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Star Ledger--N.J.'s 25 highest paid superintendents, up to $297K
TRENTON — More than 20 New Jersey school superintendents made more than $200,000 in base pay last school year, despite a state salary cap aimed at reining in administrative salaries, according to new state data.
The 2016-17 school year was the final year under Gov. Chris Christie's initial superintendent salary cap, which limited pay for most superintendents to no more than $175,000.
A revised cap that went into effect in May raised that bar to about $191,500 with incentives to earn more if school chiefs stay in the same district.
However, some superintendents are already earning well-beyond the cap in base pay alone. That is because the limit does not apply to heads of non-traditional public schools, such as charter schools, vocational districts and schools for special education students, and districts larger than 10,000 students were allowed to apply for waivers to pay their school chiefs more.
Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com| Updated July 17, 2017
Posted July 17, 2017
NY Times-- How Universal College Admission Tests Help Low-Income Students
There is widespread concern about over-testing in schools. Yet we need all students to take the right tests if low-income and minority children are to have a good shot at a quality college education.
The two standard college admission tests — the SAT and the ACT — could be administered universally and free of charge to students. That would reduce the administrative barriers to applying to college, help identify talented disadvantaged children, and increase the likelihood that they will attend a college that matches their skills.
SUSAN DYNARSKI JULY 14, 2017
Education Week--Prospects Seem Dim for Trump School Choice Initiative This Year
Members of her own party appeared to deal a major blow to that goal Thursday, when the House panel charged with overseeing education spending approved a bill that doesn't include two of DeVos' big budget asks: using an education research program to offer school vouchers, and allowing Title I dollars to follow students to the school of their choice.
DeVos, so far, is undaunted. "The House process is one part of the process," DeVos said at a press conference Thursday afternoon that focused primarily on college sexual assault. "The Senate will also be a process, and we're committed to working with the Congress on these budget items and issues, so it's an ongoing process."
But DeVos may not have much better luck in the Senate, in part because some Republicans are skeptical of a federal role in school vouchers, Sen. Alexander, R-Tenn., said in an interview Thursday.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2017/07/prospects_for_getting_trump_sc.html
Alyson Klein on July 14, 2017 7:20 AM
Education Week--Principals Are Loath to Give Teachers Bad Ratings
Principals continue to rate nearly all teachers as “effective,” despite states’ efforts in recent years to make evaluations tougher, two new studies show.
And there’s good evidence that those scores are inflated: When principals are asked their opinions of teachers in confidence and with no stakes attached, they’re much more likely to give harsh ratings, the researchers found.
That’s in part because principals want to maintain good relationships with their teachers, which can be tough to do when they have to confront them with bad reviews, the researchers say. For some principals, though, the hesitation to give low scores is a product of being strapped for time.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/07/13/principals-are-loath-to-give-teachers-bad.html
Liana Loewus| July 13, 2017
