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Star Ledger--These are N.J.’s least educated towns. See how yours stacks up.
Many of New Jersey’s least educated towns share several other key markers: low incomes, lack of access to higher education and widespread language hurdles, experts say.
https://www.nj.com/data/2020/01/these-are-njs-least-educated-towns-see-how-yours-stacks-up.html
Nick Devlin | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com| Updated Jan 18, 2020;Posted Jan 18, 2020
Jersey Journal--With less than 100 days to solve Jersey City school budget’s massive deficit, board is mum on plan
Joshua Rosario | The Jersey Journal| Updated Jan 19, 2020;Posted Jan 19, 2020
Philadelphia Inquirer--LGBTQ education is now mandatory in N.J. schools. Here’s how teachers are preparing.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/nj-lgbtq-education-curriculum-lesson-plans-mandate-20200120.html
Melanie Burney, Updated: January 20, 2020- 5:00 AM
Politics K-12 (via Education Week)--Trump Team Plans to Relax School Lunch Rules. Opponents Warn of 'Junk Food Loophole'
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Friday announced plans to further relax heightened school meal nutrition standards created by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which was championed by former first lady Michelle Obama.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2020/01/trump-school-lunch-junk-food-loophole.html
Evie Blad on January 17, 2020 5:11 PM
Education Dive--Ed Dept proposes easier access to federal funds for religious schools, emphasizes school prayer
In an announcement Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education emphasized that public schools must allow prayer and other forms of religious expression or risk losing federal funds.
While this does not differ from existing guidance issued in 2003 by then-President George W. Bush, it suggests the department will be enforcing guidelines under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act requiring state oversight of districts to ensure they have clear policies protecting the right to prayer in school and make available a clear process for students, parents and teachers to report violations of their right to pray.
The department also proposed loosening requirements for religious schools to access federal grant funds.
Naaz Modan @NaazModan| Jan. 17, 2020
Edutopia--Reflections on Becoming More Culturally Responsive
Participants in a program on culturally responsive teaching practices share what they’ve learned about themselves—and how their teaching has changed as a result.
In a demographic change similar to one that’s playing out across the country, the student body in Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has shifted from being 94 percent white 50 years ago to just 30 percent today. Nationally, students of color now make up about 51 percent of public K–12 students—a figure the U.S. Census Bureau expects to increase over the next several decades.
This change in student demographics isn’t reflected in the teacher workforce, however, which is 80 percent white. To bridge cultural gaps between teachers and students, many districts are prioritizing professional development around race and culturally responsive teaching, the idea being that in order to meet students where they are, teachers need to know something about where they’ve been.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/reflections-becoming-more-culturally-responsive
Emelina Minero| January 17, 2020
