EduTrendsOnline

States Gaining a Say on School Accountability

Whether a rewrite of the No Child Left Behind Act makes it over the finish line this year, the federally driven accountability system at the heart of the law seems destined to go the way of the Blockbuster video.

The Obama administration has already opened the door to major flexibility by issuing waivers from the NCLB law, the current version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

GOP Candidates Forum Puts Education Policy Front and Center

LONDONDERRY, N.H. — Education may not get much attention during prime-time presidential debates, but it was center stage at Londonderry High School, where six GOP candidates took a deep dive into K-12 policy.

At an Aug. 19 event hosted by The Seventy Four, an online education news site, and sponsored by the American Federation for Children, a school choice advocacy organization, the Republican hopefuls–five of them current or former governors–talked Common Core State Standards, teachers’ unions, the role of the federal government, the pending Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization, charter schools, and more.

Districts Facing Teacher Shortages Look for Lifelines

With a new school year approaching, districts around the country are issuing urgent pleas for teachers to come work for them.

The words on many people’s lips are “teacher shortage,” and in some places, they have the ring of crisis to them.

“There are 467 current job openings, and we’re all trying to pull from the same applicant pool,” said Beverly Mortimer, superintendent of the Concordia, Kan., school district.

Technology Updates in the Classroom: Latest Trends in the K-12 Environment

By Dr. William M. Gillum
Associate Professor in the School of Education, American Public University

The evolution of technology in the classroom is a difficult subject on which to stay abreast for even the savviest technology users. New resources are constantly being developed, and the latest technology platforms are being replaced as quickly as they are released.

And now, online preschool classes. Really.

It was only a matter of time. Online school classes for toddlers and preschoolers are here.

VINCI Education is offering what it calls a “groundbreaking virtual school” for youngsters, which was featured by by Dr. Gadget, the nationally recognized TV and radio personality, on CBS’s “The Talk” late last month.

VINCI Education, according to its Web site,”is a pioneer in providing Blended Learning Curriculum, Assessment Tools and Data Analytics for the Early Childhood Education.” It operates preschools and day-care centers in Los Angeles, Ottawa and Beijing, which use technology and blended learning strategies to, the Web site says, “strengthen the main developmental areas of a child’s mind.” The company won the CODiE 2014 award (given by the software industry) for Best Game-Based Curriculum.