EduTrendsOnline

Four lessons from four top schools superintendents

The nation’s public school systems face many of the same challenges: ­declining budgets, lagging achievement among poor and minority students, and debates about the role of standardized testing and charter schools.

Four school system superintendents have been recognized for their efforts in addressing these challenges, and each is a finalist for the 2015 National Superintendent of the Year by AASA, the School Superintendents Association.

Group proposes more assessments for Va. kindergartners

A University of Virginia report published last week found that about a third of Virginia youngsters rated poorly on kindergarten readiness and argued that more assessments are needed for young students to identify where they fall short.

The report was based on a two-year study of approximately 2,000 kindergarten students around Virginia who were evaluated in four areas: literacy, math, self-regulation and social development.

How did third graders at an underperforming school defy expectations?

The Washington Post published a fascinating article describing how 3rd grade teachers in Virginia defied the odds by raising student test scores by double digits in one year at an Arlington County School.  The grade level instructional strategy was designed by the staff and included a rigorous test preparation intervention, which literally taught to the test.

Study Finds Reading to Children of All Ages Grooms Them to Read More on Their Own

by Charles W. Bindig – Edutrendsonline Editor

The New York Times has published an informative article regarding the reading aloud to children and its lasting effect on student achievement.

Obama to unveil proposal for tuition-free community college

President Obama on Friday will propose making community college tuition-free for “responsible students,” launching what officials described as an ambitious plan for the federal and state governments to widen access to higher education.

Under a program dubbed America’s College Promise, administration officials said, an estimated 9 million students a year nationwide could benefit. The average tuition savings for a full-time student at a public two-year college was estimated to be $3,800 a year.