News & Issues

Chicago Public Schools lays off hundreds of teachers

By Paul Katula •
Chicago Schools laid off about 850 employees, incl. 545 of the district's 23,290 teachers. With a $1 bn budget deficit, the mayor blamed the cuts on Illinois's inability to fix its pension system.

Teacher prep programs rated by national council

By Paul Katula •
The National Council on Teacher Quality released ratings for teacher prep programs across the US, and 7 IL and 3 MD programs received grades of three stars out of four.

Chicago students protest at board meeting

By Paul Katula •
The Chicago Student Union protested at a Chicago Public Schools board meeting Wednesday. They were escorted out of the meeting by security guards.

Same-sex marriage rulings affirm a movement

By Paul Katula •
Landmark cases were decided about same-sex marriage in the Supreme Court. Both cases seem to make same-sex marriage equal to traditional marriage between a man and a woman.

Common Core should not be called a 'curriculum'

By Paul Katula •
The US Education Secretary has asked that reporters not refer to the Common Core as a curriculum, but it looks exactly like the type of document that makes up the Maryland "State Curriculum."

Does HPV protection promote promiscuity?

By Paul Katula •
The vaccine for HPV has proven to be more effective than scientists had originally hoped, and we recommend getting young people vaccinated to save lives of girls from cervical cancer.

Movie review: Best Kept Secret

By Paul Katula •
We review a documentary that will air on PBS in September about a 20-year veteran special educator who works with autistic adults, even after they age out of the school system.

Many, able to flee Philly, will do just that

By Paul Katula •
The budget proposed for Philadelphia's public schools, which will result in the loss of almost everyone who's not a classroom teacher, has led us to change our mind about supporting the closures.

States may get more time for new tests, teacher evals

By Paul Katula •
Some states can apply for extensions for tying teacher evaluations to student growth, and they may not have to test students under their old standards and the new Common Core in the same year.