Model for Georgia’s Opportunity School District shows mixed results

Georgia’s control of low-performing schools is modeled after another state's experiment that has seen lackluster results. But, despite the middling academic performance of Tennessee’s Achievement School District, it appears to have pressured local school leaders to figure out how to improve their worst schools on their own. Read more>>

Black children are disproportionately at the receiving ends of these punishments, even though white children are typically more likely to attend a school that allows the practice, a study found. In over half of school districts in Alabama and Mississippi, black children are 51 percent more likely to receive corporal punishment. Read more>>

A state lawmaker has suggested New Jersey seek an extension from the U.S. Department of Education that would allow the state to submit its new school accountability plan after the next governor takes office in 2018. Read more>>

District Administration

District Administration, in partnership with Eduvision by JDL Horizons, will stream live video coverage of the key symposium sessions at the 13th annual Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents Education Summit. The summit is designed for education leaders to work together to address challenges in the education system, particularly those impacting Latinos. Read more>>

The Philadelphia School District has targeted 11 low-performing schools for overhaul next year. The schools will not close or convert to charter, but will get some kind of major intervention come September, ranging from merging with an existing high-performing school to reopening with major staff or program changes. Read more>>

Roughly one out of every 13 children in the New York City public school system is now homeless. Many of the programs intended to help them are either insufficient or poorly executed. The key issue is getting to school. Children living in shelters attend school significantly less than other students. Read more>>

Tennessee experienced its highest jump in high school graduation rates since 2011, the Tennessee Department of Education said. The new rate of 88.5 percent ranks as the highest since the state changed to a more rigorous calculation of graduation rates in 2011. The percentage was a full percentage point higher than the 2014-15 school year. Read more>>

When a school is made to feel smaller, young adolescents flourish more. But an effective middle school—or middle grades—program needs to go beyond the grade configuration change. Interdisciplinary teaming or other developmentally responsive programs and initiatives are also important. Read more>>

A new report found that misaligned school and work schedules cost the U.S. economy roughly $55 billion in lost productivity every year. The disparity in schedules hits low-income school districts the hardest, and one solution would be pilot programs that promote a nine-to-five school schedule and pay teachers extra for working longer hours. Read more>>

The combination of the decline of the middle class and the growing skills gap raises serious questions about the public school system’s ability to provide economic opportunity. By expanding CTE partnerships, we can prepare more students for middle skills jobs and establish inclusive opportunity for those who cannot afford postsecondary education. Read more>>

The Texas district is introducing more than 1,800 Carrier 30 Carts from LocknCharge to hold more than 54,000 Chromebooks. With these carts, Arlington ISD staff can store, charge and protect the mobile devices with the goal of having a cart for every two classrooms in its 76 schools. Read more>>

Alcoa Foundation and Discovery Education debuted new STEM-focused digital resources as part of the Manufacture Your Future educational program. The new curriculum includes an interactive self-paced learning module for middle school students. Read more>>

RingCentral, Inc. was chosen by the California school district to implement a communications solution across Santa Clara USD's 28 locations and to its nearly 2,000 district administrators, faculty, and staff members. Read more>>