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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News & analysis:
When Bad Things Happen to Good NAEP Data
The National Assessment of Educational Progress is widely viewed as the most accurate and reliable yardstick of U.S. students’ academic knowledge. (Education Week)
Survey Finds State Officials Confident in Common Core
A new survey of high-ranking state education officials finds that most see little chance the Common Core State Standards will be “reversed, limited or changed in some way” in their states during the 2013-14 school year, and downplays the threat posed by state-level opposition to the common standards. (Education Week – State Ed Watch)
That’s how the consortia crumble
Yesterday, PARCC released the cost of its tests—and right on cue, another state, Georgia, dropped out of the testing consortia. This is a disaster. At this point, I won’t be surprised if we end up with 20 or more different testing systems in 2014–15. So much for commonness, so much for comparability. Rigor and alignment with tough standards are likely the next to fall. (Education Excellence – Flypaper)
AFT Analysis: K-12 Testing Is Pervasive, Costly
Tests and test preparation cost hundreds of dollars and weeks of instructional time in America’s classrooms—the equivalent of an entire class period a day in one test-heavy district, contends a report released today by the American Federation of Teachers. (Education Week – Teacher Beat)
North Carolina:
State education budget gets glum reception from CMS leaders, public-school advocates
The state education budget, expected to get final approval on Wednesday, got a glum reception from leaders of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and other public-school advocates. (Charlotte Observer)
Pennsylvania:
RST: School Choice & Charter Funding
The number of charter schools in Pennsylvania is growing rapidly, with 173 brick-and-mortar schools and 16 cyber schools. Together they educate some 105,000 students. Parents have more choices than ever before about where to send their kids. Public or private? Charter or cyber charter? (WITF)