NY nonprofit head cautions against rush to voucher expansion

Lynette Guastaferro, executive director of Teaching Matters Inc., says a rushed and haphazard voucher program could have ruinous consequences.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 24, 2017

Rhode Island white paper outlines plans to scale personalized learning statewide

The Statewide Personalized Learning Initiative’s paper offers a common definition for personalized learning and maps out broad goals and objectives, with action items for individual districts.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 24, 2017

California ed officials explore ways to measure, use school climate data

The state's next stage of accountability goes beyond test scores and grad rates, asking districts to take responsibility for continually improving school climate measures.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 23, 2017

Feds rescind transgender bathroom guidance despite pushback from DeVos

While the Obama-era guidance requiring schools to let transgender students use the bathroom of their choice is no longer in place, Betsy DeVos has come out as a protector of LGBT students.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 23, 2017

States begin fleshing out ESSA plans in advance of Ed Dept deadline

The Coalition of Chief State School Officers says at least 39 states have hosted community meetings or town halls to get public feedback.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 23, 2017

Report: Districts should better leverage non-residential properties for school funding

EdBuild research finds districts often don’t leverage the non-residential property tax base, made up of businesses, factories and farms.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 22, 2017

Districts push students into 'alternative' charters to boost grad rates

A ProPublica investigation finds many states allow high schools to send students to alternative programs if they have low test scores or attendance rates, or are at high risk of dropping out.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 22, 2017

What lessons can be drawn from Denver's relative school choice success?

The Mile High City has a fairly popular school choice program that has raised overall academic growth and graduation rates, but achievement gaps persist and school closings have been disruptive.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 21, 2017

Teachers with DACA protection wait to learn their fate under Trump

Teachers are among those given temporary reprieve from deportation through the program, which President Donald Trump targeted on the campaign trail.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 21, 2017

Latino kindergartners start school 3 months behind in math, on average

Latinos make up 1 in 4 kindergartners today and that is expected to rise to 1 in 3 by 2050, making their math achievement levels an issue of national importance.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 16, 2017

Former House education chair talks ESSA, accountability, responsibility to educate all

Few have had a front-row seat to the changes in federal education policy over the last 40 years like former Rep. George Miller. 

By Autumn A. Arnett • Feb. 15, 2017

Michigan considers $20M boost to vocational ed

Gov. Rick Snyder has proposed a competition grant program to help schools afford new equipment for vocational classes as part of a bigger plan to break down stereotypes about the skilled trades.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 15, 2017

New state school chiefs, legislative committee chairs face intense pressure

An Education Week analysis found more than half of legislative education committee chairs have no outside experience in K-12 schools or policy, and 10 state chiefs have no classroom experience.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 15, 2017

Could the Office of Ed Tech land on the chopping block?

While it is fairly unlikely the U.S. Department of Education will be shuttered by the Trump administration, projects given attention under the Obama administration may not continue.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 14, 2017

Rural public schools worry 'school choice' focus will leave them out

Remote school districts generally offer the only option for families with school-aged children because charter and private options routinely concentrate in cities.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 13, 2017

Audit calls one-third of Tennessee high school grads' qualifications into question

The state department of education conducted the first audit of graduates’ qualifications, finding many received diplomas without meeting state requirements.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 13, 2017

DeVos tells states to maintain ESSA timelines despite potential changes

The new U.S. secretary of education wants to maintain the timeline set by the Obama administration for reviewing state plans despite debates around accountability regulations.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 13, 2017

Personalized Learning: What educators need to know

Check out our five must-read stories on one of education's hottest trends.

By Roger Riddell • Feb. 10, 2017

It may get harder to serve healthy school lunches

The Community Eligibility Provision has allowed school districts with high concentrations of poverty to offer every student free meals, but the GOP may eliminate it.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 10, 2017

Report: Growing number of underprepared teachers in California classrooms

The Learning Policy Institute tracked the increase in intern credentials, permits and waivers issued for the state's teachers, using that number as a proxy for the severity of the teacher shortage.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 10, 2017

House votes to overturn some ESSA regulations, Senate may follow

The House resolutions focused on regulations finalized by the Obama administration relating to accountability and teacher prep programs.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 10, 2017

The next generation of charter school innovation and impact

Early charter school growth was often framed as an opportunity to improve public education by freeing charter schools to innovate and send good strategies back to district-run schools.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 9, 2017

In first address as Ed Sec, DeVos calls for 'common ground'

The newly-confirmed head of the U.S. Department of Education asked the education community to put aside differences and put students first.

By Autumn A. Arnett • Feb. 9, 2017

New paper outlines lessons learned from last 10 years of Head Start

New research from Bellwether Education Partners reflects on Head Start's progress since President George W. Bush passed a law in 2007 requiring half of teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree by 2013.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 9, 2017

Sex ed varies by state, and research shows what works

While some districts still offer abstinence-only sex education, others have comprehensive programs increasingly likely to include social-emotional learning and issues of gender equality.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 9, 2017