A rather large loophole. New Pennsylvania standards require that all students pass state standardized tests in order to get a diploma. Except when they don’t; then they just take a “validated local assessment,” or a test issued by the school district. (h/t Joy Resmovits, Morning Call) 

What? A college dean, speaking on the challenges of teacher recruitment, tells The New York Times that Continue Reading »

Don’t judge a (text)book by its cover. Up to one-third of high school math textbooks aren’t about the subject printed on its cover, according to a U.S. Department of Education analysis. (Associated Press)

Will other states follow? Kevin Carey explores the implications of California’s “groundbreaking” plan to make public universities accept online courses, like MOOCs, for credit. (Higher Continue Reading »

Trending toward reform. The American Federation of Teachers’ push for a teacher bar exam shouldn’t come as surprising; teacher surveys, including Education Sector’s report, show that educators are leaning toward reforming how they’re prepared, evaluated, and retained. (Class Struggle/Washington Post)

A la carte school. Louisiana, Michigan, Arizona, and Utah are considering an initiative Continue Reading »

The most important factor in retaining new teachers? A strong, involved principal. (Michigan State University College of Education)

Newly available retention data. The equivalent of one first-grader in every classroom across the country was held back in 2008-09, according to new research. (University of Minnesota)

Cashing in on foreign students. International students reportedly cContinue Reading »

Think before you act. In order to reform Pell grants (and other student financial aid), policymakers must first know more about the programs that exist: which work best, for which students, and in what ways, argues Andrew Kelly. (The Chronicle of Higher Education)

A standard definition, no longer. Several states are defining high school graduation rates as they see fit, thanks to the fleContinue Reading »

New to the accountability hot seat. Under a new agreement between McGraw-Hill and Western Governors University, the textbook publisher won’t get paid for its course material unless students earn a “B” or higher. (Inside Higher Ed)

If only it were that easy. Patrick Riccards urges his colleagues to ditch negative attacks and the vitriol that sometimes fill education reform debates. Stick Continue Reading »

Their turn. Higher education leaders are (predictably) speaking out against Obama’s proposal to tie financial aid to institutions that keep their costs down. But, as Education Sector’s Kevin Carey says in The New Republic, it’s about time the feds sent their scrutinizing gaze their way. (Associated Press)

Keeping up with the Joneses. More urban, educated parents are begContinue Reading »

Garageband for Textbooks. Everyone’s speculating over Apple’s big announcement, to come Thursday, and all rumors point to college textbooks. (The Atlantic)

Striking tenure. A petition filed in Missouri would eliminate tenure for teachers, but it needs at least 147,000 signatures before it goes before voters in November. (KSPR)

Defining status quo. EngContinue Reading »

Mariah Blake describes some deeply disturbing developments in the ongoing process of writing new social studies textbook standards in Texas, which, due to the state’s size and textbook purchasing power, end up influencing what students are taught nationwide:

When the process began last January, the Texas Education Agency assembled a team to tackle each grade. In the case of eleventContinue Reading »