Quick Hits (12.7.11)

Growing big. Charter schools nationwide now boast more than 2 million students, the first time enrollment has surpassed that mark. Although this rapid growth may indicate a surge in popularity for charters, what makes a good state charter school policy remains the same. Here’s what we’ve learned from several case studies. (Associated Press)

A blended learning snapshot. This paper follows a five-week pilot in a blended learning classroom, which combines online learning with traditional instruction. While only a short pilot, the paper makes some observations and poses question for future blending learning experiments. (h/t EdSurge) (Blendmylearning.com)

“Black Friday-meets-Walking Dead-Adderall-driven frenzy.” ‘Tis the season for college student cram sessions in preparation for finals. While this typically brings new traffic to campus libraries, the College of William and Mary takes it to a new level. (Washington Post)

All over the place. A new report finds that science standards vary widely from state to state – and assessments, in some cases, deem students “proficient” who would otherwise be below “basic” on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in science. (Education Week)