AM News: USDE Slams State Waiver Applications

Feds Have Harsh Criticism, Disappointing Reviews For States' Education AP via HuffPost: The letters were obtained by The Associated Press for all of the states except Tennessee and Kentucky, which declined to provide them until an announcement is made on whether a waiver is granted. The Education Department has previously said it expected to notify states by mid-January.

Utah Schools Start Adopting Open Source Textbooks AP via HuffPost: Utah classrooms may soon be making the switch to open-source online textbooks that can be cheaper and easier to update.

Documents For $100 Million Facebook Pledge Ordered Public AP via HuffPost: The state's largest city must produce a list of documents related to a $100 million pledge to its public schools from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, a judge ruled Friday.

New Sex Education Mandate Taking Effect NYT: A new sex education mandate is taking effect in New York City public schools, starting Tuesday in the high schools. All public middle schools and high schools are required to include sex education lessons in existing health classes

More City Principals Sign Letter Protesting Evaluation System NYT: All of the political talk in the last week about negotiations over a state teacher evaluation system seems to be having some impact: more principals are putting their name to a letter that protests the state's system. The latest tally is 1,318 signatures. New York lists 4,511 principals in the state.

Florida Bills Would Allow Parents To Fire Teachers, Require Teachers To Grade Parents HuffPost: Two bills in the Florida legislature would give parents overarching power to demand sweeping changes at low-performing schools.