July 9, 2014

Education Week, Vol. 33, Issue 36
Assessment Report Roundup Snow Days
While the snowstorms and icy sidewalks of this past winter are fast disappearing from memory, a question remains: Did all those snow days hurt student learning?
Samantha Stainburn, July 8, 2014
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1 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Education News in Brief Transitions
Tony Wood is Arkansas' new education commissioner. Prior to his appointment, which began July 1, he served as the state's deputy commissioner.
July 8, 2014
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1 min read
Assessment Report Roundup Math Learning
The "fun" math activities that 1st grade teachers often rely on to engage struggling learners—such as music, movement, and manipulative toys—do not help and sometimes even hinder students' learning, finds a new study in the journal Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis.
Sarah D. Sparks, July 8, 2014
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1 min read
Teaching Profession Report Roundup Teacher Education
A new pilot study from the National Council on Teacher Quality argues that alternative-certification programs for preparing teachers suffer from many of the same problems that the organization has identified in traditional, university-based programs.
Stephen Sawchuk, July 8, 2014
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1 min read
Standards News in Brief N.M. Official Rejects Protest Of Common-Core Contract
The state purchasing office in New Mexico last week rejected a closely watched protest of a potentially enormous contract award for common-core testing to Pearson, ruling that the bidding process was structured in a "careful and thoughtful" way, despite a rival organization's claims.
Sean Cavanagh, July 8, 2014
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1 min read
Education News in Brief Schools Chief Under Fire For Anonymous Blogging
John Huppenthal, the Republican superintendent of schools in Arizona, has admitted to anonymously posting inflammatory comments on blogs, making that admission after a Democratic political blogger outed the schools chief last month.
Lesli A. Maxwell, July 8, 2014
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1 min read
Standards Opinion Without the Common Core in Oklahoma
Following the repeal of the standards, Oklahoma teacher Valeria Hughes wonders what's ahead for her state and her classroom.
Valeria Hughes, July 8, 2014
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4 min read
Standards Opinion Politics Are Crushing the Standards
In spite of being wary of excessive standardization, Dave Powell questions why elected officials are rejecting the common core.
Dave Powell, July 8, 2014
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6 min read
060922 2014 06 25 Ed Week Standardized Testing
Jori Bolton for Education Week
Assessment Opinion Here's Why We Don't Need Standardized Tests
Schools get better, more useful information from performance assessments and collaboration than from standardized exams, Greg Jouriles says.
Greg Jouriles, July 8, 2014
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6 min read
Cameron Evans, Microsoft’s chief technology officer for U.S. education, says: “Students are not products. We have a long way to go across the industry in getting everyone on board with protecting students’ [data privacy].”
Cameron Evans, Microsoft’s chief technology officer for U.S. education, says: “Students are not products. We have a long way to go across the industry in getting everyone on board with protecting students’ [data privacy].”
Swikar Patel/Education Week
Data Microsoft Puts Data Privacy on Its Branding Agenda
By backing research and speaking out on the topic, the technology giant is encouraging school officials across the country to demand strong student-data privacy.
Sean Cavanagh, July 8, 2014
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8 min read
Education Funding Cash Drew Contractor Expertise—and Controversy
Faced with crafting complex applications for federal Race to the Top aid, and putting that money to work if they won, states turned to consultants for help.
Lauren Camera, July 8, 2014
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4 min read
Teachers at Ridgeway High School in Memphis, Tenn., begin a three-day Common Core State Standards training session. The state has spent $44 million of its $500 million Race to the Top grant to train more than 70,000 teachers in the new academic standards.
Teachers at Ridgeway High School in Memphis, Tenn., begin a three-day Common Core State Standards training session. The state has spent $44 million of its $500 million Race to the Top grant to train more than 70,000 teachers in the new academic standards.
Brandon Dill for Education Week
Education Funding Tennessee on Dogged Path to Race to Top Finish
One of the earliest winners in the federal grant competition is working to make sure its efforts to transform public education don't slip away when its $500 million runs out.
Lauren Camera, July 8, 2014
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14 min read
Teacher coach Peter Tang leads part of a three-day Common Core State Standards training session at Ridgeway High School in Memphis, Tenn., paid for through Race to the Top grant money. Mr. Tang is one of 700 teachers trained by the state to help other teachers develop a mindset for implementing the new standards.
Teacher coach Peter Tang leads part of a three-day Common Core State Standards training session at Ridgeway High School in Memphis, Tenn., paid for through Race to the Top grant money. Mr. Tang is one of 700 teachers trained by the state to help other teachers develop a mindset for implementing the new standards.
Brandon Dill for Education Week
Teaching Profession District's Teachers Take Leading Role in Policy Overhaul
Tennessee officials enlisted teachers early in key elements of the state's Race to the Top initiatives that affect the teaching force.
Lauren Camera, July 8, 2014
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4 min read
IT Infrastructure & Management FCC Prepares to Vote on E-Rate Overhaul
Schools and libraries hungry for faster and more reliably funded Wi-Fi connections will be watching the July 11 open meeting of the Federal Communications Commission closely.
Michele Molnar, July 8, 2014
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4 min read
Federal Opinion Fix the ESEA Waivers Before It's Too Late
States have failed to use federal leeway to update their accountability systems in meaningful ways, write Morgan Polikoff, Andrew McEachin, Stephani Wrabel, and Matthew Dugue.
Morgan Polikoff, Andrew McEachin, Stephani Wrabel & Matthew Duque, July 7, 2014
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5 min read
Attorney Glenn Rothner speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on June 10 after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu ruled that key job protections for California teachers violate the state's constitution. Mr. Rothner is one of the attorneys who represented teachers' unions in the case.
Attorney Glenn Rothner speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on June 10 after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu ruled that key job protections for California teachers violate the state's constitution. Mr. Rothner is one of the attorneys who represented teachers' unions in the case.
--Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times/MCT
Law & Courts For Vergara Ruling on Teachers, Big Questions Loom
The decision by a California judge declaring unconstitutional key aspects of teacher tenure and due-process protections has made waves, but the implications in that state and beyond remain unclear.
Stephen Sawchuk, July 7, 2014
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8 min read
School & District Management Ed-Tech Community Faces Sexism Concerns
From sexual harassment to the glass ceiling, the challenges women face in the workplace are suddenly front and center in the educational technology world.
Benjamin Herold, July 3, 2014
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7 min read
Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White testifies before the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education about Gov. Bobby Jindal's actions against common-core testing on July 1 in Baton Rouge, La.
Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White testifies before the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education about Gov. Bobby Jindal's actions against common-core testing on July 1 in Baton Rouge, La.
AP Photo/Melinda Deslatte
Standards Common-Core Fight Pits La. Governor Against State Chief, Board
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal wants the state to jettison tests aligned with the common core, but the state schools chief and school board are balking.
Andrew Ujifusa, July 3, 2014
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4 min read
Education State of the Teachers' Unions: Money and Membership
As the NEA and AFT hold their national conventions this month, Education Week offers a look at their financial assets, political spending, membership trends, and governance structures.
Stephen Sawchuk, July 2, 2014
Standards Common Core Will Improve Education, Most District Chiefs Say
A new survey conducted by Gallup in partnership with Education Week probes the views of superintendents on the common core, teacher recruitment and evaluation, and district finances, among other topics.
Liana Loewus, July 1, 2014
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2 min read
Students eat lunch at Barre Town Elementary School last September in Barre Town, Vt. Vermont schools were among those that opted into a new federal provision this school year that allows them to provide free meals to all students regardless of family income.
Students eat lunch at Barre Town Elementary School last September in Barre Town, Vt. Vermont schools were among those that opted into a new federal provision this school year that allows them to provide free meals to all students regardless of family income.
Toby Talbot/AP-File
Federal Schools Weigh Expanding Free Meals to All Students
Schools and districts now have until Aug. 31 to opt for a new federal provision that allows them to serve free meals to all students.
Evie Blad, June 30, 2014
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4 min read
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents work at a processing facility in Brownsville,Texas, where federal immigration officials have seen a surge in the numbers of unaccompanied children and youths crossing the border illegally.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents work at a processing facility in Brownsville,Texas, where federal immigration officials have seen a surge in the numbers of unaccompanied children and youths crossing the border illegally.
Eric Gay/AP
Equity & Diversity U.S. Schools Gear Up for Surge of Young Immigrants
From California to Maryland, schools are preparing for an unprecedented increase in the flow of Central American children and youths streaming across the U.S.-Mexico border and arriving alone.
Lesli A. Maxwell, June 27, 2014
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7 min read
School Climate & Safety Sex-Abuse-Prevention Efforts Urged for Students With Disabilities
Advocacy groups seek to publicize the problem of sexual abuse of students with disabilities, highlighting strategies to protect a population statistically more likely to be victimized.
Christina A. Samuels, June 24, 2014
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7 min read
Standards State Lawmakers Assert Influence Over Standards
Amid intense debate over the common core, 10 states have recently enacted laws that place new restrictions or specifications on how state boards of education adopt standards
Catherine Gewertz, June 23, 2014
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12 min read
In this Oct. 24, 2013, photo a school bus heads up Tobacco Road on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
In this Oct. 24, 2013, photo a school bus heads up Tobacco Road on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
Swikar Patel/Education Week
School & District Management Plan to Reshape Indian Education Stirs Opposition
On the eve of President Obama's first official visit to Indian Country, discontent is growing over a federal proposal to overhaul the much-criticized Bureau of Indian Education.
Lesli A. Maxwell, June 12, 2014
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8 min read
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