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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis:
Q&A: Federal K-12 Policy Chief Shares Outlook
Last April—less than seven months before President Barack Obama’s re-election—former Ohio schools chief Deborah S. Delisle was confirmed as the top point person on K-12 policy within the U.S. Department of Education. As the assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, Ms. Delisle is in charge of about 60 programs—including Title I, the precollegiate flagship focused on disadvantaged students—and more than $20 billion in federal grants. Perhaps her most important task is overseeing the implementation of waivers under the No Child Left Behind Act , the current version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. (Education Week)
STEM Research Initiative Brings Together U.S., Finland
Researchers in the United States and Finland are teaming up on a set of projects aimed at improving STEM education at the K-12 and college levels. The partnership, announced this week by the National Science Foundation, seeks to explore and develop some of the best ideas from researchers in both countries, according to an NSF press release. (Education Week – Curriculum Matters)
CPS cracks down on underperforming charters
The Chicago Public Schools board indicated it plans to place more scrutiny on the academic and financial performance of charter schools, approving plans Wednesday to gradually close two charters and warning six others that they’ll have to shape up or face the same fate. (Chicago Tribune)
New Jersey:
Charter schools in Jersey City, Atlantic City and Hammonton set to close
The state Department of Education will close charter schools in Jersey City, Atlantic City and Hammonton at the end of the academic year because of low test scores and problems with the schools’ leadership, state education officials said tonight. (NJ.com)
New York:
New State Academic Standards Are Said to Require $56 Million Outlay for City’s Schools
It will cost about $56 million to buy new textbooks and other materials to help New York City public school students meet rigorous academic standards adopted by most states, city officials announced at a news conference on Thursday. (New York Times)
View Point:
Walt Gardner: Funding Schools Based on Need
Do school districts serving the neediest students deserve extra dollars? The answer seems so apparent. But in fact there is great disagreement, even though about 20 states presently provide additional funding accordingly. (Education Week – Walt Gardner’s Reality Check)