Quick Hits

Debate over dissection in biology class is highlighted in Connecticut: Connecticut lawmakers are considering a bill to allow students to opt out of dissections during science classes. Some biology teachers say there is no acceptable alternative to the hands-on activity, but some schools allow students to meet the requirement by completing a virtual dissection on a computer or using a model. Policies that offer alternatives are on the books in 13 states. (The Hartford Courant)

Voucher students are on par with public-school peers in Milwaukee: Students who use vouchers to attend private schools in Milwaukee are scoring about the same academically as their peers in the city's public schools, new data shows. Critics of the district's 20-year-old voucher program -- the first and oldest in the country -- say if it were working, the voucher students would be outperforming those in public schools. A five-year review of Milwaukee's voucher program is under way and about 50% complete. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Chicago schools pilot new tool for teacher evaluation: Chicago schools are testing a teacher-evaluation tool called Excellence in Teaching at 100 schools. The program aims to produce a more honest and meaningful assessment of teacher quality that offers feedback on how to improve and replaces a checklist system principals use to rate teacher performance. "This is a more effective tool to communicate with the principal and how they can help you to better serve the students," one teacher said. (The New York Times)

Net-neutrality policies are rejected by court in blow to online learning: A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., ruled that the Federal Communications Commission cannot require net-neutrality policies from broadband providers. Some say the ruling threatens the viability of online education because it would allow companies to increase the price of Internet access, which could deter students from taking courses online. (eSchool News)

Students displaced by Hurricane Katrina make gains in Texas schools: Thousands of students who fled the Gulf Coast because of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 are making academic progress in Texas schools, now scoring higher on some state tests than Texas students, a study shows. The Texas Education Agency tracked the progress of students affected by Katrina -- who were in third, fifth and eighth grade in 2006 -- and found the students scored as well or higher than their Texas peers on the state's reading assessments in 2009, but they lagged in math. (Houston Chronicle)

Professor - New standards could improve literacy instruction: University of Virginia education professor emeritus E.D. Hirsch Jr. suggests in this blog post that common core standards offer a much-needed shift in strategies to help improve the way literacy is taught in U.S. schools. Hirsch, who is founder and chairman of the Core Knowledge Foundation, writes that classroom time devoted to literacy should include nonliterary subjects such as history and science, which will help close a "knowledge gap" while it helps students improve their reading skills. (The Washington Post)

Massachusetts schools aim to improve literacy across all subjects: Efforts to improve literacy among older students in Massachusetts schools have led to a push to integrate reading instruction into the teaching of other subjects throughout the school day. In one Boston-area middle school, students are using a new note-taking system where they create columns of notes that record all the steps needed to solve an algebraic equation. "Kids also need to know how to read in science and social studies and math," one district official said. (The Boston Globe)

English-language learners make academic progress in U.S. schools: Students who are learning English in U.S. schools have improved their performance on standardized tests in reading and math from 2006 to 2008, according to a report released today by the nonprofit Center on Education Policy. The report showed gains in fourth-grade reading by English-language learners in 25 of 35 states that had viable data, but also noted an achievement gap between ELL students and native English speakers that topped 30 percentage points in 11 states. (USA TODAY)

Civics exam may be required for Florida middle-schoolers: Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that would require middle-school students to pass a civics exam before being promoted to high school. Some are concerned that the change would go too far by holding students back if they do not pass, but state officials support the proposal. "A firm understanding of our government and our rights in society is vital in producing informed citizens, and this legislation will help to ensure our students are learning this valuable information," a state education department spokesman said. (The Miami Herald)

Educator - Value-added model may be best way to evaluate teachers: Susan H. Fuhrman, who is president of the National Academy of Education and Columbia University's Teachers College, argues that value-added models may be the best way to ensure that teacher evaluations tied to student achievement do not rely on factors beyond the teacher's control. Fuhrman cautions, however, about potential flaws to these models that she says should be considered by policymakers before they are used to evaluate and make important decisions about individual teachers. (Education Week)

Tentative D.C. teachers contract includes performance pay program: The Washington, D.C., teachers union has reached a tentative agreement with Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee in their contract negotiations. The agreement, which was two years in the making, includes a voluntary pay-for-performance program that would reward teachers for student achievement and a pay raise of 20% for teachers over five years. Much of the raises will be paid for by private foundations, which have donated $64.5 million. (The Washington Post)

$350 million will go to states that improve student testing: The Education Department will allocate $350 million in Race to the Top grants to states that reform their methods for testing students. Education Department officials said revised tests should provide an accurate picture of what a student knows and how much they learn each year, as well as measure their readiness for college or a career. (USA TODAY)

Teacher-tenure reform under way in many states: Several states are attempting to revise their teacher-tenure systems by making teachers wait longer to earn the designation or by linking tenure to improved teachers' evaluations. In some states where teachers unions have resisted change, tenure reform is being combined with legislative initiatives favored by teachers. In Florida, however, the legislature has been unwilling to offer such concessions and is poised to adopt a bill that would abolish teacher tenure, despite opposition from teachers and unions. (Education Week)

Panel calls for improved use of student data in revised NCLB: Educators discussed how to best use student data to improve U.S. schools at a meeting Monday of the Aspen Institute's Commission on No Child Left Behind at Tulane University. Many agreed that the vocabulary and benchmarks created under NCLB served to oversimplify the state of student achievement and did not focus enough on individual student growth. Panelists called on policymakers to ensure that the growing pool of student data be used in a way that is more understandable and helpful to educators and parents as reauthorization of the law moves forward. (The Times-Picayune)

Magnets score at top as group ranks schools across Texas: Magnet schools in the Dallas area ranked at the top of a list of the state's best high schools, according to a report by the Houston-based nonprofit group Children At Risk. The group used test scores, graduation rates and other criteria to rank elementary, middle and high schools across the state. It found that many top schools were magnet campuses in poor areas, where low-income students were found to perform better at smaller schools that are more specialized. (The Dallas Morning News)

Tennessee to use federal funds to improve teaching: Tennessee is planning to use a portion of its $500 million Race to the Top grant to improve teaching in the state's schools. A new teacher-evaluation system will base half a teacher's annual assessment on student test scores, and the state will implement training to help teachers make better use of student data. (Education Week)

Criteria, funding limits cause some states to waver on Race to the Top: Many states that applied but did not win Race to the Top grants are questioning the Education Department's criteria in selecting only two states to receive the first round of funding and are upset about new restrictions on the amount of money states can receive. Arizona, California, Colorado and Nebraska are among those considering whether to continue in the competition. "There's a serious conversation going on here about whether it makes sense to put all that time and effort in again to reapply," said a former state official who helped spearhead California's first-round campaign. (The New York Times)