The need for teacher pension reform. The debt incurred through teacher pension systems has reached $325 billion, hurting the financial health of states and putting teachers’ futures at risk, as detailed in a new report. Education Sector analysts have long worked on ways to improve pension systems, including this Legal Guide to State Pension Reform. (National Council on Teacher Quality)

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Missed opportunities. More than half of low-income, “highly talented” students (in the top 4 percent) don’t apply to selective universities, according to new research. (Inside Higher Ed)

Underfunded pension plans. Pennsylvania is trying to make up for its long-term deficit in teachers’ pensions by charging more from taxpayers. But these are band-aid fixes; Education Sector analysts have Continue Reading »

Evaluating the effectiveness of PD. Professional development is often rated based on whether teachers enjoyed it, but should it be judged in other ways? Could it be linked to achievement? (The Hechinger Report)

They got this. Officials in San Diego and San Jose are taking it upon themselves to address pension woes, as policymakers in Sacramento stall on the issue. Education Sector’s SaraContinue Reading »

Can you measure creativity in the classroom? A few states, including Massachusetts, California, and Oklahoma, are trying to find a way. (Education Week)

Bring out the crystal balls. Kindergarten officials in China were offering palm-reading assessments for toddlers to predict their intelligence levels (for a hefty price), but federal officials quashed that practice last week. (h/t JoanneContinue Reading »