Amid Growing Anti-Muslim Sentiment, Education Department Urges Schools to Prevent Discrimination The Washington Post: The U.S. Education Department is urging the nation’s colleges and K-12 schools to guard against harassment and discrimination based on race, religion or national origin, a response to anti-Muslim and anti-refugee sentiments that appear to be on the rise.

Rauner: No Help for Chicago Schools Unless Emanuel Pushes AgendaWBEZ Chicago: Gov. Bruce Rauner says Illinois won’t help Chicago Public Schools avert a financial “disaster” unless Mayor Rahm Emanuel starts pushing some of the Republican governor’s legislative agenda.

Good Budget News For Pa. Schools – Sort Of  Philadelphia Inquirer: Philadelphia schools will remain open past Jan. 29, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said Tuesday. Beyond that, not much else is certain. Hours after Gov. Wolf announced that he would veto parts of the state budget but allow some emergency aid to flow to schools and social-service agencies.

Success Academy Principal Who Created ‘Got to Go’ List Takes Leave NYT:  The principal at a Brooklyn Success Academy charter school who created a “Got to Go” list of difficult students was sued by four parents last month.

San Francisco Supt. Carranza withdraws from consideration to head LA schools Los Angeles Times: Richard Carranza, a leading candidate to head the Los Angeles Unified School District, has pulled out of consideration, according to a spokeswoman.

‘A Bit Of A Montessori 2.0’: Kahn Academy Opens A Lab School NPR:  The education nonprofit that pioneered free, online tutoring and lectures is venturing into brick-and-mortar private schools. Is this the start of a two-tier Khan Academy?

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Alexander Russo is a freelance education writer who has created several long-running blogs such as the national news site This Week In Education, District 299 (about Chicago schools), and LA School Report. He can be reached on Twitter at @alexanderrusso, on Facebook, or directly at alexanderrusso@gmail.com.