Daily News Roundup—March 2, 2010

EEP News

The Education Equality Project and Democrats For Education Reform have come together to create a background memo on the accountability provisions within the current NCLB law. We hope this document proves useful as we turn our sights to the reauthorization of ESEA.

National

Speaking at the America’s Promise Alliance conference, President Obama joined former Secretary of State Colin Powell in condemning the dropout rate among US high school students and pledging to improve low-performing schools through new investments in “turnaround” programs.

During his speech, President Obama emphasized the need for educators to be held accountable when they have failed to fix chronically troubled classrooms. In addition, the President, joined Secretary Duncan, officially voicing support for the mass firings of educators at a failing Rhode Island school – as expected he drew an immediate rebuke from teachers unions officials.

The LA Times, NY Times, and Washington Post reported on this press conference. Click here to watch the speech.

The National Journal Education Experts Blog addresses the Obama Administration’s proposal to make Title I funding contingent on a state’s adoption of reading and math standards that prepare students for college or a career. Would it be problematic to change Title I funding in this fashion? Is the federal government reaching too far with this proposal? Seven responses thus far from the education experts.

EdWeek reports on the Obama Administration’s plan to consolidate more than a dozen discrete programs into three broader, competitive funds focused on “effective teaching and learning” across the academic-content areas.

EdWeek showcases a new report, released by Achieve, which finds that the number of states that have embraced “college- and career-ready standards” has mushroomed since 2005, and now stands at 31.

Harvard Gazette reports on US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan speaking at the Harvard Graduate School of Education telling the crowd that the country’s public school system needs massive reform.

Thomas W. Carroll, president of the Foundation for Education Reform and Accountability, writes for City Journal predicting the leading contenders to get a slice of the Obama administration’s RTTT initiative.

Andy Smarick, the face behind Flypaper, makes three predictions about RTTT finalists: 1) No Rural States; 2) States that received grants from Gates to hire consultants generally had the most impressive applications; 3) State with weaker unions generally had stronger applications, though there were exceptions.

From The States

Colorado

Denise Perrault, executive director of Insight School of CO (ISCO), writes for the Denver Post stressing the importance of school choice and the efforts of ISCO to urge legislators to support alternative educational options.

Mississippi

This Enterprise-Journal editorial urges the MS legislature to take charter school legislation seriously and eliminate the obstacles that restrict charters from thriving in the state.

New Jersey

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on Bret Schundler. NJ Gov. Chris Christie’s selection for education commissioner moving forward in the judicial confirmation process with the Senate Judicial Committee agreeing to send the nominee to the full Senate for a vote,

New York

The NY Post reports on the New American Academy, which is a trilingual elementary school in Brooklyn – the kids will graduate fluent in Spanish, French and English.

The State University of New York announced 11 early college high school partnerships across New York State, which will accelerate high school graduation for students while also providing them with an opportunity to earn college credits.

In an effort to strengthen NY’s Phase II RTTT application, the New York State Regents Board has scheduled a vote in April on mandating the use of student data in teacher evaluations.

Oklahoma

NewsOK reports on the new turnaround school initiative by the Obama Administration and its potential impact on the state’s lowest performing schools.

South Carolina

The Post and Courier reports on mounting pressure towards the SC legislature to make adjustments to the charter school law that ensures financial support and relieves them of some burdensome rules.

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Categories: Daily News RoundUp