Alternatives to PARCC and Smarter Balanced cost states millions

States dropping out of the two main Common Core testing consortia have been forced to fund the development of new exams, many of which have come with their own tech glitches.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 10, 2016

Despite poor performance, virtual schools see popularity rise

The number of full-time virtual schools in the K-12 sector has grown since 2012, along with the number of students enrolled, but outcomes are low.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 10, 2016

Ed Dept, HUD and DOT partner to increase diversity

All three agencies hosted a joint listening session Wednesday, bringing together educators, researchers, community leaders and policy experts to discuss diversity strategies.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 9, 2016

Brooklyn New School doesn't use tests for assessment

In a school with 95% opt-out rates from the state’s standardized test, a performance-based assessment program has students present work to a panel of adults.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 9, 2016

Washington adds gender identity to health and PE standards

The state's Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction released new learning standards for fall 2017 that include self-identity in the sexual health section.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 9, 2016

South Carolina district paid $8,000 for ransomed data's return

Horry County Schools became one of the many victims of ransomware earlier this year when hackers encrypted its data and demanded payment in bitcoin to unlock it.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 9, 2016

California improves Smarter Balanced score reports for parents

Score reports for the Common Core-aligned tests have confused parents in the past, and state officials hope new streamlined reports are more informative about student progress.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 9, 2016

Teachers to focus on tech tools in summer PD

A new study from Front Row Education found more than 40% of K-8 teachers will spend 20 or more hours on professional development this summer, with many focusing on ed tech.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 8, 2016

Annual summer meals program closes hunger gap for students

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Education secretaries say the program has served more than 1.2 billion meals in this administration.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 8, 2016

Students of color now 49.7% of public school population

The changing demographics of the public school population were highlighted by the Civil Rights Data Collection Survey, which found about a quarter of students are Latino.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 8, 2016

Nebraska leads in tracking extended-year graduation rates

The state is one of only 13 tracking graduation rates for students beyond the standard four years, finding that gaps narrow significantly in extended years.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 8, 2016

Using trauma-informed teaching to understand students

Unconditional Education, a program focused on children’s mental health, works to train teachers about trauma and its effects on children’s brains and behaviors.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 7, 2016

Georgia schools now evaluated based on climate

The state's Department of Education now requires schools to collect surveys from parents, students and teachers, and to consider attendance rates and discipline records in ratings.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 7, 2016

Comprehensive Ed Dept survey finds persistent civil rights disparities

The biennial survey from the US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights highlights equity issues in discipline, access to advanced courses and teacher quality.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 7, 2016

What if adjectives replaced letter grades in student assessment?

A trend in the corporate sector toward qualitative, rather than numerical, performance assessments could have interesting implications in the education sector.

By Autumn A. Arnett • June 6, 2016

North Carolina district provides blueprint for using music to teach STEM

A Chromebook-based recording studio program called Soundtrap is being used in conjunction with a customized curriculum to boost STEM engagement.

By Roger Riddell • June 6, 2016

Why US schools can't afford high suspension rates

A new report estimates the annual economic impact of suspending 10th graders at $35 billion. 

By Autumn A. Arnett • June 6, 2016

Parent-on-school bullying a persistent problem

Independent School Magazine reports that at every school they've visited, they've found increasing issues with parents bullying the school.

By Roger Riddell • June 6, 2016

Maryland student's experience highlights flaw of 'one-size-fits-all'

During his 12th-grade year at Maryland's Annapolis High School, Daniel Guth was told he'd have to take two courses he didn't need to enroll in AP Biology and AP Physics.

By Roger Riddell • June 6, 2016

Stackable credentials, ed tech purchasing advice: The week's most-read education news

Don't fall behind! Catch up on Pearson's 30-institution partnership and more here!

By Roger Riddell • June 3, 2016

Tennessee students take state to task over standardized testing

A group of fifth graders compiled suggestions for the state Department of Education and Gov. Bill Haslam on how to think about and manage testing.

By Erin McIntyre • June 3, 2016

Harassment, fraud complaints at elite private schools highlight underlying issues

Allegations of wrongdoing at two elite schools put K-12 reporting and accountability issues in both the public and private space center stage.

By Erin McIntyre • June 3, 2016

North Carolina Senate proposes rollback to siloed math classes

A new bill would undo a push for integrated math instruction, a move critics say would underserve students.

By Erin McIntyre • June 3, 2016

Farm Bill Broadband Loans a little-known rural K-12 connectivity option

The Farm Bill Broadband Loans and Loan Guarantees program can help rural classrooms obtain high-speed connections.

By Erin McIntyre • June 3, 2016

Officials: LAUSD skimmed $450M from special ed, high-needs students

A state report released May 27 indicates low-income students, English learners and foster children were adversely impacted by a double attribution of the same expenditure.

By Erin McIntyre • June 3, 2016