Here’s a roundup of this morning’s education news coverage:
Va. testing interrupted three times because of issues with Pearson system Washington Post: Pearson said the company was the target of a cyberattack on May 13 that caused problems with the testing system. On May 14, a computer server became overloaded, leading to further disruptions. As a result of both incidents, 374 students across the state will have to retake exams.
L.A. school board seat is a pivotal win for charter school movement LA Times: Rodriguez’s victory suggests that charter supporters are an emerging political force in future board elections, analysts say, not only in Los Angeles but in districts nationwide.
See also LA Daily News: Costly LAUSD board campaign ends with no net gain for teachers union, charter school advocates, KPCC LA: New LAUSD board to take on persistent problems, LA School Report: Changes in faces but not balance.
See also: Watchdog.org: Union-backed candidates win big in Philadelphia primary election.
Minnesota Heads to Special Session Over Education Aid, Joining Washington St. State EdWatch: The Minnesota legislature is heading to a special session over education funding, after Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a spending bill that he said was inadequate. See also MinnPost: Despite Dayton’s angry rhetoric, advocates see a potential roadmap out of the early-ed impasse.
Eva Moskowitz calls out schools chancellor for not visiting Success schools ChalkbeatNY: “It’s interesting to me that the chancellor of the city of New York, who I know quite well, Carmen Fariña, has literally been in our building about a dozen times and has never come to our floor,” Moskowitz said. See also: Amid debate to raise cap, a charter school authorizer rejects all applicants.
‘Opt Out’ Becomes Anti-Test Rallying Cry in New York State NYT: A small, if vocal, movement urging parents to have their children sit out standardized exams took off this year, maturing from scattered displays of disobedience into a widespread rebuke. See also NBC News: Anti-Common Core Activist Talks Homework
Spending on School Security Rises WSJ: According to the survey of about 1,400 public schools around the country, 75% reported using one or more security cameras, up from 61% in 2009-2010. Similarly, 82% of schools said that electronic notification systems, which alert parents about a school emergency, were in place, up from 63% four years earlier. Meanwhile, 65% of schools reported at least one violent incident during the 2013-2014 year, down from 74%. See also AP: Survey Finds US Schools Ramping up Safety Measures.
Charters might move into closed CPS schools WBEZ Chicago: CPS is holding public hearings Thursday night on new requests by charter schools to move to different locations. Most have plans to move into private buildings, but at least one, The Chicago Tribune reports, wants to move into the closed Peabody Elementary school on the West Side.
As School Board Gives Itself More Time, Interim Schools Chief Faces Funding Test WAMU: “It looks like we’re going to have to eliminate 400 positions,” says Montgomery County’s interim schools superintendent. He’ll be presiding over that challenge while the Board of Education decides how to permanently fill his position.
