After Public, Teacher Input, New York to Revise Common Core Standards
(Photo: Eve Edelheit, Times) New York Education Department officials have made draft changes to improve Common Core academic standards with the pledge of better lessons that will also remain rigorous. The streamlining of the Common Core criteria will be executed beginning in the 2017-2018 school year after the Board of Regents approves them in 2017, writes […]
Indiana May Screen Teachers, Employees, More Stringently
(Photo: Flickr, Creative Commons) Indiana lawmakers are expected to review a requirement for state school employees to be given more frequent and thorough background checks. An investigation directed by the USA Today Network and the IndyStar found weaknesses in the state’s system of screening applicants. A legislative panel approved recommendations this week that were targeted […]
New Jersey Lawmakers Reconsider Testing’s Role on Evaluations
(Photo: Flickr, Creative Commons) The New Jersey Assembly Education Committee approved a bill this week that would remove student standardized test results from having any bearing on how teachers and administrators are evaluated. Susan Livio, writing for Advance Digital-New Jersey, said the continued overemphasis on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career […]
1 in 5 High Schoolers Ride in Cars Driven by Drinkers
(Photo: Pixabay, Creative Commons) In a recently released study performed by Project Know, researchers found that a large number of families in the United States are negatively affected each year as a result of underage drinking, as more than 4,000 youth under the age of 21 die from alcohol consumption. The report, “High School Alcohol Use […]
Last Year Safest Ever for Schools, Says NYC Police Commissioner
(Photo: Lucas Jackson, Reuters) New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton appeared with Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña to announce that the 2015-2016 school year was the safest ever recorded for NYC public schools. Bratton’s last day as commissioner was Friday. This declaration was a way to draw attention to the Education Department’s attempt to […]
$100 Million Awarded to Ten ‘Super Schools’
(Photo: Flickr, Creative Commons) The XQ Institute – and organization backed by Steve Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell Jobs – has recently announced the winners of a competition it set up aimed at reimagining the American high school. The ten winners of the competition will each receive $ 10 million in funding. As reported by the […]
Christie Pushes to Re-write New Jersey Education Funding Formula
(Photo: Wikimedia, Creative Commons) New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s administration is arguing in court that the state needs the ability to overrule teacher contracts, rather than receiving additional funding, in order to improve struggling school districts. The governor is asking the Supreme Court to give the state the authority to override teacher contract rules in a total […]
High School Athletes Protest National Anthem
(Photo: Wikimedia, Creative Commons) High school football players across the country are following San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s lead in his protest of social injustices by kneeling during the national anthem at their own games. The action has resulted in players in many states, including Alabama, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, being suspended while others […]
Obama Administration Touts Early Childhood Ed Expansion
(Photo: Pixabay, Creative Commons) Today, hundreds of thousands more US children have access to high-quality early learning programs than when the Obama administration began. It was 2013 when President Obama announced his Preschool for All proposal that would establish a state-federal coalition to provide quality preschool for every four-year-old from low- and moderate-income households. After the initiative […]
Parents Following Outdated Concussion Advice, Survey Shows
(Photo: Getty Images) A new survey has found that parents may be following outdated concussion advice — and causing more harm than good. A survey from the University of California has found that parents are waking their children up every few hours and restricting their activities too much, which could cause more damage. UCLA Newsroom […]