First Bell 6-12-13

yes Pamela Tatz / June 12, 2013

A first look at the most important education news from this weekend and today:

On Tuesday, the Kansas state board of education joined those of Rhode Island and Kentucky in adopting the Next Generation Science Standards (though Kentucky’s adoption remains conditional upon a regulatory process to come). (Associated Press and Curriculum Matters)

Governor Perry signed a bill that reduces the number of state tests students are required to take prior to graduation from fifteen to five. (Education Gadfly Weekly, Curriculum Matters, and Huffington Post)

Starting next month, a Colorado school district will try out a controversial new teacher-pay system: Different categories of teachers—based on the subject and grade level taught—will be on different pay scales. (Reuters)

A Los Angeles Times op-ed contemplates why, even as American women make educational gains, American men are falling behind, dragging U.S. educational competitiveness down with them—and how to fix the problem.

The Hechinger Report profiles the New Haven teacher

» Continued

First Bell 6-12-13

First Bell 6-10-13

yes Pamela Tatz / June 10, 2013

A first look at the most important education news from this weekend and today:

After two decades out of favor, ability grouping is re-entering elementary school classrooms, according to a NAEP analysis. (New York Times)

As federal lawmakers consider NCLB-reauthorization proposals, computer-adaptive testing is gaining popularity. (Politics K-12 and Digital Education)

The New York Times profiles special-education students’ use of camera-and-Internet-enabled robots to enable them to attend class virtually.

Segun Eubanks, the NEA’s director of teacher quality, will be Prince George’s County public schools’ new school-board chairman. (Teacher Beat)

The New York Post noted that schools that graded their own 2012 Regents test results scored higher than schools whose tests were graded outside the school. (New York Post and Wall Street Journal)

In the wake of several critical reports, the pressure is on teacher-preparation programs. (Hechinger Report)

On Saturday, teachers and their supporters attended a union-organized rally in Albany against

» Continued

First Bell 6-10-13

First Bell 6-5-13

yes Pamela Tatz / June 5, 2013

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

Senate Democrats have unveiled an NCLB-reauthorization bill. (Politics K-12 and New York Times)

Early this morning, lawmakers on Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee approved a deal that would cut income taxes, expand private school vouchers statewide, and increase public school funding; the plan will reach the Assembly for debate in two weeks. (Associated Press)

The always-colorful OSU president E. Gordon Lee made one too many off-color jokes; yesterday, he announced that he would retire on July 1. (New York Times, NPR, and Washington Post)

A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California finds that on average, the economic returns to obtaining a bachelor’s degree are worth the loan debts. (Los Angeles Times)

A New America Foundation report calls for more federal dollars and teacher education devoted to using student data. (Education By The Numbers)

D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson is “not convinced” that Tuesday’s seven-part education-reform package will be good for the District’s kids. (Washington Post)

The Hechinger Report argues that we’re not doing enough to improve parental engagement,

» Continued

First Bell 6-5-13

First Bell 6-4-13

yes Pamela Tatz / June 4, 2013

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

A forty-year-old California law, signed by then-Governor Ronald Regan, requires student achievement to be included in teacher evaluations. (Center for Investigative Reporting)

D.C. councilmember David Catania announced a package of seven bills that could reform the District’s public education system dramatically. (Washington Post)

The New York Daily News reports that only a quarter of students in New York City’s top technology programs are girls.

In the face of Common Core standards, open-education resources, and the slow switch to digital platforms, education publishers are struggling to adapt. (Marketplace K–12)

Charles Rinehimer duly praises the engaged, motivated students who keep him inspired and give him the strength to handle tougher cases. (NPR)  

The fragility of NYC’s new teacher-evaluation system became evident when a main mayoral candidate called the plan “unworkable in its complexity and bureaucracy.” (Wall Street Journal)

» Continued

First Bell 6-4-13