Beyond Superman: News
School Reform NewsWhat English classes should look like in Common Core era
The recent controversy over how much fiction and non-fiction high school students are supposed to read under the Common Core State Standards begged the question of where the…
Rise of the next digital divide: Women and the web
A first-of-its-kind report gathered data from thousands of women in developing countries to shed light on the lack of women on the web. On average, 25 percent fewer…
Laptops go up against tablets at Consumer Electronics Show
At the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the laptop is attempting a comeback: The stodgy clamshell design is being cast aside by manufacturers who are…
Mississippi debate over school reform evokes broader racial divide
Mississippi lawmaker Kenneth Wayne Jones, a Democrat, briefly became a political pariah last winter when he voted in favor of a proposal to expand charter schools in his…
Other countries facing common ed-tech struggles
U.S. educators spend much time touting the benefits of taking a global look at classroom technology, but many countries struggle with the same ed-tech challenges facing the U.S.,…
Gates Foundation: Test scores not enough for teacher evaluation
After three years of research on measuring teacher effectiveness, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced Jan. 8 that it takes multiple measures to most accurately evaluate teachers.…
Judge: School can move girl in ID-tracking case
A Texas school district can transfer a student who is citing religious reasons for her refusal to wear a so-called “smart ID” card that is part of an…
How mainstream video games are being used as teaching tools
People who worried that the technology boom would lead to kids playing video games in class were right: In schools around the country, students are playing such games…
Five key questions about the Common Core standards
The Common Core State Standards are inexorably coming to the 46 states and the District of Columbia, which have approved them, the Washington Post reports.…
How to include the community when making key school decisions
Technology tools and services are helping school leaders engage key audiences in new and important ways, from starting conversations with constituents via social media to participatory budget processes…
Nine templates to help educators leverage school data
Educators and administrators are collecting an enormous amount of data about the progress of their students and schools. Now that this information has been collected, how can it…
Online classes target high school dropouts
Arizona’s Sunnyside Unified School District has become the latest K-12 school system to turn to online instruction to help high school dropouts earn their diplomas.…
Commission recommends core changes to education
Students seeking admission to SUNY schools of education should be required to have grade-point averages of at least 3.0, with the aim of boosting teacher quality, a blue-ribbon…
Four key parts of successful online education programs
Progress monitoring tools and proper training in online teaching are critical factors in supporting and sustaining successful online education programs, according to a survey of school leaders.…
Schools embrace graphic novels as learning tool
Once aimed at helping struggling readers, English language learners, and disabled students, graphic novels are moving into honors and college-level Advanced Placement classrooms and attracting students at all…
What U.S. schools can learn from Russia
There is a tendency to beat up on our public schools based on the performance of American students on international tests. The impression that is created is that…
Column: Why schools used to be better
It’s one of the ironies of education reform that despite wave after wave, schools are seen by many as in worse shape as before all the changes, says…
How to sustain technology funding in schools
Involving the community, identifying backup revenue sources, and dedicating time and resources for professional development are the keys to sustaining technology funding and ed-tech initiatives, according to a…
Lawmakers approve deal to avoid ‘fiscal cliff’
Federal funding for programs such as Title I, Head Start, students with disabilities, and higher-education research will remain intact—for now—after Congress approved an 11th-hour deal to avoid tumbling…
Pearson invests in Barnes & Noble’s Nook
Pearson, the U.K. publisher and education company, is buying a 5-percent stake in Barnes & Noble's Nook eReader as technology companies seek new inroads into the potentially lucrative…
Is homework worth the time?
A recent study led by an Indiana University professor found that traditional homework assignments won't improve a student's grades but could boost standardized test scores. With many students…
Schools help students scrub their digital footprint
Syracuse, Rochester, and Johns Hopkins are among the universities that offer online tools to help their students burnish their digital footprint free of charge, realizing that negative online…
Heroic actions bring change in tone on teachers
At schools last week, many teachers got extra thanks from parents and students who were reminded in the aftermath of the Newtown, Conn., massacre of just how much…
Parents hesitant about NRA’s proposal for more guns in schools
The nation's largest gun-rights lobby on Dec. 21 called for the placement of an armed police officer in every school, but parents and educators question how safe such…
Educational gaming gaining steam
Educational gaming is a well-known concept in educational technology by now, though many schools have yet to implement it in their classrooms. But as experts often agree, gaming…