November 13, 2013

Education Week, Vol. 33, Issue 12
Assessment NAEP Scores Inch Up in Math, Reading
A few jurisdictions are seeing big gains in 4th and 8th grade math and reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, but results still lag for some states and student groups.
Catherine Gewertz, November 13, 2013
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6 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
iStockphoto/AlexMathers
Special Education Opinion A Promising Academic Model for Students With Disabilities
Most students with disabilities have the cognitive ability to achieve the same academic standards as their nondisabled peers, Candace Cortiella and Kalman R. Hettleman write.
Candace Cortiella & Kalman R. Hettleman, November 12, 2013
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4 min read
Kim Rogusky, right, the coordinator of college and career counseling for Commonwealth Connections Academy, the third-largest full-time online school in Pennsylvania, confers with co-worker Mary Cote, an advisory assistant, at the school's counseling offices in Harrisburg. Amid struggles with academic performance and student retention, online schools are striving to more holistically support students they rarely see in person.
Kim Rogusky, right, the coordinator of college and career counseling for Commonwealth Connections Academy, the third-largest full-time online school in Pennsylvania, confers with co-worker Mary Cote, an advisory assistant, at the school's counseling offices in Harrisburg. Amid struggles with academic performance and student retention, online schools are striving to more holistically support students they rarely see in person.
Jessica Kourkounis for Education Week
Classroom Technology Counseling Is a Virtual Experience for Students at Online Schools
Full-time online schools around the country are wrestling with how to better support the academic, social, and emotional needs of students they rarely see in person.
Benjamin Herold, November 12, 2013
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6 min read
Kaleah Williams, a fellow with Education Pioneers, stands on the campus of the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, where she is working with a K-12 school turnaround program. Ms. Williams hopes to one day open a residential school for foster children.
Kaleah Williams, a fellow with Education Pioneers, stands on the campus of the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, where she is working with a K-12 school turnaround program. Ms. Williams hopes to one day open a residential school for foster children.
Norm Shafer for Education Week
School & District Management 'Education Pioneers' Grooms Rising Corps of K-12 Managers
Like Teach For America, the fast-growing nonprofit group broadens the pipeline into education by drawing young talent from outside traditional preparation programs.
November 12, 2013
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7 min read
Federal Federal Innovation-Grant Winners to Share $135 Million
Twenty-five school districts and their nonprofit partners are the latest recipients of Investing in Innovation awards from the U.S. Department of Education.
Michele McNeil, November 12, 2013
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3 min read
School & District Management Voters Stay the Course in Denver-Area School Board Races
The contentious school board races in Denver and Douglas County were seen as a referendum on the choice-friendly initiatives being advanced in those districts.
Katie Ash, November 12, 2013
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2 min read
Early Childhood Study Flags Wide Disparities in Child-Care Enrollment
Federal data show wide disparities in child-care enrollment between socio-economic groups and races, the Annie E. Casey Foundation reports.
November 12, 2013
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4 min read
Law & Courts Opening School Data Carries Economic Value, Report Contends
Efforts to make school data more accessible, while controversial, could generate an additional $1 trillion in yearly global economic activity, a McKinsey & Co. analysis claims.
Sean Cavanagh & Michele Molnar, November 12, 2013
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7 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
iStockphoto
School Climate & Safety Opinion Lessons From Lunch Detention
Assistant principal Erin Grazak shares what she's learned from and about her middle school's students, their hopes, and their needs by spending lunchtime detention with them.
Erin Grazak, November 12, 2013
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3 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Laura Costas
Federal Opinion In Defense of NCLB
Long overdue and overpoliticized, the renewal of the No Child Left Behind Act should not be abandoned, as the federal law has done a lot of good, writes Jerry Jellig.
Jerry Jellig, November 12, 2013
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6 min read
Federal Letter to the Editor What an NCLB 'Opt Out' Push Could Look Like
To the Editor:
If we in Iowa were to look at an "opt out" movement for standardized tests related to the No Child Left Behind Act, I have a great idea that will shoot Iowa schools to the very top of all schools in the nation and beyond.
November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Education Letter to the Editor Private Competition Helps, Not Hurts, U.S. Education
To the Editor:
Diane Ravitch's argument that all taxes and donations be invested in public schools only, disfavoring competition or markets, sounds like organizational models in Communist countries ("Ravitch: Private Sector Should Provide Help, Not Competition for Public Schools," Marketplace K-12 blog, Oct. 18, 2013).
November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Assessment Letter to the Editor Common-Core Funding Must Address Implementation
To the Editor:
States are still not getting it as far as implementation of the Common Core State Standards goes.
November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Data Letter to the Editor Strategies in Memphis Cry Out for Study
To the Editor:
While an "array of strategies aims to transform" the public schools in Memphis, Tenn. ("Spotlight Turns on Memphis' Remake," Oct. 9, 2013), this reader, finding no mention of evaluation, wonders how anyone will know (without some assessment) whether any of the schools achieves "success."
November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Teaching Profession Letter to the Editor Schools' Role in Democracy Should Not Be Overlooked
To the Editor:
Anthony J. Mullen's Commentary "We Need a National Monument to Teachers" (Oct. 23, 2013) is a noble proposal.
November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Ed-Tech Policy Letter to the Editor Pearson Responds to Article on Rollout of L.A. iPad Plan
To the Editor:
We are disappointed that your story about the Los Angeles Unified School District's iPad rollout with Pearson's Common Core System of Courses excluded teachers who are enthusiastic about the program ("Concerns Over Curriculum in L.A. iPad Plan," Oct. 30, 2013).
November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Education Best of the Blogs Blogs of the Week
| NEWS | Rules for Engagement
November 12, 2013
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7 min read
Teaching Profession Report Roundup Teacher Quality
Disadvantaged students receive less effective teaching, on average, than other students, according to a study of 29 large school districts.
Debra Viadero, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Standards News in Brief Catholic Scholars Encourage Opposition to Common Core
More than 130 Catholic scholars have signed a letter to the nation's Roman Catholic bishops condemning the Common Core State Standards.
Catherine Gewertz, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Law & Courts News in Brief Mo. Superintendents Offer Student-Transfer Option
A group of school superintendents has developed an alternative to a Missouri law that allows students to transfer from unaccredited to accredited districts.
The Associated Press, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Education Funding News in Brief Child-Care Costs Increase Faster Than Family Income
The cost of child care increased up to eight times the rate of increases in family income from 2011 to 2012, according to a report by Child Care Aware of America.
Julie Blair, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Education News in Brief Online Directory Links Businesses With Schools
More than 300 Frederick County, Md., business representatives and public school employees launched an online tool that allows schools to post requests for guest speakers, field trips, and workshops.
McClatchy-Tribune, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Assessment News in Brief Charter Retracts Letter Threatening Dismissals
The Orange County school system is investigating a charter school that wrongly threatened to dismiss students for failing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests.
McClatchy-Tribune, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
School Choice & Charters News in Brief Popularity of Charter Schools Grows in California
California added 104 charter schools to its roster this year, but it still has some 50,000 students on waiting lists for the campuses, according to a report released last week.
McClatchy-Tribune, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
School Climate & Safety News in Brief Assessment Undertaken to Determine Fate of DOD Schools
A new Department of Defense study will examine the future of on-base schools.
McClatchy-Tribune, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Standards News in Brief Thousands File Comments on Common Core in Fla.
Gov. Rick Scott's decision to review Florida's new school standards has triggered an avalanche of comments, suggestions, and protest from parents, teachers, and residents.
The Associated Press, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Early Childhood News in Brief States' Child-Care Rules Found to Be Too Lax
A review of day care facilities finds that many states do not require an annual unannounced inspection of all licensed child-care providers.
The Associated Press, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
Equity & Diversity News in Brief Calif. District Under Fire for 'Arab' Mascot
A California high school is facing pressure from a national anti-discrimination group over its nickname, the Arabs, and related mascot and logo.
Bryan Toporek, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
School Climate & Safety News in Brief House GOP to Examine Impact of Health-Care Law
The House Education and the Workforce Committee announced last week that it plans to explore the impact of the Affordable Care Act on schools.
Alyson Klein, November 12, 2013
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1 min read
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