TOP NEWS CNBC The White House announced a plan to combine the Education and Labor departments in a joint entity called the Department of Education and the Workforce. It's unclear whether the restructuring will make it through Congress, which must approve the plan. Read more>> Sponsored Sponsored by Cisco Meraki By integrating endpoint, network and physical security, Cisco Meraki creates a safe campus environment for students, teachers and staff at every possible touch point. Read the 10 ways that you can provide the safest learning environment for schools, colleges and the surrounding community. Read more>> NPR Parents and teachers have argued that Puerto Rico's plan to close 265 public schools did not consider the impact those closures would have on individual communities. A judge has agreed, throwing a wrench in the government's plans. Read more>> NBC News Some high schools in Utah do not allow Pacific Islander students to wear leis at graduation, citing logistics and cleaning concerns from venues, but community activists say the practice is another example of the kind of cultural misunderstanding such students face on a regular basis. Read more>> From DA Magazine Michael Niehoff Here, a few superintendents elaborate on the advantages of blogging. Read more>> NBC Washington Approximately one of every four public school teachers employed with the Washington, D.C. district worked without licensure during the 2017-18 school year, an investigation found. The school district will begin requiring all newly hired teachers apply for their license before beginning work. Read more>> Miami Herald Troubled by stories of immigrant teens who say they were steered away from a traditional high school education, the Miami-Dade County School Board has directed the school district to take a hard look at how it educates newly arrived students. Read more>> San Francisco Chronicle The Oakland school district ignored standard accounting practices and inappropriately manipulated taxpayer funds, actions that in some cases amounted to the misuse of state or federal funding, according to a report by an independent state agency that provides fiscal oversight and support to schools. Read more>> WRAL Lawmakers focused on improving school safety for months have planned to address a significant shortage of school psychologists, but none of the related bills filed by legislators look like they are going anywhere during this legislative session. Read more>> OPINION The Madison County Record The Arkansas Legislative Council approved new rules from the state Board of Education that, among other things, eliminate the requirement that school districts offer journalism courses to their students. If our schools aren’t teaching youth how to sniff out the truth when so many today seem determined to give us anything but, who will? Read more>> KQED In many family and consumer sciences classes, teachers are instructing students in basics such as washing dishes or cooking measurements. But despite the renewed interest in showing children how to eat well, the classes haven't gained traction along with that movement. These courses haven't gone away entirely, but their presence in schools is dwindling. Read more>> The New York Times The College Board’s announcement that it would drastically revise the Advanced Placement World History test to start the test material at the year 1450 prompted a swift backlash from history educators. Many assert that the move would turn the course into a meditation on the rise of the West. Read more>> INDUSTRY NEWS Insight ADVANCE Insight ADVANCE announced a collection of updates to its ADVANCEcalibrate, ADVANCEfeedback and ADVANCElearn software. Their video-based suite of products offers educators the opportunity to improve their practice and student achievement through video-based self-reflection, peer-to-peer collaboration and coaching. Read more>> Lexia Learning/Rosetta Stone Lexia Reading Core5 will integrate directly with Schoolwork, a new iPad app from Apple that helps teachers create assignments and handouts, see student progress and tap into the power of apps in the classroom—all right from their district or school-managed iPads. Read more>> PlaSmart Inc. PlaSmart Inc., a Canadian-based distributor, has signed a world-wide license agreement for Maze-O. Maze-O, The Mighty Maze Maker, is an open-ended STEM building toy that allows children ages three and up to design endless varieties of working mazes in just minutes. Read more>> ✭ Visit the District Administration's PR Portal ✭ PEOPLE WATCH KFSM The Arkansas district's school board selected John L Colbert, the current associate superintendent for support services, to be the new superintendent of Fayetteville Public Schools. He has served as the acting superintendent since Matthew Wendt was placed on paid leave back in April. Read more>> San Antonio Express-News The Texas district's board voted to formally hire Eduardo Hernandez as Edgewood ISD's new superintendent. He is currently the chief academic officer at Duncanville ISD. Read more>> MLive Heidi Kattula, a former teacher and principal who currently serves as executive director of district and school services at Oakland Schools, has been selected to head up East Grand Rapids Public Schools. She replaces Sara Shubel, who is retiring after leading the Michigan district for 12 years. Read more>> |