- Today marks the release of the 2009 NAEP TUDA science results. Overall, they’re unfortunately and unsurprisingly low. Expect more from us on this report next week.
- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie issued his state budget on Tuesday, with a caveat. He proposed to pay $500 million into the pension-fund system, but will only do so if legislators approve his pension-benefits fix.
- Try your hand at cutting $100 billion in discretionary, non-defense spending with this interactive feature from the Center for American Progress.
- Hats off to Urban Prep Academy in Chicago, which boasts a 100 percent college acceptance rate for its senior class—for the second year in a row. Its secret: high expectations and hard work.
- Now that the dust from the PISA results has settled a bit, it’s worth noting that the U.S. isn’t losing ground on international tests. We’ve never been at the top. And America still attracts the best and the brightest from around the globe.
- Twenty-first century skills take a hard hit from an educator charged with teaching them on the Common Core blog. Look for more posts by “Emma Bryant” (names have been changed to protect the innocent) describing her days at a New Tech High School.
- A bit of karma is hitting America’s largest teacher union. The NEA is facing $14 million in shortfalls to its operating budget this year—and serves 54,000 fewer members than last year. But don’t be fooled: It will maintain its political strength by simply raising members’ dues.
