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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis:
President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address on Jan. 28, but, for my money, his secretary of education, Arne Duncan, already gave it. Just not enough people heard it. (New York Times)
More than a year after the U.S. Department of Education awarded the first No Child Left Behind Act waivers, some states are struggling to intervene in schools with the biggest achievement gaps and ensure that the worst schools implement the right improvement strategies. (Education Week)
As you probably know by now, Congress agreed to halt sequestration—across-the-board cuts of about 5 percent to nearly all programs—as part of a fiscal 2014 budget deal completed this week (and now awaiting President Obama’s signature). With that in mind, which of the federal teacher-quality programs look to get some of their mojo back? (Education Week)
Maryland
Montgomery County education leaders support expanding access to early childhood education, a push Gov. Martin O’Malley is making in his last term. (The Gazette)
New Jersey
After a bumpy start to the political year, everyone is wondering what will come of Gov. Chris Christie’s ambitions for himself and for the state. Where exactly will the governor use the political capital from his landslide victory in November? (Courier-Post)
Pennsylvania
In a desperately poor, dangerous part of town, Memphis Street Academy decided to ditch its metal detectors and focus on supporting students. Violence dropped by 90 percent. (The Atlantic)