- Conventional wisdom suggests would-be GOP presidential candidates are supposed to disavow the Common Core (cf. Bobby Jindal), but Jeb Bush and Governor John Kasich didn’t get the memo. During a speech last Thursday in Washington, the former Florida governor emphasized the importance of raising academic standards in America’s schools, which starts with the Common Core. And if states opt to forgo adoption, any replacement ought to be even more rigorous, Bush said. Likewise, Governor Kasich, speaking last week at the Republican Governors Association, continued his strong and unwavering support of the CCSS, reiterating that governors wrote the standards and not the federal government. In other words, the Common Core is not a litmus test for Republicans.
- Due to tougher teacher exams, New York State saw a 20 percent drop in the number of new certifications for the 2013–14 school year, reports the New York Times. The Empire State introduced the new assessments last year in an attempt to boost the caliber of new teachers. Those who don’t pass can’t teach in public schools. Better still, ed schools with high failure rates risk losing accreditation. Raising standards for teachers was a critical part of the "Massachusetts miracle," and we're glad to see others following suit.
- The Atlantic published a big article written by Sarah Carr this month about a No Excuses high school in New Orleans that might be overdoing it on the discipline front. In a city with a plethora of school choices, many parents are enthusiastically sending their kids to ones that emphasize strict adherence to rules. Indeed, there’s evidence that these practices have helped boost student scores since 2007—and that kids from no-excuses charter school are more likely to go to college. Nevertheless, Carr’s thoughtful piece takes issue with strategies that take students out of the classroom—namely, suspensions and expulsions. It’s an important distinction, and one that many of New Orleans’ schools—and schools everywhere—are beginning to re-think.
