August 27, 2014
Education Week, Vol. 34, Issue 02
School & District Management
Opinion
Charter Activists Suffer From Truth Deprivation
The absence of evidence around charter school effectiveness hasn't shaken the devotees, including within the Obama administration, argues Gerald N. Tirozzi.
Every Student Succeeds Act
Policy Stakes High as Parties Vie for Senate Control
Partisan gridlock has stalled action on major education legislation in Congress, and analysts are split on how a GOP takeover would affect that.
College & Workforce Readiness
ACT Scores Virtually Unchanged, But Participation Is Up
More students than ever are taking the college-entrance exam, including a record 57 percent of the 2014 high school graduating class.
Teaching Profession
Infographic: Climbing the Career Ladder in Baltimore
Baltimore teachers can advance up the pay ladder by collecting achievement units, or by completing specific, peer-reviewed projects.
School & District Management
Women's Voices Lacking on School Boards
Despite having relatively strong representation on school boards, women serving on those panels tend to yield to their male counterparts on policy decisions, according to a new book.
Accountability
Opinion
Finn: Eight of the Toughest Challenges Schools Still Face
In something of a farewell policy address, Chester E. Finn Jr. writes that American schools have made progress, but the public education governance structure is "obsolete."
Teaching Profession
Companies Honing Tools to Survey Students About Teachers
Over the coming months, high-profile players in the student-survey field plan to launch new efforts to improve the usefulness, and potentially lower the costs, of their survey instruments.
Special Education
Oculus Rift Fueling New Vision for Virtual Reality in K-12
After decades of false starts and unkept promises, makers of virtual-reality technology could be ready to give students a new and potentially powerful way to learn.
Teaching Profession
Letter to the Editor
Students Deserve Discussion of Teachers' Grading Practices
To the Editor:
It was with great interest that I read how Greg Jouriles and his faculty colleagues are addressing their "grading differences" and teachers' "different conceptions of achievement" through development of standards-aligned rubrics, common performance tasks, and calibration ("We Don't Need Standardized Tests. Here's Why," Commentary, July 9, 2014).
It was with great interest that I read how Greg Jouriles and his faculty colleagues are addressing their "grading differences" and teachers' "different conceptions of achievement" through development of standards-aligned rubrics, common performance tasks, and calibration ("We Don't Need Standardized Tests. Here's Why," Commentary, July 9, 2014).
School Climate & Safety
Letter to the Editor
Update on New Orleans Schools Missed True Flooding Cause
To the Editor:
As a New Orleanian, I always enjoy reading about my city, especially when the story is positive. The Aug. 6, 2014, blog post "Achievement Improves in New Orleans Schools, Challenges Remain, Says Report" (District Dossier) is one of the positive ones. It mentions the good things going on in our schools, but doesn't gloss over the obstacles we still face. The future is bright, though.
As a New Orleanian, I always enjoy reading about my city, especially when the story is positive. The Aug. 6, 2014, blog post "Achievement Improves in New Orleans Schools, Challenges Remain, Says Report" (District Dossier) is one of the positive ones. It mentions the good things going on in our schools, but doesn't gloss over the obstacles we still face. The future is bright, though.
Families & the Community
Letter to the Editor
School Choice Offers Hope in Poor Communities
To the Editor:
Every child in this country deserves access to a high-quality education, and too many millions lack that opportunity today. While it is encouraging to read in "From Catholic to Charter: Conversion of Schools Draws Scrutiny" (June 11, 2014) about schools that are mindful of this charge, I would argue that fulfilling "a Catholic-inspired mission through a secular vehicle" fails to acknowledge the extraordinary success of Catholic schools in serving poor and marginalized children over many decades.
Every child in this country deserves access to a high-quality education, and too many millions lack that opportunity today. While it is encouraging to read in "From Catholic to Charter: Conversion of Schools Draws Scrutiny" (June 11, 2014) about schools that are mindful of this charge, I would argue that fulfilling "a Catholic-inspired mission through a secular vehicle" fails to acknowledge the extraordinary success of Catholic schools in serving poor and marginalized children over many decades.
Assessment
Letter to the Editor
Essay Perpetuates 'False' Line About Biggest Learning Factor
To the Editor:
We should all be comforted that a self-described "communications consultant" has all the answers for public education. Too bad Leslie Francis' insulting Commentary gets most things wrong.
We should all be comforted that a self-described "communications consultant" has all the answers for public education. Too bad Leslie Francis' insulting Commentary gets most things wrong.
Teaching Profession
Letter to the Editor
Recent Commentary Draws Criticism From Readers Author 'Caricatures' Teachers, Distorts Unions' Role
To the Editor:
The Aug. 6, 2014, Commentary by Leslie C. Francis, "The Teachers' Unions Must Embrace the Future," is a well-crafted effort to portray unions as the enemy of reform. Mr. Francis, who works as a professional in communications, perpetuates the lie that "teacher quality is the single biggest factor in how well students learn." He ignores contrary evidence (and it is abundant). He prefers to caricature and ridicule teachers.
The Aug. 6, 2014, Commentary by Leslie C. Francis, "The Teachers' Unions Must Embrace the Future," is a well-crafted effort to portray unions as the enemy of reform. Mr. Francis, who works as a professional in communications, perpetuates the lie that "teacher quality is the single biggest factor in how well students learn." He ignores contrary evidence (and it is abundant). He prefers to caricature and ridicule teachers.
Standards
Polls Capture Public's Sour View of Common Core
A pair of wide-ranging polls by PDK/Gallup and Education Next gauge sentiment on the common standards, testing, school funding, and other hot-button issues.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Philadelphia Schools to Open on Time with Cuts to Programs
Philadelphia's schools will open Sept. 8, but the district will take cost-cutting measures that officials hope will be temporary.
Special Education
News in Brief
District Sorry for Making Spec. Ed. Students Sort Trash
A Southern California district faced parents' ire after a program had special education students sorting trash.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Mich. Approves Pay Cut for Detroit Teachers
Detroit teachers will see a pay cut to offset a $127 million deficit.
School & District Management
News in Brief
Connecticut Schools Chief Announces Departure
Connecticut's education commissioner, Stefan Pryor, will leave his position by January after three years.
Special Education
News in Brief
U.S. Civil Rights Office Investigates Georgia District
A Georgia school district is under investigation after claims of rights violations of special education students and charges that black students are punished more often and more harshly.
Law & Courts
News in Brief
ACLU in Mass. Challenges District's iPad Policy
The ACLU in Massachusetts says the Mendon-Upton district's iPad policy does not provide all students with equal access to education resources.
School & District Management
News in Brief
Albuquerque Chief Resigns for Undisclosed Reasons
Albuquerque schools superintendent Winston Brook resigned as chief, but his reasons are still unclear.
Law & Courts
News in Brief
Pacts End Federal Case on Teacher Testing
Four people involved in a teacher-certification-test fraud scheme agreed to stop teaching.
Teaching Profession
News in Brief
Most Hawaii Teachers Rated High Under New Evaluations
New teacher evaluations in Hawaii show nearly 98 percent of public school teachers were rates "highly effective" or "effective."
Assessment
News in Brief
Groups Release Standards for Research Testing
Professional standards for education research assessment have been overhauled for the first time in 15 years.
Federal
News in Brief
L.A. Says Federal Waiver Delays 'Parent Trigger' Law
Los Angeles United district officials say a federal waiver prevents parents from using "parent trigger" laws to make sweeping changes at low performing schools.
Law & Courts
News in Brief
N.C. Private School Vouchers are Ruled Unconstitutional
A superior court judge in North Carolina has ruled that the state's plan to provide vouchers for K-12 students to attend private schools is unconstitutional.
Education
News in Brief
Transition
Jon Whitmore, the chief executive officer of ACT Inc., has announced he will retire from that post next August, a decision that comes as the organization is shifting its assessment work to mesh with the demands of the Common Core State Standards.
