The Education Department gave South Carolina a year to find a way to come up with the $36 million it faces losing, permanently, by putting off a $36 million penalty until this October. Earlier this year, the state was denied another one-year delay of the loss in federal money. In a letter to state Superintendent Mick Zais late last month, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan denied the request for a hearing. Read Full Post >
Polling in advance of the June 5 Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election reveals that residents tend to view public-employee unions unfavorably, but also believe that new limitations on collective bargaining in the state have "decreased jobs." Read Full Post >
The Florida education department rolled out a series of responses to the FCAT scoring controversy last month, including a new parent "call center" and public forums with education commissioner Gerard Robinson. An education advocacy group overseen by former Gov. Jeb Bush also offered the help of a PR firm linked to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Read Full Post >
Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) vetoed a bill that would have provided a salary increase to teachers with national board certification, and blasted the state teachers' union for endorsing gay marriage instead of spending more time on professional development. Read Full Post >
The former New York City and Miami schools chief goes back to public education after stint as consultant and technology company president. Read Full Post >
Former New York City and Miami schools chief Rudy Crew will be named Oregon's "Chief Education Officer" by Gov. John Kitzhaber, and will have extensive powers in implementing Kitzhaber's education policies. Read Full Post >
The American Civil Liberties Union says it is attempting to stop states from implementing what the group calls the discredited and potentially illegal practice of separating male and female students into single-sex classrooms. Read Full Post >
Students who use the choice option to attend private schools would have to participate in state standardized testing, and states getting federal money for disadvantaged students and students with disabilities will have to create open-enrollment plans. Read Full Post >
Various state are grappling with education funding problems that touch on a number of issues, from the possibility of a much shorter school year for many California districts, to the amount of "payback" North Carolina districts owe the state, and accusations New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is overstepping his authority on school funding. Read Full Post >
District leaders, advocates for English-learners and Hispanic politicians argue that Florida's new school grading system is unfair to ELLs Read Full Post >
