December 3, 2014
Education Week, Vol. 34, Issue 13
Federal
News in Brief
President Obama Signs Child-Care-Grants Law
President Barack Obama has signed the Child Care Development Block Grant bill, a measure that hadn't been updated since 1996.
Reading & Literacy
Kindergartners Benefit From Early-Years Program, Study Finds
New research suggests that the Tools of the Mind program produces bigger effects for kindergartners than it does for younger children.
Teaching
Schools Teach Common-Core Math to Two Generations
Through parent math nights, letters home, and videos, schools are providing a quieter counterpoint to media critiques of the math standards.
Curriculum
Big Districts Pressure Publishers on Digital-Content Delivery
As a condition of doing business, the districts are demanding a universal technical format they believe can help educators manage digital content and personalize instruction.
School & District Management
Ed. Dept. Puts Spotlight on Principals' Central Role
Drawing on real-world advice from principals, several initiatives in the Obama administration's second term aim to address the needs of school leaders.
Federal
U.S. Rules Aim to Heighten Tracking of Ed. Schools' Performance
Teacher colleges would need to provide proof of their graduates' classroom skills in helping advance student learning, under proposed rules issued by the U.S. Department of Education.
Federal
States Get Federal Running Room on Teacher-Equity Plans
New guidance offers leeway as states craft ways to ensure disadvantaged students have access to as many highly qualified teachers as other students.
Teacher Preparation
N.Y. Data on New Teacher-Licensing Exams Show Higher Failure Rates
New licensing tests in New York have led to relatively low passing rates for prospective teachers, according to the state education department.
School & District Management
Achievements, Dissension Marked Tenn. Chief's Tenure
Kevin Huffman gained prominence for policy positions as Tennessee's education commissioner, but he also clashed with state lawmakers and local superintendents.
Mathematics
Introduce Word Problems to Students Sooner, Studies Say
Research suggests that word problems might be easier to grasp and more beneficial at the beginning, rather than the end, of a math lesson.
Standards & Accountability
Cutoff Scores Set for Common-Core Tests
More than half the students who take the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium test are expected to fall below the cutoffs for grade-level proficiency in English/language arts and mathematics.
School & District Management
Ed-Tech Vendors Often in Dark on District Needs, Study Shows
Many districts use needs assessments and pilot tests to set ed-tech priorities, but those efforts tend to produce little useful information for companies, the report says.