posted on
Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis:
U.S. Dept. of Ed. Says Fewer Students Dropping Out of High School
It came as welcomed news when the latest U.S Department of Education report stated that fewer students dropped out of school in the 2009-2010 school year. According toLos Angeles Times reporter Michael Muskal, “The percentage of U.S. students graduating from high school within four years rose to its highest level in decades in 2010, while the rate of those who dropped out fell to one of its lowest in years.” (Education Week – Finding Common Ground)
College Dropout Crisis Revealed In ‘American Dream 2.0’ Report
An influential group of college presidents, civil rights leaders and advocates sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is highlighting what it calls a growing higher education dropout crisis and seeks to fix it in part by linking financial aid with successful graduation. (Huffington Post)
New Jersey:
Christie Gets Tougher With Charter School Teachers
Soon after proposing that certification rules for new charter school teachers should be eased, the Christie administration is moving to toughen what it takes those teachers to get and keep tenure. (South Brunswick Patch)
Two Camden charters lose tax-exempt status
After more than three years of failing to file required IRS forms, two Camden charter schools have lost their tax-exempt status, a requirement to be granted a New Jersey charter. (Philly.com)
New York:
Pre-K, teacher quality top education agenda in Cuomo’s budget
Last year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo used his budget address to issue a teacher evaluations ultimatum heard around the state. This year, Cuomo took that ultimatum and raised it, telling districts that he would again tie their increases in school aid to having new teacher evaluation systems on the books but that he would also reward some of their highest-rated teachers. (Gotham Schools)
Pennsylvania:
No cyber charter school in Pennsylvania made Adequate Yearly Progress
Recalculated figures for attaining Adequate Yearly Progress on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams for 2012 released by the state Department of Education show that the number of charter schools hitting the targets for AYP dropped from 77 to 43. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)