Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis
In 1972, researchers in North Carolina started following two groups of babies from poor families. In the first group, the children were given full-time day care up to age 5 that included most of their daily meals, talking, games and other stimulating activities. The other group, aside from baby formula, got nothing. The scientists were testing whether the special treatment would lead to better cognitive abilities in the long run. (New York Times)
When housing policies fail to break up concentrations of poverty in cities, some education researchers say school districts should take an active role in making sure their schools are economically diverse. (Education Week)
Race to the Top has been a hot topic this week, what with new reports on the program from the White House and the Center for American Progress, coming on the heels of the U.S. Department of Education’s latest progress reports on the program. (Education Week)
New York
A tentative budget agreement would guarantee space for charter schools that have been approved for co-locations and increase per-pupil funding for charters across the state, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told Capital on Thursday night. (Capital New York)
Pennsylvania
Unable to reach an agreement with the local teachers’ union on revisions to seniority policies, Philadelphia Superintendent William Hite said March 24 that he will institute new work rules that allow principals to take other factors into consideration when selecting and assigning teachers. (Education Week)