Still no common-core appointments
Posted in Common Core standards, assessmentsThe decision of whether California should join other states in adopting common-core standards in math and English will have a monumental impact on K-12 education. And yet neither the governor nor the Legislature has made any appointments to the 21-member commission that’s supposed to make the recommendation on common core to the State Board of Education by July 15.
That’s less than three months away.
The delay in activating the commission is not for lack of interest or understanding its importance. I assume it reflects the intense debate and lobbying behind the scenes over common core and its ramifications.
If California rejects common core in favor of keeping its current standards, then it will also be making the de facto decision not to join the $350 million federally funded initiative to replace 50 states’ standardized tests, like California’s yearly STAR exams, with uniform assessments that will be different and, some claim, much improved.
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That’s less than three months away.
If California rejects common core in favor of keeping its current standards, then it will also be making the de facto decision not to join the $350 million federally funded initiative to replace 50 states’ standardized tests, like California’s yearly STAR exams, with uniform assessments that will be different and, some claim, much improved.
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Charter fund buys online software firm
Tags: DreamBox, Reed Hastings, RocketshipPosted in Charters, Program innovation
California charter school funder Reed Hastings has underwritten the non-profitCharter School Growth Fund’s purchase of 2-year-old DreamBox Learning, a much-praised company producing online math software for K-3students. Beyond an undisclosed purchase price, Hastings is putting up an additional $10 million to extend DreamBox offerings to other grades and to add literacy software – evidence of Hastings’ interest in scaling up e-learning for public schools.
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Cutting through the transfer maze
Posted in Community CollegesThe failure of the community colleges and state four-year universities to agree on common transfer requirements creates tremendous waste and confusion. It has become one more factor discouraging students from pursuing a four-year degree.
To their credit, California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott and California State University Chancellor Charles Reed have worked out an agreement that, should the Legislature approve it, will provide an important fix.
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To their credit, California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott and California State University Chancellor Charles Reed have worked out an agreement that, should the Legislature approve it, will provide an important fix.
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