July 3, 2013

Local News

The News Journal
New report examines state education policies
The National Center for Education Statistics recently released a new report that is a must-read for anyone interested in policy. The report lists policies in each state for the following: accountability, assessments and standards, staff qualifications and development, state support for school choice and other options, and student readiness and progress through school.

Delaware Department of Education
Delaware high school students win big at national Skills USA conference
Delaware students brought home 14 medals from the recent SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference. About 100 students from six technical high schools attended the conference in Kansas City, Mo.

National News

Los Angeles Times
Jerry Brown signs school funding overhaul
Gov. Jerry Brown ushered in the most sweeping changes to the way California funds its schools in 25 years, signing into law a new funding formula that was the centerpiece of his legislative agenda. Schools that serve low-income students and non-native English speakers will receive more money under the formula, while all districts will be given new flexibility in how they spend state funds.

Stateline.org
Parents revolt against failing schools
Versions of parent trigger laws have been proposed in at least 25 states and adopted by seven, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. But parent triggers have been attempted only a handful of times. This year, bills to either create new parent trigger laws or modify existing ones are still alive in about a dozen states, while about a half dozen states have rejected such legislation.

Inside Higher Ed
A statement for diversity
In response to the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, 37 college associations issued a joint statement in The New York Times on the importance of diversity in higher education. The advertisement noted that the justices did not revere past decisions upholding the right of colleges to consider race or ethnicity in admissions, but it did not mention that the ruling could pose difficulties for colleges wanting to do so.

The Washington Post
Gray officials object to major elements of Catania’s education plan
Gray administration officials said Tuesday that while they broadly agree with some provisions in D.C. Council member David Catania’s education proposals that aim to improve student achievement across the city, they object to major elements of the legislation. Some of the most intense pushback, aired at the first of five public hearings on the proposals, came in response to Catania’s plan to create a local accountability system that could lead to traditional schools closing or transforming into charter-like “innovation schools” after failing to meet performance targets.

Related Topics: American Council on Education, Bobby Jindal, charter schools, college campuses, college readiness, course credits, D.C., D.C. Public Charter School Board, DC, Delcastle, engagement, graduation rates, high school, Hodgson, Howard High School, Jeb Bush, lawmakers, legislation, Los Angeles Unified School District, Low-income, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, National Education Policy Center, NEPC, Parent Revolution, per-pupil funding, petition, Polytech, privatize schools, Project on Fair Representation, Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson, Secretary Mark Murphy, St. Georges, standardized tests, student achievement, Sussex Tech, Title I, underperforming schools, urban school districts, Vocational-Technical, Washington