Sheldon School District superintendent Robin Spears tells the school board Monday, May 14, that he is deeply concerned about the future of public education in Iowa. He said voters must support candidates who back public schools. School board vice president Susan Rensink and district business manager LaDonn Hartzell. Tom Lawrence Tom Lawrence May 14, 2018 SHELDON—Sheldon School…
Category: Failing Schools
The Slow and Fast Assault on Public Education
May 14, 2018 HENRY A. GIROUX Since Donald Trump’s election in November 2016, there have been few occasions to feel hopeful about politics. But now we are witnessing a proliferation of causes for hope, as brave students from Parkland, Florida, and equally courageous teachers throughout the United States lead movements of mass demonstrations, walkouts, and…
NC’s average teacher pay is $51,214. How many teachers make that?
By Kelly Hinchcliffe, WRAL education reporter RALEIGH, N.C. — In March, the state education department released the new figure – North Carolina’s average teacher pay reached $51,214 this year, the first time it has surpassed $50,000. Media outlets, including WRAL News, reported the salary estimate. Soon after, comments came streaming in to the WRAL newsroom, disputing the…
State takeover of JCPS: What the audit says and the district has done
(Photo: Marty Pearl/Special to Courier Journal) Mandy McLaren, Louisville Courier JournalPublished 11:27 a.m. ET May 7, 2018 In recommending a state takeover of Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky’s education chief pointed to 10 main problem areas. Those problems, interim education commissioner Wayne Lewis says, show a pattern of widespread dysfunction continues to exist and can only be fixed through…
A state takeover of JCPS won’t fix the district’s core problems
Cindy Cushman, Updated 9:42 a.m. ET May 8, 2018 There have been many opinions voiced about the recommended state takeover of JCPS. I agree with those who have been speaking out against a takeover for the many good reasons mentioned. What I haven’t seen is much talk about the schools labeled as “chronically failing” –…
‘Racist’ teachers union blocking black student success in JCPS, pastor says
Mandy McLaren, Louisville Courier Journal| Updated 11:18 p.m. ET May 8, 2018 The local teachers union is a “racist institution” standing in the way of higher academic achievement for Jefferson County Public Schools’ African-American students, a Louisville pastor said. Jerry Stephenson, senior pastor of the Midwest Church of Christ, made the comments outside a JCPS board meeting…
Chromebooks in education: Everything you need to know
student needs a few basic things to get the most an education has to offer and a Chromebook is a great way to fulfill those basics. A big part of the essentials are tools to get and stay organized, a resource to study and find the information they need to know, and a system where they can…
Why American Students Haven’t Gotten Better at Reading in 20 Years
Schools usually focus on teaching comprehension skills instead of general knowledge—even though education researchers know better. NATALIE WEXLER APR 13, 2018 Every two years, education-policy wonks gear up for what has become a time-honored ritual: the release of the Nation’s Report Card. Officially known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, the data…
You can’t fix struggling schools until you truly help our hurting kids
Latascha Craig, Opinion Contributor Updated 2:51 p.m. ET April 26, 2018 “Fixing underperforming schools” is a much bigger phenomena than we as a state realize. And the responsibility to “fix” this situation is not incumbent upon one entity. Consider psychological trauma. It has an enormous impact on families, and more specifically, on the achievement of students…
S.C. Department of Education taking over historically failing Williamsburg County schools
By Seanna Adcox Apr 11, 2018 COLUMBIA — The S.C. Department of Education is taking over 12 schools in Williamsburg County, making it the second district-wide takeover in less than a year. State Superintendent Molly Spearman declared a state of emergency Wednesday for the rural district of about 3,800 students, citing major fiscal and academic problems….
Standing Strong for Public Education! 