posted on
Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News & analysis:
Recognizing Progress in Implementing the Common Core State Standards
The Common Core State Standards represent remarkable consensus among state leaders and the professional education community. Stakeholders from K-12 schools and districts, state education departments, institutions of higher education and other entities have come together as individuals and teams, at the state level and national level, to ensure a comprehensive approach to positively impacting student learning. K-12 teachers, school officials and students are absolutely essential to successful implementation of the Common Core standards. Institutions of higher education — particularly the schools and colleges of education within them that prepare the K-12 educators who will later teach to the standards — are just as critical. (Education Week – Transforming Learning)
Parents could seek charters at 35 Mississippi schools
Maybe you saw it on the big screen in “Won’t Back Down.” Parent takeovers of failing public schools could be coming to Mississippi. According to the Mississippi Department of Education, 35 schools are eligible for the first time to be converted to charter schools. A majority of parents must sign a petition seeking conversion. (DJ Journal)
WA charter advocates raise nearly $5M in 6 weeks
The campaign to bring charter schools to Washington raised nearly $5 million in cash contributions during the past six weeks. According to filings posted with the Public Disclosure Commission on Tuesday, those donations to Yes on 1240 includes another $2 million from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates but do not include a pledge of $1.5 million from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. (Times Union)
New Jersey:
Newark Public Schools, Teachers Union Reach Tentative Deal That Includes Teacher Bonuses Tied To Classroom Performance
Newark Public Schools and the Newark Teachers Union have reached a tentative deal that includes a universal salary scale linking teacher bonuses to classroom performance — making the district the first in New Jersey to implement a merit-pay program. (Huffington Post)
New York:
New York City: Winning the Sprint, Losing the Marathon?
Some large urban school districts receive millions of dollars in foundation grants, while others get none. In my book, Follow the Money, I show that the districts receiving the most funding had mayoral or state control, instead of an elected school board. In 2005, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Oakland, and Boston got the most grant dollars (all districts with mayoral or state control at the time, except for LA). More recently, districts like Washington, DC and New Orleans have come under mayoral or state control and received large infusions of philanthropic dollars. (Education Week – Rick Hess Straight Up)
New York Common Core State Standards Implementation Requires Additional Funding, Deputy Chancellor Shael Polakow-Suransky Says
As New York City works to integrate the Common Core State Standards, Department of Education Deputy Chancellor Shael Polakow-Suransky says both the city and other school districtsrequire additional funding if they are to successfully implement the sweeping new guidelines. (Huffington Post)