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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis
National
What Are the Long-Term Academic Goals in States’ ESSA Plans?
We’re not in NCLB land any more, Toto. Under the Every Student Succeeds Act—which replaced the previous version of the nation’s main K-12 law—states have a lot of leeway in deciding what their long-term academic goals will be. That means that, unlike with the No Child Left Behind Act, there’s no requirement that all states ensure that 100 percent of students are proficient on state English/language arts and math exams by a certain school year. In the ESSA plans submitted to the U.S. Department of Education that we’ve seen so far, states have laid out a variety of long-term as well as interim goals, and a vastly different set of timelines with key dates ranging from next year all the way to 2039. (Education Week)
How Did Chronic Absenteeism Become a Thing?
If you look at the accountability systems states are developing to meet federal requirements, you’ll see a growing number are using chronic absenteeism as a metric. Education Week calls it “super popular.” It makes sense. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to have a non-academic measure, and absenteeism is an easy one to use. Every school collects attendance data, and teachers have been taking the roll since the one-room schoolhouse. (Future Ed)
State
New Jersey
As Christie’s exit looms, 16 new charter schools want to open
In what could be the final opportunity to win approval from the Christie administration, 16 new charters schools are trying to open in New Jersey. The proposals come predominantly from North Jersey but also include plans for schools in Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean counties. The state must decide by July if it wants to approve any of the schools. (NJ.com)
New Mexico
Report shows how charter schools stack up against public schools
New findings show that the top public schools in New Mexico for 2016 are charter schools found right here in Albuquerque.
Based on the findings, Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School and the Albuquerque Institute of Math and Science come in at number one and number two on the list, while La Cueva High School comes in at number six for Albuquerque Public Schools. U.S News and World report used criteria like standardized test scores, graduation rate, and how the school prepares students for college. In total, three charter schools cracked the top 15. (KRQE News 13)
Pennsylvania
Bill takes aim at conflicts of interest in charter school leases
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Democratic Education Committee Chair plans to introduce a bill that would end conflicts of interest in tax-funded payments for charter school leases. Rep. James Roebuck (D-Phila.) said charter and public schools should be treated equally, since both receive tax dollars and are considered public schools under Pennsylvania law. (The Philadelphia Tribune)
Washington D.C.
D.C.’s Education Leaders Put Aside Differences to Improve Schools
Last week, Washington D.C. education officials voted 6-3 to approve the District’s plan to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act, the new federal legislation governing American education. For observers of political fights who are accustomed to seeing the “losing” side dig in their heels, what happened following the vote would appear unexpected. Instead of resistance, those who had opposed the plan came together and pledged to work for the schools’ and students’ success. (Real Clear Education)