Bringing it back home: Why state comparisons are more useful than international comparisons for improving U.S. education policy

In the News, National

Since its inception in 2000, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)1—an international test of reading, math, and science—has shown that American 15-year-olds perform more poorly, on average, than 15-year-olds in many other developed countries. This finding is generally consistent with results from another international assessment of 8th graders, the Trends in International Mathematics and…

Details

PISA Country Rankings Misleading

In the News, National

BOULDER, CO (October 30, 2015) – For 15 years, journalists, advocates and policymakers have cited scores on international tests, such as the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), to conclude that American student achievement “lags woefully behind” other nations, threatening our future and suggesting an urgent need for education reform. A brief published today by…

Details

Sanofi US Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Auvi-Q Due to Potential Inaccurate Dosage Delivery

In the News, Safety

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Oct. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Sanofi US is voluntarily recalling all Auvi-Q® (epinephrine injection, USP). The recall involves all Auvi-Q currently on the market and includes both the 0.15 mg and 0.3 mg strengths for hospitals, retailers and consumers. This includes lot number 2299596 through 3037230, which expire March 2016 through December 2016. The…

Details

CREDO Study finds grim results for virtual charter schools

Assessments, Charter Schools, Florida Schools, In the News

Students in virtual charter schools fare significantly worse than their peers in traditional schools, and the picture in Florida looks especially bleak, according to a new study by Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO). Virtual charters provide flexibility that might benefit some students, the report concludes, but right now, “Academic benefits from online charter…

Details

In wake of controversy, LCS conducts gender issues training

In the News, Safety

The controversy surrounding a gender-neutral student’s decision to wear a dress — an act that flew in the face of anatomical conventions — raised many questions about the district’s bylaws regarding the dress code, school environment and discrimination against certain students. In coincidental timing, a week after the incident, Leon County Schools familiarized dozens of administrators with the policies…

Details

Amid new test results, a call in Florida to ‘be honest’ about student performance

Accountability, Assessments, In the News, Standards

The senior member of Florida’s State Board of Education called for more honesty in test score reporting Wednesday, just hours after the release of new nationwide data showing student performance had slipped in key areas. Fourth- and eighth-grade scores in the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress slid in Florida, after years of steady improvement.…

Details

Florida Board of Education resists educator-parent pressure on test scores

Accountability, Assessments, In the News, Standards

TALLAHASSEE — Members of the Florida Board of Education want Education Commissioner Pam Stewart to provide them with more data to help them set passing marks for the new statewide assessment, which continues to attract backlash from superintendents, teachers and parents statewide. Standing by the Florida Standards Assessments and in an effort to prove the…

Details