Chicago system issues reprieve on enrollment-based cuts for schools

Chicago Public Schools officials said the system will not cut an extra $35 million from schools that enrolled fewer students than expected following the term's first two weeks of classes. It will also continue to spend more on buildings that beat district enrollment estimates. Read more>>

The bad grades for many school districts in the latest round of report cards has upset some parents and school officials. And now they’ve angered a state lawmaker who says he’s writing a bill to change the report cards. Read more>>

A review of school finance data submitted to the state by nine districts that have been using a four-day schedule shows that the shorter week doesn’t always deliver savings. But the districts are finding that the savings, whether they materialized as hoped, are now less of an issue than some of the other trade-offs. Read more>>

While some of these larger districts have stayed together and thrived, dozens of others have fallen apart as communities have sought to regain local control of their schools. Now Maine is taking a regionalization tack. Over the next two years, the state will offer about $10 million in grants for districts to share certain services. Read more>>

Kolter Elementary is having to use a different building this year because their school was flooded. They are one of seven schools that started classes, marking the last wave of rolled start dates for Houston ISD. Read more>>

Iowa submitted it to the U.S. Department of Education for approval. While questions remain about what assessment Iowa will use to gauge students' progress, superintendents in the Johnson County area say Iowa's proposed education accountability plan would bring improvements compared with No Child Left Behind. Read more>>

Building a school’s music instruction around more recent artists and hits offers an alternative to a curriculum that’s often based on classical, jazz and marching bands. Read more>>

Teachers and administrators are tasked with educating students, and effective assessment is integral to the process. Yet the predominant form of assessment via grading eliminates opportunities for comprehensive evaluation and in fact offers a narrow view of one’s abilities. Read more>>

What’s scary about the education profession now is not that there are enormous numbers of bad teachers but enormous numbers of good teachers who have recently retired or soon will. We need more people helping teachers be effective teachers. Read more>>

Six decades later, the sacrifice of those black students stands as a symbol of the turbulence of the era, but also as a testament to an intractable problem: Though legal segregation has long ended, few white and minority students share a classroom today. The lack of progress is clear and remains frustrating. Read more>>

Sound-Spelling Transfer Kit is a digital and print program designed to help K2 students learning to read in English or Spanish languages in dual language and bilingual classrooms as they acquire a second language. Read more>>

The wePresent WiPG-1600 wireless presentation and collaboration system has been upgraded with features such as allowing users to switch among different networking solutions to meet various facility needs. Read more>>

To help put even the youngest learner on track to building strong literacy skills, MetaMetrics announced new enhancements to its leveling system. Now beginning readers will more easily be able to find books that are matched to their skill level. Read more>>

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The Illinois school district has hired William Newby as superintendent. He will leave his job as deputy superintendent in Waukegan Unit District 60. Newby will replace interim superintendent Joe Bailey, who was hired after the district parted ways with longtime superintendent Terry O'Brien. Read more>>

Nocona ISD board members have chosen David Waters as their next superintendent. Currently the assistant superintendent for Llano ISD, he is replacing Superintendent Vickie Gearheart, who is retiring after 12 years with Nocona ISD and 36 years in education. Read more>>

Shane McCord, assistant superintendent of Mesa Public Schools, has been offered the superintendent position at Gilbert Public Schools. McCord, who had previously worked at Gilbert for 19 years, left the district for Mesa Public Schools in 2014. Read more>>