AM News: Colorado Shooter's Science Camp Video

First Video Of James Holmes Speaking At A Science Camp HuffPost:  A 6-year-old video shows Colorado shooting suspect James Holmes as a thin teenager wearing an oversized shirt and occasionally breaking into a slight, shy smile. Reuters:  Colorado shooter: a high achiever's abrupt descent  

Common Core Writers Issue Math Publishers' Criteria EdWeek: The lead writers of the Common Core State Standards in mathematics have finalized a set of guidelines for curricular materials that seek to promote "faithful" implementation of the new standards at grades K-8. 

Texas Public School Dropout Rate on the Decline Texas Tribune/ NYT: Many school districts, including the state’s three largest, are reporting their third or fourth straight year of rising graduation rates, and the statewide average has climbed steadily since 2007.

Sponsor Company For High School Exchange Students, Suspended By State Department AssociatedPress: Hundreds of high school exchange students could be affected by a State Department decision to suspend the sponsor-company that was to bring them to the United States.

Philadelphia Students Push for Changes in District's Discipline Policy  PhiladelphiaNotebook: Student leaders and community allies working with the Campaign for Nonviolent Schoolsvoiced their opposition Thursday to the most recent draft of the School District’s discipline policy at a press conference on the steps of District headquarters.

To boost test scores, schools clamor for a horseman's advice LAT:  Dennis Parker, who is also a former teacher and state education administrator, says he's helped improve student test scores in about 90% of the schools that have consulted with him.

Comments

[Sarah]

I’m not sure boosting test scores is really a feat anymore. It doesn’t really show anything past adherence to NCLB these days.

[Sarah]

Texas at least appears to be doing something right, at least at face value, if dropout rates are truly dropping to such an extent.