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

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

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

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 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

Newtown victim's mother backs social-emotional learning bill

The bill was introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and aims to provide training for teachers and principals.

By Kate Schimel • July 20, 2015

Senators push bipartisan juvenile delinquency prevention bill

The Youth PROMISE Act would support districts’ efforts to stem the school-to-prison pipeline.

By Kate Schimel • July 17, 2015

Obama announces new broadband access initiative

ConnectHome, a collaboration between private industry and federal and local governments, builds on ConnectED to expand broadband access to homes.

By Kate Schimel • July 17, 2015

Every Child Achieves Act passes Senate

Following a week of debate, the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act cleared the Senate with wide bipartisan approval.

By Roger Riddell • July 16, 2015

ECAA amendment to protect LGBT students fails

Reports show that LGBT students face high levels of harassment but lack district protections against bullying, and the amendment's rejection won't change that anytime soon.

By Kate Schimel • July 16, 2015

School IT systems struggle with cyber security

An attack on an Idaho district this spring highlights holes in schools’ digital security systems.

By Kate Schimel • July 16, 2015

States take patchwork approach to test reduction

Varying approaches have been taken by 39 states looking to scale back excess tests.

By Kate Schimel • July 15, 2015

Massachusetts may be next to drop PARCC

Lawmakers have introduced bills to place a moratorium on the Common Core-aligned test.

By Kate Schimel • July 15, 2015

ECAA update: Hatch data proposal passes, Murphy-Booker plan addresses oversight

The Murphy-Booker amendment would allow states more agency in determining accountability measures, with a focus on historically disadvantaged student groups.

By Roger Riddell • July 14, 2015

Kansas schools allegedly shortchange kids on recess

According to survey responses from Kansas physical education teachers, recess lasts less than 20 minutes in a majority of the state’s schools.

By Kate Schimel • July 14, 2015

Ohio senator pushes for more charter oversight

Sen. Sherrod Brown proposed an ESEA amendment aimed at increasing the transparency and accountability of for-profit charter school managers.

By Kate Schimel • July 14, 2015

States that dropped Common Core are still using aligned materials

Materials aligned to the standards are cropping up in classrooms in all 50 states.

By Kate Schimel • July 14, 2015