Rhode Island teens rally against later school start times

Barrington Public Schools, near Providence, is considering pushing the start of school back for middle and high schoolers, but some students don’t like the plan.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 17, 2016

Could the charter school accountability system work for district schools?

Charter schools must meet performance expectations to maintain contracts to stay open, and the NAPCS says a similar model could improve district schools.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 17, 2016

Virtual charters threaten finances in Pennsylvania public schools

School districts in and around Reading send between $163,615 and $4.5 million to virtual charters, and area superintendents want the legislature to rethink funding formulas.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 17, 2016

Ed Dept efforts to lower teacher program entry standards draws criticism

The Obama administration announced new federal rules this week that would allow teacher prep programs to recruit a more diverse student body by lowering admissions standards.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 14, 2016

Students teach governors how to code

The annual National Governors Association meeting gave state leaders a chance to experience coding education firsthand amid a national push to increase computer science access.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 14, 2016

High-performing Massachusetts primary battleground in charter fight

The state’s public school students are among the top 10 worldwide in PISA scores, but millions of dollars in corporate and out-of-state money are backing a ballot initiative to raise a charter cap.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 14, 2016

High schools partner with local businesses for workforce alignment

Connections are being forged with local industry leaders at schools nationwide to ensure students graduate with the skills they need to succeed in local jobs.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 13, 2016

Why teacher residencies better prepare future teachers

When education students get the benefit of a full year in a classroom with a master teacher, they start their careers better prepared than those with just 15 weeks of clinical experience.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 13, 2016

Dyslexia Awareness Month offers schools opportunity to reflect on quality of services

As many as one in five people have symptoms of dyslexia, and the condition impacts a significant portion of student bodies.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 10, 2016

Latino students doing better academically, but significant challenges remain

A report by the National Council of La Raza offers a profile of the Latino population, showing low reading and math proficiency and preschool participation despite rising high school grad rates.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 10, 2016

How should school accountability be measured under ESSA?

David Osborne, director of the Reinventing America’s Schools project at the Progressive Policy Institute, recently outlined ideas that include no more than half of a system's weight being on test scores.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 10, 2016

Education Department approves New Hampshire testing pilot extension

New Hampshire has been piloting competency-based assessment through a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education, and now it will be able to continue for another year.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 7, 2016

Closing the academic achievement gap requires a concerted effort around engaging males of color

Educators share proven methods to combat education's 'boy crisis.'

By Autumn A. Arnett • Oct. 6, 2016

California to require gender-neutral bathrooms, opens access to ethnic studies

The California legislature has been hard at work on a range of education issues this year with several new policies in place while others are, notably, absent.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 6, 2016

Career, tech ed classes offer benefits for all students

Among other advantages, they teach soft skills students will need for their adult lives.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 6, 2016

Inspector general: CMO-run charters pose 'significant risk' to DOE objectives

The office reached the finding after auditing 33 charter schools in six states.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 6, 2016

NEA spending big to tie Trump to bullying, classroom fear

The union, which is backing Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential bid, has committed to a six-figure campaign attacking Trump for his influence on bullying.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 5, 2016

PLTW president says computer science is being left out of STEM push

While schools have focused on getting more students interested in STEM fields for years, Vince Bertram says kids need more than coding.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 5, 2016

Duncan comes down hard on teacher prep programs

In an open letter to college presidents and education school deans, the former education secretary says grade inflation and a lack of rigor put future students at risk.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 5, 2016

Updated model charter law addresses discipline, school quality

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools has updated its model law for the first time since 2009, adding elements that speak to recent national debates over charter schools.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 5, 2016

Southwest Indiana district finds success with Transformation Zone

The Evansville Vanderburgh district’s five most struggling schools were once being eyed for state takeover by the Indiana Department of Education.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 4, 2016

E-Rate revamps for less-complicated application

The FCC funding program helps schools prepare their infrastructure for the challenges of 21st century classrooms and their tech.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 4, 2016

Early good intentions of 'zero tolerance' policies now warped

Firm discipline policies got their start during years of rising crime, but critics argue they went too far, with schools now sending kids to the criminal justice system for basic behavioral issues.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 4, 2016

Ed reformers divided on how best to address racial equity

The Movement for Black Lives released a policy platform last month calling for a moratorium on new charter schools, while other advocates for black students see charters as the answer.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 3, 2016

Aggressive recruitment helped California's largest districts avoid teacher shortage

The state’s 25 largest districts filled almost all open teacher positions this year thanks to bonuses, relocation support, salary cap lifts, and national and international recruiting.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 3, 2016