Uneven opportunity. A new College Board report shows that while thousands more students are taking (and passing) Advanced Placement exams, those opportunities vary depending on location and race. (USA Today)

“College is an inside game.” A San Jose charter school seeks to teach “college as a second language,” helping first generation students navigate the logistics—as well as the academicContinue Reading »

Can educators assess student performance in art, music, and physical education? Leaders in a Colorado district think so. (Slate)

“No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher’s dirty looks.” What other school-related songs would you add to this list? (Schools of Thought/CNN)

Big investment. New figures show that raising a kid tops $234,000 these days—and that’s before college tContinue Reading »

To make those little hearts go pitter patter. Parents at a San Francisco school are paying $71,000 for a gym teacher to provide class for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. The position was previously eliminated because of budget cuts. (The Bay Citizen)

themomsbuzz.com

Because love, and apparently confusion, are blind. A new mobile app marContinue Reading »

‘A time to shine.’ Valencia Community College in Orlando, Fla., is the winner of the first-ever Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, awarded “for delivering exceptional results.” Education Sector’s Kevin Carey explains why this award is important for the community college industry – and why more conversations about performance among two-year institutions sContinue Reading »

Breaking the bank. The National Education Association reportedly lost more than $225,000 “due to the actions of two former employees,” but they’re staying mum on the details. (Real Clear Politics)

What about better parents? An international assessment of student performance in reading, math, and science explains why parents are just as crucial as teachers in the educational process, writContinue Reading »

Kansas City schools lose accreditation. Kansas City officials and community members are reeling over a state decision Tuesday to strip the city school district of its accreditation. Schools are bracing for a potential exodus of students, while parents are trying to figure out what it means. (Kansas City Star)

Charter-district collaborations to expand. Schools in Boston, Sacramento, CalifContinue Reading »

The question a recent CRPE report tries to answer about national board certification bonuses: “Washington State is set to spend nearly $100 million in the next two years on pay bonuses for teachers who receive national board certification. This investment is supposed to improve the state’s teaching force and encourage the most capable teachers to work in high-poverty schools. Does itContinue Reading »

Quick Hits is a short compilation of question-raising news stories, blog posts, and video clips that Education Sector team members are reading and viewing each day. The content of these Hits is not necessarily endorsed by the organization or any particular team member.

Could PE boost academic achievement? (Curriculum Matters)

When a Duke profeContinue Reading »

The First Lady highlighted a serious issue yesterday. Here’s a roundup.

Can recess improve student performance? Principals say yes. (Curriculum Matters)

What’s for lunch? (Fed Up: School Lunch Project)

What steps do schools and families need to take to eliminate childhood obesity? (New York Times)

Where can teachers find activities to increase stuContinue Reading »

From USA Today: “Time spent in physical education does not detract from elementary school students’ ability to excel in the classroom and may even help improve girls’ academic performance, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.”

Wait, I thought that boys were the ones that had to move around to learn, not girls. I’ll just leave Continue Reading »