Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis
No more staying up late during the week. Farewell to sleeping in. And, hello homework! The lazy days of summer are ending for millions of children as they grab their backpacks, pencils and notebooks and return to the classroom for a new school year. Some facts and figures to know as the new school year begins. (Associated Press)
Chase Pellegrini de Paur didn’t flunk math, and he is not trying to hone his study skills. The 15-year-old honor-roll student nevertheless spent six weeks this summer studying geometry at the prestigious Northfield Mount Hermon boarding school here. (The New York Times)
Denver schools with low student suspension rates share several traits, according to a new report. Among them: The student population tends to be more integrated and the staff treat most misbehavior as a learning opportunity, not an infraction deserving punishment. (Chalkbeat)
Four coding boot camps, three companies offering other alternative-education offerings, and the global conglomerate General Electric were chosen on Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in a new experiment that will allow eight colleges to offer Pell Grants and federal student loans to as many as 1,500 students in programs where unaccredited providers supply a majority of the education. (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
After forecasting a deficit hovering near $1 billion less than a year ago, Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool expressed optimism last week in pitching a $5.4 billion operating budget in which forecasted expenditures align to the decimal point with anticipated revenue. (Chicago Tribune)