TNTP publishes the 2014 Fishman Prize winners’ essays and announces the 2015 Competition

Posted on October 20, 2014 by coreeducation

Announcing Applications and Nominations for the TNTP’s 2015 $25,000 Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practice. It’s the only national award exclusively for teachers in high-poverty public schools. TNTP is looking for the next set of winners. Last year, TNTP received thousands of nominations and over 820 applications from teachers nationwide. Start an application or tell Read more about TNTP publishes the 2014 Fishman Prize winners’ essays and announces the 2015 Competition[…]

America Achieves Launches Global Learning Network

Posted on October 17, 2014October 11, 2014 by coreeducation

Recently, over 300 dedicated school and district leaders, from across the United States and Spain came together in Washington, D.C. for the Convening of World-Leading Schools. Each attendee represented a school or schools that exhibited impressive leadership by taking the PISA-based OECD Test for Schools to better understand how well they are preparing their students Read more about America Achieves Launches Global Learning Network[…]

Online Resource puts NAEP Data at your Fingertips

Posted on October 16, 2014October 11, 2014 by coreeducation

As someone who cares about education, you may already know the value of The Nation’s Report Card – the nation’s gold standard for measuring student achievement. Whether or not you’re new to the report card – also known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) – there’s a new way to get to know Read more about Online Resource puts NAEP Data at your Fingertips[…]

TFA Responds to Increased Scrutiny

Posted on October 15, 2014September 12, 2020 by coreeducation

A small group of Harvard students, backed by a national grass-roots student organization, has taken a very public stand against Teach for America. In a letter last month, they urged President Drew Faust to block TFA from recruiting on campus unless the group makes major changes – including repudiating key corporate sponsors and pledging to Read more about TFA Responds to Increased Scrutiny[…]

PARCC Releases Updated ELA Rubrics for Prose Constructed Responses

Posted on October 14, 2014October 14, 2014 by coreeducation

The PARCC ELA/literacy prose constructed response item rubrics have been updated with the help of educators across PARCC states to reflect lessons learned from the PARCC field test. A PCR item asks students to produce a robust written reply to a prompt. The rubrics are a voluntary resource, aligned to the CCSS, and designed to Read more about PARCC Releases Updated ELA Rubrics for Prose Constructed Responses[…]

Upcoming (and recorded) Webinars from the Regional Ed Labs

Posted on October 13, 2014October 11, 2014 by coreeducation

The Regional Education Laboratories offer a number of webinars that are of interest to education reformers. Below, you will find a list of recently recorded webinars as well an upcoming event of interest. Effective School Leaders This webinar explores the role of school leaders in fostering teacher effectiveness and discusses strategies they can use to Read more about Upcoming (and recorded) Webinars from the Regional Ed Labs[…]

International Benchmarking: State and National Education Performance Standards

Posted on October 10, 2014October 4, 2014 by coreeducation

There is considerable variance in state performance standards, exposing a large gap in expectations between the states with the highest standards and the states with the lowest standards. Although this gap in expectations is large, many policymakers may not be aware of just how large it is. In general, the difference between the standards in Read more about International Benchmarking: State and National Education Performance Standards[…]

Ending Teacher Tenure Would Have Little Impact on its Own

Posted on October 9, 2014October 4, 2014 by coreeducation

Matthew M. Chingos of The Brookings Institution has written a compelling new piece arguing that ending teacher tenure would have little impact on its own. Tenure for public school teachers is increasingly under attack, with the Vergara v. California judge ruling in June that “both students and teachers are unfairly, unnecessarily and for no legally Read more about Ending Teacher Tenure Would Have Little Impact on its Own[…]

New Toolkit Helps Educators Engage Students

Posted on October 8, 2014March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

A new toolkit from REL West at WestEd helps educators productively engage students in school improvement efforts, including generating and analyzing data. The Speak Out, Listen Up! toolkit offers strategies for eliciting student voice, or perspective, about education challenges — a perspective that is beneficial in rethinking policies and practices. The toolkit provides instructions and Read more about New Toolkit Helps Educators Engage Students[…]

Great Principals at Scale: Creating District Conditions That Enable All Principals to Be Effective

Posted on October 7, 2014October 4, 2014 by coreeducation

School leaders are critical in the lives of students and to the development of their teachers. Unfortunately, in too many instances, principals are effective in spite of – rather than because of – district conditions. To truly improve student achievement for all students across the country, well-prepared principals need the tools, support, and culture that Read more about Great Principals at Scale: Creating District Conditions That Enable All Principals to Be Effective[…]

New STEM Initiative: Blow Minds. Teach STEM.

Posted on October 6, 2014October 4, 2014 by coreeducation

Urban Teacher Center (UTC) together with 100Kin10 and dozens of partner organizations, announced the launch of “Blow Minds, Teach STEM,” a coordinated, co-funded campaign to inspire undergraduates and recent graduates with strong science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to become teachers. The U.S. ranks 27th in math and 20th in science among industrialized countries, Read more about New STEM Initiative: Blow Minds. Teach STEM.[…]

Finn: Eight of the Toughest Challenges Schools Still Face

Posted on October 3, 2014September 12, 2020 by coreeducation

Chester E. Finn Jr., a veteran of the education policy wars in the United States over the last several decades, finds two main things to be pleased about in terms of school reform, but eight main things to be targeted as needed reforms for the future. Following are his two positives: First, we now judge Read more about Finn: Eight of the Toughest Challenges Schools Still Face[…]

Achieve Creates Tool to Help School Districts Track Their Use of Assessments

Posted on October 2, 2014September 26, 2014 by coreeducation

Earlier this summer, Achieve launched the Student Assessment Inventory for School Districts, a new tool to help school district leaders to take stock of how many assessments are administered throughout a school year and for what purposes they are given. Designed from a student perspective, the tool can be used by education leaders to make Read more about Achieve Creates Tool to Help School Districts Track Their Use of Assessments[…]

“Bar Exam” for Teachers looks more likely

Posted on October 1, 2014September 26, 2014 by coreeducation

According to the 46th annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll, the American public sees a need for change in how teachers are prepared, meaning a higher likelihood for the teacher “bar exam”. With stunning unanimity, the American public has concluded the nation must demand more of its future teachers and those who prepare them, a new Read more about “Bar Exam” for Teachers looks more likely[…]

CCSSO Wants Your Comments on Revised Standards for Education Leaders

Posted on September 30, 2014September 26, 2014 by coreeducation

The Council of Chief State School Officers is seeking feedback from the public on draft standards for education leaders that aim to ensure district and school leaders are able to improve student achievement and meet new, higher expectations. The standards detail the leadership skills and knowledge effective district and school leaders need in order to Read more about CCSSO Wants Your Comments on Revised Standards for Education Leaders[…]

U.S. Department of Education Issues New Guidelines On Collecting Student Data

Posted on September 29, 2014September 26, 2014 by coreeducation

This past July, the U.S. Department of Education released the Transparency Best Practices for Schools and Districts, a new set of guidelines created to improve relations between school districts and parents surrounding school districts’ collection, maintenance, and distribution of student data. The new guidelines seek to keep parents more informed and if properly implemented, such Read more about U.S. Department of Education Issues New Guidelines On Collecting Student Data[…]