- Some much-needed good news: Since 2001, high school graduation rates have been on the rise, according to a recent America’s Promise Alliance report. But don’t break out the bubbly just yet—the rate moved up just four points to 75 percent.
- State education leaders announced the formation of their “Chiefs for Change” group at the Excellence in Action summit. So far, it’s a small but rock star cast of players: Tony Bennett, Eric Smith, Paul Pastorek, Deborah Gist, and Gerard Robinson. Take note as this initiative develops.
- Arne Duncan heads back to the bully-pulpit, writing in Foreign Affairs that education should foster international collaboration, not competition.
- The Department of Education is set to review its competitive grant programs (RTTT and i3, yes, but others too, like the Promise Neighborhoods and SIGs). These reviews, say ED, will help increase confidence in the overall competitive grant process. A sign of things to come?
- Loudoun County, VA teachers and school staff gave extra thanks to the edujobs bill last week. The county used part of its $9.4 million chunk of the stimulus money to pay teachers for their two furlough days before Thanksgiving break.
- In case you missed it, the Baltimore Teachers Union went ahead and ratified the previously rejected proposed teacher contract. Virtually no changes had been made to the document from the last iteration.
- Not to be left behind by Arne Duncan’s rocking New Normal speech, Bill Gates offered his own thoughts on doing more with less to the CCSSO on November 19. Much more reserved, but still in the right direction.
