Current News

The U.S. Department of Education will dole out another $490 million in Race to the Top grants in fiscal 2013. Around $120 million will be awarded as part of the second round of the Race to the Top district competition.

Maine Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen recently unveiled the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative to encourage students to attend college.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear signed House Bill 180 into law, which will put into place a statewide evaluation system to ensure each school and district has highly effective teachers and administrators, taking into account student growth data and other measures of effectiveness and promoting continuous professional growth and skills development.

Guam Department of Education Superintendent Jon Fernandez says just complying with federal law regarding the education needs of disabled students is not enough and that additional effort is needed to mainstream students with disabilities.

The first statewide Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning (TELL) Survey of more than 6,000 Delaware teachers and other education workers found that 80 percent believe their schools are good places to work and learn, but only 77 percent plan to stay at their current school.

The Connecticut Board of Education has adopted recommendations to create stronger teacher preparation programs.

The Alabama Board of Education recently approved the ACT Aspire standardized test as a way to measure student progress in grades 3-8, and the test will be administered in August 2013.

High school teacher Jessica Keigan says Common Core presents an opportunity to transform teaching and learning. She says the standards provide a number of opportunities for collaboration, including the use of virtual networks like the Center for Teaching Quality's Collaboratory.

New York State Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. has announced the release of the latest video in the state’s ongoing Common Core Assessment Video Series.

The Next Generation Science Standards, publicly unveiled on April 9, will reshape the focus and delivery of science instruction in U.S. schools by emphasizing depth over breadth, providing students with a foundation of essential knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge through scientific inquiry and the engineering and design process.