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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis:
Is Sequestration the New Normal for Federal K-12 Aid?
So now that the sequester has happened, is Congress doing anything to reverse the cuts? So far, it’s not looking great. First off, on Monday Republicans on the committee that controls spending legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives released their version of a giant spending bill to keep the U.S. government—including the U.S. Department of Education—in business for the rest of the current fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30. (Education Week – Politics K-12)
NCLB Waiver States Want Reauthorization, Sort Of
A new report out today by the Center on Education Policy shows that while states are eager for a congressional rewrite of the No Child Left Behind Act, they are very apprehensive about what it would mean for the accountability redesigns that they’ve put in place to get a federal waiver under the law. (Education Week – Politics K-12)
Education secretary says comments about teachers losing jobs inaccurate
Education Secretary Arne Duncan said on Monday he had made inaccurate comments about teachers losing their jobs due to mandatory budget cuts and that he had been trying to point out the dire effects spending reductions would have on schools. (Reuters)
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s teacher tenure and evaluation reforms ruled unconstitutional
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s education overhaul dealing with teacher tenure and evaluations was ruled unconstitutional Monday by a Baton Rouge judge. The judge had previously upheld three sections of the act, but reversed his ruling after agreeing to review the case at the request of both sides. (Times-Picayune)
New Jersey:
Special education expansion brings challenges, hope to Newark school
Four boys and four girls sit quietly along a cafeteria bench, focused on their trays of lunch: turkey with gravy and sweet potatoes, and cartons of 1 percent milk. They are 10 and 11 years old, but one still needs a reminder to use a fork or spoon rather than his fingers with the gravy. Around them, other children glide in and out of their seats, giggling, playing hand-clapping games and otherwise socializing. Occasionally, accidentally, someone running through the aisle bumps one of the eight pupils from behind. (Hechinger Report)
New York:
City Defends Gifted Policy
Disproportionately low enrollment of black and Hispanic students in New York City’s public gifted-and-talented programs “is what it is,” schools Chancellor Dennis Walcottsaid Monday, adding that the Department of Education has no plans to radically change admissions policies. (Wall Street Journal)