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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis
National
Intense competition for teachers inspires urban schools to train their own
At the beginning of the D.C. public charter school surge two decades ago, the KIPP schools — because of their significant achievement gains — got the most attention and found many good teachers eager to be hired. But as the number of charters grew, it became more difficult for KIPP DC Executive Director Susan Schaeffler to find the people she wanted. (The Washington Post)
A New Era for School Accountability
The U.S. Senate, by a 50 to 49 vote yesterday, all but sounded the death knell for Obama administration regulations governing how states must carry out school-accountability requirements under federal law. President Donald Trump said he will sign the measure, which was backed by all but one Senate Republican (and earlier won approval in the House). So, what exactly does this mean for states and schools, and what happens now? (The Atlantic)
Regents to end teacher literacy test
New York education officials are poised to scrap a test designed to measure the reading and writing skills of people trying to become teachers, in part because an outsized percentage of black and Hispanic candidates were failing it. The state Board of Regents on Monday is expected to adopt a task force’s recommendation of eliminating the literacy exam, known as the Academic Literacy Skills Test. (Times Union)
DeVos Pitches New ESSA Flexibility to Big-City Schools Leaders, Gets Tepid Response
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in a speech Monday touted new, looser rules for state implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act in a speech that received a lukewarm reception from leaders of the country’s largest city school districts. The new rules, which lay out how states should rate schools and improve those that aren’t performing well, implement ESSA as Congress intended, with the flexibility state and local leaders need and deserve, DeVos said. (The 74)
Girls draw even with boys in high school STEM classes, but still lag in college and careers
High school engineering classrooms look a lot different than they did a few decades ago, and it’s not just because of computers. Those classes now have girls. Lots of girls. Thanks to long-standing efforts by teachers, administrators and nonprofits, girls now make up about half the enrollment in high-school science and math classes. They are scoring almost identically to their male classmates on standardized tests, according to data compiled by the National Girls Collaborative Project, a nonprofit funded in part by the National Science Foundation that aims to increase girls’ participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). (EdSource)
State
Tennessee
Trump to talk health care, school choice at Nashville rally
President Donald Trump is expected to focus his Nashville speech Wednesday on repealing Obamacare and on school choice, multiple sources confirmed to The Tennessean. Trump timed his Wednesday campaign-style rally at Municipal Auditorium to coincide with the 250th birthday of Andrew Jackson, which is one reason why he’s visiting Nashville. As part of his visit, Trump plans to visit The Hermitage and lay a wreath at Jackson’s tomb, the White House confirmed Monday. (The Tennessean)