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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News & analysis:
Georgia decides against offering ‘Common Core’ standardized test
Georgia leaders announced today that the state will not offer a new and expensive standardized test tied to the controversial set of national standards called Common Core. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Jeb Bush: Not whether to test our children, but how
The hardest lesson to learn about education reform is that it never gets any easier. We have made remarkable progress in improving public education in Florida. Yet we haven’t made nearly enough progress. (Tampa Bay Times)
In Denver, Duncan promotes preschool expansion and K-12 tax measure
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Friday asked Colorado voters to support President Barack Obama’s attempt to expand access to early-childhood education and endorsed efforts here to pass a $950 million tax increase to overhaul the state’s school financing system. (EdNews Colorado)
Texas Seeks Waiver from Feds on Test Exemptions
On the heels of a significant reduction in the number of required end-of-course testsin Texas high schools, Lone Star State education officials are awaiting word from the U.S. Department of Education on their plan to reduce the number of tests high-performing elementary and middle school students must take. (Education Week – State Ed Watch)
AP Scores Invalidated After Testing Irregularies
The College Board and Education Testing Services have invalidated the Advanced Placement exams of about 250 students who took the exams in May at Mills High School in Millbrae, Calif., after discovering irregularities in the administration of the test. (Education Week – College Bound)
Minnesota:
Minnesota’s preschool funding praised by U.S. education chief
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited a Bloomington preschool Monday to praise Minnesota’s newest funding increase for early education and to drum up support for President Barack Obama’s “Preschool for All” initiative. (Twin Cities.com)