First Bell 2-13-13

yes Pamela Tatz / February 13, 2013

A first look at today's most important education news:

In last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama proposed a number of significant education initiatives—including a major expansion of pre-Kindergarten opportunities—on a budget. (Answer Sheet, Politics K–12, Hechinger Report, Huffington Post, and Wall Street Journal)

Michigan’s leaders consider an expansion of the Education Achievement Authority, a statewide district with a less structured curriculum and nonunion workforce that takes control over low-performing schools. (Wall Street Journal)

Mayor Gray attacked a proposed D.C. council bill that would require “prosecuting parents of chronically truant children,” arguing that it would be expensive, unnecessary, and a legislative overreach. (Washington Post)

Curriculum Matters contacted chemistry, physics, and biology groups for their feedback on the second draft of the Next Generation Science Standards; some of their criticism reflects our own.

New research finds that children who enter Kindergarten with a small vocabulary are never taught enough words—specifically, academic words—to close the gap. Curriculum Matters thinks about how this relates to the Common Core. (Education Week and Curriculum Matters)

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