Testing opt-outs sweep Colorado's biggest districts

 Most of the state’s major school districts failed to meet the federal 95% participation rate and could face scrutiny.

By Kate Schimel • July 29, 2015

Teachers hired during recessions may be more effective: study

Increasing the pay for new teachers would likely attract better candidates, regardless of the economy, according to the report.

By Kate Schimel • July 29, 2015

As broadband demands increase, districts find inventive workarounds

Just 63% of school districts meet industry standards for broadband capacity. How can they fix that?

By Kate Schimel • July 29, 2015

Ed Dept to release attendance boundary mapping tool

The tool, slated for a summer launch, will help districts plan boundary changes and highlight areas of inequity.

By Kate Schimel • July 28, 2015

Dallas principal turnover spiked under outgoing superintendent

In his first year, Mike Miles oversaw the replacement of nearly a third of the district's principals.

By Kate Schimel • July 28, 2015

Survey: School construction projects focus on Internet, environment

District Administration found that a majority of school personnel surveyed engaged in construction projects last year, ranging from new schools to new science labs.

By Kate Schimel • July 27, 2015

Louisiana district expands community college program

An Ascension Parish school district program letting high school students earn an associate’s degree has quintupled enrollment since 2013.

By Kate Schimel • July 27, 2015

Punitive school discipline down in NYC

A panel found that suspensions and and arrests declined last year under Mayor Bill de Blasio's new discipline policies.

By Kate Schimel • July 27, 2015

North Carolina court rules school vouchers constitutional

The state Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision, giving a contested voucher program the green light.

By Kate Schimel • July 27, 2015

Social-emotional skills and neuroscience: The week's most-read education news

Fall behind? Get caught up on the shift away from standardized tests in grad school admissions and more right here!

By Roger Riddell • July 24, 2015

Is PARCC at a tipping point?

What’s working for and against the testing consortium, from declining state participation to cost effectiveness. 

By Kate Schimel • July 24, 2015

Which states suspend the most students?

Districts in southern states have some of the highest suspension rates, along with those in Arizona, Nevada, and California.

By Kate Schimel • July 24, 2015

NCLB waivers extended for 7 states

After months of waiting, all seven states got the extensions they asked for.

By Kate Schimel • July 24, 2015

Districts reassessing risk management approaches

Outside organizations, increased safety risk, and shifting best practices can pose challenges for districts.

By Kate Schimel • July 23, 2015

Nevada drops Measured Progress

After a glitchy launch to online tests this spring, the state has ended its decade-long relationship with the testing vendor.

By Kate Schimel • July 23, 2015

Under privacy pressure, districts turning to private cloud storage

Districts have put considerable funds toward upgrading capacity and establishing internal networks, but the upgrades come with cautionary tales.

By Kate Schimel • July 23, 2015

Will NCLB rewrite slash testing time?

Provisions in the Senate's version of the bill, the Every Child Achieves Act, would encourage states to cap testing.

By Kate Schimel • July 23, 2015

Ohio ed official steps down after charter accountability scandal

The fallout from the scandal includes calls for the ouster of Ohio State Superintendent Richard Ross.

By Kate Schimel • July 22, 2015

What's next for the ESEA rewrite?

The law's first reauthorization since the maligned No Child Left Behind is now in the hands of a bipartisan group of Congressional representatives.

By Kate Schimel • July 22, 2015

Private dollars just a fraction of charter school budgets

A new U of Arkansas study finds charters may rely on private funding less than previously believed.

By Kate Schimel • July 22, 2015

Ed school dean calls for more diverse teaching force

A new book from Howard University's Leslie Fenwick details the history of how schools pushed out minority teachers and have failed to draw them back.

By Kate Schimel • July 22, 2015

Ed Dept rejects, delays ELL accountability waivers

Just one state has received additional flexibility, and three others have had proposals tossed out entirely.

By Kate Schimel • July 21, 2015

Arkansas spends $65M to boost school Internet 40-fold

The upgrade will increase speeds from an average of 5 Kbps to 200 Kbps and will go into effect in some schools as soon as this fall.

By Kate Schimel • July 21, 2015

New York schools trying non-test-based graduation standards

One school, East Side Community High School, is requiring students to complete challenging projects in multiple subject areas.

By Kate Schimel • July 20, 2015

Ohio bill expands state, local government power in school takeovers

Critics say the bill is an overstep and didn’t get the airing it should have.

By Kate Schimel • July 20, 2015