Education

Betsy DeVos, the embattled U.S. Secretary of Education, is making a surprise trip to North Texas on Thursday, visiting schools in Birdville and Dallas ISDs. After a morning stop at Birdville’s Center for Technology and Advanced Learning, DeVos will head east for a visit with the Dallas-based anti-violence non-profit Urban Specialists. She’ll then take a swing by DISD’s Billy E. Dade Middle School at before finishing her day with a discussion at the 16 Streets Initiative, a South Dallas resource center opened in 2017 by Urban Specialists.But folks, particularly in Dallas, haven’t exactly rolled out the welcome mat. … [Read more...] about Education secretary Betsy DeVos is coming to Dallas on Thursday, and not everyone’s happy about it

Following her tour of a Dallas middle school on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was asked her thoughts on the Oklahoma teachers strike, which has now stretched into its fifth day. Oklahoma teachers, whose salaries lag far behind most of the nation, haven’t had a raise since 2008. After many walked out of classrooms on Monday and marched on the Capitol, Republican lawmakers moved quickly to pass a tax bill to increase school funding and give raises that would average about $6,000. But many teachers have vowed to stay away from the classroom until additional revenue measures are passed.“I think about the kids,” DeVos said. “I think we need to stay focused on what’s right for kids. And I hope that adults would keep adult disagreements and disputes in a separate place, and serve the students that are there to be served.”Teachers in two other states -- Kentucky and West Virginia -- have walked out of classrooms this year to demand better … [Read more...] about U.S. Secretary of Education to striking teachers in Oklahoma: ‘Keep adult disagreements’ out of schools

Board member Marisa Perez-Diaz, D-Converse, issued a news release Friday afternoon saying that "today was not a victory, but a slap in the face." "While I appreciate the steps that the Board of Education has taken to approve ethnic-specific courses of study, it did not come without its insults," the release continued. "Today, 9 of my 14 colleagues told me how they believe I should identify: 'American of Mexican Descent.' What does that mean? How do any of them expect this title to resonate with any of our scholars who identify as Mexican American? More importantly, who do any of them think they are to tell me how I should identify?"The course won't be required for students across the state. Instead, it will be among a raft of state-approved courses, the selection of which is left up to local districts and schools. … [Read more...] about Education Dems blocked by GOP majority that approved controversial Mexican-American Studies course name

POLITICS 05/03/2018 11:14 am ET But some educators feel it doesn't steer enough money to classrooms and want to press on. By Dave Jamieson Arizona teachers appeared ready to head back to their classrooms after the governor signed a budget bill Thursday that will pump more money into schools and give teachers the first of what should be two pay raises. The massive teacher walkout, carried out under the banner #RedForEd, began a week ago and closed schools for a majority of Arizona students. Thousands of teachers flooded the Capitol and turned downtown Phoenix into a sea of red each day, urging lawmakers to restore education funding after years of deep cuts since the recession. The legislation signed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) early Thursday did not meet all the demands initially laid out by the groups coordinating the walkout, and some teachers had hoped to keep schools closed until legislators committed to a larger budget. But it was enough progress for union leaders to … [Read more...] about Arizona Passes Education Budget To End Teacher Walkout

JEFFERSON CITY   •   Gov. Eric Greitens sent a letter Friday to the Senate saying his five appointees to the State Board of Education had withdrawn from consideration — a move intended to avoid a permanent ban on them serving on the board.Some senators had blocked confirmation of the appointees because of frustration that they had voted to fire Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven last year.If the nominees aren't confirmed or withdrawn by the end of work for the regular legislative session, they would be barred for life from the board that oversees Missouri's K-12 public schools.Greitens originally appointed Eddy Justice, Doug Russell, Marvin Jungmeyer, Jennifer Edwards and Eric Teeman to the education board while the Legislature was not in session last year.That meant they could start serving immediately, subject to Senate confirmation during the first 30 days of the regular session that started in January.The board members followed Greitens' apparent … [Read more...] about Greitens says education nominees withdrawn