Between 2000 and 2010, the nation's high school dropout rate has fallen from 10.9 percent to 7.4 percent, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. While this is a definite improvement, far too many students are still giving up on their education and entering the workforce without a high school diploma. In some cases, students' lack […]
Archive | News and Information
Rhode Island leaders discuss the CCSS at education summit
Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the size of Rhode Island's Latino population grew by 44 percent between 2000 and 2010, GoLocalProv reported. As a result, roughly 19 percent of K-12 students throughout the state are from this demographic, while 63 percent of pupils within the Providence School District are Latino. How these students perform academically will […]
SAT-10 scores released for Guam students
Students in the continental U.S. are not the only ones who take the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10), as those who attend classes in the unincorporated U.S. territory of Guam also sit for the exam. The Guam Department of Education recently released the results from the 2011-2012 SAT-10 testing round and, according to the Pacific Daily […]
More funding needed for the successful implementation of the CCSS in NYC
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have the potential to improve the state of education in New York City (NYC). However, before Big Apple teachers can provide their students with the type of instruction that will prepare them for college and the workforce, the CCSS must be fully implemented – a crucial step that could be in […]
Florida school district gets new grading system
From now on, when parents of kindergartners and first-graders in Florida's Palm Beach County School District review their children's report cards, they will see fewer letter grades and more abbreviations, such as EX for exemplary and AP for approaching, the Palm Beach Post reported. While the new system may take some getting used to, many […]
Some school districts find the time for cursive instruction
In the 45 states that have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), there will be a greater focus on equipping K-12 students with the knowledge and skills they will need to excel in college and throughout their careers. However, something the CCSS does not consider to be essential is cursive writing. Despite the fact that students will not […]
Federal designation an opportunity for change in Iowa schools
In Muscatine, Iowa, the state's decision to transition from the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) to the Iowa Assessments is being cited as one of the reasons why three institutions are considered to be "Schools in Need of Assistance" under No Child Left Behind, the Muscatine Journal reported. Muscatine High School, Central Middle School and West Middle School […]
Professional development fuels higher California Standards Tests scores
The California Department of Education recently announced that students statewide managed to improve their scores on the California STAR Testing Program for the ninth year in a row. This was true of the Vallecitos Union School District, which cites an increased focus on professional development as the reason for better scores on the California Standards Tests, The Fallbrook Village News reported. […]
Many Iowa students in need of academic assistance
In Iowa, the 2011-2012 academic year saw the introduction of the Iowa Assessments, which replaced the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). As the Assessments were aligned with the Iowa Core standards, they proved to be more challenging than what students were used to. The Iowa Assessments, which feature questions on reading, vocabulary, social studies […]
Challenges await New York students in the new academic year
The 2012-2013 academic year is underway in New York City (NYC) and, according to Dennis Walcott, the chancellor of the city's Department of Education, it brings with it a number of challenges. "This year is going to be a year like no other year," said Walcott at a town hall at the Susan B. Anthony Academy, as quoted […]