Case rested in infamous Atlanta test cheating scandal

After six months of testimony, prosecutors have rested their case against the educators accused of cheating on standardized tests.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 12, 2015

Washington state legislative proposal would hold schools accountable for tech skills

Worried that students are leaving K-12 without adequate tech skills, state Superintendent Randy Dorn suggests schools must report to his office with evidence of students' digital literacy.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 12, 2015

LA districts request penalty waivers for parental opt-outs of Common Core testing

State education officials currently mandate that districts get zeros for the scores of every student that opts out — a rule that could greatly hurt a school's average. 

By Allie Gross • Feb. 11, 2015

ASCD calls for two-year moratorium on test-based teacher evals

ASCD Director of Public Policy says, "We’re not saying ‘Don’t test,’ but ‘Don’t use tests for that specific set of consequences.’”

By Allie Gross • Feb. 11, 2015

FCC chair's open Internet proposal would benefit classrooms

Tom Wheeler's plan would, in part, make it easier to bring broadband connectivity to classrooms.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 11, 2015

Tech crisis looms for Idaho schools

State schools are struggling to keep an uninterrupted connection after a drawn out legal battle over a tech contract. 

By Allie Gross • Feb. 10, 2015

Brown Center on Education issues school choice rankings

New Orleans, New York, and Newark take the top spots.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 9, 2015

House Democrats push to have voices heard on NCLB re-authorization

Despite pushes in the Senate for a bipartisan bill, House Democrats are concerned with what they see as a 'hasty, partisan push' on the law in their chamber.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 6, 2015

Should coding replace foreign language requirements?

Kentucky and Washington state have both proposed legislation that would make the two interchangeable, moves that have already been completed in states including Texas and Oklahoma.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 6, 2015

Wisconsin Gov. Walker proposes school choice expansion

There's no increase suggested for K-12 spending, but the budget does push for the increased use of those funds for more students attending voucher and charter schools.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 5, 2015

Will Congress mandate sex assault ed for public high school students?

The Teach Safe Relationships Act of 2015 would require public middle and high school health classes to cover sex assault prevention.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 5, 2015

Did 109 Western NY schools really have zero bullying incidents last year?

The state requires all districts to report incidents of bullying under the 2012 Dignity for All Students Act, but some are questioning recent numbers.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 4, 2015

Nearly 20% of NJ high school students took vocational courses last year

Participation in the programs was tracked in the state’s latest School Performance Reports, released last week. 

By Allie Gross • Feb. 4, 2015

Obama's budget requests extra $2.7B for ESEA

The money would be spread among various education goals, including increasing equity and opportunity for students and expanding universal pre-K and professional development programs.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 4, 2015

Philadelphia to hire hundreds of new teachers for next year

Could this be a sign the cash-strapped district's budget woes are on the way out?

By Allie Gross • Feb. 3, 2015

SD bill would offer tuition incentive for teachers in rural districts

A proposal passed by the state's House Appropriations Committee would offer financial aid to school employees agreeing to pursue teaching degrees and return to their district for five years.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 2, 2015

Obama's budget allocates $1B for Native American schools

The funds will go toward the renovation of crumbling buildings and the installation of Internet connections, with an additional $150 million going to the Bureau of Indian Education. 

By Allie Gross • Feb. 2, 2015

Omaha initiative focuses on early ed for low-income students

Six districts will take part in a new initiative involving home visits, high-quality preschool, consistent curriculum, and support for children in kindergarten through third grade.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 2, 2015

Should schools be allowed to use pepper spray on students?

A trial before a Birmingham, AL, district court could set a precedent.

By Allie Gross • Feb. 2, 2015

Ed tech tools and free college: The week's most read education news

Fall behind? Get caught up on the pros and cons of Obama's free community college proposal, the latest speed bump for MOOCs, and more right here!

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 30, 2015

Tennessee legislators push for less federal ed oversight

Chief among the concerns of a proposed resolution: a Congressional halt on the Common Core State Standards.

By Allie Gross • Jan. 30, 2015

Arkansas board of ed to take over Little Rock School District

The decision stems from the state's labeling last year of six of the district's 48 schools as failing.

By Allie Gross • Jan. 30, 2015

North Carolina looks to strengthen teacher recruitment and retention

The number of graduate and undergraduate students declaring education majors has dropped by 12%, an issue discussed heavily at UNC's Board of Governors Education Summit on Tuesday.

By Allie Gross • Jan. 30, 2015

Republican-backed bill would shift power from Indiana ed chief

Under the proposal, Superintendent Glenda Ritz would no longer chair the State Board of Education by default have control of issues such as teacher evaluations and testing.

By Allie Gross • Jan. 30, 2015

NCES data shows Northeast spending most on public school students

The data measures the revenues and expenses per public school student in the 2011-12 school year.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 29, 2015