Oct 29 What’s the role of a school resource officer? In my school, I’m part of the fabric By Justin Schlottman Editor’s note: After a video of a South Carolina school resource officer (SRO) forcefully removing a student from her desk went viral, a debate about the presence of law enforcement officers in schools lit up on social media. The officer,… Continue reading
Oct 27 This artist turns mathematical concepts into intricate paintings By Twin Cities PBS Artist Emily Lynch works for a math publishing company in Minneapolis, training teachers to use materials that are created for visually-oriented students. She also creates paintings based on number systems. Continue reading
Oct 27 Can a professor be forced to assign a $180 textbook? By Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed The choice of a single textbook for one section of a course at one university might seem like a decidedly local issue. But a dispute over whether an academic department may impose such a selection on all faculty members in… Continue reading
Oct 26 Watch 9:07 Six years on, Arne Duncan says we’re testing kids too much By PBS News Hour Standardized testing in schools has gotten out of hand, according to the Obama administration. After being supportive of testing and assessment, the White House has reversed policy and now recommends capping testing at 2 percent of class time. Gwen Ifill… Continue watching
Oct 25 Watch 3:33 What will Obama’s new testing plan mean for American students? By PBS News Hour President Obama on Saturday called on states to cut back on standardized testing for U.S. school kids, who, on average, take eight of them every year, from pre-K through 12th grade every year. The Obama administration also released a testing… Continue watching
Oct 24 Obama calls for capping class time devoted to standardized tests By Associated Press Targeting one of education’s most divisive issues, President Barack Obama on Saturday called for capping standardized testing at 2 percent of classroom time and said the government shares responsibility for turning tests into the be-all and end-all of American schools. Continue reading
Oct 23 Watch 7:37 In Newark school reform efforts, gains come at a price By PBS News Hour Five years ago, Gov. Chris Christie, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and former Mayor Cory Booker launched an ambitious plan to remake Newark’s schools by creating a network of charter schools that would operate almost like a business -- a model… Continue watching
Oct 23 How a growing Arkansas town avoided segregation in its two high schools By Meredith Kolodner ROGERS, Ark. — In 2006, the Rogers school district faced a difficult choice. The student population had grown enormously over the past decade and school officials didn’t relish the prospect of a massive high school of more than 4,000 students. Continue reading
Oct 23 In a conservative corner of Arkansas, schools focus on success for immigrants By Meredith Kolodner ROGERS, Ark. — More than a dozen Spanish-speaking parents gathered at New Technology High School one night last fall to talk about college options with the high school’s guidance counselor. “A parent asked a question,” recalled teacher Martin Resendiz, who… Continue reading
Oct 22 Voters support public preschool, but will candidates do the same? By Lillian Mongeau, The Hechinger Report Presidential candidates hoping to attract Millennials, Hispanics and swing state voters in 2016 could be well-advised to make early education a key part of their education platform, according to the results of a new national poll showing that 76 percent… Continue reading