NJ Spotlight--First Look at New School Standards Without Battles of Years Gone By
Commissioner Repollet and staff preview slightly revised requirements for six subject areas for state Board of Education
In a process that started in earnest in 1996 at the height of the standards and testing movement, the state every few years reviews and revises the requirements for what every New Jersey student should know and be able to do.
While the standards from cycle to cycle haven’t changed all that much, they do remain closely examined benchmarks that assist districts to set curriculums and purchase textbooks and other instructional materials.
John Mooney | December 5, 2019 | Education
NPR--A Dreaded Part Of Teachers' Jobs: Restraining And Secluding Students
Brent McGinn spent a year early in his career working with students who could sometimes hurt themselves.
The special education teacher recalls a student who would sometimes hit his head on the tile floor, full force. When that happened, McGinn faced a tough decision. "If I put a pad between that kid and the tile, it's going to soften it, but it's not going to stop him from full-force hitting his head into something," he says. "Whereas restraint would."
Clare Lombardo, Jenny Abamu| December 5, 20196:00 AM ET
Education Week--I Am an English Teacher. Rubrics Are No Way to Teach Writing
Treat writing as the art we know it is
Rubrics aren't going away anytime soon, but let's not pretend they always help students or tackle the biggest problem in student writing. Rubrics give students criteria for how their grade will be determined using a detailed chart which indicates different levels of proficiency.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/12/04/i-am-an-english-teacher-rubrics-are.html
Peter Machera | December 4, 2019
Politics K-12 (Education Week)--Parents Report Obstacles in Filing Special Education Complaints, Watchdog Says
A new federal watchdog report about concerns and disputes over special education services says that parents often have a hard time initiating complaints—but also that these barriers don't affect all parents in the same way.
"IDEA Dispute Resolution Activity in Selected States Varied Based on School Districts' Characteristics" looked at complaints in five states over services provided to students under the Individuals With Disabiliites Education Act.
Andrew Ujifusa on December 4, 2019 3:23 PM
Chalkbeat--Shabazz unveiled as Newark’s fifth career academy; will offer engineering classes
With great fanfare, Newark has unveiled its latest career academy, one with an engineering focus at Malcolm X Shabazz High School.
https://chalkbeat.org/posts/newark/2019/12/04/shabazz-engineering-career-academy/
Devna Bose| December 4, 2019
Education Dive--Rhode Island right-to-education lawsuit to be heard in federal court
An attorney for the plaintiffs says the case could have an “electric effect” on public schools if it ultimately makes it before the U.S. Supreme Court.
A federal judge will hear oral arguments Thursday in the latest case saying education is a right under the U.S. Constitution — litigation with the potential to have an “electric effect” on public schools, experts say.
Cook v. Raimondo is a Rhode Island class action lawsuit in which the plaintiffs — ranging from a toddler born last year to recent high school graduates — argue the state is not providing an education that adequately prepares students to participate as informed citizens in civic life.
Linda Jacobson @lrj417| Dec. 4, 2019