February 6, 2013
Education Week, Vol. 32, Issue 20
Special Education
Guidance on Athletics and Spec. Ed. Students Draws Sharply Split Response
Disability-rights advocates welcome new federal guidance on special education students and sports, while critics say federal officials are pushing costly new mandates.
Teaching Profession
Teachers' Ratings Still High Despite New Measures
Even with changes to evaluation systems, only subtle differences emerge between the best and the weakest teachers—as well as all those in the middle.
Classroom Technology
Virtual Educators Critique Value of MOOCs for K-12
Massively open online courses are growing more popular in colleges and universities, but there are questions about the quality of the courses and the retention of students.
Federal
Arne Duncan Hears District-Level Squawks on Agenda
Local school boards are complaining about what they see as the federal government's overreach into K-12 schools.
School & District Management
Wyo. State Schools Chief Has Authority Slashed
In a fierce political spat, a new law effectively removes the state superintendent from oversight of the state's public schools.
School & District Management
Charters' Path to Success or Failure Set Early, Study Finds
Charter schools' initial performance, whether good or bad, is a strong predictor of whether they succeed over time, a new Stanford University study concludes.
Student Well-Being
R.I. Students Gaining 'Badges,' Credits Outside School
The Providence school district is in the middle of an initiative to recognize skills and give academic credit for learning taking place outside school.
School & District Management
Letter to the Editor
No Silver Bullets for School Reform
To the Editor:
In a recent opinion piece on the website Truthout ("Mr. President, Education Is a Human Right, Not a Product," Jan. 10, 2013), Bill Ayers articulates the consequences of using a business model and metric evaluation of education. Viewing educational policy through these lenses has made the educational community second-guess itself—wasting valuable time and, perhaps, billions of dollars on misguided reforms. The flaw is not in the ideas, but in their implementation.
In a recent opinion piece on the website Truthout ("Mr. President, Education Is a Human Right, Not a Product," Jan. 10, 2013), Bill Ayers articulates the consequences of using a business model and metric evaluation of education. Viewing educational policy through these lenses has made the educational community second-guess itself—wasting valuable time and, perhaps, billions of dollars on misguided reforms. The flaw is not in the ideas, but in their implementation.
Accountability
Test Boycott Puts Seattle Teachers in National Spotlight
Teachers at Seattle's Garfield High portray their protest as narrowly focused against one particular test used by their district, not against assessments in general.
School & District Management
States Lack Data on Principals, Study Says
A survey finds that states have little to go on when it comes to evaluating the job school principals are doing.
Standards
Pressure Mounts in Some States Against Common Core
Opponents of the Common Core State Standards are ramping up pressure to get states to scale back—or even scrap—the effort, even as implementation moves ahead.
Education
About This Report
Education Week introduces its first Leaders To Learn From report—a way to recognize forward-thinking education leaders and share their ideas.
Teaching Profession
Top K-12 Leader in Congress Sets Retirement Date
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, will leave after this term, setting the stage for a shakeup in K-12 policy leadership.
Education Funding
Race to Top Winners Make Progress, Face Challenges, Ed. Dept. Reports
The majority of winners in the $4 billion Race to the Top competition are struggling with evaluation and data systems, the U.S. Education Department's second annual progress report on the program says.