NYC KIDS FLOOD PRE-K
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s full-day pre-K initiative is exceeding enrollment expectations. More than 53,000 children have signed up for the program, compared to about 20,000 attending full-day pre-kindergarten last year. The sharp rise in attendance is seen as a victory for the mayor, who has made expansion of pre-K programs a cornerstone of his education policy.
GOLD STANDARDS IN THE SILVER STATE
In part two of NPR’s terrific series on reading in the Common Core era, teachers in Washoe County, Nevada, discuss how the challenging standards demand more from both low and high achievers. The shift from simple comprehension questions to evidence-supported answers helps students at all levels of achievement stay engaged with the material.
IS IT SAFE?
The National Association of Secondary School Principals is working to address increasing security concerns accompanying a rise in technology and data storage in classrooms. Among its recommendations, the group suggests tougher encryption standards, development of statewide security plans, and district-level policies that determine what data can be collected and where it can be responsibly stored.
LONG READ OF THE WEEK
It focuses more on the value of learning generally than schooling as such, but this week’s New York Times Magazine article on London cab drivers is an exceptionally fun, stimulating analysis of dedicated study in a time of instant information access. For decades, prospective drivers have had to memorize thousands of miles of taxi routes in order to earn their certification. Now, with online navigation tools obviating the need for instant recall, the highly specialized skill (known as “the Knowledge”) is passing from the scene.
