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Joanne Jacobs
May 23, 20222 min read
Magical thinking on teaching math
We know a lot about how to teach students who have trouble learning math, writes researcher Tom Loveless. Why not use that? Photo:...
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Joanne Jacobs
Aug 22, 20182 min read
California eyes ethnic studies requirement
Ethnic studies will not be a graduation requirement — yet – -in California, reports Elizabeth Castillo on CALMatters. Citing the...
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Joanne Jacobs
Aug 13, 20182 min read
Cutting suspensions doesn’t close ‘discipline gap’
California’s out-of-school suspension rate is way down, but the “discipline gap” remains, reports Mario Koran on The 74. Black students...
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Joanne Jacobs
Aug 6, 20181 min read
California offers training for ‘stranded workers’
California is moving ahead with an online college for “stranded workers,” reports Mikhail Zinshteyn on EdSource. It will offer short-term...
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Joanne Jacobs
Jul 31, 20183 min read
‘Right to read’ fight shifts to California
The right to an education doesn’t include a right to literacy — yet. However, “a judge has ruled that California can be put on trial for...
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Joanne Jacobs
Jul 26, 20182 min read
Pensions devour school budgets, flatten teacher pay
“California’s public schools have enjoyed a remarkable restoration of funding since the bone-deep cuts they endured during the recession,...
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Joanne Jacobs
Jul 11, 20182 min read
Linking dollars to degrees is tricky
Linking community college funding to graduation rates is tricky, writes David Kirp, a Berkeley professor and of the Learning Policy...
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Joanne Jacobs
Jul 9, 20182 min read
Don’t tie diploma to college-prep coursework
Requiring college-prep coursework to earn a diploma is a mistake, writes Russell Rumberger on EdSource. An emeritus University of...
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Joanne Jacobs
Apr 10, 20182 min read
The revolt against algebra
Algebra 2 is the gatekeeper to college, writes Pamela Burdman, of Just Equations on EdSource Today. Many students never make it past. “A...
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Joanne Jacobs
Mar 22, 20182 min read
Udacity ends nanodegree job guarantee
Udacity has ended its get-a-job-or-your-money-back guarantee for its Nanodegree Plus program, reports Lindsay McKenzie at Inside Higher...
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Joanne Jacobs
Mar 10, 20182 min read
Youth football takes more hits
California, Illinois and New York legislators are considering banning children from playing tackle football because of the risks of brain...
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Joanne Jacobs
Feb 28, 20182 min read
SAT/ACT may replace state test in California
California may let schools replace 11th-grade Smarter Balanced tests with the SAT or ACT, reports CALmatters’ Felicia Mello. That might...
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Joanne Jacobs
Jan 21, 20182 min read
Reforming school discipline: Too fast?
Is school discipline reform moving too fast? asks Wayne D’Orio in The Atlantic. In the Highline district south of Seattle, suspensions...
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Joanne Jacobs
Jan 8, 20182 min read
Auto shop is sold as STEM training
Pushed to offer more college-prep classes, California high schools have cut auto shop and other vocational classes, reports Carolyn Jones...
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Joanne Jacobs
Dec 28, 20172 min read
Remediation called ‘segregation machine’
Community college placement tests create a “segregation machine,” pushing Latinos and blacks to dead-end remedial courses, a professor...
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Joanne Jacobs
Nov 16, 20172 min read
Orange is the new red
Orange is the new red for California schools, writes New America’s Conor Williams in The 74. Twice as many schools fell in the bottom...
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Joanne Jacobs
Oct 26, 20171 min read
Teaching horseshoeing shouldn’t be illegal
Bob Smith is fighting for the right to teach horseshoeing to high school dropouts. Smith and would-be student Esteban Narez are suing the...
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Joanne Jacobs
Oct 25, 20172 min read
Farewell to the exit exam
As states try to boost high school graduation rates, exit exams are losing favor. “In 2013-14, some 24 states had an exit exam or...
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Joanne Jacobs
Oct 19, 20171 min read
Special ed woes: Most teachers aren’t prepared
California has a “desperate” need for special-education teachers, said Michael Kirst, president of the state board of education, at an...
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Joanne Jacobs
Sep 21, 20172 min read
‘Transfer maze’ costs time, money
Starting at a low-cost community college, then transferring to a four-year university is supposed to be the cheapest route to a...
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