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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis
It’s an article of faith in the school reform community that we should be striving to prepare all students for success in college—if not a four-year degree, then some other recognized and reputable post-secondary credential. The rationale is clear and generally compelling; as a recent Pew study reiterated, people who graduate from college earn significantly more than those who do not. Other research indicates that low-income students in particular benefit from college, becoming nearly three times more likely to make it into the middle class than their peers who earn some (or no) college credits. And it’s not just about money: College graduates are also healthier, more involved in their communities, and happier in their jobs. (Slate)
The debate over the Common Core State Standards Initiative has rocketed to the forefront of education policy discussions around the country. More than 3,000 stories were written about the common core in August of 2013 alone, with another 3,000-plus in September. While gallons of ink have been spilled trying to make sense of it all, there remains much confusion about where this reform is headed. Despite some potential benefits from the common core standards, to be successful the policy must navigate a field of mines, any one of which could blow the enterprise sky-high. (Education Next)
Annual progress reports released Wednesday from the U.S. Department of Education showcase just how far the 12 state-level Race to the Top grant winners have come as they seek to deliver on the promises that won them, collectively, $4 billion in the Obama administration’s signature education-improvement program. (Education Week)
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and two top Tennessee Republicans are meeting at an upscale Nashville hotel Wednesday to discuss education policies that have caused divisions within the GOP around the country — including within the Tennessee General Assembly located across the street. (Huffington Post)
New Jersey
For much of the last four years under Gov. Chris Christie, arguments have raged over how much the state’s school-finance formula, which determines how much money local districts receive from Trenton, has been funded – or underfunded – by the governor. (NJ Spotlight)