Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

ESSA

testing accountability

National
August 13, 2018

Pressuring schools to raise test scores got diminishing returns, new study of No Child Left Behind finds

Does tightening the screws on schools and teachers lead to benefits for students? For the past couple of decades, school reform…

change of plans

Tennessee
June 11, 2018

With A-F grades off the table, Tennessee gets creative about rating its schools under federal law

Days of online testing problems this spring forced officials to toss out a new A-F grading system to rate the state's 1,700-plus public schools.

Q&A

New York
May 29, 2018

Behind the scenes, New York City schools that serve students who have fallen behind are undergoing a ‘systemic’ transformation

At the center is a question New York City has been grappling with for decades: How should the school system help students at greatest risk of dropping out?

Growing 'family'

Tennessee
May 16, 2018

As Memphis expands its efforts to improve schools, one model is about to double in size

The Empowerment Zone, which will enter its third year in August, is a neighborhood-centric approach to improve schools.

Another pause

Tennessee
Updated May 15, 2018

It’s official! Results from Tennessee’s ugly testing year won’t count for much of anything

Tennessee teachers and school districts can decide how to use this year’s standardized test results and won’t suffer consequences if the scores aren't good.

The Colorado Way

Colorado
May 7, 2018

Feds approve Colorado’s education plan after multiple revisions, but critics see more work to do

Colorado wanted to use its state accountability system to meet federal requirements, but ultimately the two were not entirely compatible.

In talks

Tennessee
May 4, 2018

Does Tennessee’s emergency response to testing problems conflict with federal ed law? Stay tuned.

While legislation to address TNReady woes has eased concerns in school communities, it's raised a flurry of new questions about Tennessee’s plan under ESSA.

Nail biter

Tennessee
Updated April 26, 2018

Tennessee lawmakers take another whack at shielding teachers from TNReady test flubs

The legislature orders that "no adverse action" may be taken over this year's TNReady scores out of concern that the test results will be flawed.

new rules

Tennessee
April 20, 2018

Now that TNReady scores will count less for students, will they even try?

In sum, one Memphis sophomore asked, “Why are we doing this anymore when know it won’t count?”

standing firm

Tennessee
March 1, 2018

McQueen: If Memphis school leaders won’t convert American Way to a charter, the state will

The commissioner's comments come two days after Memphis leaders voted to move American Way Middle School into its highly regarded Innovation Zone.

taking a stance

Tennessee
February 27, 2018

Memphis leaders urge state to stay out of their school improvement work

Shelby County Schools plans to move one school to its Innovation Zone and declines the state’s recommendation to close another.

Dueling pathways

Tennessee
February 26, 2018

McQueen’s plan would interrupt Hopson’s for improving one Memphis school

The state's recommendation to close Hawkins Mill Elementary comes in the school's first year of a three-year improvement plan under Shelby County Schools.

It takes a village

Colorado
February 22, 2018

What does it mean to be a community school? This Colorado bill would define it – and promote it.

Community schools are an old idea enjoying a resurgence in education circles with the support of teachers unions and other advocates.

pushing back

Tennessee
February 20, 2018

State’s most drastic school intervention plans won’t work, say Memphis board members

School board members suggest Hawkins Mill Elementary and American Way Middle instead move into the district's turnaround model, the Innovation Zone.

Turnaround 2.0

Tennessee
February 16, 2018

McQueen outlines state intervention plans for 21 Memphis schools

McQueen's letter offers the first look at how the state is pursuing school turnaround plans under its new tiered model of school improvement.

Carrots and sticks

Colorado
February 8, 2018

No pizza parties, no raffle tickets: Bill would bar Colorado schools from offering rewards to test-takers

State lawmakers characterized the problem of schools dangling rewards for taking assessments as “more than one, but not widespread.”

hurdle cleared

Indiana
January 19, 2018

Indiana’s federally required education plan wins approval

The U.S Department of Education announced the plan's approval on Friday.

failing grade

National
January 19, 2018

Why one Harvard professor calls American schools’ focus on testing a ‘charade’

Harvard professor Daniel Koretz is on a mission: to convince policymakers that standardized tests have been widely misused.

Looking back and ahead

Tennessee
December 21, 2017

Here are six big things that happened in Tennessee in 2017 that will resonate in 2018

From TNReady snafus to pre-K investments, Tennessee faced education challenges and opportunities in 2017 that are sure to make headlines again during the new year.

ESSA Wrap up

Colorado
October 11, 2017

Colorado bows to federal pressure, adopts second school quality system that penalizes schools for testing opt-out

Some state board members worried two quality systems would create additional work for teachers, create confusion among the public or misidentify schools.

diploma dilemma

New York
October 4, 2017

New York’s graduation rate could drop under new federal education law

It’s possible the federal graduation rate will exclude New York’s “local” diploma, a less rigorous diploma earned by only about 4 percent of graduating students.

Roll call!

National
October 3, 2017

What states told Chalkbeat about how they will monitor their chronic absenteeism data

Students’ rates of chronic absenteeism are going to be used to judge schools in most states.

Taking attendance

National
October 3, 2017

Student absences are about to have higher stakes in most states. Will cheating follow?

It’s unclear if most states have systems in place to accurately monitor absenteeism data at all.

breaking

Indiana
September 20, 2017

Indiana has a curious plan to sidestep federal rules — give schools two A-F grades next year.

Grades based on 2017 ISTEP tests that are set to come out next month, which schools have already seen, are not part of this change.

upcoming decision

Colorado
September 13, 2017

How should Colorado respond to federal concerns about its testing opt-out policy? State board members don’t agree.

The Colorado State Board of Education will vote next month on direction for whether to change the state's ESSA plan or not, and if so how.

All-clear on ESSA

Tennessee
August 31, 2017

Tennessee and feds strike a balance in how to track historically underserved students

The change enables the state to intervene when any racial group of students fall far behind their peers.

Regrouping

Colorado
August 25, 2017

Colorado tells feds it needs more time to rethink opt-out policy

Colorado’s response follows a trip by one state official to Washington, D.C., to discuss the issue in person.

try try again

Colorado
August 14, 2017

Feds to Colorado: You must count students who opt out of standardized tests

The U.S. Department of Education told state officials that the policy is not acceptable. Colorado faces losing millions in federal funding if it doesn’t change course.

Detroit week in review

Detroit
August 11, 2017

Week in review: A hurry-up-and-wait moment for Detroit’s landmark education lawsuit and more in this week’s school news

If the suit does move forward, it’s likely to take years to have any real effects on local schools.
Indiana
August 4, 2017

As Indiana schools try to make every graduate count, educators fear struggling students will lose out

Schools will certainly try to steer more students to the Core 40; if they don’t, their graduation rates will plummet.

essa watch

National
August 4, 2017

No Child Left Behind is dead. But have states learned from it?

Are states really changing course from No Child Left Behind? Are they learning from what many viewed as the problematic aspects of the law ESSA replaced?

ESSA and Equity

Tennessee
August 2, 2017

Tennessee’s plan to ensure schools help students of all races raises red flags for advocates and feds alike

Tennessee is the only state to propose lumping black, Hispanic, and Native American students together into a single “supergroup” when assessing schools.

Feedback loop

Colorado
July 27, 2017

Colorado’s education plan earns cheers, jeers from national reform groups

Official approval from Washington is still pending.

a failure of accountability

National
July 14, 2017

High-stakes testing may push struggling teachers to younger grades, hurting students

it’s a big problem when schools encourage their least effective teachers to work with their youngest students. And a new study says that the pressure of school accountability systems may be encouraging exactly that.

ESSA DRAFT

New York
July 11, 2017

Critics call NY state’s plans to rate schools based on racial, ethnic group performance ‘dangerous’ and ‘confusing’

New York state’s proposed rating system for reporting on how well schools serve specific “subgroups” sends the wrong message, some advocates say, by creating uneven…

Chalkbeat explains

Tennessee
June 29, 2017

Memphis suburbs are receiving federal money for more poor students than they have. Here’s why.

A quirk in rules for allocating federal funds for poor students will give most municipal districts a big budget boost. Meanwhile, Shelby County Schools will receive less.

feedback

Tennessee
June 27, 2017

Tennessee’s ESSA plan gets solid marks in independent review

The state's proposed plan for school accountability rates strong on measuring academic progress, but weak on counting all kids, reviewers say.

essa watch

National
Updated

Growth plus proficiency? Why states are turning to a hybrid strategy for judging schools (and why some experts say they shouldn’t)

The idea has a high-profile supporter: The Education Trust, a civil rights and education group now headed by former U.S. Education Secretary John King.
Indiana
June 16, 2017

New data will reveal which schools are winners — and losers — in the school funding fight

In many places across the country, schools that primarily serve low-income families are getting less money than schools with more affluent populations.

school improvement

Tennessee
April 20, 2017

Tennessee reveals quicker exit plan for schools in the Achievement School District

A school will return to its local district if it improves and stays off of two consecutive “priority lists, or if it fails to improve.

First Person

National
April 20, 2017

Counting attendance in school ratings could be smart — or completely misleading

Joshua Starr asks the real question: What are schools doing to create good reasons for students to attend?

‘identity politics?'

Colorado
April 13, 2017

Vote on Colorado education plan erupts into war of words over which kids benefit

Ultimately, the board agreed to send the 145-page plan to Washington, D.C., for approval.

ESSA plan

Tennessee
April 4, 2017

Tennessee overhauls approach to low-performing schools under plan sent to Secretary DeVos

The state will delay its next “priority school” list by one year, while creating a new office to oversee low-performing schools and clarifying the role of its ASD.

game plan

Colorado
April 3, 2017

Does Colorado’s state education plan fall flat? Some who helped write it think so.

The department expects to file the plan after it receives feedback from the governor’s office and the state board takes a formal vote on the plan at its April meeting.

school leadership

Tennessee
April 3, 2017

Principals matter — and Tennessee wants to do a better job of equipping them

The State Department of Education launches an initiative to cultivate aspiring leaders who want to become principals, as well as to support existing principals.
Tennessee
March 20, 2017

Tennessee lawmakers want to roll back A-F school grades before they’ve been given

Just a year after deciding that every school should get a single letter grade, Tennessee lawmakers are poised to take it back.

school rules

National
March 14, 2017

Yes, Congress scrapped Obama-era education rules. But states say little is changing

What is changing? A requirement for states to get input from community members. But that doesn't mean input is being scrapped, either.

on the record

Colorado
March 6, 2017

Congressman Jared Polis is more worried about Congress than about Betsy DeVos. Here’s why.

The Boulder Democrat is nevertheless vowing to keep an eye on the secretary.

Unleashed

Tennessee
February 21, 2017

McQueen rips Tennessee’s school turnaround work as ineffectual, overdue

Calling outcomes "a little embarrassing," Education Commissioner Candice McQueen notes that the state has only moved 10 schools off its “priority” list since 2012.

first semester

National
February 16, 2017

Betsy DeVos’s first week at the U.S. Education Department: What you need to know

She’s having trouble getting into schools, inspired some people to jump into public service, and is still attracting attention far beyond the usual education audience.
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