posted on
Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis:
Grants Back Public-Charter Cooperation
In an effort to encourage collaboration between charter schools and traditional neighborhood schools, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $25 million in grants to seven cities. (New York Times)
Judge Deals a Setback to Louisiana’s Voucher Program
Last January, Gov. Bobby Jindal took the oath of office for his second term, declaring in his inauguration speech that anyone who stood in the way of his education reform efforts “must stand down.” On Friday, a judge in Baton Rouge said, in effect: not so fast. (New York Times)
Los Angeles Unified School District, Teachers Union Reach ‘Historic’ Tentative Agreement To Incorporate Student Test Scores In Teacher Evaluations
The Los Angeles Unified School District and its teachers union have reached what is being called a “historic” tentative agreement to incorporate student test scores into teacher evaluations for the first time ever, joining Chicago and a growing number of other cities. (Huffington Post)
Fiscal Cliff: How Would Federal Spending Cuts Affect Your District?
If lawmakers don’t act to head off a series of automatic spending cuts, states and districts around the country will feel a squeeze—but some may be more heavily impacted than others, according to an analysis released today by the American Association of School Administrators. (Education Week – Politics K-12)
View Point:
Jay Matthews: Is big disruption good for urban school districts?
My colleague Emma Brown has been looking closely at Chancellor Kaya Henderson’s plans to close one of every six traditional D.C. public schools. In one piece, she cited activists who raised the possibility that the education system of our nation’s capital might, as a consequence of the downsizing, be split in two: Charter schools would rule the low-income neighborhoods, while regular public schools would thrive only in the affluent areas where achievement rates remain high. (Washington Post)
Rick Dalton: Common-Core Momentum Is Still in Jeopardy
The re-election of President Barack Obama has many proponents of standards-based education reform feeling a strong sense of relief. The president has been a long-term advocate for the national adoption of the Common Core State Standards, which bring continuity to what’s taught in every classroom and expected of students nationwide. Developed by a diverse group of stakeholders in order to level the academic playing field, the standards are particularly important to students from low-income families who will now be expected to meet the same academic goals as their more affluent peers. But those of us who support the idea of standards shouldn’t rest now. It is my belief that the vision of national learning standards is in jeopardy. (Washington Post)