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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News & analysis:
NCLB Waiver States Split on New Flexibility Offer
States with waivers from provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act are almost evenly divided on whether they will take U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan up on his offer of extra time to begin using new teacher-evaluation systems to decide which educators to hire, fire, or promote. (Education Week)
What to Watch in House No Child Left Behind Renewal Debate
The House of Representatives is slated to consider a Republican bill to renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act very soon. At the moment, it appears likely to go to the House floor next Thursday or Friday, but things can change very, very quickly on Capitol Hill when it comes to scheduling, so don’t bet the bank (or maybe even your Metro fare) on that timeline. (Education Week – Politics K-12)
Joanne Weiss Leaving as Arne Duncan’s Chief of Staff July 19
In an email to colleagues today, Joanne Weiss, the chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, announced she’s officially passing the baton to Emma Vadehra, a former education department staffer who spent the last two years at Uncommon Schools. (Education Week – Politics K-12)
Minnesota:
Minnesota school finance issues persist
It’s a legitimate question for many Minnesota taxpayers: If the 2013 Legislature did so much to boost education funding, why are many local districts still seeking more through ballot referendums this fall? (Star Tribune)
View Point:
From Health-Care Reform, Lessons for Education Policy
One of the most important factors that broke decades of political stalemate over national health-insurance reform was the emergence of research demonstrating that some U.S. medical providers were far more cost-effective than others. By showing that institutions like Kaiser Permanente, the Cleveland Clinic, and the U.S. Veterans Health Administration produced better patient outcomes, those studies suggested that policies which encourage other medical providers to emulate successful organizations could make the whole system produce better results over time. (Education Week)