February 10, 2016
Education Week, Vol. 35, Issue 20
Student Achievement
Opinion
Teachers at Low-Income Schools Deserve Respect
To stem disruptive staff turnover in low-income schools, we must first shift public perception, writes educator Bruce Hansen.
School & District Management
Opinion
Small Schools: The Edu-Reform Failure That Wasn't
Were small schools just another failed school improvement effort, or do they actually work? Jack Schneider's answer is both.
International
Opinion
What PISA Can't Teach Us
Rather than importing education strategies from abroad, states should look closer to home, write Martin Carnoy, Emma Garcia, and Tatiana Khavenson.
School & District Management
Lumosity, Other Brain-Training Products Get Federal Scrutiny
The Federal Trade Commission is taking a closer look at the evidence behind "brain training" products designed to boost students' attention and working memory.
Special Education
Group Aims to Boost Advocacy Skills for Parents of Students With Disabilities
In a Pennsylvania town roiled by controversy after a superintendent's resignation, a volunteer group's efforts seek to rebuild trust between the community and school district.
School & District Management
Advocacy Group Slams States for Overtesting, Other Policies
Many states rely too heavily on standardized testing, open their doors too easily to charters and vouchers, and fall short in supporting teachers, the Network for Public Education says.
Education Funding
Ed. Dept. Official Grilled Over Tax, Conflict of Interest Allegations
The agency's chief information officer was on the congressional hot seat over allegations outlined in an Inspector General's report.
Federal
Letter to the Editor
Calling All Presidential Hopefuls: How Are U.S. Children Doing?
To the Editor:
Now that the 2016 presidential-primary election season has arrived, I offer a homework assignment for our candidates.
Now that the 2016 presidential-primary election season has arrived, I offer a homework assignment for our candidates.
School & District Management
Letter to the Editor
Rural Schools Offer Opportunities for Innovation, Not Just 'Deficits'
To the Editor:
I applaud your project "Reversing a Raw Deal" because, frankly, rural schools and their 12 million students are often entirely excluded from education reform conversations. But I challenge Education Week and educators to also change the rural-reform paradigm from deficit- to asset-based thinking and to consider rural-innovation potential.
I applaud your project "Reversing a Raw Deal" because, frankly, rural schools and their 12 million students are often entirely excluded from education reform conversations. But I challenge Education Week and educators to also change the rural-reform paradigm from deficit- to asset-based thinking and to consider rural-innovation potential.
Reading & Literacy
States Are Setting Bar Higher for 'Proficiency'
A pair of studies show that states’ math and English tests are getting tougher and tougher to pass.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
Why I'm Tired of 'Grit'
The K-12 infatuation with "grit" offers an impractical and unfair model for education, writes educator James R. Delisle.
Professional Development
Letter to the Editor
Teachers' Technological Literacy Must Be Priority at All Career Stages
To the Editor:
The U.S. Department of Education’s 2016 National Education Technology Plan deserves attention and praise. The plan's scope expands beyond the classroom, calling for wider use of technology in the training, on-boarding, and professional development of teachers.
The U.S. Department of Education’s 2016 National Education Technology Plan deserves attention and praise. The plan's scope expands beyond the classroom, calling for wider use of technology in the training, on-boarding, and professional development of teachers.
Ed-Tech Policy
Letter to the Editor
Reader Faults 'Digital Reach' Report as Lacking Skepticism on Ed Tech
To the Editor:
I found your recent section on digital learning very disappointing.
I found your recent section on digital learning very disappointing.
States
State of the States: Ala., Alaska, Conn., Del., Ill., Md., Mass., Mo., Miss., Okla., Tenn., Utah
Here are summaries of recent annual addresses by governors around the country.
College & Workforce Readiness
Report Roundup
Geography Plays Role in College Access
A report explores how a student's street address can be as big a hurdle as any to getting into a good college.
Professional Development
Report Roundup
Research Report: Professional Development
Teachers do seem to be getting a lot of professional development aligned to the common core in both English/language arts and math, but it's not always focused on the topics that they say they need the most help on.
Early Childhood
Report Roundup
Early Education
For the fourth-straight year, state spending on publicly funded preschool has increased, according to the latest report by the Education Commission of the States, a state education policy think tank.
Education Funding
Report Roundup
District Spending
The economy might be recovering, but school districts are still feeling the pinch, according to new federal data.
Families & the Community
Report Roundup
Child Development
A study in the February issue of the journal Pediatrics suggests pointing parents to the positive aspects of their parent-child interactions can reduce the stress of mothers in poverty and improve their children's cognitive development and behavior.
Education Funding
Report Roundup
Curriculum Trends
Fewer states are requiring students to study economics, according to a survey from the Council for Economic Education.
Education
Correction
Corrections
An article in the Jan. 20, 2016, issue of Education Week on Teach For America's political impact misstated the length of time that Zeke Cohen, the executive director of the Intersection, had worked as a teacher in Baltimore. It was two years.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Md. to Give Scholarships to Early Graduates
Gov. Larry Hogan called the action a smart use of tax dollars because the state can reallocate money it would have spent on a student's last year in public high school to help with the first year of college instead.
School Climate & Safety
News in Brief
Student Removed for Helping Peer Having Asthma Attack
Anthony Ruelas was suspended when he disobeyed his teacher by picking up his classmate and leaving the classroom to carry her to the nurse's office.
Education
News in Brief
Transitions
Tiffany Anderson, the superintendent of the Jennings, Mo., district, will take the reins of the Topeka, Kan., schools as of July 1.
Law & Courts
News in Brief
Georgia Bill Supports Athletes' Religious Attire
The measure approved last week by the education committee is a swipe at the Georgia High School Association.
School Climate & Safety
News in Brief
Sandy Hook Memorial Covered With Plasterboard
The administration became worried that despite its intentions, the painting of a dreamcatcher was upsetting some students in the Newtown, Conn., community.
School & District Management
News in Brief
Athletes Held 'Fight Club' at Dallas-Area School
Complaints from players' parents led to the uncovering of the fight club, as well as reports that the Plano East High School head baseball coach and assistant coach subjected players to demeaning comments.
Law & Courts
News in Brief
La. Governor Scraps Suit Against Administration
Gov. John Edward's office said the recently signed Every Student Succeeds Act makes the lawsuit "educationally and financially unnecessary."