Chicago Full-Day K? In the midst of much bitter infighting over school closures in Chicago, Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett are announcing an initiative that is perhaps aimed to quell the melee: all CPS schools will have full-day kindergarten, reports the Sun-Times. "The change will make full-day kindergarten available to 30,700 children next fall -- 4,200 more than this school year," the paper reports.
New Dropout Prevention Initiative? According to a new report, dropouts cost the U.S. economy over $1 billion a year, reports the Associated Press. So on Monday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced a $15 million school turnaround initiative that involves 650 AmeriCorps members explicitly devoted to increasing graduation rates.
West Virginia Ed Reform? On Monday, the Senate Education Committee in West Virginia began reviewing a long bill that would overhaul schools, according to NECN. The governor's bill would change things like teacher hiring, professional development, and the school year.
Trouble For Renaissance Charter Schools? Massachusetts's state charter school board has put the Renaissance charter schools -- a network that has garnered phrase from state commissioner Mitchell Chester -- on probation, reports Boston.com. "By a tally of 7 to 1, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted for probation, despite pleas from Renaissance school leaders who fear the designation will unsettle families, hurt staff morale, and hinder fund-raising efforts," the paper reports. The board is dinging the schools for poor performance, and the move comes as charter school advocates across the country are calling for more accountability.