1. Questions about school safety surfaced almost immediately following the unspeakable tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. at the end of 2012. The school had strong safety protocols in place, but they were no match for a shooter with military-style weapons.
In 2013, look for more soul-searching conversations and concomitant action about school safety. Parents have an absolute right to expect that when they send their children to school, they will be safe and secure, and that they will be returned to them at the end of the day in the same condition. But this heated debate involves much more than amending school safety plans. On one side are the gun control advocates and on the other are the proponents of arming not only guards – but teachers and administrators, too. Where this argument will go is anybody’s guess, but it’s sure to dominate the education and political news this year.
2. High-stakes testing was in the news in 2012. While many national policy and opinion makers favored testing as a way to reform the educational system, those in the trenches disagreed. For example, parents organized boycotts against testing and local boards of education passed resolutions against testing.
The National Resolution on High-Stakes Testing has been endorsed by more than 13,700 individuals and 460 organizations. It calls on the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration to overhaul the No Child Left Behind Act, “reduce the testing mandates, promote multiple forms of evidence of student learning and school quality in accountability, and not mandate any fixed role for the use of student test scores in evaluating educators.”
In 2013, expect the debate to heat up as more academics and education writers line up against high-stakes testing.
3. In addition, the related issue of teacher evaluations will continue to be hotly debated as teacher unions persist in questioning the wisdom of linking evaluations to testing.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo set a deadline of Jan. 17, 2013, for local school districts and unions in New York to agree on a teacher evaluation plan following the parameters set down in state legislation. If not, Cuomo warned, they would lose state aid. Only about 250 of the state’s 700 districts had approved plans as of Dec. 1.
4. Although 45 states have adopted Common Core standards, sponsored by the National Governors Association for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers, the implementation, cost, and quality of these assessments were increasingly under fire in 2012. Some believe Tony Bennett was defeated as Indiana’s state superintendent of education because of his support for Common Core.
In 2013, watch for news about grassroots efforts in several states against Common Core. Some states may even withdraw from the program, due to issues with the standards and assessments themselves, as well as the perception by some that they are a federal intrusion into education.
5. Parent/Family Engagement in schools made the news in 2012 with educators increasingly turning their attention to how to actively involve parents in their children’s education. On the other hand, a number of states adopted Parent Trigger legislation, which was passed to enable parents to take over schools -- although most of these have been challenged in court.
The efficacy of the Parent Trigger will be debated and tested in 2013 amid concerns from educators that real reform efforts must include the professionals.
I wish you a happy, healthy, safe, and successful new year!!!
reread your post. Think about it and realize the American student is ranked well below almost the entire western world in rankings in education. read the comments from HR adminsitrators on their hiring, they find that people educated in this country are poorly prepared to enter the work force. People from many other countries are well prepared for the work force. our children know about safe sex, gay relationships, heather having 2 mommies but are lousy at math, science and reading. the priorities of our education system is way off base and it shows in the quality of the students. When we were kids, the children were the first ones out the door of thes chool every day hooting and hollering that school was done. today its the teachers out the door first, racing to their tutoring lessons to make more teaching the same kids all too often. the school administration is too concerned about political correctness, teaching to the lowest denominator and not pushing the smarter kids to excel. its shameful how bad the public school have become.
That's why I said See Ya & am gone. I tried to be civil, but others resort to the impotence of name calling instead of discussing. The whole thing got off topic. If I do post anything else on this blog, I will ignore the person that has attempted to bring it all down to a Talk Radio level.
After the train leaves the station with this one, there is no turning back. That's not American.
She brought up George Soros & Bill Ayers. I responded. She went off because I don't share her hate for the people she hates. She has her ideas that local areas shouldn't be controlled by the centeral government in matters of education & I feel that it is needed for Big Brother to take control because Little Brother in control has resulted in the education of American children to fall below par. She then called me a one worlder. I am a one worlder, but that has nothing to do with what we were talking about. It isn't in the realm of feasibility to discuss rationally with her. I won't start with you too now. I'm leaving this blog & not returning. If I want your & her attitude I'll listen to Hannity & Rush.
They are standing in our closets, they are hiding 'neath our beds....
The National Resolution on High-Stakes Testing...calls on the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration to overhaul the No Child Left Behind Act, “reduce the testing mandates, promote multiple forms of evidence of student learning and school quality in accountability, and not mandate any fixed role for the use of student test scores in evaluating educators.”) I think we need to change the stakes, not the testing mandate. Go back to the original intent in NCLB and stick to it: to identify children early who need remedial services (Level 1 scores) and children who need supportive services (Level 2 scores), and then require their school districts to provide those services early, and measure improvement to gauge the effectiveness of the remedial or supportive services rendered. <-period
I agree wholeheartedly, unfortunately, NYS has bought into the national RTTT and CC like good little sheep. On the other hand, let me bring to your attention a far more imminent threat to the taxpayers and parents of the NSSSD - International Baccalaureate (IB). It would appear your district has given your Superintendent a blank check without Board approval to "explore" IB. You appear to be aware of the Progressive agenda behind these "programmes". I am here to urge you and like minded NS taxpayers to join forces and oppose the IB "process". Please refer to these 10/25/12 BoE Minutes for confirmation: http://www.northshoreschools.org/Board%20info/10-25-12_Web_Site_Minutes.pdf I am the administrator of Truth About IB. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in establishing an active protest page. I have worked (pro bono) with parents and teachers from across the U.S. and have had success in stopping the implementation of this outrageously expensive, Swiss/UNESCO programme. http://truthaboutib.com/
States Rights were defeated over 100 years ago? When was the 10th Amendment repealed?
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/28/tp-common-core-strips-local-power-on-education/?print&page=all IB, which is being contemplated by North Shore, is NOT accountable to either the State or the Federal Department of Education. Please wake up to what is happening in your district. Do you want control of your schools to be placed in the hands of the Fed? Or the UN? I'm not sure which is worse.
Just remember, Hitler was "democratically elected", too.He also had a national youth education program.
What a snarky comment. Just because pampatriot has a difference of opinion regarding how to achieve the BEST public education locally, you put yourself on a pedestal and declare you CARE more than she does? How arrogant. I find it so funny that self-declared Lefties pronounce themselves open-minded while refusing to see what is written in black and white while demeaning/obfuscating facts and opinions that don't originate from Media Matters or the Huffington Post. News flash: The Left does not hold a patent on "critical thinking skills". They think they do, but they don't.
So in other words, you yearn for the complete and total destruction of America, support the NWO and unrepentant domestic terrorists. Isn't that special?
Don't bite, Pampatriot. Smile, question with boldness and stick to the facts. The Left can't stand FACTS so they resort to name-calling, emotional outbursts and ad hominems.
I want to make this short. I 100% agree with you and your website. I wish the rest of the world would wake up. I have worked at a small international school for 15 years. It was a beautiful school, with great education and lots of fun for the students. Unfortunately 5 years ago, the new head (who came from an infected IB school) decided to bring his agenda to our school. It started out as a diploma school and now it has turned into a pyp school. I love this city and this country, but my daughter is now 16 and because of the costs and time restrictions put on the school for IB classes, we can no longer offer a normal High School diploma and clubs/electives. I am leaving this international school and going home where she can be educated in a normal school where she doesn't have to stay up until midnight studying and actually have loads of fun. When the IB slithered into our school I was forced to act as the PYP coordinator for 1 year. (cont.)
I look forward to a great life back home being educated the same way I was educated, the same way the leaders of countries were educated and the very same way that that those who invented the IB were educated in. It worked. Thanks again for your wonderful website. ~J.W. IB Asia 5/31/12
Really? Good grief!
Not if I have anything to say about it. This school district cannot afford another huge mistake like bringing in this programme, the tax payers have had enough!