August 22, 2012
Local News
Cape Gazette
Cape celebrates improving test scores
Ninth-graders at Cape Henlopen High School scored double-digit improvements on state tests, topping district achievements.
DDOE
Statewide data dashboard gives educators new tool to support student learning
The Delaware Department of Education’s Education Insight system allows educators to make data-driven decisions to improve instruction and learning for Delaware’s students. The dashboards aggregate data from existing sources to show a comprehensive view of each student — including items such as student biographical information, schedule, attendance, assessment scores, grades and credits — as well as roll-up views of the data for classrooms, schools and districts.
National News
Boston Globe
Teacher rating systems lagging
All but a few Massachusetts districts will probably miss a quickly approaching state deadline to implement a new teacher evaluation system that relies heavily on student achievement. Districts are required to meet the deadline as a condition of receiving funds under Race to the Top. Roughly a third of the state’s districts are at odds with their unions in negotiating changes to teacher evaluations.
The New York Times
More Hispanics are in college, report finds
Among Americans ages 18 to 24 with a high school diploma or equivalent, 46 percent of Hispanics were enrolled in college last year, up from 37 percent in 2008, according to the report by the Pew Hispanic Center. The report was based on data from the Census Bureau and the Department of Education.
Education Week
Fed agencies spar over NAEP for special populations
Despite a pending policy change aimed at including more students with disabilities and English-language learners in the “nation’s report card,” the federal agency that administers the national testing program appears to be softening the penalty for states that fail to improve inclusion rates. The disagreement reflects an intensifying debate about how to ensure that the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a congressionally mandated set of tests designed to take the national pulse on student achievement, accurately allows for state-by-state comparisons of student achievement.
ACT finds most students still not ready for college
Student performance on the ACT essentially held steady this year, with slight improvement shown in the math and science parts of the college-entrance exam. Still, 60 percent of the class of 2012 that took the test failed to meet benchmarks in two of the four subjects tested, putting them in jeopardy of failing in their pursuit of a college degree and careers.
Related Topics: Data Systems, DDOE, Higher Education, NAEP, Teacher Evaluation