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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News & analysis:
University programs that train U.S. teachers get mediocre marks in first-ever ratings
The vast majority of the 1,430 education programs that prepare the nation’s K-12 teachers are mediocre, according to a first-ever ranking that immediately touched off a firestorm. (Washington Post)
Chicago’s Plans for ‘Safe Passage’ in Demand After School Closures
In preparation for the shutdown of nearly 50 elementary schools and a massive reassignment of students, Chicago education officials say they have already responded to more than 11,000 requests from parents seeking assistance in getting their children safely to their new schools next fall. (Education Week – District Dossier)
Minnesota:
MinnCan education advocacy group touts many ‘wins’ in legislative session
The education advocacy group MinnCan says the legislative session brought many wins in its quest for more school funding and education reform. (MinnPost)
New York:
Graduation Gains Begin Leveling Out
New York City’s high-school graduation rate dipped slightly in 2012 for the second consecutive year to 60.4% as it became tougher to qualify for a diploma, according to state data released Monday. (Wall Street Journal)
Pennsylvania:
Budget Cuts Reach Bone for Philadelphia Schools
When a second grader came to the Andrew Jackson School too agitated to eat breakfast on Friday, an aide alerted the school counselor, who engaged him in an art project in her office. When he was still overwrought at 11, a secretary called the boy’s family, and soon a monitor at the front door buzzed in an older brother to take him home. (New York Times)
View Point:
Education Reform Is Made of Teachers
I was really glad to see this Diane Ravitch post denouncing Teach for America as an institution that “began with a worthy goal” of getting “bright, idealistic college graduates to serve in poor children in urban and rural districts” but has now become “the Trojan horse of the privatization of public education” because lots of TFA alumni go on to do policy advocacy that disagrees with teachers’ union positions. I’m glad she wrote it, not because I agree but because it highlights the important point that in a lot of ways education reform (or “reform” if you prefer) is made of educators. (Slate)