- The Common Core Technical Core Standards were recently released; they’re divided into 16 clusters and 12 overarching, “career-ready” practices.
- Results on the first National Association of Education Progress (NAEP) of both hands-on and interactive computer-based science tests found that our 4th, 8th, and 12th graders did poorly on higher-level problem-solving and critical thinking in real and simulated lab settings. Plus, less than 1/3 of 8th graders scored at the proficient level on the science 2011 NAEP.
- Most kids will be taking standardized math and English tests online in three years–but not all see this as a positive or practical move.
- The Pennsylvania House has okayed a bill that would count student performance on a wide variety of measures for 50% of teacher and principal ratings. Currently, teachers rated unsatisfactory for two years in a row can be fired. Less then 1% of Pennsylvania teachers received such a rating in the 2009-10 school year.
- An Education Trust report finds that teachers feel they’re being held accountable for things beyond their control. Also found: school culture and quality leadership matter more to them than student demographics and salaries.