January 7, 2015

Education Week, Vol. 34, Issue 15
School & District Management News in Brief N.Y.C. Reaches Accord With Principals' Union
New York City has reached a nine-year, $891 million deal with its principals and administrators that will include back pay for principals and incentives for those who take over academically underperforming schools.
Denisa R. Superville, January 5, 2015
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1 min read
Assessment News in Brief Minneapolis Superintendent Resigns Abruptly From Post
Embattled Minneapolis schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson, whose district has struggled to meet its goals of closing the achievement gap between white and minority students, abruptly resigned, citing family commitments.
The Associated Press, January 5, 2015
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1 min read
Assessment News in Brief Minnesota Encounters Online-Testing Glitches
Minnesota's $38 million contract with a vendor to run its online testing system is encountering glitches that have school officials worried ahead of the spring testing season.
The Associated Press, January 5, 2015
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1 min read
Law & Courts News in Brief K12 Inc. Investors' Suit Rebuffed by U.S. Court
A federal judge in Virginia has tossed out a lawsuit brought by investors who claimed they were duped by overly optimistic statements put forward in 2013 by the for-profit education provider K12 Inc., shortly before the company's stock plunged.
Sean Cavanagh, January 5, 2015
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1 min read
Teaching Profession News in Brief Ohio to Give Districts Say Over Specialty Teachers
The Ohio board of education has taken a definitive step toward eliminating a requirement that districts hire a minimum number of educators in areas such as art, library, and gym.
Denisa R. Superville, January 5, 2015
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1 min read
Assessment News in Brief Conn. Plans New Measures For School Accountability
State officials in Connecticut are seeking to broaden the measurement of school performance—often criticized for overreliance on test scores—to include the arts, civics, physical fitness, attendance, and qualities such as student persistence and personal development.
McClatchy-Tribune, January 5, 2015
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1 min read
Law & Courts News in Brief Board Elections Called Unfair To Blacks in Ferguson, Mo.
A federal lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union contends that school board elections in Ferguson, Mo., use a system that keeps black residents "all but locked out of the political process."
Corey Mitchell, January 5, 2015
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1 min read
Equity & Diversity News in Brief Public Ed. Groups Found To Lack Diversity at Top
Racial and ethnic diversity is lacking in the leadership ranks of K-12 public education groups, even as the student population becomes increasingly diverse, a new report says.
Corey Mitchell, January 5, 2015
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1 min read
Elected to Congress in 1974, U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., was an architect of No Child Left Behind and other laws. He retired after the recently concluded 113th Congress.
Elected to Congress in 1974, U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., was an architect of No Child Left Behind and other laws. He retired after the recently concluded 113th Congress.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP-File
Federal Leaving Stage, U.S. Rep. George Miller Reflects
In a four-decade career in Congress, now-retired U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., put an indelible stamp on education policy.
Alyson Klein, January 5, 2015
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5 min read
Then-Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, listens during an executive session of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee last September, in his final term in Congress before retiring.
Then-Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, listens during an executive session of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee last September, in his final term in Congress before retiring.
T.J. Kirkpatrick for Education Week-File
College & Workforce Readiness Harkin, Now Retired, Left Imprint on Federal Ed. Policy
Just-retired U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, championed education equality and the rights of people with disabilities in his storied career on Capitol Hill.
Lauren Camera, January 5, 2015
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8 min read
Federal Fla. Wins Flexibility in Accountability for English-Learners
Federal education officials have granted the state's request to delay using the test scores of English-learners in school grades until such students have been in U.S. schools for two years.
Corey Mitchell, January 5, 2015
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4 min read
Education Early-Childhood Education in the U.S.: An Analysis
The Education Week Research Center analyzed American Community Survey data to identify patterns in the school enrollment of young children.
January 3, 2015
Education Funding Letter to the Editor Kudos for Schools Featured in War on Poverty Article
To the Editor:
Education Week's recent article " 'Lucky Few' Served by War on Poverty College Programs" was a poignant and painfully accurate assessment of the struggles children from families of lower income face when trying to earn that seemingly unattainable college degree.
January 2, 2015
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1 min read
Ed-Tech Policy Letter to the Editor Pledge Reflects Ed-Tech Leaders' Concern for Student-Data Privacy
To the Editor:
Recent coverage by Education Week makes it clear that two distinct efforts are underway to ensure the safe and appropriate use of student data.
January 2, 2015
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1 min read
School & District Management Letter to the Editor Cost-Cutting Measures Have Caused 'Ad Hoc' Hiring Practices
To the Editor:
University of Washington Bothell research professor Dan Goldhaber's statement that "hiring by school systems in this country looks to be pretty ad hoc" struck a chord with me. In many U.S. school districts, the position of human resources administrator (in charge of hiring) has been downsized, eliminated, redistributed, or otherwise fragmented.
January 2, 2015
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1 min read
Teacher Preparation Letter to the Editor N.Y. State Works to Aid New Cadre of Teacher-Candidates
To the Editor:
The recent article on passing rates for new teacher-licensure exams in New York state fairly reflects the challenges of the state's pioneering effort to retool teacher preparation so that all teachers are classroom-ready from Day One.
January 2, 2015
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2 min read
Newly elected Pennsylvania gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has pledged to boost K-12 spending as the state looks to overhaul its education-funding formula. Republicans boosted their majority in the state legislature in November.
Newly elected Pennsylvania gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has pledged to boost K-12 spending as the state looks to overhaul its education-funding formula. Republicans boosted their majority in the state legislature in November.
Matt Rourke/AP
States Politics, Fiscal Issues Frame Pa. School-Aid Debate
The Keystone State's new Democratic governor, who faces an empowered GOP legislative majority, has pledged to boost K-12 spending; meanwhile, a funding-formula overhaul is already in the works.
Andrew Ujifusa, January 2, 2015
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7 min read
Education Opinion Top Opinion Blog Posts of 2014: Education Week's Most-Viewed
Education Week's opinion bloggers discussed and debated student learning styles, test-based accountability, the common core, and more in the most-read posts of the year.
December 30, 2014
Education Opinion Top Education Commentaries of 2014: Education Week's Most-Viewed
To give a sense of which opinion essays our readers found most compelling in 2014, the editors at Education Week have compiled a list of our 10 most-viewed Commentaries.
December 30, 2014
Teaching Profession Opinion K-12 'Collaboration': Is It Possible or Political Code?
In a recent back and forth, Peter Cunningham and Randi Weingarten debate the meaning of "collaboration" and its role in the K-12 ecosystem.
December 29, 2014
Equity & Diversity Opinion Race and Schools: Commentary Perspectives
A Storify collection highlights Commentaries and opinion blogs on the education of students of color in American schools, as well as reader reactions to the opinion essays.
December 24, 2014
President Barack Obama hugs Alajah Lane, 9, of Washington, after she introduced him at the Dec. 10 White House summit on early-childhood education.
President Barack Obama hugs Alajah Lane, 9, of Washington, after she introduced him at the Dec. 10 White House summit on early-childhood education.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Federal Advocates Cheer White House Spending on Early-Ed.
The rollout of new federal money to states, along with private-sector and philanthropic commitments, is welcomed as adding momentum to the push for even bigger investment.
Christina A. Samuels, December 22, 2014
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5 min read
Standards & Accountability Opinion Politics and the Common Core: Readers React
Education Week blogger Dave Powell's Commentary, in which he wrote that politics are harming the Common Core State Standards, elicited an avalanche of responses from readers.
December 22, 2014
Equity & Diversity More Students—But Few Girls, Minorities—Took AP Computer Science Exams
While the numbers of students taking Advanced Placement computer science exams skyrocketed in 2014, participation for many groups of students remained low, an Education Week analysis shows.
Holly Kurtz, December 19, 2014
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3 min read
The future of the Affordable Care Act once again rests with the U.S. Supreme Court, and whatever decision the justices render could have a substantial impact on school districts and their employees.
The future of the Affordable Care Act once again rests with the U.S. Supreme Court, and whatever decision the justices render could have a substantial impact on school districts and their employees.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Law & Courts Schools Weigh Impact of New Challenge to Health Law
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case that takes issue with the use of subsidies under Obamacare, and a ruling could have "enormous" ramifications for many K-12 school districts.
Sean Cavanagh, December 17, 2014
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8 min read
Professor Nicholas M. Michelli stands outside the Graduate Center City University of New York in midtown Manhattan. Mr. Michelli, who took part in New York's teacher-preparation-review process, believes the state should have intervened more strongly.
Professor Nicholas M. Michelli stands outside the Graduate Center City University of New York in midtown Manhattan. Mr. Michelli, who took part in New York's teacher-preparation-review process, believes the state should have intervened more strongly.
Mark Abramson for Education Week
Teacher Preparation N.Y. College's Experience Shows Conflicts Around Ed. School Closures
New York state's decision not to close an education school that had received a searing 2006 accreditation review has left unanswered questions as well as possible lessons.
Stephen Sawchuk, December 16, 2014
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12 min read
Six education programs at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., shown above, were suspended in 2012 for performance reasons. A 50-state Education Week analysis finds that closures of teacher-preparation programs are relatively rare.
Six education programs at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., shown above, were suspended in 2012 for performance reasons. A 50-state <i>Education Week</i> analysis finds that closures of teacher-preparation programs are relatively rare.
Lake Superior State University-File
Teacher Preparation States Slow to Close Faltering Teacher Ed. Programs
States have generally been reluctant to shut down or suspend education schools and programs, bypassing a powerful but little-recognized policy lever, according to an Education Week analysis.
Stephen Sawchuk, December 16, 2014
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13 min read
Standards & Accountability Disparate Teacher-Prep Curricula Complicate Accountability Efforts
The relative leniency of states in reviewing their teacher-preparation programs could be symptomatic of a general lack of agreement on what candidates should learn, and how they should learn it.
Stephen Sawchuk, December 16, 2014
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4 min read
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