-certificate incentives. The proposal comes as the number of students who complete technical education programs dwindles. (Wichita Eagle, 01/09/12)
College Completion
Minority-Serving Institutions Are Key to Achieving College-Completion Goals, Report Says
Minority-serving institutions, which enroll almost 14% of the college-going population, must play a key role in achieving President Obama's goal for the United States to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020, says an Institute for Higher Education Policy report. Over the next eight years, the percentage of people of color nationwide is projected to rise to 40%, from 31%. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/10/12)
International Comparisons
Equipping U.S. Schools for the Global Fast Lane
Education Week’s Quality Counts 2012 examines the nation's international standing in education, and lessons to be drawn from high-performing countries. Much of the debate centers on whether the U.S. education system has slipped from a position of dominance, or is holding steady, in areas deemed crucial to economic security, particularly the STEM subjects. Tune in to a live stream of the report’s release beginning at 10 a.m. EST today. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/10/12)
State Policymaking
State Legislatures Back, with Last Year's Battles Still in Mind
Last year, many governors and lawmakers pushed through bold and controversial education reforms. Many observers say they expect this year's legislative sessions to bring a mix of far-reaching activity in some states and a careful recalibrating of policy in others. Policymakers may be inclined to avoid divisive issues, given that many will face elections in the fall. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/10/12)
Student Discipline
Panel Backs Maine Bill to Avoid Expulsions from School
Maine districts would no longer be allowed to expel students without giving them a time line or plan for returning to class, under a proposed bill. The measure, L.D. 1503, is based on the recommendations of a study group that said Maine's school discipline and truancy policies don't do enough to keep kids in school, and may even lead some to drop out. (Portland Press Herald, 01/11/12)
Wednesday, January 11
Community College Reforms
California Community College Board Backs Sweeping Reforms
The governing board of California's community colleges approved sweeping reforms intended to streamline the path to graduation and transfer for students. The proposal would require all colleges to use a single assessment for English and math skills and prioritize registration and fee waivers for students who have concrete goals, such as a degree or transfer to a four-year college. Campuses would be required to publish performance score cards. (Los Angeles Times, 01/09/12)
NCLB Waivers
Some States Skeptical of NCLB Waivers
Just months after the Obama administration gave states the opportunity to escape from some No Child Left Behind provisions, a handful of them have either rejected that offer or voiced serious reservations about it, saying the rules for securing a waiver are equally or nearly as impractical as the ones set in current law. The skeptical states include California, Montana, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/10/12)
Online Learning
Colorado Education Department to Vote on Rules to Raise Standards for Online Schools
Online schools in Colorado would have to reveal more about their finances and be subject to the same quality standards as their brick-and-mortar counterparts under a proposed comprehensive change in the rules governing computer-based learning. In addition, the state board rules would more thoroughly scrutinize new applications for online schools. (Denver Post, 01/11/12)
School Accountability
Idaho Moves to Adopt New School Grading System
Idaho education officials plan to adopt their own grading system for schools while rejecting the latest benchmarks under No Child Left Behind. Under a new accountability system developed by the state education department, Idaho would use a new five-star scale to evaluate and recognize schools. (Idaho Statesman, 01/10/12)
Teacher Pay/Tenure
S.D. Governor Proposes Bonuses for Top Teachers
Governor Dennis Daugaard opened South Dakota's legislative session with a proposal to give bonuses to the best teachers while eliminating tenure for new teachers. The governor also proposed bonuses for teachers who take hard-to-fill jobs in math and science and provided more details on his plan to train and attract workers to deal with a shortage of doctors, engineers, welders and others. (Sioux City Journal, 01/10/12)
Tuesday, January 10
Civic Learning
Democracy Faces a 'Crucible Moment,' Says Report, but Colleges Can Help
American democracy will confront an increasingly bleak future unless colleges make civic learning a central part of students' education, says a report by the National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement. Colleges should train students to be civically literate and encourage them to continue working for the public good after graduating, and policies would change to support civic learning goals. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/10/12)
Federal Education Budget
Literacy Wins, History Loses in Federal Budget
The budget compromise hammered out in Washington breathes new life into a major literacy initiative, but wipes out federal aid for other programs targeting aspects of the curriculum, including instruction in American history and foreign languages. Congress restored the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy program, which seeks to promote literacy from birth through high school. See ECS' summary of the federal education budget. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/06/12)
Race to the Top
Big Race to Top Problems in Hawaii, Florida, N.Y., Says Ed. Dept.
In its first official assessment of $4 billion in Race to the Top grants, the Department of Education commended the 12 winners for working hard to implement the first year of their reform plans — but raised specific red flags about the pace of change in Hawaii, New York and Florida. Specifically, most winners are struggling to implement new teacher-evaluation systems based at least in part on student growth. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/10/12)
Teacher Effectiveness
Popular Frameworks Found to Identify Effective Teachers
Teachers who embodied the teaching skills outlined in certain popular teaching frameworks tended to help their students learn more, concludes a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation report. The study suggests that observations of teaching practice hold promise for being integrated into teacher-evaluation systems. The study also indicates that multiple measures, not just test scores, are necessary to gauge teacher performance. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/06/12)
Workforce Demands
Proposed Bill from Colorado House Democrat Mandates Sharing Jobs Data with Schools
A Colorado lawmaker unveiled a draft bill that would direct the Department of Labor to share job openings information with colleges, vocational schools and workforce training programs. Colleges and training programs would be directed to publicly report the skills their most recent graduates have to offer. The legislator hopes the information sharing can be accomplished at no additional cost to taxpayers. (Denver Post, 01/09/12)
Monday, January 9
Charter Schools
Oregon Districts Start Their Own Charter Schools to Gain Federal Funding, Flexibility
Amid increasing budget constraints and continued pressure to reform education, some savvy Oregon educators are taking advantage of federal charter school grants to create a hybrid: the district-initiated charter school. Advocates say districts offer management experience, but critics question whether the charters will be sufficiently innovative and independent. (Oregonian, 01/04/12)
College Participation/Readiness
Two Colorado Middle Schools Offer College-level Remedial Math Class
Twelve Colorado districts are sharing a $35 million federal grant aimed at increasing college attendance. Hiring counselors, staging college fairs and offering scholarships are all part of the deal. But two schools are giving 8th-graders the chance to take the math class they would have to take in college if they score poorly on their placement tests. If they pass the course, it goes on their transcript and they can avoid remedial classes. (Denver Post, 01/06/12)
NCLB Reauthorization
House ESEA Draft Would Rein in Federal Accountability Rules
House Republicans released two draft bills that would significantly scale back the federal role in K-12 schools and go further than any other proposal yet to dismantle the accountability tenets at the heart of No Child Left Behind. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/06/12)
Pre-K Funding
Deal: State Needs to Add Back 10 Pre-k Days
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal will propose reinstating 10 of 20 days that were removed from the current pre-K year. The longer school year — 170 days — will result in a 4.4% pay raise for pre-K teachers. Last year, Deal recommended, and the legislature approved, shortening the pre-K school year from 180 to 160 days, and adding two students to each class. Teacher retention rates fell in response. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 01/05/12)
Teaching Quality
Big Study Links Good Teachers to Lasting Gain
Elementary and middle school teachers who help raise their students' standardized-test scores seem to have a wide-ranging, lasting positive effect on those students' lives beyond academics, including lower teenage-pregnancy rates and greater college matriculation and adult earnings, according to a study that tracked 2.5 million students over 20 years. (New York Times, 01/06/12)
Friday, January 6
Degrees and Unemployment
Majors Matter in Job Prospects for Recent College Graduates
A report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce finds unemployment for recent college graduates is 8.9%, compared with 22.9% of job-seekers with just a high school education and 31.5% among high school dropouts. Further, college majors that are more closely aligned with particular occupations and industries tend to have lower unemployment rates. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/04/12)
Early Literacy
Walker Unveils Plans for Reading Instruction
Governor Scott Walker and the state schools superintendent unveiled a task force's recommendations for how Wisconsin might ensure that every child can read by the end of the 3rd grade. The plan includes testing incoming kindergarteners' reading proficiency, providing teachers with more training opportunities and holding teachers to higher standards. Also see ECS' The Progress of Reform on early literacy. (La Crosse Tribune, 01/04/11)
High School Exams
10th-grade Writing Test Replaced with ACT
Another North Carolina standardized test goes extinct this year with the federal government giving the state permission to drop a 10th-grade writing test that had been used to help determine school quality. Instead, high school juniors will take the ACT, which includes a writing section. The ACT will help determine whether schools are preparing students for college and work. (Raleigh News and Observer, 01/05/11)
NCLB
No Child Left Behind Turns 10
To reflect on No Child Left Behind's 10th anniversary, Education Week asked a range of K-12 education leaders, politicians, teachers and child advocates for their thoughts. The section also includes links to Education Week's coverage over the decade, readers' comments and a glossary of selected NCLB terms. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/04/12)
School Funding
High Court: State Isn't Fully Funding Education
The Washington State Supreme Court upheld a lower court's finding that the government is failing to meet its constitutional duty to fully fund basic education for all the state's children. But the justices did not require lawmakers to take specific, immediate action. Instead, the court deferred to legislation that gives the state until 2018 to provide enough funding to meet its own definition of "basic education." (Seattle Times, 01/05/11)
Thursday, January 5
College Participation
All D.C. Students Would Pursue Higher Education Under Council Chief’s Proposal
Under legislation introduced by the D.C. Council, all public school students would have to take the SAT or ACT college entrance exam to graduate from high school. Students also would be required to complete at least one application for admission to college or vocational or trade school — even if the student does not intend to continue schooling beyond 12th grade. (Washington Post, 01/03/11)
Education Overhaul
Superintendents Push Dramatic Changes for Conn. Schools
Connecticut’s school superintendents have proposed a package of reforms that would replace the current education system with a "learner-centered" program that would begin at age 3; offer parents a menu of options, including charter and magnet schools; and provide assessments when an individual child is ready to be tested, rather than having all children tested in a class at the same time. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/04/12)
Higher Ed Governance
Higher Education Committee Calls for Enhancing Regents' Power
A Louisiana committee has recommended against merging the four boards that run the four college systems into one, opting instead for enhancing the role of the Board of Regents. It also called for the boards to have the authority to set tuition in keeping with Regents policies, instead of the current process in which lawmakers approve the increases by two-thirds vote. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 01/03/11)
Promotion/Retention
States Expected to Focus on 3rd-Grade Retention
Governors in Iowa and New Mexico have proposed setting a reading skill level for students to advance beyond 3rd grade. Many state officials have credited former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who placed an emphasis on building students' early reading skills, with having pioneered the concept. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/04/12)
School Funding
Ga. Looking at Repealing Education Spending Law
Georgia is considering throwing out a law requiring 65% of education funding be spent in classrooms, part of an effort to overhaul how the state funds K-12 education. A state commission voted to draw up legislation repealing the unpopular rule, which critics say hasn't improved student achievement and hamstrings cash-strapped schools. (Athens Banner-Herald, 01/04/11)
School Leadership
Competing Pressures Put Strain on School Principals, Study Finds
California principals are facing shrinking budgets and mounting responsibilities to lead teachers and keep schools running — creating competing pressures that may make the job untenable, a study has found. Meanwhile, the state has an increasingly veteran teacher workforce and a relatively inexperienced corps of principals. (Venture County Star, 01/02/12)
Wednesday, January 4
Affirmative Action
New Hampshire Ends Affirmative-Action Preferences at Colleges
Public colleges in New Hampshire are precluded from using affirmative-action preferences in hiring or admissions decisions under a new law, H.B. 623, that took effect on January 1 after being passed by the legislature last year with relatively little public opposition. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 01/04/12)
Education Technology
Teachers Resist High-Tech Push in Idaho Schools
Last year, the Idaho legislature passed a law that requires all high school students to take some online classes to graduate, and that the students and their teachers be given laptops or tablets. But some teachers feel policymakers are thrusting computers into classrooms without their input or proper training. And some say they are opposed to shifting money to online classes whose benefits remain unproved. (New York Times, 01/03/12)
Race to the Top
Challenges Lie Ahead for Early-Learning Grant Winners
The nine states splitting $500 million in Race to the Top early-learning grants must now deliver on a slate of ambitious promises, including plans to design or expand rating guides used to judge the quality of early-childhood programs. The winners also face the challenges of unknown budgets, defining and measuring school readiness, and ensuring that the new initiatives can last beyond the life of the grants. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/03/12)
State Information Systems
N.C. Wants Grant to Expand Student Tracking from Infancy to Adulthood
About $9 million of North Carolina's $70 million Race to the Top grant will be used to track the progress of young children, some from infancy. Tracking already is done for K-12 students and for teachers' performance. State education officials also have applied for a grant to improve tracking of postsecondary student performance and follow students when they enter the work force. (Winston-Salem Journal, 01/03/12)
Tuesday, January 3
Child Poverty
Report Finds Child Poverty Rising in the States
The "Great Recession" and its aftermath have taken a severe toll on the nation's children, with poverty rates among young people increasing from 18% to 22% from 2007 to 2010, a recent report shows. Child poverty varies greatly in the states. Mississippi had the highest poverty rate, at 32.5%, while New Hampshire’s had the lowest at 10%. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/30/11)
Education Philanthropy
Survey Finds Education Grantmakers Getting More Strategic in 2011
Philanthropies maintained consistent funding levels for education during 2011, but were more strategic and deliberate with dollars, according to a new report. Hot-button areas for change — such as teacher quality and preparation, and common standards and assessments — were of particular interest to foundations, as well as the STEM subjects, expanded learning time and out-of-school programs, and 21st century skills. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/30/11)
Federal Aid/Teacher Evaluations
State Threatens to Pull Millions for Schools in the City and Elsewhere
New York State's education commissioner threatened to withhold tens of millions of dollars in federal grants to struggling schools in New York City and nine other districts if they do not prove that they will carry out new evaluation systems for teachers and principals. New York City could lose roughly $60 million in the school improvement grants. (New York Times, 12/27/11)
Race to the Top
States Hit Turbulence in School Overhauls
The Obama administration is stepping up pressure on states to make good on their commitments under Race to the Top, after all 12 winners either scaled down plans or pushed back timelines to overhaul their education systems. In a letter, the Education Department warned that Hawaii, which won $75 million, is so far off track that the state could lose its money if it doesn't start making good on its pledges. (Wall Street Journal, 12/28/11)
Workforce Training
Community Colleges Struggle to Train Workers with Limited Funds
Business leaders depend on community colleges to offer workforce training, but high unemployment and state budget cuts have made it harder for the sector to do that work, according to a new survey. Most respondents agreed that community colleges are being pushed to offer quick job training without academic credit. That limits colleges' ability to invest in more expensive long-term programs. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 12/21/11)
Friday, December 16
Charter Schools
Legislature OKs Lifting of Charter School Limits; Snyder Expected to Sign
The Michigan legislature gave final approval to S.B. 618 that removes limits on the number and location of charter schools. The changes would open the door to creating a virtually unlimited number of new charters, but also add requirements for increased transparency in charter school operations and scrutiny of charter operators’ past performance. Governor Rick Snyder is expected to sign the bill.
(Detroit Free Press, 12/15/11)
Financial Aid
Maximum Pell Preserved
Members of Congress appear to have reached a compromise on a federal 2012 budget that would preserve the maximum Pell Grant at $5,550, but change the program’s eligibility criteria, making as many as 100,000 of its nine million recipients ineligible. Under HR 3671, the grants could be used for a total of 12 semesters, not 18. The bill also would eliminate the "ability to benefit" tests. See a recent ECS blog post on the proposal. (Inside Higher Ed, 12/16/11)
Higher Ed Performance
Performance Anxiety
Indiana’s Commission on Higher Education performance funding system will continue to reward overall degree completion, but also reward institutions for shepherding students to certain credit-level thresholds. The new formula also pushes institutions to increase the number of low-income students to obtain degrees; the number of STEM degrees; the number of community college students who complete remediation; and the percentage of students who graduate on time. (Inside Higher Ed, 12/16/11)
Race to the Top
9 States Win Race to Top Early Learning Grants
Nine states will share $500 million in Race to the Top early learning grants, the Education Department announced. The winning states are: California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington. Notably missing from the list: Colorado, which was considered a front-runner by some to win. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/16/11)
School Turnarounds
States Creating New Districts to Steer 'Turnarounds'
Michigan and Tennessee are building special districts to take over low-performing schools. And it may become the job of more school leaders, as states work to enact wholesale changes in groups of struggling schools, rather than taking on one school at a time or directly managing established districts. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/13/11)
Thursday, December 15
AYP Results
Report: Half of U.S. Schools Fail Federal Standards
More than 43,000 schools — or 48% — did not make adequate yearly progress standards this year, marking the largest failure rate since No Child Left Behind took effect a decade ago, according to a Center on Education Policy report. The failure rates range from a low of 11% in Wisconsin to a high of 89% in Florida. The findings are far below the 82% failure rate that Education Secretary Arne Duncan predicted. (USA Today, 12/15/11)
College Pay Off
Report: Maine College Grads Earn 50 Percent More
A college education is more expensive than ever, but a new report indicates it can still pay off for Mainers. The report says Maine workers with bachelor's degrees earn 50% more than those with no postsecondary degree. It also says demand for workers with postsecondary education will grow by 15,000 through 2018, compared to only 2,000 jobs created for those with high school diplomas. (Boston Globe, 12/14/11)
College Transfers
State Makes It Easier for Ivy Tech Students to Transfer Credits to 4 Year Schools
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has approved a new general education transfer certificate that will provide Ivy Tech students a consistent set of requirements to prepare for successful transfer to public four-year colleges. The certificate program — to be offered on campus as well as online — is based on a core set of competencies published by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. (Chesterton Tribune, 12/09/11)
Dual Enrollment
Report Shows Dual Enrollment Best When on College Campus
Two new studies show dual enrollment has strong positive effects on college enrollment and completion. One study found that students who took dual-enrollment classes on community college campuses were more likely to go to college and earn a bachelor's degree than similar students who did not participate or those who took such courses at high school campuses. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/13/11)
Teacher Evaluations/Ed Reforms
Teacher Evaluations Need an Overhaul, Gregoire Says
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire proposed a tougher evaluation system aimed at weeding out ineffective educators. The new evaluations are part of a package of reforms the governor is proposing that includes a plan to create "lab schools" linked to universities at some of the worst-performing schools, and the formation of a new office that would help coordinate between high school and higher education. (Seattle Times, 12/13/11)
Wednesday, December 14
Childhood Autism Policies
How are States Addressing Autism? With Money, Training, and More
States are requiring new types of training for educators working with children who have autism, providing fresh sources of funding for private school vouchers for these students, and undertaking new studies to try to address the needs of children with autism, a recent ECS review shows. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/12/11)
College Completion
UT System Launches Online Route to Degree Completion
The University of Texas System is creating a new path to completion for students who attempted, but have been unable to finish their college degree. The Finish@UT program is a selection of UT-System-approved online courses aimed primarily at students between ages 25 and 35 who have already amassed credits toward an undergraduate degree. (Texas Tribune, 12/13/11)
Educational Technology
Luna's Tech Task Force Approves Recommendations
A task force approved recommendations for how Idaho should implement new education changes that phase in laptops for every high school teacher and student while making online courses a requirement to graduate. Among the biggest changes in the recommendations: Idaho abandon plans to phase in laptops for students grade by grade, starting with high school freshman in 2013-14. (Idaho Statesman, 12/13/11)
NCLB Waivers/Common Core
States Promise Higher Standards for NCLB Leniency
Only one of the 11 states that applied for NCLB waivers did not adopt the common-core standards and is not taking part in designing common assessments. Minnesota adopted only the English standards. The state’s higher education system has certified that mastery of its math standards will allow students to enroll in credit-bearing courses. Minnesota also says it will submit its assessments in both subjects for peer review. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/13/11)
Online Algebra Courses
Online Algebra I Class Can Boost Rural Students' Access, Skills
With Algebra I often seen as a gateway course, online algebra classes can bridge the gap for rural students who are ready for advanced math but whose schools lack the resources for a formal class, according to the first federal longitudinal study of online algebra instruction. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/13/11)
Students with Disabilities
More Students with Disabilities Heading to College
For a growing number of students with intellectual disabilities, college is becoming a bridge between special education and work. The growth is due in part to changes in federal law that have increased the expectations of such students in K-12 grades. Almost 170 programs now exist for college students with severe cognitive disabilities, according to Think College. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/13/11)
Tuesday, December 13
Career Pathways
Georgia to Require Students to Pick Career Path
Georgia is about to start requiring its 9th graders to pick a career path and follow a class schedule that's at least partially tailored to it, in response to House Bill 186. The objective is to raise career and college readiness. Students will pick a potential job to pursue in one of 17 broad career categories. Teachers would start talking to students about potential career opportunities, starting as early as 5th grade. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 12/12/11)
Charter Schools
New Mexico Legislators Look to Curb Charter School Costs
Unlike other states, where average per-student funding for charters is typically lower than it is for other public schools, a legislative report found that charters in New Mexico receive an average of 26% more funding per student than traditional public schools. The report recommends a complete overhaul of the state’s funding formula to address the difference. (Stateline.org, 12/12/11)
Military Base Schools
Military Children Stay a Step Ahead of Public School Students
Once again, schools on the nation’s military bases have outperformed public schools on NAEP reading and math tests for 4th and 8th graders. Further, the achievement gap between black and white students continues to be much smaller at military base schools and is shrinking faster than at public schools. A study on the success of the military base schools cites the smooth relations between the teachers’ union and management. (New York Times, 12/11/11)
NCLB Waivers
Teacher Evaluations Key to State Chances for NCLB Waivers
Some states have functioning systems for evaluating teachers that are included in their No Child Left Behind waiver requests, while others provide only sketchy details. The fates of the 11 states that have bid for waivers appear to depend largely on how the peer reviewers — and, ultimately, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan — interpret their applications. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/12/11)
Student Persistence
National Student Clearinghouse Persistence Measures Include Transfers
Measures of student persistence often fail to account for students who move between colleges, but a new report fills in this gap. Nearly 85% of all students and 92.5% of full-time students stay enrolled or graduate. The report is one of three "snapshots" on student enrollment from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 12/08/11)
Monday, December 12
Charter Schools
National Study: Arizona a Leader in Holding Charter Schools Accountable
Arizona is number four this school year in opening new charter schools (35 total), behind California (100), Florida (76) and Wisconsin (40), according to a National Alliance for Public Charter Schools report. And Arizona was number two last year for closing charters (22), behind California (34), that are under performing or not meeting financial obligations. (East Valley Tribune, 12/09/11)
College Completion
Cuts in State Budgets Threaten Nation's College-Completion Agenda
Cuts in state budgets are putting the nation's college-completion agenda in jeopardy, says a new report. The survey of community college leaders found that few states have long-term plans to increase operating and capital budgets enough to serve additional adult students pursuing degrees and certificates. The financial outlook presents a particular challenge to institutions enrolling a growing number of Latino students. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 12/08/11)
College Readiness Exams
High School Test Terrain Shifting from Exit Exams to College-Readiness
Fewer students are being required to pass exit exams to graduate from high school, but high school testing is increasing because more states are requiring college- and career-readiness tests, according to a Center on Education Policy study. State are now turning to the SAT or PSAT, ACT's college-admissions exam and its PLAN, EXPLORE or WorkKeys tests. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/08/11)
For-profit Institutions
Demographics Do Not Explain For-Profit Colleges' Shortcomings on Student-Success Measures, GAO Says
For-profit institutions perform worse than public and private colleges on most measures of quality, even when student demographics are taken into account, according to a Government Accountability Office report. The report found that for-profit colleges have higher graduation rates than other institutions for certificate programs, similar rates for associate-degrees, and lower graduation rates for bachelor's-degrees. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 12/08/11)
School Finance Litigation
Denver Court Decision in Education Suit Says Colorado Is Underfunding Schools by Billions
In a ruling that could have multi-billion dollar consequences for Colorado's budget, a Denver judge ruled the state's school funding system is not "thorough and uniform" as mandated by the state constitution. The state now spends more than 40%, or $3.2 billion in 2010-11, of its almost $7 billion general fund on K-12 schools. (Denver Post, 12/09/11)
Friday, December 9
College Completion Gaps
The 'Boy Problem' Examined
The widening of college entry and completion rates between the rich and poor has been occurring steadily over the past 70 years, according to a working paper. The report also notes that college attainment of women is outpacing men in every demographic group. The largest gap between men and women is at the highest economic range, with women at a 13-percentage-point advantage over their male counterparts. (Inside Higher Ed, 12/06/11)
Common Core/Early Learning
Common Core Poses Challenges for Preschools
As 46 states and the District of Columbia work to put the common core curricular guidelines in place, early learning educators are determining how to balance the common standards' emphasis on increasing and measuring academic rigor with research findings on young children's developmental needs, which place a high value on play, the arts, social skills and integrated instruction. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/06/11)
Early Literacy
Governor Seeks $17M to Sharpen Kids' Reading Skills
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez will ask lawmakers to approve a new $17 million-a-year reading initiative. The plan includes funding for pre-kindergarten literacy programs, reading coaches, after-school and summer reading instruction and screening tools to assess reading proficiency. Her plan also would require 3rd graders to read at grade level before moving on to 4th grade. (Santa Fe New Mexican, 12/07/11)
Performance Funding
Mo. Panel Wants Performance Funding for Colleges
Missouri colleges and universities could get extra money for improving graduation rates or meeting other performance criteria under recommendations by a state task force. The money would be on top of an institution's base funding and would not exceed 2 or 3% of an institution's total state funding in any given year. (Jefferson City News Tribune, 12/08/11)
Science Standards
State Science Expectations 'All Over the Map,' Study Finds
States set the bar for 8th-grade science proficiency at widely varying levels, concludes a report by the business coalition Change the Equation and the American Institutes for Research. And in many instances, what a state has deemed a "proficient" score is equivalent to below "basic" on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/07/11)
Student Bullying
Feds Fault Minnesota Bullying Law as Anemic
A federal report confirms what some Minnesota school and state leaders have been saying lately: Minnesota's anti-bullying law needs work. Of the 46 states with bullying laws, Minnesota got the lowest marks for its lack of scope and definitions, according to the U.S. Department of Education. While other groups have ranked states' bullying laws, this is the first time the federal agency has done so.
(Minneapolis Star Tribune, 12/06/11)
Tuesday, December 6
College Affordability/Productivity
At the White House Roundtable
A meeting between President Obama, university chancellors and presidents, and experts on higher education cost and productivity appears to mark a shift in policy for the administration, which will focus more on college affordability. The Obama administration’s higher education policy in the past has focused on getting more financial aid to needy students. (Inside Higher Ed, 12/06/11)
Education Budgets
California Schools Brace for Fiscal Fallout
Thousands of California schools face the prospect of slashing up to a week of instruction, canceling bus services or laying off nonteaching staff in the middle of this year because state revenues are expected to fall below what the governor and lawmakers counted on when they approved an $86 billion general fund budget. On average, districts are facing a loss of between $180 and $200 per student. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/05/11)
Student Diversity/Affirmative Action
Guidance on Diversity
The Departments of Education and Justice issued guidance stating that diversity is an important educational goal, and that colleges should be able to use a variety of methods (including the consideration of race and ethnicity in admissions) to achieve diversity. The guidance represents a reversal from the Bush administration guidance. The departments also released separate guidance on the integration of K-12 schools. (Inside Higher Ed, 12/05/11)
Teacher Preparation
Branstad Plan Would Turn Away Hundreds of Aspiring Teachers
One in five prospective teachers at Iowa’s public universities would have been denied admission last year to teaching programs under guidelines proposed in Governor Terry Branstad’s education reform blueprint, a review of data shows. College students who apply to teacher preparation schools would need a minimum GPA of 3.0, giving Iowa one of the most selective criteria in the nation. (Des Moines Register, 12/03/11)
Workforce Development
Snyder Unveils New Workforce Initiative
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder unveiled his talent development plan intended to rethink education, job training and economic development in order to drastically lower the unemployment rate. The governor wants community colleges, universities and trade schools to focus on areas that are in demand and stop overproducing graduates in areas where workers aren't needed in Michigan.
(Lansing State Journal, 12/02/11)
Monday, December 5
Assessments
Board of Regents Urges ACT for All High School Juniors, Might Require It for College
The Nevada Board of Regents adopted a resolution urging state and district superintendents to require ACT tests for all high school juniors. If that occurs, the board would then consider requiring Nevada students to take the ACT test to be admitted to state universities and community colleges. Test scores would be used to place students in the appropriate college-level courses. (Reno Gazette-Journal, 12/01/11)
Distance Learning
More than Half of U.S. Districts Have Students in Distance Learning Programs
A full 55% of school districts have students who were enrolled in distance education courses in 2009-10, according to a National Center for Education Statistics report. Half of those districts reported that students were participating in distance courses provided by a higher education institution, 47% from independent vendors and 33% from state virtual schools. (The Journal, 12/01/11)
NCLB Flexibility
NCLB Waiver Plans Offer Hodgepodge of Grading Systems
The applications for No Child Left Behind flexibility show 11 states aiming for vastly different student-achievement goals, with a jumble of strategies to improve low-performing schools. The factors that make up a school’s rating will vary greatly, rendering it virtually impossible to compare student performance from one state to another. But most of the states seem to agree that the emphasis on subgroups of at-risk students should be scaled back. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/02/11)
STEM/Arts Education
STEAM: Experts Make Case for Adding Arts to STEM
The acronym STEM has taken hold in education policy circles, but some experts in the arts community and beyond are promoting a move from STEM to STEAM, with an A for the arts. Advocates say the addition of the arts would enhance student engagement and help foster creativity and innovation. The Education Department and the National Science Foundation are helping to fuel work in those areas through various initiatives. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/01/11)
Student Bullying
Anti-bullying Bill Heads to Snyder's Desk
The Michigan legislature joined 47 other states last week in passing an anti-bullying law, but critics say it's too weak to protect vulnerable students. Senate Bill 45 requires districts to implement an anti-bullying policy within six months, but does not specify what must be included in that policy. See ECS' summary of bullying policies. (Detroit News, 11/30/11)
Friday, December 2
Community College Accountability
Tracking Quality at 2-Year Colleges
The American Association of Community Colleges has released the Voluntary Framework of Accountability to measure the performance of two-year institutions. The standards also were tested as a pilot project at 58 community colleges. (Inside Higher Ed, 12/01/11)
Education Governance
Oregon to Seek Powerful 'Chief Education Officer' to Revamp Preschool, Public Schools, Colleges
Oregon plans to recruit and hire a new chief education officer who will have unprecedented power over education, including control of the chancellor of higher education, the next superintendent of schools and the community college commissioner. Governor John Kitzhaber's new P-20 education board unanimously endorsed the general job description for that education officer. (Oregonian, 12/01/11)
Financial Aid
Tennessee Task Force Recommends Tougher Standards for Lottery-funded Scholarships
A Tennessee task force recommended that the state’s lottery-funded college scholarship be reduced by 50% — from $4,000 to $2,000 — for students who don’t achieve both a 3.0 or greater GPA and at least a 21 score on their ACT tests. Currently, students can qualify by meeting one of the criteria. Lawmakers are seeking to close a $20 million gap between lottery revenues and scholarships. (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 11/29/11)
Student Data/Privacy
New Rule Will Allow States and Agencies to Release More Student Data
The Education Department issued a final rule that will make it easier for states to track students' academic progress and evaluate education programs. The rule allows state and local education officials to share student information more widely without violating federal privacy law. It also makes lenders, guarantors and other agencies with access to student records subject to the law, known as FERPA.
(Chronicle of Higher Education, 12/01/11)
Student Data Systems
Survey Shows Nearly All States Can Track Data on Students
Nearly all states now have comprehensive data systems that allow them to track students’ academic careers over time, and state officials are starting to dig into using the mountains of information, according to an annual Data Quality Campaign report. For the first time, the survey focused on governors’ perspectives on state longitudinal-data systems, as opposed to the systems’ technical capacity. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 12/01/11)
Thursday, December 1
College/Career Readiness
Middle Schoolers Getting Prepped for College
A rise in college- and career-readiness programs targeted at middle schoolers has been spurred by research that shows middle school is a key time to improve the academics and attitudes needed to succeed in high school and beyond. But successful programs must go beyond mapping out coursework and combine the efforts of parents, schools and the community. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/29/11)
Higher Ed Reforms
Higher Ed Changes Urged
A higher education commission recommended that the Louisiana legislature separate the growing cost of college tuition from merit-based TOPS scholarships so the awards can be capped and then tied to an appropriate cost index for future increases. The four areas of recommendations also include strengthening the authority of the board of regents through a constitutional amendment. (Baton Rouge Advocate, 11/30/11)
School Funding
Poor Schools Shortchanged on Funding, Ed. Dept. Says
Nearly half of all high-poverty schools, including those getting Title I funds, were at least 10% below the average school in their district in terms of state and local aid, according an Education Department study. And more than 40% of Title I schools spent less on personnel per student than non-Title I schools in the same district that served the same grades. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/30/11)
School Meals
Line Grows Long for Free Meals at U.S. Schools
Millions of American schoolchildren are receiving free or low-cost meals for the first time as their parents, many once solidly middle class, have lost jobs or homes during the economic crisis. The number of students receiving subsidized lunches rose to 21 million last year from 18 million in 2006-07, a 17% increase. Eleven states had four-year increases of 25% or more. (New York Times, 11/29/11)
STEM Teachers
Race to Top Funds Critical Teacher Programs
Florida needs more math and science teachers for its middle and high schools and will use Race to the Top winnings to spur the education of more of these critical instructors. The state wants to triple the number of colleges or universities with "UTeach" programs. The goal is to graduate students who have majored in their discipline — be that biology, chemistry or math — and also have learned how to teach. (Orlando Sentinel, 11/28/11)
Wednesday, November 30
Community Colleges
Measuring Completion
A federal committee report is urging the Education Department to change how it tracks and evaluates graduation rates and other measures of success for community college students. One recommendation would create a combined “graduation and transfer” rate that includes students who graduate from a two-year college as well as those who do not but do go on to a four-year institution. (Inside Higher Ed, 11/30/11)
Financial Aid
Private Scholarship, Public Funds
Washington State’s politicians want corporations to kick in more money for financial aid, so they’re handing the keys to a new public-private scholarship program to business leaders. The fund will collect private donations and match them with state contributions. That money will be used for scholarships for qualifying lower- and middle-income students who attend Washington’s public universities. (Inside Higher Ed, 11/29/11)
Hispanics Students
New Study on Hispanic Achievement Paints Stark Picture
A Council of the Great City Schools study takes a close look at how Hispanic students in urban districts are faring compared with their white peers nationally, and the findings are fairly bleak. The report also delves into the achievement of Hispanic students who are formerly English-language learners and compares how they are doing with their Hispanic peers who are ELLs and those who are not. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/29/11)
School Choice
National Report Praises School-Choice System for New York City Students
New York has the most effective school-choice system of any of the nation’s largest districts, according to a Brookings Institution report. But even New York got a B because the city provided the least useful online information for comparing schools and received low scores in other categories. (New York Times, 11/29/11)
Teacher Evaluations
Georgia To Roll Out Teacher Evaluations in Schools
For the first time ever, student test scores will factor into evaluations for teachers and principals across Georgia under a new program. The state will roll out a pilot of its new educator evaluation system in January, starting with the 26 districts that signed on to Georgia’s application for Race to the Top. Teachers also will be judged on student surveys and two classroom observations. (Athens Banner-Herald, 11/28/11)
Tuesday, November 29
College Completion
Better Data, Better Rates
Colleges may be able to improve their graduation rates by gaining a better understanding of the students they enroll, according to a new report. Institutions should consider factors like the emotional health of students, whether students are working full time while they are in college, and whether a student is among the first in his or her family to attend college. (Inside Higher Ed, 11/29/11)
Financial Aid
Financial Aid not Always Going to Neediest College Students
Universities and colleges are handing $5.3 billion in financial aid this year to students who the government says don’t need it, according to new figures from the College Board. Further, another nearly $4 billion in tax credits meant to help Americans pay tuition went to families with incomes between $100,000 and $180,000. (Hechinger Report, 11/25/11)
Student Transitions
Study Links Academic Setbacks to Middle School Transition
Students moving from grade 5 into middle school show a sharp drop in math and language arts achievement in the transition year that plagues them as far out as 10th grade, even risking their ability to graduate and go on to college, according to a recent study. Students who make a transition in 6th grade are absent more often than those who remain in one school through 8th grade, and they are more likely to drop out by 10th grade. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/28/11)
Teacher Certification
For-Profit, Alternative Teaching Programs Are Booming
For-profit, alternative certification teaching programs are booming in Texas: Every since 2007, the two largest programs have produced far more teachers than any other traditional or alternative program. Yet concerns remains about their ability to produce quality educators. (Texas Tribune, 11/27/11)
Monday, November 28
Community Colleges
Community College Changes Urged
Massachusetts’ decentralized community college system should be overseen by a strong governing board that would refocus its mission on workforce development and establish a performance-based funding formula, according to a new report. The recommendations are likely to ignite debate in the legislature and provoke an outcry from the state’s 15 community colleges. (Boston Globe, 11/18/11)
Higher Ed Accountability
Colleges' Data on Student Learning Remain Largely Inaccessible, Report Says
Colleges and universities are posting more information on their Web sites about whether their students are learning, but most of the data are still available only on internal sites, says a new report. Often, institutions don't provide easily digestible information about student learning that prospective students and parents can understand and use to make their college choices. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/21/11)
P-20 Data
Data Driving College Preparation
Once Kentucky educators started sharing data about how high school students were doing after graduation, things started to change. University professors and high school teachers began comparing notes about their expectations in class. Rigor was ramped up. The percentage of college-going students went up, and the need for college remediation went down. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/22/11)
Race to the Top
Seven States to Compete in Race to the Top's Latest Round
Seven states that narrowly missed getting a piece of Race to the Top money in the last round are going for another shot at a grant, the Department of Education announced. Nine states were eligible for this third round of funding, totaling $200 million. The seven states in contention are: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/23/11)
Teaching Quality
Big Expansion, Big Questions for Teach for America
By 2015, with the help of a $50 million federal grant, Teach for America recruits could make up one-quarter of all new teachers in 60 of the nation's highest need districts. The program also is expanding internationally. That growth comes as many districts try to make teachers more effective. But Teach for America has had mixed results. (Boston Globe, 11/27/11)
Monday, November 21
Distance Learning
New Data Could Improve Oversight of Distance-Education Programs, GAO Report Says
The Education Department has expanded its oversight of distance education programs but has been hampered by a lack of data on the programs, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office. The report found that the department does not know which colleges enroll the most students through the programs, or which programs receive the most federal financial aid. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/17/11)
Financial Aid
State Student Loan Programs Look to Fill Financial Aid Gap
As states pull back on aid to higher education and grants to students, a growing number of them are getting into the student loan business. Georgia, for example, is among six states that recently have unveiled new loan programs designed to help students pay for expenses beyond the amount financial aid and family support can cover. (Stateline, 11/16/11)
Kindergarten Readiness
Achievement Gap Exists for Kids Even Before Kindergarten
An achievement gap exists for Minnesota students even before they begin school, according to new data. Among the results, 63% of white students were considered ready for kindergarten, compared to 44% of Hispanic students, 44% of American Indian students, and 57% of black students. In addition, 52% of students who live below the federal poverty line were proficient, compared to 69% of students who live above the poverty line. (Minnesota Public Radio, 11/20/11)
Special Education
Court Orders District to Expand Preschool Special Education
A federal judge ruled that the District of Columbia has failed to provide special education services to hundreds of eligible preschool-age children and ordered that the city redouble its efforts to find, assess and treat those with special needs. The judge set a series of performance benchmarks for special education officials and said if they were not met, more stringent intervention would follow. (Washington Post, 11/16/11)
Student Data Systems
State Now Can Track Kids from Kindergarten to College
Washington education officials can now track a child from kindergarten through college enrollment and soon will be able to tell know everything about every kid from preschool through their first job. The data include schools students attended, achievement tests they passed or failed, whether they qualified for free lunch, if they had to take college remedial courses, and more. (Seattle Times, 11/19/11)
Tuition/Fees
Site Will Calculate Tuition, Fees for North Dakota Colleges
The North Dakota Board of Higher Education has launched a Web site that outlines tuition and other costs for certain high-cost college programs such as pharmacy and nursing. A law passed earlier this year requires state colleges to list program charges and how the money was spent. The measure also caps increases of mandatory fees at 1% of tuition for the next two years. (Bismarck Tribune, 11/17/11)
Friday, November 18
College Costs
Rising College Costs Are Due Largely to Books, Room, and Board, Study Finds
Despite the widely publicized rising sticker prices on tuition, about two-thirds of the increase in the cost of attending a four-year college from 2000 to 2009 came from non-tuition sources, such as books and off-campus room and board, according to a report. The average amount that students paid, after subtracting scholarships and grants, increased by nearly $3,000, while net tuition prices grew by about $1,000. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/17/11)
ELL/Common Assessments
Questions Arise Over Grants for ELL Tests
While a group of 28 states forges ahead to develop a new generation of English-language proficiency tests, questions have arisen about how the needs of millions more English-learners living in the rest of the country will be met under the common-core academic standards. The consortium, led by the Wisconsin education department, was selected as the only winner of an Education Department competitive grant. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/15/11)
Kindergarten
California Adds a Year of Kindergarten to Give Kids a Head Start
A new California law changing the age requirement for kindergartners is being phased in over three years. In the fall of 2014, students must turn 5 by September 1. Currently, children could enroll if they turned 5 by December 2. The law also called for a new grade level — transitional kindergarten, or TK, which will focus on improving motor and social skills to prepare children for kindergarten. (Sacramento Bee, 11/14/11)
Online Education
Rules for Online Classes Rescinded by Oklahoma State Board of Education
The Oklahoma Education Board rescinded emergency rules that it approved last month requiring districts to provide online courses. The rules were passed to come into compliance with a law that requires districts to offer supplemental online courses, when requested by students or parents, for subjects that aren't offered in the schools. (Oklahoman, 11/18/11)
Teacher Evaluations
Student Achievement, Observations Correlated in Chicago Pilot
Both a value-added method and principal observations tied to a teaching framework identified the same teachers as particularly high- or low-performing under Chicago's teacher-evaluation pilot, a study concludes. But principals struggled to provide high-quality coaching and support to teachers based on the results — a finding that could indicate challenges to new teacher evaluation systems adopted by many states. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/16/11)
Teacher Preparation
Nation's Biggest Teacher-Prep School Revamps Training
Under the new iTeachAZ program, Arizona State University requires a yearlong student-teaching apprenticeship for all undergraduate education majors, during which time they must demonstrate mastery of specific teaching skills as measured by a teaching framework. While many of the changes have been tried elsewhere, ASU is the largest undergraduate education program in the country. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/15/11)
Thursday, November 17
Education Overhaul
Christie, Cerf Appear in Secaucus to Push for Education Reform Bills
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is pressing the legislature to take swift action on four bills his administration supports. The set of bills aims to change the way teachers earn and keep tenure; expand access to charter schools; offer vouchers for students in failing schools to attend private and parochial schools; and privatize some failing schools in the five lowest-performing districts. (Newark Star-Ledger, 11/16/11)
NAEP Exams
Often Excluded, More Special-Needs Students Taking NAEP
Following a push to make the National Assessment of Educational Progress better reflect the academic performance of all children in America’s schools, most states boosted the numbers of students with disabilities and English-language learners who participated in the 2011 reading and math tests. But many states still have far to go to reach the goal of including 85% of these students in the exams. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/15/11)
Race to the Top
Race to Top Consolation Prize: $200M for STEM
The Department of Education has announced what the nine runner-up finalists from last year's Race to the Top competition must do to get a piece of the $200 million consolation prize. This new money must be spent on programs aimed at improving science, technology, engineering and math or the STEM subjects. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/16/11)
Science Instruction
Study Highlights 'Power of More Time' for Science Learning
A National Center on Time & Learning report makes the case for restructuring the school calendar to allow more learning time for science. And through a set of case studies, the organization seeks to explain promising approaches to make the most of that extra time. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/16/11)
Student Engagement
Engineering Majors Hit the Books More Than Business Majors Do, Survey Finds
The average full-time undergraduate student studies about as much as faculty members expect — 15 hours a week — but the duration varies by major, according to the National Survey of Student Engagement. Engineering majors spend the most time studying, while business and social-science majors study the least. Students who expect to struggle to pay for college also anticipate more academic and social difficulty. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/17/11)
Wednesday, November 16
Charter Schools
KIPP Charter Network Receives $25.5 Million From Walton Family Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation announced plans to donate $25.5 million to the Knowledge is Power Program, or KIPP, charter network. The award is intended to provide support to help double the number of students attending KIPP schools by 2015, raising the number of children enrolled from 32,000 this year to 59,000. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/15/11)
Financial Aid
Invisible Spending on Financial Aid
When the American Opportunity Tax Credit took effect in 2009, the tax savings claimed by students and families for college expenses more than doubled, climbing from $6.6 billion to $14.7 billion, according to a recent College Board report. The credits have many fans, including middle- and upper-middle-class families who are ineligible for Pell Grants and other traditional forms of federal financial aid. (Inside Higher Ed, 11/16/11)
NCLB Waivers
11 States Meet Early-Bird Deadline for NCLB Waivers
Eleven states will have the first opportunity to secure waivers under No Child Left Behind after meeting Monday's deadline for the first round. This is fewer than the 17 states that originally had planned to apply, and reflects how much work is required to put together a solid waiver proposal. Four of the states are Race to the Top winners: Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts and Tennessee. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/15/11)
School Nutrition
Congress Blocks New Rules on School Lunches
In a victory for the makers of frozen pizzas, tomato paste and French fries, Congress blocked rules proposed by the Agriculture Department that would have overhauled the nation’s school lunch program. The rules would have cut the amount of potatoes served and would have changed the way schools received credit for serving vegetables. The rules also would have reduced the amount of sodium in school meals. (New York Times, 11/15/11)
Tuesday, November 15
Charter Schools
State Launches Charter School Competition
The state education department and a national nonprofit are rolling out a $30 million fund to help grow high-performing charter schools in Florida. The fund will award grants to top charters that serve low-income students. The state is kicking in $20 million of the $700 million it won through Race to the Top. The Charter School Growth Fund has pledged to raise an additional $10 million privately.
(Miami Herald, 11/15/11)
GED Reforms
Higher Education Is Goal of GED Overhaul
The GED is undergoing the biggest revamping in its history, driven by mounting recognition that young adults’ future success depends on getting more than a high school-level education. The redesign includes reworking the content in the tests and transferring them to computers, as well as overhauling teacher professional development, revising curricula and adding strong counseling supports. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/14/11)
School Counselors
Counselors See Conflicts in Carrying Out Mission
Middle and high school counselors believe they have a unique and powerful role to play in preparing all students for good jobs or college, but they feel hamstrung by insufficient training, competing duties and their own schools’ priorities, according to a survey by the College Board. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/15/11)
Workforce Demand
Bachelor's Degree Is Still Best Path to Middle-Class Jobs and Earnings, Report Says
Earning a bachelor's degree is still the best path to middle-class employment and wages, and those with only a high-school diploma will have a harder time finding and securing such jobs, says a report from Georgetown University. The report outlines the different industry clusters expected to offer the best prospects for employment and wages for those with a high-school diploma, an associate degree and a bachelor's degree. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/14/11)
Monday, November 14
Charter Schools
Gov. Christie Approves Measure Paving Way for More Charter Schools
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed legislation that will allow private schools in struggling districts to become charter schools. Under the legislation (A.B. 2806/S.B. 1858), high-performing private schools can apply to make the change. Parochial schools making the transition will be barred from religious instruction or displaying religious symbols. (Newark Star-Ledger, 11/10/11)
International Students
More Foreign Students Studying in USA
International students and their dependents contributed more than $20 billion to the U.S. economy last year as record numbers of foreigners enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities, according to an annual report. China, the top country of origin for international students, sent 157,558 undergraduate and graduate students to the USA, up 23% from the previous year. (USA Today, 11/13/11)
Performance Funding
Kentucky University Funding-performance Link Sought
The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education proposed a plan that would link performance by public universities to extra state funding. The plan — part of an effort to boost Kentucky’s low national rankings in educational attainment — will be included in the council’s $2.4 billion budget request for the next biennium. (Louisville Courier-Journal, 11/10/11)
Student Bullying
Michigan House OKs Anti-bullying Bill without Ifs or Buts
The Michigan House passed its own version of an anti-bullying bill for schools – a week after a bill passed the Senate that critics say gives students a license to bully based on religious or moral grounds. House Bill 4163 included no such language, and provides protection against bullying for all children. Michigan is one of the few states without bullying legislation, according to an ECS summary. (Detroit Free Press, 11/10/11)
Teacher Diversity
New Research Targets Teaching's Diversity Gap
Alternative-certification programs, including local "grow your own" efforts, are central to addressing shortages of minority teachers, according to researchers who spoke at a recent forum. And a new report highlights statistics that show what the authors refer to as the "teacher diversity gap" within each state. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/10/11)
Friday, November 11
College/Career Credits
Perdue's Releases New NC College Credit Program
Governor Beverly Perdue released her Career & College Promise initiative, which sets out three ways in which students can earn college credits or career technical certification while in high school without paying tuition. The initiative refines and seeks to improve several efforts over the past decades to let students take community college classes while in high school.
(Winston-Salem Journal, 11/10/11)
Common Standards/Assessments
Assessment Consortium Releases Final Content Frameworks
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, has released its final content frameworks for the common standards. In response to feedback, the consortium also is going to create content frameworks for grades K-2. The consortium is already working on formative-assessment tools for K-2. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/10/11)
Online Learning
Blended Learning on the Rise, Report Says
An annual report finds that single-district online programs — many of which include blended learning — are the fastest-growing segment of online education this year. State virtual schools are splitting into two categories — those with sustainable funding models that are making a significant impact on learning, and those that are not receiving reliable support from states. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/10/11)
Teacher Evaluations
Colorado Approves with 4-tier Teacher Ratings
The Colorado Board of Education officials gave final approval to a teacher rating system that could make it easier to fire teachers who don't meet testing standards. The standards create a four-tier grading system. Educators rated "ineffective" for two consecutive years would lose tenure. New teachers would need three consecutive years of "effective" ratings to make tenure.
(Denver Post, 11/09/11)
Thursday, November 10
College/Career Readiness
Hess to Implement ‘Succeed 2020’ Program for North Dakota Kids
Hess Corp. is donating $25 million to fund a statewide education project aimed at helping North Dakota students become better prepared for college and careers. The Succeed 2020 initiative will fund programs that improve college and career counseling, increase access to and success in career and technical education and advanced placement courses, and provide professional development. (Fargo Forum, 11/09/11)
Federal Innovation Grants
Grantees Picked in Round Two of Investing in Innovation Contest
The Education Department has identified the 23 finalists expected to get Investing in Innovation, or i3, grants in the second round of the competition, including the Success For All Foundation — the only repeat winner — as well as the College Board, a California charter schools network and five school districts. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/10/11)
NCLB Waivers
For States, Collaboration Key to NCLB Waivers
States that want waivers from certain No Child Left Behind provisions are scrambling to satisfy an easily overlooked requirement that they meaningfully engage with teachers, unions, parents and community organizations. Federal education officials warn that failure to meet the collaboration requirement could doom even a stellar waiver application. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/08/11)
School Vouchers
Ind. Voucher Program Leads to Reverse Transfers
Indiana's new school voucher law has prompted some parents to pull their children out of private schools and put them in public schools for a year so that they can become eligible for the state-funded program. About $16 million in state money is being used to pay for nearly 4,000 students to attend private schools under the voucher program that started this fall. (Northwest Indiana Times, 11/09/11)
Wednesday, November 9
Collective Bargaining
Ohio Voters Reject Law Limiting Teachers' Collective Bargaining
Ohio voters have rejected a law that would have stripped teachers of many of their collective bargaining rights, an outcome that could reverberate beyond the state's borders. The measure also would have forbidden districts from giving preference in layoff decisions to teachers with more seniority and created a merit-pay system. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/08/11)
Head Start
Obama Steps Up Competition for Lower-Income Federal Program
President Barack Obama announced changes to Head Start that will require all lower-performing programs to compete for funds instead of receiving the money automatically. The new benchmarks to determine eligibility will mean some programs that fail to show children are making academic program will lose funding. (Businessweek, 11/09/11)
Online Learning
Online-Course Enrollments Grow, but at a Slower Pace
Enrollment in online courses grew by more than 10% between fall 2009 and fall 2010, according to an annual survey. More than 6.1 million students took at least one online class during the fall 2010 semester. An online course is now part of the college experience for 31% of all students. This year’s enrollment rise paled beside the 21% surge reported last year. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/09/11)
State Standards
Texas History Standards Get Poor Review from State Higher Ed Board
The Texas State Board of Education’s social studies curriculum is now facing a new round of disapproval. A Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) report cautions that the history standards are “ineffective,” “fail to meet the state’s college readiness standards” and “ignore the principles of sound pedagogy.” (Texas Independent, 11/07/11)
Tuesday, November 8
College Attainment
Lumina Foundation Will Provide $7-Million to Help More Latino Students Graduate
The Lumina Foundation for Education is turning its attention to a segment of the population projected to be a key driver in meeting the nation's college-completion goals: Latino students. The foundation announced a partnership that will provide $7.2-million over four years to 12 partnerships in 10 states with significant and growing Latino populations. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/07/11)
Early Graduation
Designing Policies to Encourage Early High School Graduation
There is a lot of money to be saved when high school students graduate early, so many states are offering incentives for high-achieving students who take this route. A Jobs for the Future brief suggests state policymakers should consider the purpose of these acceleration programs and make sure students are best prepared if they leave high school early. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/07/11)
Student Nutrition
Soda Bans in Schools Have Limited Impact
State laws that ban soda in schools — but not other sweetened beverages — have virtually no impact on the amount of sugary drinks middle school students buy and consume at school, a new study shows. In states that banned only soda, students bought and consumed sugary drinks just as frequently at school as their peers in states where there were no bans at all. (New York Times, 11/07/11)
Teacher Evaluations
Student Results Would Account for Half of Teacher Evaluations
Performance evaluations of Wisconsin teachers and principals will be based 50% on their practice and 50% on what their students have learned, according to a new report. The preliminary report was by a design team appointed by state schools chief Tony Evers. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/07/11)
Monday, November 7
Charter Schools
Academic Gains Vary Widely for Charter Networks
A national study on the effectiveness of charter school networks finds overall that their middle school students’ test scores aren’t significantly better than those of students in regular public schools. Students in some charter networks managed three years of growth in two years; in others, students tested a year behind grade level after a year or two in the program. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/04/11)
Childhood Poverty
New Census Poverty Measure Finds Fewer Children in Poverty
Federal social programs are keeping nearly two million American children out of poverty, according to the Census Bureau's first new poverty calculation measure in more than four decades. The measure is intended to supplement the official count used by the education field for everything from achievement research to setting eligibility for education programs like Head Start and Title I. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 11/07/11)
Common Standards
Montana, 45 Other States Approve More Specific Education Standards
Montana has joined 45 other states and the District of Columbia in adopting Common Core Standards that proponents say are more specific and prepare students to graduate from high school ready for college or a career. The state board of education approved the standards last week. (Billings Gazette, 11/05/11)
Higher Ed Governance
Bill Would Give Voting Rights to Students on University Boards
A bill could give student trustees at Ohio’s state universities and colleges the right to vote on everything from multimillion-dollar budgets to the cost of tuition. Each Ohio college is overseen by a board of trustees that includes two student members. Although the boards are the highest governing body for each institution, most of the members are appointed by the governor. (Columbus Dispatch, 11/07/11) |
