Quick Hits

Groups release draft of national academic standards: A draft of common national standards for English and math was released today by the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers. The proposal includes specific benchmarks that students should achieve at each grade level. For example, by the end of eighth grade, students should be able to "informally explain why the square root of 2 is irrational." The effort -- endorsed by 48 states -- is being praised for its attempt to bring an "ambitious and coherent" curriculum nationwide, while others are critical of a "one-size-fits-all" approach. (The New York Times) (Education Week) (Google/The Associated Press) (The Washington Post)

Greater percentage of N.Y. students graduate high school in 4 years: The rate of New York state high-school students graduating in four years increased by less than 1 percentage point, to 72%, during the 2008-09 school year. In New York City, the four-year graduation rate was 59% during the same time period, up less than 3 percentage points from the previous year. Education officials were pleased with the increases but said the state's schools will make changes to boost graduation rates among English-language learners and students with disabilities, who had a six-year graduation rate of 44%. (Times Union) (The New York Times)

Report: New Orleans educators have helped to improve achievement: Educators in New Orleans are credited with raising student expectations and achievement as well as improving relationships between the city's public and charter schools, according to a report by Tulane University. The report also listed other areas of success, such as efforts to improve instruction and strong leadership at all levels, but said the school board and other district officials need to work toward developing a better relationship. (The Times-Picayune)

Hawaii to begin offering state test online: Hawaii officials are launching an online version of state assessments next year that is expected to benefit teaching and learning and cut costs. Students will have more opportunities to take the exams, and teachers will receive feedback more quickly -- giving them time to adjust lessons to improve student achievement. (The Honolulu Advertiser)

Education Department releases Innovation Fund rules: The Education Department released its final rules for the Investing in Innovation fund, leaving in place a controversial requirement that all applicants raise 20% in matching funds from private sources but allowing the funds to be secured after the grants have been finalized. The $650 million grant program will provide stimulus funding to school districts and nonprofit partners that use innovative education programs at the district level. (Education Week)

Pittsburgh rolls out program to improve teacher effectiveness: School administrators in Pittsburgh are fielding questions and concerns from teachers as they begin to implement a performance-pay plan -- part of a $40 million grant program awarded to the district by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The plan includes seven initiatives to boost teacher effectiveness, such as expanded career opportunities, new methods for evaluating teachers and a new information-technology system for tracking and placing students and teachers. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Educators question demands of teaching at New Orleans charters: Educators at some New Orleans charter schools, where long hours on nights and weekends, low pay and intensely hard work are the norm, are questioning whether their "whatever it takes" approach to improving student achievement is sustainable. While some say high turnover at the schools is not necessarily a negative -- as long as there is always an influx of bright, young teaching talent -- other say young teachers need to be able to envision a future in the profession where job demands would not prevent them from having time for personal lives. (The Times-Picayune)

California releases list of persistently low-performing schools: Education officials in California released a preliminary list of the state's 188 lowest-performing schools, representing the bottom 5% according to a variety of academic benchmarks. All of the schools on the final list may apply for federal school-improvement grants worth as much as $2 million, but they will be compelled to adopt one of the state's approved reform strategies, which include leadership changes and closure. (San Jose Mercury News)

Plan outlines new vision for digital learning in K-12 schools: The Obama administration released its National Educational Technology Plan, which focuses on raising the country's college completion rate by using technology to customize learning, taking advantage of online learning to increase instructional time and moving toward one-to-one computing for all students. The plan encourages school districts and educators to leverage technology tools that students are already using outside the classroom to better prepare them for the professional world, but some critics say it does not go far enough to provide funding for these efforts. (Education Week)

Idaho may offer scholarships to entice students to graduate early: Idaho legislators are considering a plan to offer financial scholarships to students who graduate from high school up to three years early and enroll in state universities or community colleges. The plan -- taking similar early-graduation initiatives in other states a step further by allowing students to leave high school instead of earning college credit as a high-school student -- is aimed at directing more resources toward students who are gifted or are high-achievers, one state lawmaker said.(Google/The Associated Press)

Survey - Maryland teachers content, but seek more authority, mentoring: About 75% of Maryland teachers are satisfied with their jobs, but many also feel they have little authority and that new teachers lack mentoring and support, according to a statewide survey of 43,000 teachers. The survey also found that "schools that are performing better are engaging teachers more in critical decisions that impact their classroom and their school," said the director of special projects at the New Teacher Center, which ran the study. (The Sun)

Protesters rally across Calif., U.S. against school-funding cuts: Thousands of people rallied at California schools, colleges and universities and other locations to protest cuts to public education. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state's legislature have cut billions of dollars in state aid for K-12 schools and higher education. The events were billed as a national Day of Action for Public Education and similar protests organized by unions and student-government groups were held nationwide. (Los Angeles Times)

Florida tuition vouchers may get boost: Some Florida lawmakers are seeking to increase the amount of money offered for private-school tuition vouchers for low-income students, even as public-school officials who are facing budget cuts complain that the program lacks accountability. Under the bill, the $3,950 voucher would increase to about $4,460 next year. The bill also would allow businesses to donate more money to the voucher program in lieu of state taxes, which further depletes the state's limited funds. (Orlando Sentinel)