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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News & analysis:
In Raising Scores, 1 2 3 Is Easier Than A B C
David Javsicas, a popular seventh-grade reading teacher known for urging students to act out dialogue in the books they read in class, sometimes feels wistful for the days when he taught math. (New York Times)
Chicago School Closing Lawsuit: Teachers Union, Parents File Third Suit Against Closures
The Chicago Teachers Union has filed a third lawsuit against the mass public school closings approved last week by the city’s Board of Education. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday morning on behalf of parents and students at impacted schools, is specifically aimed at halting the closure of 10 elementary schools the Chicago Board of Education moved to close despite the previous finding by Chicago Public Schools’ independent hearing officers — all former judges — that they did not meet the board’s guidelines for shutdown, WBEZ reports. (Huffington Post)
Coursera partners with 10 universities for online classes
Online learning startup Coursera has formed partnerships with 10 public universities and university systems to develop courses that can be taken for credit either online or in a blended classroom-online environment. (CNET)
Jeb Bush Talks Education At Mackinac, Pushes Michigan’s Questionable Charter School Sector
Jeb Bush praised charter schools and slammed traditional public schools and teachers unions in a speech here Wednesday, saying that public education “dumbs down standards to make adults look better,” a phrase often used by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. (Huffington Post)
Minnesota:
Minnesota Department of Education hindered scholarships
The two of us are known as legislators unafraid to take clear positions on hot-button issues. Usually we find ourselves on opposite sides of the debate. Today, we write in joint support of early childhood education scholarships. More important, we write to suggest improvements to the recently expanded program. (Star Tribune)
New York:
As evaluations process kicks into final stages, King gets advice
State and local education officials are preparing to work through the weekend on a teacher evaluation system that will be imposed on New York City, an outcome that resulted from years of failed labor talks between the city and its teachers union. (Gotham Schools)