August 20, 2014

Local News

The News Journal
Does your college-bound student need the ACT?
More Delaware students are taking the ACT college exam, but far fewer are taking it than elsewhere in the country, something many experts say needs to change. Michael Watson, Delaware’s chief academic officer, said Department of Education officials don’t want to stop students from taking the ACT. But he said he thinks the SAT is the best test for the state to be administering. “We feel that the investments we’ve made have given students a real suite of services for going into the colleges where they want to go,” he said.

National News

The State
SC senators mull teacher quality, retention
Recruiting and keeping quality teachers in South Carolina, and moving ineffective ones out of the classroom, will be the focus of a new Senate panel exploring the state of the S.C. teaching profession.

Radio Iowa
Harkin’s ‘to do’ list for remainder of senate term
Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin has a “wish list” of legislation he hopes to get through congress and to the president’s desk before he retires, including the “Strong Start for America’s Children Act.”

EducationNext
No common opinions on the Common Core
The share of the public that say it favors the Common Core State Standards slipped noticeably between 2013 and 2014, according to a new poll.

Education Week
Obama education policies add fuel to lawsuit bid
Waivers from NCLB mandates are among the items named by House Republicans in authorizing a suit against President Barack Obama over alleged executive overreach.

Connecticut Education Commissioner Pryor announces departure
Connecticut Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor will leave his position by January, Pryor and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Aug. 18. “Thanks to the great work of superintendents, principals, teachers, local boards, parents and advocates, we’ve laid the groundwork for Connecticut’s continuing success in providing a high-quality education to all of our young people—regardless of income or ZIP code,” Pryor said in a statement announcing his departure.

New York Times
Fight on Common Core is dividing Louisiana
A bitter fight over the future of academic standards in Louisiana has generated dueling lawsuits, a standoff between Gov. Bobby Jindal and the state superintendent of education he appointed, and a sense of chaos among educators and parents.