Info 101: No Child Left Behind Morphs Into The Every Student Succeeds Act
Headline news: The Every Student Succeeds Act is set to replace the No Child Left Behind Law of 2001, becoming official with Obama’s signature on December 10. At the time, he called it “a Christmas miracle,” and it’s one that will impact every one of our 50 million...
The Homework Debate and Tips for Getting It Done, Too
We’re off and running now, so far into the school year already that, in a month or so, most school districts will close the books on the second marking period. And all along the way, parents and kids alike have been dealing with homework, often unhappily, and so I...
The Case of G.G. v. Gloucester City Public School Board
In case you didn't know, last year Obama decreed that "schools can't prevent students from using the restrooms that correspond with their gender identities without violating federal law." And this was the government's response in the case of G.G. v. Gloucester Public...
Cheating on Online Courses
When it comes to online courses, the name of the game--and big time, at that--is cheating. As Derek Newton recently reported in The Atlantic, "The growth in courses available on the Web has led to a growth in paid services that will impersonate students and do the...
About the Council of the Great City Schools’ Testing Policies Report
As the Washington Post's editorial board said, "The [Council of the Great City Schools] report concludes that students take tests that are redundant and misaligned with college- and career-readiness standards. The tests do not gauge mastery of specific content and are...
Ahmen Mohamed and the Clock
In case you missed the back story and update, here you go: Ahmed Mohamed, the Irving, Texas 14-year-old high schooler made headlines after being arrested for bringing in a home-made clock to school and was subsequently suspended for three days. Explained Irving...
Just 4.7 Minutes of Reading Spells Success
Get this: "A tiny difference in daily reading habits is associated with giant improvements," wrote Jill Barshay for The Hechinger Report. And that "tiny difference" apparently translates to just 4.7 minutes of daily reading, according to a Renaissance Learning "What...
Social and Emotional Learning: The Latest Education Trend
Used to be that family dinners and outings, combined with a good dose of the Golden Rule, taught us what we needed to know as we grew up about doing right and getting along with others. Manners, good behavior, and kindness all began at home, instilled in us by our...
Facts & Figures on Student Performance-Based Teacher Evaluations
From the National Council on Teacher Quality, a few facts to consider: 42 states and D.C. have policies requiring that public school teachers be evaluated on the basis of student growth and achievement. In 2009, only 15 states tied student standardized test scores to...
2015 Hazardous Toy Alert and Safe Shopping Tips, Too
Merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah everyone. The shopping season is in full-swing, and even on Thanksgiving, bargain hunting trumps family nowadays. So shop we will, and that means toys for all the children on our lists—purchased in stores and/or online--so beware of...
Kids and Screen Time: The Stats, The Risks, and Parent Tips, Too
Fortune freelancer Mark Koba recently reported that venture funding for education technology hit the $1.87 billion mark in 2014 and will most likely reach $2 billion this year—a considerable increase over the $385 million spent five years ago. Meanwhile, our public...
Despite education reform efforts, ACT results disappoint
Lots of folks seem to think that the ACT is easier than the SAT; it's actually not, but the rumor may account for its recent increase in takers over the SAT. Indeed, in 2015, 59% of students--some 1.92 million of them--took the ACT. The results certainly don't suggest...
Does a Shorter Week Help Kids with Their Learning?
This article by Mary Beth Walker, Dean of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, is being reprinted here with permission from the author and Creative Commons: How would you react if you were told that your local public school planned to...
Effects of the Economic Non-Recovery on Schools & Society
It's time for a reality check. Obama claims that America has now recovered from the economic recession he inherited, so now everything is peachy and we're all so much happier thanks to his administration's policies. However, truth be told, the facts tell a different...
Teachers Making Money by Selling Lesson Plans
Read all about the teacher money maker, Teachers Pay Teachers, in a piece by Tori Jorgensen, a Deseret News intern and student at Southern Utah University by clicking here, and then get in on the action by either submitting or purchasing. It's all good.
Teachers As Scapegoats–And in Defense of Them
Teachers have been in the cross-hairs (Dare I make another gun-related reference?) for years not, not just by parents and students but the federal government, too, which tends to blame teachers for problems that to well beyond their control. The list includes...
The SAT Essay on the Chopping Block
Is abandoning the essay portion of the SAT yet another indication of dumbing down when it comes to students and what's expected of them? Is this the latest move to help kids feel better about themselves and making college acceptance less challenging? It would...
The Generation Gap Widens–And Not for the Best
According to a Pew Research Center study, compared to older generations, it seems that Millennials--the 18- to 34-year-olds among us--don't seem to think all that much about themselves. In fact: 59% feel they "self-absorbed" 49% view themselves as "wasteful" 43% call...
In Crisis Mode: Excessive Absenteeism and Truancy
Under President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, billions of tax dollars have been spent “reforming” public education. Their efforts include the Race to the Top ($4.35 billion all by itself), charter schools, the Common Core State Standards, the Common...
Early School Start Times Jeopardize Kids’ Well-Being and Academic Performance
Those yellow school buses are rolling again, and, in many cases, that translates into many parents having to drag their older kids out of bed—sometimes long before the sun has had a chance to rise. The reason: early school start times, coupled with the fact that most...
