June 13, 2014
Local News
The Hunt Institute’s The Intersection Blog
Why we created Common Core
A blog post by Governor Jack Markell
As we approach the four-year anniversary of the Common Core State Standards, it is an appropriate time to remember why and how they were created. We should take this chance to look beyond the difficult but expected obstacles we face in getting the standards up and running, and remember the opportunity they present for children across our country if implemented well.
Delaware State News
House education panel tables parent funding plan
After much heated debate, lawmakers on the House Education Committee tanked a bill that would have allowed parents to use state allocated public school funding as they see fit. The bill, tabled in committee Wednesday, would have allowed parents to place a portion or all of the state aid that would have been provided to support the child in their resident school district into a fund, managed by the state treasurer, in order to have more control of their education and success rates.
National News
Providence Journal
Career, technical education bills moving forward at RI General Assembly
Two rewritten bills that would change Rhode Island’s career and technical education system were approved in committees and are expected to be heard soon by the full Rhode Island Senate and House of Representatives.
The Plain Dealer
Change in how teachers are graded in Ohio is a compromise in a big debate
The Ohio legislature decided that grades and ratings of Ohio’s teachers shouldn’t depend as much on student test scores.
The Fresno Bee
Bill reforming teacher dismissals goes to governor
A bill making it easier to fire abusive educators heads to Gov. Jerry Brown two days after a judge found California’s teacher tenure laws unconstitutional.
The Associated Press
Some states roll back teacher tenure protections
Even before a judge’s scathing ruling against California’s teacher tenure policies, the once-sacred protections that make it harder to fire teachers already had been weakened in many states — and even removed altogether in some places.
Education Week
NCLB not so negative for teachers, study says
The results of a study published in the peer-refereed journal Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis suggests that No Child Left Behind has had a limited influence on teachers’ perceptions of their jobs.
NEA aims to revive organizing as membership drops
With its membership down by more than 230,000 members over the past three years, the National Education Association is imploring local affiliates to better engage current and potential members. It has launched a Center for Organizing to provide tools and training, has put millions of dollars behind local affiliates’ plans, and is pushing regional support staff to lead the charge.