States Blog

State EdWatch

This blog covered state education policy, tracking governors, legislatures, state schools chiefs, and political developments. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: state policy, state legislatures, state superintendents, and governors.

Standards & Accountability Louisiana Chief White Proposes Somewhat Familiar Common-Core Compromise
Superintendent John White revives an idea about testing that he first proposed last summer, and says tweaks to the common core may not be out of order.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 24, 2015
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2 min read
Federal Could False Beliefs About the Common Core Bolster Support for the Standards?
A poll shows that Republicans who hold more false beliefs about the standards are more likely to disapprove of the common core. But what about Democrats?
Andrew Ujifusa, February 24, 2015
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3 min read
States Governors at D.C. Meeting Anxious Over NCLB Rewrite, K-12 Workforce
Governors heard updates about the possible direction of federal education law, and stressed that they needed more certainty from Washington as they work to improve schools.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 23, 2015
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3 min read
States Okla. Lawmakers Move to Ban Advanced Placement U.S. History
House Bill 1380, which has yet to be voted on in the full House, would bar the use of state funds on materials and activities related to the AP U.S. History course.
Liana Loewus, February 19, 2015
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2 min read
Standards & Accountability What Does Common-Core Polling in Early Presidential Primary States Reveal?
A majority of the potential Iowa GOP electorate would find a presidential candidate's common-core support acceptable, but it's pretty much a dead heat in two other states.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 18, 2015
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3 min read
Law & Courts Hanna Skandera Confirmed as New Mexico K-12 Chief After Four Years in Limbo
Skandera was picked to be the top K-12 official in New Mexico in 2011, but until this week her nomination had stalled even as she performed the duties of the office.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 17, 2015
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2 min read
States Kansas Lawmakers Mull Attaching Common-Core Repeal to Budget Bill
Last year, changes to teacher tenure and school choice were tacked onto the state K-12 spending plan. Could the same happen again for a common-core repeal effort this year?
Andrew Ujifusa, February 17, 2015
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2 min read
States Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber Resigns, Leaving His K-12 Blueprint Stranded
Kitzhaber had laid out ambitious early-literacy policy proposals after his 2014 re-election, and had also ordered a review of common-core-aligned tests in schools.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 13, 2015
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1 min read
Federal Before Common Core: Jeb Bush's 2005 Emails Show His Thinking on Standards
"If they are weak, let us strengthen them," the then-Florida governor wrote in an email from 10 years ago after a negative report about the state's content standards.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 13, 2015
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5 min read
States Mass. Report: PARCC is Right Common-Core Test for Schools ... With Caveats
Do the two state assessments being used in the Bay State accurately measure "college- and career-readiness" of students that so many states now say is their top priority?
Andrew Ujifusa, February 12, 2015
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2 min read
Standards & Accountability Conflict Looms After Top Officials for Arizona School Board Fired by State Chief
The move could increase tensions between Superintendent Diane Douglas, a foe of the common core, and the state school board, which continues to support it.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 12, 2015
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2 min read
States Testing Meltdown in Indiana as Officials Squabble Over 12-Hour ISTEP+
Gov. Mike Pence, Superintendent Glenda Ritz, and others are seeking emergency changes to the state test after an outcry that it would take students too long to complete.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 11, 2015
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3 min read
Federal Steering Clear of Common Core, Jeb Bush Decries Schools That Fail Poor Students
Bush, the former Florida governor who is mulling a White House run, advocated for choice, assessment, and a low-profile for federal policymakers in K-12.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 10, 2015
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3 min read
States Three States to Decline Use of Adaptive Feature in Common-Core Tests
The decision not to use adaptive testing by three states highlights the complexities associated with a feature of the Smarter Balanced assessment.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 9, 2015
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2 min read
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