Governor signs Michigan teacher retirement reforms

Beginning in February 2018, new public school teachers and staff will automatically be enrolled in a 401(k)-style retirement plan unless they instead pro-actively choose a revised hybrid pension. The legislation would also increase the maximum employer match rate from three percent to seven percent. Read more>>

Utah's largest teachers union is suing the state school board over a new website that allows the public to search a database of disciplinary actions taken against educators. Although the database does not specify misconduct, it does include information on punishments received during that 10-year window of a teacher's career. Read more>>

The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury will investigate the use of corporal punishment among students with disabilities. Two state senators requested an investigation, stating that there is a disparity in the numbers of children with disabilities and children without disabilities with regards to disciplinary action. Read more>>

Parents, teachers and students throughout Illinois could have a turbulent start to the school year if legislators and Gov. Bruce Rauner don't reach an agreement on education funding before the summer's end. How to dole out money to schools is the last unresolved piece of a new state budget. Read more>>

Marion County Superintendent Heidi Maier issued a "no homework" mandate to teachers at the district's 31 elementary schools. Parents will be asked to read with their children for 20 minutes every night. And some assignments, like science projects or research papers, will be assigned on occasion, but daily homework will not be a part of the district's plan. Read more>>

Metro Atlanta school districts are looking to hire about 1,400 teachers before some begin welcoming students back in about three weeks. Even amid a national teacher shortage of about 60,000 this time last year, and ongoing concerns with fewer people going to college to become educators, hiring teams have concentrated on aggressive hiring and a widened net for recruiting. Read more>>

From providing a range of innovative initiatives, including social-emotional learning programs to giving English language learners quality support, 54 school districts have been named among DA’s newest batch of Districts of Distinction this year. Read more>>

Our nation is failing the vast majority of the half million school-age children with autism. We fail these children by not identifying them and treating them early. Research shows that if we give the best available special education to children with severe disabilities, they are more likely to grow up to be productive and independent. Read more>>

Extending the period for earning tenure makes sense for teachers, students and parents. New teachers will have more time to develop their craft and benefit from the support of administrators and veteran teachers. Administrators will be able to take more time in determining if a new teacher is worthy of tenure. Most importantly, our students will be taught by effective teachers. Read more>>

The EmojiStone game explores intuitive ways of learning languages through play and experimentation. Users can learn words in new languages and practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking while creating connections between the familiar symbols and the language(s) they're learning. Read more>>

Protecting technology investments, AGiRepair is expanding its K12 mobile device solution offerings to include durable iPad and MacBook Air cases as well as free and unlimited accidental damage repair coverage. Read more>>

Future Ready Schools—led by the Alliance for Excellent Education—announced FRS Principals, the latest expansion of the Future Ready initiative. The research-based planning tool helps school leaders receive school-based resources and leadership strategies. Read more>>

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Josh Swanson, currently Eden Prairie School District's assistant superintendent, has been picked by the board of education to lead the Minnesota district. He will replace outgoing Superintendent Curt Tryggestad, who has been hired as the new executive director for the Perpich Center for the Arts. Read more>>

The Massachusetts district's school committee approved Michael Devine as superintendent. He’s been the high school principal since 2009, and is taking the job at a time when the Hull district faces the challenge of declining enrollments. Read more>>

The New York city district's school board appointed Kaweeda G. Adams, a Louisiana native and longtime Nevada educator, as its next superintendent. She is finishing up a term as school associate superintendent for Nevada's Clark County School District, the fifth largest school district in the nation. Read more>>