Broadband access bills head to Idaho House floor

Idaho's House Education Committee passed two bills designed to help local school districts secure broadband Internet. One creates a fund to invest in construction projects for high-speed broadband connections to benefit e-Rate-eligible schools and libraries. Read more>>

A new California bill is aimed at giving parents paid time off for their kids' school-related activities. Businesses with 25 employees or less would be exempt. Read more>>

The Senate’s budget chairman crafted a new bill that would boost school funding by $39 million for next school year. Under that approach, 162 districts would see overall funding increase. Another 45 districts would have flat funding, and 79 districts would lose some state aid. Read more>>

Matt Zalaznick

No matter how cutting-edge the technology or advanced the curriculum, students have a hard time mastering essays and equations if they’re hungry, traumatized or feeling marginalized by a textbook’s inaccurate portrayal of their ethnic group. Read more>>

The state’s high school graduation rate inched upward for the fourth straight year, according to a state report. Statewide, dropout rates also continued to fall, from 9.6 percent in 2013-14 to 9.1 percent in 2014-15. Read more>>

As part of a last-minute deal, the House rejected efforts by the Senate to crack down on businesses using state capital dollars to profit from charter schools. The House accepted a revised formula that weights capital funding in favor of charter schools that serve mostly impoverished students and those with disabilities. Read more>>

The Philadelphia School District owes the U.S. Department of Education $7.2 million for federal grant funds misspent more than a decade ago, a federal appeals court ruled. Read more>>

As we know, educators are under a tremendous amount of pressure right now, and have been for some time. Lack of time is the top thing keeping educators from using more arts in their teaching. Let's get teachers more time to breath, more time to be creative, and more time for the arts. Read more>>

Public schools deal with lots of sensitive issues, including student expulsions, teacher evaluations and even sexual education. If public schools can do all that while following Wisconsin’s open government laws, surely the statewide organization that oversees school sports can abide by the same transparency rules. Read more>>

A poll of 700 teachers showed that lack of parental engagement is one of the top barriers facing their school systems. Only excess testing and student apathy were more concerning. It would only make sense for parents—whose child’s diploma will come from the district—and county residents—whose taxes partially fund the schools—to be involved in that process. Read more>>

Live Music Tutor, an online platform where people can stream live music lessons between instructors and students around the world, and The School District of Osceola County will launch a pilot program to provide supplemental resources and additional support to the district's string programs. Read more>>

The new CCSS Traditional Pathway Algebra I resources are available in two versions. Algebra I Essentials provides complete online course materials and student practice packs. In addition, Comprehensive Algebra I includes print and/or online teacher resources, complete student workbooks and resource books, and online assessments. Read more>>

A Parent Media Co. Inc. has launched Kidoodle.TV globally into 145 countries through the Apple App Store and Google Play. Additionally, the company APMC has partnered with international content producers to help kids access new shows and educational experiences in countries around the world. Read more>>