Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

4-30-18 Education in the News

NJ Spotlight--Repollet Delivers PARCC Pitch and Plan to Educators

Acting education commissioner explains where the state is with the contentious test — and where it’s headed

The state’s acting education commissioner, Lamont Repollet, unofficially launched his 21-county roadshow on Friday to a warm if not enthusiastic audience of his former peers, as he previewed his plans to revisit how — and how much — New Jersey tests its students.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/18/04/29/repollet-delivers-parcc-pitch-and-plan-to-educators/

John Mooney | April 30, 2018

 

Star Ledger--These 10 N.J. school districts are getting cheated the most in state funding

It's springtime in New Jersey, which means the annual fight over school funding is already in full swing. 

Though Gov. Phil Murphy's budget increases school aid by $283 million, school officials are calling for more, and some districts can make a stronger case than others. 

http://www.nj.com/education/2018/04/10_districts_shortchanged_the_most_in_nj.html#incart_river_index

  Adam Clark and Carla Astudillo| Updated Apr 27; Posted Apr 27

 

NBC News--Trump Signs Executive Order Reviewing Federal Role in Education

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday aimed at decreasing the role of the federal government in education while giving states and local school districts more power over decision-making.

Trump called the called order, which directs Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to study federal overreach in education, "another critical step to restoring local control, which is so important."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-signs-executive-order-reviewing-federal-role-education-n751476

Mary Emily O'Hara / Apr.26.2017 / 5:32 PM ET

 

New York Times--Worried About Risky Teenage Behavior? Make School Tougher

Research shows a correlation between greater academic demands and a reduction in drinking, smoking and drug use.

Like all parents of teenagers, I worry that my children will engage in risky behavior, including drinking, smoking and drug use. The more time they spend doing healthier extracurricular activities — soccer, piano, cleaning their rooms (ha!) — the better.

But it turns out that what they do in school can also affect their choices outside the classroom.

Austin Frakt| April 30, 2018

 

The Atlantic--The Perks of a Play-in-the-Mud Educational Philosophy

When did America decide preschool should be in a classroom?

Most American kids don’t spend large chunks of their day catching salamanders and poking sticks into piles of fox poop. In a nation moving toward greater standardization of its public-education system, programs centered around getting kids outside to explore aren’t normal.

 

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/04/early-childhood-outdoor-education/558959/

Conor Williams| Apr 26, 2018