AM News: Update From Newark

Newark Superintendent's Overhaul Plan Faces OppositionWSJ: Newark's new schools superintendent, Cami Anderson, outlined a broad plan on Friday to reshape the state's largest school system, including closing poorly performing schools and lifting standards for charters.

House looks to pull NH out of No Child Left Behind Boston.com: Two bills in the New Hampshire House would withdraw the state from the controversial No Child Left Behind law, but the cost would be an estimated $61.6 million loss in federal money tied to the law.

NGA Favors State Leeway in a Renewed ESEA Politics K12: The National Governor's Association wants Congress to give states lots of running room when it comes to crafting their accountability plans, according to an interim proposal outlining NGA's priorities for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (aka the No Child Left Behind Act.)

Connecticut Set to Boost Charter Funds WSJ: Connecticut would pump more money into charter schools and increase their numbers under a legislative proposal Gov. Dannel Malloy plans to unveil Monday.

Pennsylvania Schools’ Funding Fight Pits District Against Charter NYT: The Chester Upland district’s fiscal woes – it is bordering on insolvency – are compounded by a charter school with which it shares its financing.

In first, Boston awards bonuses to teachers at schools that boosted student performance Boston.com: Boston recently gave out more than $400,000 in bonuses to teachers and classroom aides at 12 academically struggling schools that showed progress last year, the first rank-and-file educators have been rewarded for boosting the performance of their students.

MORE NEWS ITEMS INSIDE

School reform organization gets average grades Chicago Tribune: Over the last decade, a nonprofit teaching academy with strong political ties has launched an education revolution inside Chicago Public Schools, tearing down and rebuilding some of the city's worst-performing schools.

Worshipers Kicked Out Of N.Y. School On Principle NPR: For years, small churches have been meeting in New York City's public schools. One church, Grace Fellowship, has been gathering at PS-150 in Queens since 2006. In one week, though, they will be evicted. 

In D.C. schools, early lessons in gay tolerance Washington Post: In the national push to prevent bullying, more elementary schools are introducing lessons about gay tolerance. Some lessons begin before the first day of kindergarten.

Despite Focus on Data, Standards for Diploma May Still Lack Rigor NYT: Grading instructions with sample answers suggest that the bar to pass the New York State English Regents exam is surprisingly low.

Comments

[Jacques]

I wish we had bonuses in our school district for those teachers performing above average; unfortunately, measuring accomplishments by teachers is much more than passing grades for most students, it's also making a difference in their lives with timely advice and support. There is no easy way to measure merit, but a survey among students may do the trick