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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis
Most people, asked whether parental involvement benefits children academically, would say, “of course it does.” But evidence from our research suggests otherwise. In fact, most forms of parental involvement, like observing a child’s class, contacting a school about a child’s behavior, helping to decide a child’s high school courses, or helping a child with homework, do not improve student achievement. In some cases, they actually hinder it. (New York Times)
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is all but certain to resist pressure to veto a proposal that would end tenure for public school teachers, approved by the Legislature as part of a court-mandated education funding plan. (Washington Times)
Abraham Flexner transformed American medical training with his 1910 report, “Medical Education in the United States and Canada.” His chief recommendations—higher admission standards, two years of laboratory training, two years of clinical training in a hospital setting—left an imprint which is still visible a century later. (Education Next)
My colleague Harry Enten wrote Thursday about Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, and his prospects of winning the Republican nomination in 2016. Harry reviewed the political science research and concluded that, in a wide-open GOP field, Bush’s chances are about as good as any other Republican’s. (Five Thirty Eight)
Pennsylvania
Two local education-reform organizations have filed papers asking the state Supreme Court to act quickly on the School Reform Commission’s request to affirm it has broad powers to impose work-rule changes.
(Philly.com)