July 10, 2013

Education Week, Vol. 32, Issue 36
Families & the Community News in Brief 1st Black Male Parent to Head National PTA
The newly installed president of the National PTA wants to lead a more inclusive PTA, an organization sometimes stereotyped as catering to suburban moms.
Karla Scoon Reid, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
Education Funding News in Brief Charter Network Wins Broad Prize
The charter school network Uncommon Schools last week received a boost to its name recognition.
Kevin Connors, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
School & District Management News in Brief NEA Membership Declines by 234,000
Since 2010-11, the National Education Association has lost about 234,000 members, of which 201,000 are classroom teachers, according to the NEA.
Stephen Sawchuk, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
School & District Management News in Brief Conn. Judge Orders Prominent Leader Out
A Connecticut state judge ruled late last month that Paul Vallas, the superintendent of the Bridgeport school district, must step down because he did not complete a state-mandated leadership program, the Connecticut Post reports. The school board of the 21,000-student district has said it will appeal the decision.
Jaclyn Zubrzycki, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
Ed-Tech Policy News in Brief Ed-Tech Commission Issues 5-Point Plan
A commission of prominent education leaders released a five-point plan last month to help facilitate the growth of digital learning across the country.
Katie Ash, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
Education Funding News in Brief Phila. to Get State Aid to Ease 'Doomsday' Budget
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said last week that he had completed negotiations with state lawmakers on a rescue package for Philadelphia public schools.
The Associated Press, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
School & District Management News in Brief Coalition Demands Support-Based Reform
A group of educators and policy advocates who are pushing for a more-progressive education agenda ramped up their call for "supports-based reform" by issuing a declaration to "rebuild America."
Michele McNeil, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
Law & Courts News in Brief Judge Backs Student Who Didn't 'Accept Gays'
A federal district judge has ruled that a high school teacher violated the free speech rights of a Michigan student by removing him from class for expressing views that he didn't "accept gays" because of his Roman Catholic faith.
Mark Walsh, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
School Climate & Safety News in Brief More Students Caught With Guns at School
The number of students caught with guns at school has gone up, new U.S. Department of Education figures show.
Nirvi Shah, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
Science News in Brief Four States Adopt Science Standards
The Next Generation Science Standards are starting to build steam, as state boards of education in four states voted in June to adopt them.
July 9, 2013
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1 min read
School & District Management News in Brief Detroit District Hopes to Lure Back Students
A new budget in Detroit optimistically assumes that the school district will be able to lure 5,000 students back to its schools after years of declining enrollment.
Jaclyn Zubrzycki, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
Assessment News in Brief Oklahoma Drops Out of Common Tests
Oklahoma state Superintendent Janet Barresi signaled last week that the state will not use the common-core assessments being developed by the PARCC testing consortium.
July 9, 2013
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1 min read
Curriculum News in Brief Reteaching an Issue After Summer Break
Two-thirds of teachers polled in a recent survey said they spend at least a month reteaching students old material when they return from summer vacation.
Nora Fleming, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
Ed-Tech Policy News in Brief FCC's E-Rate Plan Moves Forward
The acting chair of the Federal Communications Commission recently took initial steps in what is expected to be a broad effort to remake the federal E-rate program and provide schools with faster online connectivity.
Sean Cavanagh, July 9, 2013
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1 min read
School & District Management Tougher Requirements Ahead for Teacher Prep
The accrediting body for teacher education is poised to adopt standards that set a higher entry bar and require the use of value-added measures.
Stephen Sawchuk, July 9, 2013
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6 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
iStockphoto.com/Sergey Nivens
Teacher Preparation Opinion The NCTQ Ed. School Rankings: A Response From the Front Lines
The dean of the graduate school of education at Lesley University offers his response to the first-ever ranking of teacher education programs.
Jack Gillette, July 9, 2013
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6 min read
Assessment Adaptive Testing Gains Momentum, Prompts Concerns
Proposals in Congress highlight lingering disagreements over whether computer-adaptive assessments should include questions above and below a student's grade level.
Benjamin Herold, July 9, 2013
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7 min read
School & District Management Opinion Why We Need State-Based Education R&D
Creating a state-based education R&D system would boost research-driven reform, Arthur D. Sheekey writes.
Arthur D. Sheekey, July 9, 2013
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6 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Jeff Dekal
School & District Management Opinion From Health-Care Reform, Lessons for Education Policy
Looking at what the research says about the most effective school districts could lead to a better education system for all, writes Greg Anrig.
Greg Anrig, July 9, 2013
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6 min read
College students wait on the steps of the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Washington on Monday for Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other Republican leaders to arrive for a news conference on federal student loan rates. Speaker John Boehner blamed Senate Democrats and President Obama for letting interest rates double on student loans.
College students wait on the steps of the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Washington on Monday for Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other Republican leaders to arrive for a news conference on federal student loan rates. Speaker John Boehner blamed Senate Democrats and President Obama for letting interest rates double on student loans.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
College & Workforce Readiness As Student-Loan Rates Rise, Advocates Fume
Congress is urged to act after failing to stave off the doubling of federally subsidized student-loan rates to 6.8 percent July 1.
Caralee J. Adams, July 9, 2013
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3 min read
Members of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the New York State Police, and Hudson Falls Police Department approach the entrance to the Hudson Falls Primary School in Hudson Fall, N.Y., in January during an active-shooter drill at the school. New guidelines from the Obama administration that address planning for school emergencies include recommendations on reacting to active-shooting situations.
Members of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the New York State Police, and Hudson Falls Police Department approach the entrance to the Hudson Falls Primary School in Hudson Fall, N.Y., in January during an active-shooter drill at the school. New guidelines from the Obama administration that address planning for school emergencies include recommendations on reacting to active-shooting situations.
Omar Ricardo Aquije/The Post-Star/AP
School Climate & Safety Feds' Advice on School Intruders Worries Some Experts
A long-awaited White House guide suggests that school staff can try to fight back when there's no other choice.
Jaclyn Zubrzycki & Nirvi Shah, July 8, 2013
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4 min read
Teaching Profession NCLB Waiver States Split on New Flexibility Offer
Some welcome the chance for more time to begin using new teacher-evaluation systems, while others say they're already on track.
Alyson Klein, July 8, 2013
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6 min read
Curriculum Free Online Content Forces Publishers to Adjust
The growing use of open educational resources is leading publishers to blend free materials into their products and services.
Sean Cavanagh, July 3, 2013
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9 min read
Teaching Profession Md. Evaluation Feud Reaches Uneasy Resolution
Tensions remain as Maryland education officials and unionized teachers sort out differences on how evaluations will affect personnel decisions.
Andrew Ujifusa, July 3, 2013
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5 min read
Rayianna Peak, left, and Dashawn Wilson, center, both 19-year-old former students at High Road Upper School, practice on Rayianna's brother, Michael, at Bennett Career Institute, a beauty and barbering school near the school's campus in Washington. High Road School has partnerships with a number of local businesses, including the institute, that provide job skills training to students.
Rayianna Peak, left, and Dashawn Wilson, center, both 19-year-old former students at High Road Upper School, practice on Rayianna's brother, Michael, at Bennett Career Institute, a beauty and barbering school near the school's campus in Washington. High Road School has partnerships with a number of local businesses, including the institute, that provide job skills training to students.
Ken Cedeno for Education Week
Special Education Special-Needs Students Gain Workplace Experience
A network of schools helps students with emotional and behavioral issues build "soft skills" through job placement.
Christina A. Samuels, July 2, 2013
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6 min read
International Opinion Teach the Future, Foster Innovation
Education leaders in Singapore continue to push ahead with respect to educating their students; the same cannot be said in the United States, writes Deanna Kuhn.
Deanna Kuhn, July 2, 2013
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6 min read
Jakub Simacek, center, discusses his exhibit with a visitor at the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland College Park. Mr. Simacek, a student from Newark High School in Newark, Del., detailed the capture of the Pegasus Bridge by British troops during the early hours of D-Day in World War II.
Jakub Simacek, center, discusses his exhibit with a visitor at the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland College Park. Mr. Simacek, a student from Newark High School in Newark, Del., detailed the capture of the Pegasus Bridge by British troops during the early hours of D-Day in World War II.
Ken Cedeno for Education Week
Social Studies Reviving History Instruction: What's Old Is New Again
Out-of-school and extracurricular activities are picking up some of the demand for teaching students history.
Caralee J. Adams, July 1, 2013
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10 min read
Standards New Science Standards Designed for Wide Range of Learners
From the start, the writers of the Next Generation Science Standards sought to keep in mind the needs of students who are historically underrepresented in advanced science classes.
Lesli A. Maxwell, June 28, 2013
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8 min read
Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Indiana, in a 2010 file photo.
Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Indiana, in a 2010 file photo.
Darron Cummings/AP-File
Federal Opinion Rokita: Rethinking ESEA With the Student Success Act
Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., says the next version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act should empower state and local leaders and parents to make key decisions.
Todd Rokita, June 28, 2013
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4 min read
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