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

Explore the Trendline➔

Curriculum

Educators are exploring a variety of strategies to improve students’ learning experiences while continuing to navigate ongoing political disputes.

By K-12 Dive staff

California academy uses badges to reinforce pipeline to college and career

The Del Lago Academy opened in 2013 and has since developed a competency-based assessment approach, Competency X, allowing students to collect badges proving their skills.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 4, 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

P-TECH reaches Colorado as popular Brooklyn model continues spreading

Longmont's Skyline High School now has a 50-student cohort working toward an associate degree along with their diplomas in the latest technology-focused early college high school.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 4, 2016

Literary fiction here to stay in curriculum

Despite a growing emphasis on analytical texts, educators say there's still a place for imagined works.

By Shalina Chatlani • 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

Maryland high schoolers rig mini-cars to help disabled preschoolers

Students in Howard County Public Schools’ allied health and engineering academies customized the battery-powered cars to improve younger peers’ mobility.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 3, 2016

Students shaped teacher PD in California district

Creekside Middle School, east of San Francisco, purchased Chromebooks for classroom use, and students organized a Tech Boost Conference so teachers could better learn how to use them.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 3, 2016

For schools to embrace ed tech, infrastructure must be ready

The 2016 Horizon Report highlights online learning and virtual reality among key education trends for the next five years, meaning schools will need to prepare with bandwidth.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 3, 2016

For special needs students, focus on SEL critical

Interventions that would benefit all students are particularly necessary to promote the academic success of special needs students, experts say.

By Autumn A. Arnett • Oct. 1, 2016

For-profit woes and 1:1 deployments: The week's most-read education news

Stay ahead of the class with the latest on Elon University's 'visual experiential transcript' and more here!

By Roger Riddell • Sept. 30, 2016

DC Public Schools notches record-high graduation rates

A full 69% of the district's seniors in the class of 2016 graduated on time, a 5% increase from the prior year and just six points shy of a 2017 goal set by the chancellor.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 30, 2016

KIPP teachers automate personalized Khan Academy playlists for students

Bay Area teachers in the charter network use NWEA Measures of Academic Progress assessment data to gauge student proficiency and then assign them Khan work at the right level.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 30, 2016

On-site inspections offer a deep dive into school quality

Education Week reports a Vermont pilot program is sending teams of reviewers to visit schools and collect evidence for a report that offers recommendations for improvement.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 30, 2016

Michigan arts platform standardizes assessment of student work

The Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment Project has developed lessons in dance, music, theater and visual arts, as well as assessments to go along with them.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 30, 2016

Supreme Court could decide proper level of special ed services

The court will hear a case that demands a definition for what kind of education the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires schools to provide to students.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 30, 2016

Northern California elementary district prioritizes PE in 'whole child' approach

The Robla School District has taken advantage of local funding control to hire new physical education teachers, send kids on daily walks, and improve the quality of their food.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 29, 2016

IBM's Watson to advise third-grade math teachers

The question-answering computer has been trained to help teachers build personalized lesson plans, and though it started with third-grade math, it will add subjects and grades over time.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 29, 2016

Chicago-area district's turnaround overcomes challenges posed by gangs, poverty

A high school district in a predominantly Latino community southwest of Chicago has increased its graduation rate, student test scores and AP course participation.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 29, 2016

AIR: Math PD boosted teacher knowledge, instruction — but not student achievement

A study by the American Institutes for Research assessed a three-part, content-intensive professional development program, finding educators' gains weren't passed on to students.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 29, 2016

Yale study: Students face racial bias as early as preschool

Teacher participants were more likely to watch black children when told to expect bad behavior, even if there wasn’t any.

By Tara García Mathewson • Sept. 29, 2016