| News for Education Decisionmakers |  |
- Calif. state education board to consider fate of eighth-grade algebra
The fate of eighth-grade algebra in California is uncertain as a new bill under consideration in the state Legislature is recommending that the State Board of Education align the math curriculum to the Common Core, which calls for pre-Algebra -- rather than Algebra I -- in eighth grade. However, state education officials are considering ways to allow advanced eighth-graders to continue taking Algebra I rather than having all students default to pre-Algebra math classes. EdSource Extra
(9/5)
- Wyo. education board asserts control over accountability funds
The Wyoming State Board of Education has made decisions about how to spend $250,000 the state Legislature set aside for it to meet accountability requirements. The state Department of Education had previously asserted control over the funds, planning to spend them on items not approved by the board and Legislature. However, a legislative committee in July confirmed the board's authority over the funds, and the board voted to approve a plan by the department to pay an employee for helping with board tasks, but voted to shorten her contract. Star-Tribune (Casper, Wyo.)
(9/2)
- Ind. state board gives long-struggling school one year to improve
The Indiana State Board of Education gave an Indianapolis high school a one-year reprieve from a takeover after district officials pitched a plan to reform both John Marshall Community High School and its 14 feeder schools. The plan calls for the Indianapolis Public School System to hire a consultant to work with all 15 schools as well as specific benchmarks for improved student achievement. If the plan fails, the state education board already has selected the company to take over the high school next summer. The Indianapolis Star
(8/30)
 | Leading Holocaust Education Program, Over 16,000 Trained
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- Distance-learning program gets results in Alaska
Phillip Johnson, director of rural schools in an Alaskan school district, is using virtual learning to help improve student achievement. Using a grant received in 2003, the district invested in distance-learning programs, and later invested in new technology, such as interactive whiteboards and tablets, to assist in math lessons. The initiative culminated in the 2010-11 school year when students who learned through the virtual program outperformed their peers. Education Week/Rural Education blog
(8/29)
 | Bring the Responsive Classroom approach to your schools
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| Policy & Legislation
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- 893 school districts to seek Race to the Top funding
Nearly 900 school districts -- 893 total -- notified the U.S. Department of Education of their intent to compete for more than $400 million in grants in the latest Race to the Top competition. Of the notifications, 433 came from districts considered small, so the Education Department will likely meet its goal of having rural districts compete for the funds. Applications are due Oct. 30 for the 15 to 25 awards. Education Week/Politics K-12 blog
(8/31)
- N.H. seeking waiver from parts of NCLB
Officials in New Hampshire were to file a request today seeking a waiver from portions of No Child Left Behind, and many educators and officials say they are celebrating the decision. Michael Morgan, superintendent of School Administrative Unit 16, said the standards set by the federal education law are a "difficult challenge" and possibly even "mathematically impossible." "There's a practical part of me that says it was an unachievable goal in the first place," he said. SeacoastOnline (Portsmouth, N.H.)(tiered subscription model)
(9/2)
, The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.)
(9/5)
| NASBE News
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Should the traditional school calendar with a long summer break be replaced by year-round schooling with shorter breaks spread through the year?
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Yes |
93.33%
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No |
6.67%
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NASBE's 2012 Annual Conference: A place to connect and learn
There are few places and opportunities where state education policymakers can talk in depth about important issues and find out how other states are handling these challenges. NASBE's Annual Conference on Evidence-Based Policymaking and Innovation has always been one of those places. This year's event in Chicago presents one of those rare opportunities for in-person discussions among peers and subject-matter experts to talk about issues vital to education, and possible solutions for them. Join us!
| SmartQuote
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 | One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done."
--Marie Curie,
Polish-French physicist and chemist
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