posted on
Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis
National
DeVos Returns to the Senate: 6 Education Issues She’s Sure to Face During Tuesday’s Testimony
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will go before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday to explain and defend the Trump administration’s budget proposal, in particular its calls for increased spending on federal school choice programs. It’s sure to be a bit of déjà vu, of both her pre–Memorial Day fight with Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee and her combative January confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. (The 74)
The Silicon Valley Billionaires Remaking America’s Schools
In San Francisco’s public schools, Marc Benioff, the chief executive of Salesforce, is giving middle school principals $100,000 “innovation grants” and encouraging them to behave more like start-up founders and less like bureaucrats. In Maryland, Texas, Virginia and other states, Netflix’s chief, Reed Hastings, is championing a popular math-teaching program where Netflix-like algorithms determine which lessons students see. (The New York Times)
The International-School Surge
After losing two jobs in the Denver area due to budget cuts, the school librarian Jennifer Alevy found a new direction for her education career in 2011: an international school in Kathmandu, Nepal. The origins of today’s international schools can be traced to 1924, but they’ve grown exponentially in the past 20 years. Originally created to ensure that expatriates and diplomats could get a “western” education for their children while working in far-flung countries, international schools have found a new purpose: educating the children of wealthy locals so those kids can compete for spots in western colleges—and, eventually, positions at multinational companies. (The Atlantic)
State
Georgia
Big bump needed in Georgia’s contribution to secure teacher pensions
Georgia lawmakers raised the alarm earlier this year when they had to provide an extra $223 million to ensure the financial security of the state’s massive teacher pension system. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned that next year the government may have to put in almost twice that amount, eating up much of the new revenue the state expects to take in to pay for increased public health care and education costs, and possibly teacher pay raises. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
New York
LOVETT: De Blasio accuses Senate GOP of ‘politics at its worst’ in squabble over mayoral control of schools
ALBANY — The de Blasio administration is accusing state Senate Republicans of engaging in “politics at its absolute worst” when it comes to an expiring law giving the mayor control over the city schools. The law is set to expire later this month and Team de Blasio is accusing the Senate GOP of once again putting the mayor through the wringer with repeated requests for information they say has already been provided. (NY Daily News)
North Carolina
Former Conservative Superintendent Talks Putting Charter Schools Out of Business
Although Anthony Tata has many impressive titles such as Author, Former General and Former Superintendent, he said being a Superintendent has been his favorite. Anthony joined Carrie Sheffield and Clay Aiken on Bold TV this morning to discuss public education and his new book in our Bookstr segment. Coincidentally, Anthony and Clay share a common interest because Anthony was the superintendent of Clay’s former school district in North Carolina. Anthony said, “I love charter schools but my job as superintendent of the public school system is to put every charter school system out of business — because there is no better option for parents than our public schools.” (BOLD)
Washington D.C.
Can a Pre-K Boom in D.C. Help to End School Segregation?
WASHINGTON — Each morning at Van Ness Elementary School, the staff takes turns welcoming children just inside the front doors. “Do you want a greeting?” asks Cynthia Robinson-Rivers, the head of school. Children point to images and buttons on her apron to choose a hug, handshake, or a smile. “A high-five?” she asks one child, who leaps to slap her outstretched hand. (Washington Monthly)