A new study finds that more states are using online state assessments already, or plan to be doing so in the near future. The study also found that state education leaders are really interested in open-source platforms for state accountability testing. Researchers for the study interviewed official... Read Full Post >
We've been writing it over and over: Forty-eight states have agreed to support the common-standards push. The two exceptions are Texas and Alaska. Is that about to change? It seems that educators in Alaska are discussing whether to adopt the standards. Read Full Post >
As you know, the common standards are up for public comment through the end of this week (more than 5,000 comments so far, sources tell me). While lots of debate has focused on whether the standards cover the right stuff, whether their level of rigor is appropriate, and whether they were developed i... Read Full Post >
Curriculum Matters notes that exclusion rates for English-learners and students with disabilities differ widely from state to state. Read Full Post >
Questions persist about the effect of exclusion rates on NAEP scores. Read Full Post >
NAEP scores in 4th grade and 8th grade reading are being released today. Read Full Post >
Dear Diane, Lucid and to the point, Diane. I'll sign on. Once again, we may confront a law that penalizes schools that don't eliminate differential test score outcomes that correlate with race, class, disability, or language spoken at home. (And that pays teachers based on scores, and favors charte... Read Full Post >
Dear Deborah, The big event of early March was the release of President Obama's plan to revise No Child Left Behind. Although NCLB continues to have its defenders, the Obama administration rightly views it as a "toxic" brand. Perhaps if the Obama team had given more thought to why it became toxic, ... Read Full Post >
Florida legislators are eyeing a measure to require a 7th grade civics course, and to impose a new high-stakes test in the subject. Read Full Post >
Dear Diane, Newsweek alas is not the only source of misinformation, although its article was especially outrageous. The New York Times in contrast used less inflammatory language in support of NCLB/RTTT under President Bush and now President Obama. In a mere 500 or so words, the Times managed to us... Read Full Post >
