N.J. to hike salary cap for superintendents after 5-year freeze

New Jersey wants to hike the maximum salary for school superintendents to about $191,500 with incentives to earn more if school chiefs stay in the same district. The new salary cap, which would go into effect next year and last for seven years, includes changes to help districts retain their school chiefs. Read more>>

A record 55 percent of New York City high school students from the class of 2015 enrolled in college—up from 53 percent the year before. The record percentage of students who enrolled in two- or four-year colleges, vocational programs or public service programs after graduation was also up four percentage points from the Class of 2013. Read more>>

Eight Berkeley USD students filed a federal civil rights lawsuit seeking class-action status, alleging the district racially profiled and intimidated them in an attempt to gather information about a teacher who had fallen out of favor with the district. Read more>>

Pamla Mills-Senn

Matthew Peterson, CEO and co-founder of Mind Research Institute, is intent upon transforming the perception of math from intimidating to something that’s exciting and approachable. And the Math Fair is integral to this effort, giving attendees plenty of fun, hands-on mathematical experiences. Read more>>

Prince George’s County Public Schools has launched a detailed student safety plan, five months after a former school aide was indicted on charges that he sexually abused students. The plan lays out steps the school system must take in four critical areas aimed at ensuring there won’t be any repeats of the scandal. Read more>>

State lawmakers are considering changes to the way North Carolina public schools are funded after a study found that the state's current funding model is too complex, lacks transparency and accountability and at times favors wealthier counties. Read more>>

Untouched food at local schools is going into the trash instead of the bellies of hungry students. A bill just filed in the Texas Legislature could change that by allowing schools to give leftover food to a nonprofit, such as a food bank, without liability. Read more>>

Florida's school principals are increasingly feeling the pressure of competing for students in the same way business owners have to compete for customers. Business executives can mentor principals on strategic planning, problem solving, innovative thinking and other corporate leadership skills that can help improve the quality of student education. Read more>>

The initial impact of the new Kentucky Dual Credit Scholarship Program has been immediate and dramatic. Data show 36.3 percent more high school students are enrolled in dual credit courses this semester, compared to last fall 2015 with a 49.9 percent increase in the total number of courses taken. Read more>>

The case the U.S. Supreme Court recently heard about a disabled Michigan child who was forbidden to bring her service dog to school turns on the details of complex federal laws. But the bigger question it raises is: When should the courts be open to parents who say the schools have mistreated their children? Read more>>

In approximately one year, Des Moines Public Schools has worked with Epson to install more than 2,100 BrightLink 595Wi interactive, touch-enabled projectors across its 65 schools. Read more>>

Canvas by Instructure, an open online learning management system, launched a new mobile app that allows parents or designated guardians to monitor their children's education and progress. The Canvas Parent app is available to all iOS and Android users to help parents of K12 students stay informed on their children's assignments, grades and overall schooling. Read more>>

A new integrated, web-based platform was launched for managing all aspects of Parts B & C compliance of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The features include an automated seven-step process to implement best practices when addressing a noncompliance finding or improvement initiative. Read more>>

Florida Department of Education officials are looking for ways to funnel more money to the state's aging schools and their growing backlog of deferred maintenance and repairs. A proposed new formula would place more emphasis on facilities' age and square footage, and less on the average allocation over the past five years. Read more>>

There is no magic wand that can fix years of disrepair in some schools in a miraculous matter of days or even months. But with safeguards in place to ensure openness and transparency to all taxpayers, Broward County School District is on track to meet the promised goal made to voters before the bond was approved of completing nearly 1,400 improvements to facilities by 2022. Read more>>

The West Virginia School Building Authority (SBA) is trying to ensure there will be $50 million for SBA board members to disburse next month for school construction and renovation projects across the state. For this year’s “needs” grant funding cycle, the SBA has received requests from 18 public school systems for a total of about $84 million in SBA dollars. Read more>>