Andrew Ujifusa, Chienyi Cheri Hung, and Doris NhanEducation Week
Anxiety about and opposition to the Common Core State Standards
continues to highlight many debates about education policy. Now,
several states are reassessing, through legislation, their
involvement with the standards and associated assessments.
Governors have also issued executive orders regarding the
standards. As in 2013, many of the common-core bills aren’t
getting a great deal of traction, but that could change.
Education Week offers an interactive infographic that tracks the
status of such legislation and executive orders.
Texas public universities remain more affordable compared with
most states, though out-of-pocket costs for many families
continue to rise.That’s based on
a Dallas Morning News analysis of cost data that
colleges report to the federal government.
The published cost to attend a Texas public university averages
more than $20,000 a year for in-state students. Thanks to
financial aid, most students pay less than that.
If Common Core leaves you confused, you’re not alone.The academic
standards were adopted by most states with little fanfare, but
have generated much controversy of late.
Bystander intervention is so easy to grasp, even by the most
inexperienced college freshman, that the program may well be the
best hope for reducing sexual assaults on campuses. Mostly it is
common sense: If a drunk young man at a party is pawing a drunk
young woman, then someone nearby (the bystander) needs to step in
(intervene) and get one of them out of there. Of course, that can
be tricky at times.
The poll found that while only 37 percent of the public has
“seen, read, or heard” “some” or “a great deal” about schools
collecting, storing and sharing information, including age,
weight and grades, 90 percent are “somewhat” or “very” concerned
about private companies having access to student data.
Long-anticipated research into massive open online courses taught
by MIT and Harvard finds that, while very few participants
complete these classes, many others take advantage of
“substantial” amounts of the content.
For decades, children in Chicago had one of the shortest
elementary school days in the country, and students were in class
fewer days than their peers not only nationally but also in much
of the developed world. Rahm Emanuel vowed in his successful 2011
mayoral campaign both to rectify the situation and to give
Chicago’s kids a well-rounded education during their additional
school hours.
Across Virginia, about $23 million designated for preschool was
left on the table because localities — citing limited resources,
lack of classroom space and politics — did not contribute the
required matching funds to take full advantage of the program. As
a result, more than 6,000 disadvantaged children missed the
opportunity to go to school before kindergarten.
For years, Jennifer Dresmich, a middle school teacher in
Pittsburgh, saw students come back from summer vacation further
behind than when they left. Lessons from the prior year seemed to
have evaporated under the summer sun. Some students needed weeks,
if not months, of review before they were ready to settle into
their new grade.
Two-thirds of teachers polled in a recent survey said they spend
at least a month reteaching students old material when they
return from summer vacation.
The survey, administered by the National Summer Learning
Association, asked 500 teachers how much time they typically
spend teaching students skills they should have learned and
retained from the previous grade. Nearly a fourth (24 percent)
said at least five to six weeks, while two-thirds claimed at
least three to four.
Repeated studies have shown that when recess is delayed,
children pay less and less attention. They
are more focusedon days when they have recess. A major study
in Pediatrics found that children with more than 15
minutes of recess a day were far better behaved in
class than children who had shorter recess breaks or none at
all.
In Laconia, N.H., high school principal Steve Beals sees the
potential of a schoolwide culture that celebrates learning beyond
a traditional classroom.
Common-Core Backlash: Track State Efforts
Anxiety about and opposition to the Common Core State Standards continues to highlight many debates about education policy. Now, several states are reassessing, through legislation, their involvement with the standards and associated assessments. Governors have also issued executive orders regarding the standards. As in 2013, many of the common-core bills aren’t getting a great deal of traction, but that could change.
Education Week offers an interactive infographic that tracks the status of such legislation and executive orders.
Texas Public Universities Are More Affordable Compared with Most States
Texas public universities remain more affordable compared with most states, though out-of-pocket costs for many families continue to rise.That’s based on a Dallas Morning News analysis of cost data that colleges report to the federal government.
The published cost to attend a Texas public university averages more than $20,000 a year for in-state students. Thanks to financial aid, most students pay less than that.
Common Core 101: A Primer To Separate Education Fact From Fiction
If Common Core leaves you confused, you’re not alone.The academic standards were adopted by most states with little fanfare, but have generated much controversy of late.
Stepping Up to Stop Sexual Assault
Bystander intervention is so easy to grasp, even by the most inexperienced college freshman, that the program may well be the best hope for reducing sexual assaults on campuses. Mostly it is common sense: If a drunk young man at a party is pawing a drunk young woman, then someone nearby (the bystander) needs to step in (intervene) and get one of them out of there. Of course, that can be tricky at times.
Immense Unease Over Advertisers Nabbing Student Data: Poll
The poll found that while only 37 percent of the public has “seen, read, or heard” “some” or “a great deal” about schools collecting, storing and sharing information, including age, weight and grades, 90 percent are “somewhat” or “very” concerned about private companies having access to student data.
Harvard, MIT: Despite Low Completion Rates, MOOCs Work
Long-anticipated research into massive open online courses taught by MIT and Harvard finds that, while very few participants complete these classes, many others take advantage of “substantial” amounts of the content.
A Longer School Day In Chicago, But With What Missing?
For decades, children in Chicago had one of the shortest elementary school days in the country, and students were in class fewer days than their peers not only nationally but also in much of the developed world. Rahm Emanuel vowed in his successful 2011 mayoral campaign both to rectify the situation and to give Chicago’s kids a well-rounded education during their additional school hours.
More Than A Quarter Of State-Funded Preschool Seats Went Unfilled This Year
Across Virginia, about $23 million designated for preschool was left on the table because localities — citing limited resources, lack of classroom space and politics — did not contribute the required matching funds to take full advantage of the program. As a result, more than 6,000 disadvantaged children missed the opportunity to go to school before kindergarten.
Summer School: Should More Kids Go?
For years, Jennifer Dresmich, a middle school teacher in Pittsburgh, saw students come back from summer vacation further behind than when they left. Lessons from the prior year seemed to have evaporated under the summer sun. Some students needed weeks, if not months, of review before they were ready to settle into their new grade.
After Summer, Teachers Spend a Month Reteaching Students
Two-thirds of teachers polled in a recent survey said they spend at least a month reteaching students old material when they return from summer vacation.
The survey, administered by the National Summer Learning Association, asked 500 teachers how much time they typically spend teaching students skills they should have learned and retained from the previous grade. Nearly a fourth (24 percent) said at least five to six weeks, while two-thirds claimed at least three to four.
Recess in Schools: Research Shows It Benefits Children
Repeated studies have shown that when recess is delayed, children pay less and less attention. They are more focusedon days when they have recess. A major study in Pediatrics found that children with more than 15 minutes of recess a day were far better behaved in class than children who had shorter recess breaks or none at all.
New England Project Aims to Use ‘i3′ Aid for Innovative Learning Approaches
In Laconia, N.H., high school principal Steve Beals sees the potential of a schoolwide culture that celebrates learning beyond a traditional classroom.