Obama administration announces rubric to guide use of school resource officers

The Department of Justice funds up to 150 school resource officer positions per year through the Community Oriented Policing Services office, and it now has new rules for doing so.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 9, 2016

Connecticut judge orders near-complete overhaul of state ed system

While similar lawsuits have prompted mandates to develop new funding formulas that make education systems more equitable, the Connecticut decision will have a much broader impact.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 9, 2016

Studies suggest students without disabilities adversely impacted by inclusion

Education Week reports on multiple studies that have found more absences and lower math and reading scores among students learning in classrooms alongside peers with behavioral or emotional disabilities.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 9, 2016

Cuomo mandates lead testing in all New York schools

The State Department of Health issued new regulations this week requiring all schools to test drinking fountains for lead contamination by the end of October.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 8, 2016

Researchers find growing outside influence in school board elections

Wealthy donors are increasingly targeting school board races in far-flung districts to achieve school reform goals, often by electing candidates who oppose local teacher unions.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 8, 2016

Chronic absenteeism plagues more than poor urban districts

Some districts saw more than half of students chronically absent in the 2013-14 school year, according to federal data.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 7, 2016

Focusing on teacher improvement over firing could spur greater success

An op-ed for the Los Angeles Times argues the majority of teachers in U.S. schools are good, but not great, and districts would get a greater reward for making them better than firing their colleagues.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 7, 2016

Harlem all-girls school created early example of excellence

The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem opened in 1996 and quickly drew a civil rights complaint for its single-gender admission requirement, but it pressed on and set a precedent.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 7, 2016

Clinton would boost pre-K, but hurdles likely

Throughout her career, Hillary Clinton has focused on issues relating to child health and education, her fully formed ideas about what is best could hurt her efforts if elected.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 6, 2016

California counties hire juvenile detention transition specialists

These specialists help students get into the right classes and transition successfully to some type of educational placement once they are released, whether that is a traditional or alternative school.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 6, 2016

Foreign language education provides diplomatic benefits, more

The United States has moved away from a commitment to foreign language acquisition in recent decades, but employers care about bilingualism and research shows it has positive effects.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 6, 2016

DC schools' celebrated PE policy goes largely ignored

Only 10 of more than 200 public schools are in compliance with the DC Healthy Schools Act's requirements, according to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 2, 2016

Mental health disorders common among students, but support is limited

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate as many as one in five kids experience a mental disorder in a given year, but school staffs are swamped.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 2, 2016

Lead contamination presents uncontroversial ed opportunity for private donors

Ryan Cooper, a national correspondent for The Week, suggests lead abatement could be an uncontroversial school reform strategy that is likely to improve student performance.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 2, 2016

Top-rated Chicago elementary principal resigns in public letter to Emanuel

Troy LaRaviere, a vocal critic of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s education policies, published a letter of resignation this week, surrendering to a coordinated ouster by the mayor’s administration.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 1, 2016

SmartAsset ranking identifies best places to be a teacher

The personal finance technology company has issued its second annual ranking of the 140 largest metro areas based on how good teachers have it, and those in Pennsylvania and Ohio rise to the top.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 1, 2016

Ed Dept releases 'supplement not supplant' rules

The U.S. Department of Education outlined draft regulations for how school districts can allocate Title I dollars, and the criticism was quick and fierce from educators and lawmakers.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 1, 2016

Poll shows split in perception of public ed's purpose

Phi Delta Kappa International’s 48th annual public poll about education revealed a lack of consensus over the role of public schools and perspectives that do not align with policy.

By Tara García Mathewson • Aug. 31, 2016

Data mining, other tactics help administrators tackle absenteeism

An initial review of attendance data can help administrators figure out which students are chronically absent, or on their way to that designation, and take steps to get them to class.

By Tara García Mathewson • Aug. 31, 2016

NLRB says two charters are private, not public

The National Labor Relations Board decided cases involving charter schools in New York and Pennsylvania last week, concluding both are private corporations for the purposes of labor law.

By Tara García Mathewson • Aug. 31, 2016

Report suggest strategies for diversifying teacher ranks

Research from the Brookings Institution outlines the scope of the diversity problem in K-12 schools and the best ways to address it, based on their projected impact.

By Tara García Mathewson • Aug. 31, 2016

Supreme Court considers hearing New Mexico textbook case

Public school parents sued the New Mexico Public Education Department and several private schools in 2012, arguing the constitutionality of using public dollars for private school textbooks.

By Tara García Mathewson • Aug. 30, 2016

Tennessee district focuses instruction on 7 common goals

When Chris Marczak became superintendent of the Maury County School District, he did a listening tour with all 22 schools and community stakeholders to develop shared goals for students.

By Tara García Mathewson • Aug. 30, 2016

High opt-out states preparing for federal sanctions

As the opt-out movement pushes on, states are expecting penalties from the US Department of Education, which requires that districts test at least 95% of students.

By Tara García Mathewson • Aug. 29, 2016

'Hidden' homelessness presents difficult challenge for schools, districts

Students who have poor attendance, do not do their homework and fall asleep in class may be homeless, not just disengaged, and they may not want their schools to know. 

By Tara García Mathewson • Aug. 29, 2016