According to a new Stanford University Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) study, charter school students made larger learning gains overall than their peers in traditional schools on state tests from 2007-2011. More than 33 percent of charters demonstrated higher achievement levels than other public schools in their districts. However, the report also says charter school performance is almost as varied as that of traditional public schools.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has issued a "Dear Colleague" letter to chief state school officers reinforcing that the requirement of calculating high school completions still applies even under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waivers. Graduation-rate accountability must be a significant part of accountability systems, and they must be calculated in the same way as outlined in 2008 regulations.
On December 19, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. ET, CCSSO will be hosting a webinar on the recently released Partnership for Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) and Smarter Balanced sample assessment items in mathematics with middle school mathematics teacher Jim Mamer.
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson says the state's Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Systems Implementation Plan will "take our state's already world-class standards to a new level, emphasizing a deep understanding of English language arts and mathematics to ensure our students complete high school, ready to thrive in college and careers." The plan, which will be implemented by the 2014-15 school year, will be rolled out in three phases.
Connecticut Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor announced that 46 schools achieved the highest overall performance in the state under a new rating system. The new classifications were based on scores from the 2011-12 Connecticut Mastery Test for elementary and middle schools and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test given in high school. Within the schools of distinction were schools noted for excellence among Black and Hispanic students, students with disabilities, low-income students, and English language learners.
Kentucky was the first state to sign on to the Common Core State Standards for reading and math in 2010. The standards were implemented in the classroom the same year, and tests aligned with the standards were rolled out in the 2011-12 school year. A report issued in November shows an increase in students prepared for college or careers to 38 percent for the class of 2011 and 47 percent for the class of 2012, despite a decrease in proficiency scores in reading and math.
The New York Education Department says $17.3 million in federal Race to the Top Funds will be distributed to 17 school districts or consortia of districts as part of the state's Virtual Advanced Placement Program. The program aims to provide high school students with better access to advanced placement (AP) courses.
Vermont Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca says Montgomery and Poultney Elementary Schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the New England Comprehensive Assessment System (NECAP) for two consecutive years and academic gains within the subpopulation of students in poverty. The state's first Title I Reward Schools will each receive grants totaling $10,000.
On Dec. 3, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Tennessee announced they could add at least 300 hours of learning time to the calendar in some schools beginning in 2013. The move is part of a three-year pilot program to boost student achievement and make U.S. schools more competitive on a global level.
The Nebraska State Board of Education recently adopted new standards for social studies instruction, but local school boards will have to adopt or strengthen and implement them. The standards determine what students should know at different grade levels in history, geography, civics, and economics.
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