posted on
Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News & analysis:
Tea party groups mobilizing against Common Core education overhaul
Tea party groups over the past few weeks have suddenly and successfully pressured Republican governors to reassess their support for a rare bipartisan initiative backed by President Obama to overhaul the nation’s public schools. (Washington Post)
A roadmap for education reform
Well-meaning education reformers are too often content to layer their new proposals atop outdated schools and systems. Unsurprisingly, school improvement efforts have repeatedly failed to deliver the results for which we hoped. Doing radically better will require state, civic, and system leaders to embrace a more coherent and comprehensive push to overhaul antiquated structures, regulations, policies, and practices. (American Enterprise Institute)
Understanding the Chiefs for Change on Common-Core Accountability “Hiatus”
On Tuesday, CCSSO waded into the Common Core “hiatus” discussion, issuing a thoughtful paper which argued that states should proceed with sensible flexibility and called on Secretary Duncan to exercise restraint when interpreting promises coerced by ED as a condition for ESEA waivers. The CCSSO rejected calls for an accountability “hiatus” but pointed to a need for states to have discretion in deciding when to start using tests for high-stakes teacher evaluation, how to make accountability determinations during the transition to Common Core, and whether to use their old tests or the new assessments in 2013-14. This was all a useful start towards a conversation that might help reduce the likelihood of a massive Common Core-inspired train wreck in 2014. (Education Week – Rick Hess Straight Up)
STEM Education Gets Lift From Helios Foundation, NASA Mini-Grants
The University of South Florida is creating a new program to prepare STEM teachers for middle schools in Hillsborough County, Fla., with support from a $3 million grant from the Helios Education Foundation announced this month. (Education Week – Curriculum Matters)
Arne Duncan Touts Advantages of Bilingualism
His comments aren’t likely to ignite a new battle in the bilingual education wars, but U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan over breakfast yesterday gave perhaps his clearest statements to date on the benefits of dual-language development and instruction, especially for students who are English-language learners. (Education Week – Learning the Language)
Pennsylvania:
Proposed school budget cut begin to hit home
Central High School teacher Jacquelyn Mancinelli said she and everyone she knew were in “a state of disbelief” when they learned about the school district’s proposed budget cuts. The school’s 27 athletic teams, many of them champions, gone. (Philly.com)