“That’s why science is so exciting—because you don’t know what’s going to happen.” Fifth-graders at one California school send various items (popcorn kernels, jellybeans, marshmallows) to the edge of the atmosphere and hypothesize what will happen next. (NBC Nightly News)

“The most radical experiment in education.” Sudbury Valley School, outside Boston, doesn’t have teachers, structured Continue Reading »

Who’s in charge in Detroit? No one really knows, since voters repealed a Michigan law earlier this month that previously allowed state officials to appoint their own managers to run school districts (circumventing school boards and mayors). (Huffington Post)

When toddlers are “getting into everything,” they’re really acting as scientists do. And parents should foster that behavior. (San Continue Reading »

In Duncan’s second term. While state education chiefs want a reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says he won’t push for it without more interest from Congress. Instead, he plans to focus more on principal evaluation and preparation, while continuing to push for reform at the state and local levels. (PoliticsK12/Education Week)

Well, that wasn’Continue Reading »

Repairing the pipeline. This paper looks at the gaps in college-going rates among California students versus their minority peers. Education Sector analysts have also outlined how California schools can better prepare (all) students for postsecondary success in this report. (Education Trust-West)

Ill-informed complacency. Recent upticks in the NAEP science assessment scores have begun a Continue Reading »

High school diploma does not equal college readiness. One-quarter of New York City high school graduates are prepared for college, according to state report cards released Monday. It was the first time that officials included college readiness in their annual report card; next year, it will count toward schools’ overall A-to-F grade. In 299 schools statewide, the college readiness rate was lessContinue Reading »

When in doubt, throw a chicken. That’s one of the Muppet Rules of Thumb that will no doubt be on display this year as Sesame Street is brought to you by the letters S-T-E- and M. The time to introduce students to science is when they are very young—and besides, the laws of gravity allow so many opportunities for comedy. (Joanne Jacobs)

Studybook. Facebook has a new app, called Hootme.comContinue Reading »