King's challenges, ESSA, and Hour of Code: The week's most-read education news

Fall behind? Get caught up on the student privacy allegations against Google and more right here.

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 11, 2015

In New York, task force recommends scrapping Common Core

Recommendations ask the state not to use its test scores to evaluate teachers through the 2018-19 school year, so that new standards and tests can be created. 

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 10, 2015

Survey finds education funding below recession levels

According to a new survey, Arizona, Alabama and Idaho made the biggest cuts.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 10, 2015

Ed tech funding gets a push with ESSA block grants

States and districts will be able to use the block-grants to fund tech initiatives and blended learning in the classroom.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 10, 2015

8 major challenges acting ed secretary John King will face in 2016

King takes office Jan. 1 as acting secretary of education, and the stakes are high in K-12 and higher education as the Obama presidency winds down.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 10, 2015

Every Student Succeeds Act signed into law

President Barack Obama praised the bipartisan effort behind the bill, calling the signing "a Christmas miracle." 

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 10, 2015

Critics take issue with ESSA's 'teacher academy' provisions

Some say the new ed law lacks a blueprint for state regulatory oversight and may lower quality standards for teachers.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 10, 2015

Parents paying public school consultants to handpick schools

A new trend shows that upper-middle-class families have begun hiring professionals to give them advice on picking city schools for their children.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 10, 2015

Pennsylvania Senate passes school pension overhaul

Some in the state, like the AFL-CIO, strongly criticize the plan, calling it 'awful' and saying it 'reeks of hypocrisy.'

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 10, 2015

New supervisor standards can help school principals shine

The Council of Chief State School Officers has released a new set of eight standards for guiding school principals’ supervisors. 

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 10, 2015

Senate passes Every Student Succeeds Act

The bill, which replaces the much-maligned No Child Left Behind, is expected to be signed into law by President Barack Obama.

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 9, 2015

Disproportionate discipline impacts students as young as 3

New data in Washington state shows a significant discipline gap between how black students and their peers are treated, even for the nation's youngest students.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 9, 2015

California school rankings set for makeover with new standards, curriculum

The Golden State will shift away from using API scores to rank schools, and will now take other factors into consideration when evaluating school performance. 

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 9, 2015

Georgia audit finds high TFA turnover

The program's educators are staying in their jobs at a significantly lower rate than those with education degrees.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 8, 2015

Low-income schools see heavy reliance on substitute teachers

Experts say the constant revolving of substitute teachers in impoverished schools contributes to poor learning for students who are already disadvantaged. 

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 8, 2015

ESEA rewrite dramatically increases pre-K support

Early childhood education advocates are calling the Every Student Succeeds Act 'historic' in its support for preschool programs.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 8, 2015

Decoding Dyslexia grows nationally, pushes for ed reforms

In just four years, the grassroots parent group has grown into a national advocacy group with the muscle needed to change policy.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 8, 2015

Reservation's student suicides highlight importance of school, district roles in prevention

Educators are in a position allowing them to potentially save lives when they're properly equipped to identify students at-risk for suicide.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 7, 2015

Minnesota union teachers request $2M for community schools

Touted as 'a cost-effective solution for closing achievement gaps,' community schools are being touted as a model of success in the state.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 6, 2015

Audit: Missouri charter fraudulently raked in $4.3M

Administrators at Hope Academy in Kansas City inflated student attendance, leading to a multi-million dollar windfall for the now-shuttered school. 

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 6, 2015

California politician wants computer science to count as math pre-req

Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom's push is backed by prominent Silicon Valley supporters.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 6, 2015

Iowa exploring options to even out district funding gaps

A new panel has been tasked with crafting proposals to help abate inequality in district spending. 

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 6, 2015

Los Angeles weighing 'market-driven ed reform' ban

A school board member proposed the ban as part of a stand against the city’s leaked charter expansion plan.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 6, 2015

Nevada school funding study begins in search of savings

With a goal of finding $605 million to use for construction over the next decade, a commission will review all ed spending to identify potential savings. 

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 3, 2015

Pennsylvania virtual charter shutters one week after laying off staff

A reported 540 students in grades K-8 have been left in the lurch by the closure of six connected learning centers.

By Erin McIntyre • Dec. 3, 2015