New York City is revising its reading curriculum overhaul after receiving feedback from teachers and union officials. The changes aim to address concerns about pacing flexibility, assessment processes, and professional learning. Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos announced the updates in a letter co-signed by Michael Mulgrew, leader of the teachers' union, and Henry Rubio, leader of the principals' union. The revisions come as part of a broader shift towards implementing city-approved curriculums, which was previously not required.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2024/12/05/nyc-reads-curriculum-mandate-changes-in-response-to-union-concerns/Savvas Learning Company has announced that its Texas myView Literacy program has been approved by the Texas State Board of Education for inclusion on the state's list of high-quality instructional materials. The program, designed for grades K-5, combines Science of Reading-based instruction with engaging student-centered practice opportunities to develop strong readers and writers. It was developed to align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards and includes phonics components. As an approved resource, school districts in Texas can now receive additional state funding for its purchase.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texas-state-board-of-education-approves-savvas-learning-companys-texas-myview-literacy-curriculum-for-grades-k-5-302324050.htmlSindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah announced the establishment of a career counselling wing in the province, aimed at providing better guidance to students regarding career choices. The wing will conduct workshops and seminars in colleges to create awareness about emerging fields and admission opportunities at leading universities. To support this initiative, each college in Sindh will receive Rs0.5 million for science exhibitions, student welfare programmes, and other co-curricular activities. Additionally, 1,659 lecturers who passed the Sindh Public Service Commission examination have been selected to address the shortage of teaching staff in colleges, with offer letters to be issued immediately. The establishment of a career counselling wing is seen as a critical step towards preparing students for the professional demands of the future and aligns with the Sindh government's commitment to establishing a progressive and inclusive education system that provides equal access to quality education for all students.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1258632-career-counselling-wing-to-be-established-in-sindh-csThe Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) has been criticized for its handling of a school in the Navajo Nation. The school had several safety and health issues that were not addressed, including an unreliable heating system and a roof in poor condition. Additionally, the school lacked a comprehensive emergency management program, security plan, and trained staff. Furthermore, over 50% of the school's positions were vacant, exacerbating "severe staffing shortages" that hindered the creation of a safe environment.
https://stltoday.com/news/nation-world/education/native-american-kids-cite-abuse-danger-at-understaffed-school-feds-join-calls-for-reform/article_225a5b4c-08f0-5b14-8004-84302c633edb.htmlThe Navajo Nation school system is making efforts to improve its connection with the local community and Native American students, who have historically been underserved in education. According to an analysis by AP, chronic absenteeism rates among Native American and Alaska Native students are high in some states, including a 123% increase in Arizona from 2018-2019 to 2022-2023. In contrast, the majority of Native American and Alaska Native students were chronically absent in three other states: Alaska, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
https://www.voanews.com/a/native-american-students-found-to-miss-school-at-higher-rates/7887225.htmlThe Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking partnerships with the private sector to address a shortage of classrooms in public schools, particularly in La Paz, Tarlac. Education Secretary Sonny Angara has proposed bidding out the construction of 1,000 school buildings to private companies, aiming to leverage their resources and expertise to improve infrastructure in public education.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/12/05/news/national/deped-seeks-solution-to-lack-of-classrooms/2015965Education Cannot Wait (ECW), a global fund for education in emergency and protracted crisis situations, has partnered with Special Olympics International to promote inclusive education through the Unified Champion Schools program. The program aims to create welcoming school environments by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities through three interconnected elements: Unified Sports, youth-led inclusive leadership, and whole-school mobilization. The partnership will focus on launching Unified Champion Schools in Uganda, particularly targeting children with intellectual disabilities living in refugee camps and similar settings. ECW's Acceleration Fund has provided a $75,000 grant to support this initiative. According to Education Cannot Wait, 22.4 million children and adolescents with disabilities face significant barriers to accessing quality education worldwide. The organization aims to increase the number of children with disabilities in its programmatic investments to 10% by partnering with governments, UN agencies, civil society, and private sector donors. Special Olympics International President Timothy Shriver stated that children with intellectual disabilities are often left behind, excluded from the promise of education and dignity. Through this partnership, ECW and Special Olympics aim to create a movement for inclusive education that ensures every child, regardless of their abilities, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Since 2018, Education Cannot Wait has invested over $80 million in education programs in Uganda, focusing on supporting equitable and quality education for refugee children and host community children, reaching more than half a million children.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/education-cannot-wait-et-special-olympics-international-unissent-leurs-forces-pour-promouvoir-linclusion-par-le-sport-et-leducation-physique-dans-les-situations-durgence-et-de-crise-prolongee-302321706.htmlSingapore's students have shown a decline in their performance in mathematics and science, according to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results. Goh Su Fen, Master Teacher of Primary Science at the Academy of Singapore Teachers, and Ridzuan Abd Rahim, Principal Specialist of Mathematics at the Curriculum Planning and Development Division at the Education Ministry, discussed the implications of these results for Singapore. They noted that more can be done to foster interest and curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects among students.
https://channelnewsasia.com/watch/singapores-primary-4-and-secondary-2-students-rank-top-among-global-peers-maths-and-science-4787036The US has seen a decline in fourth-grade math scores on an international assessment, while other countries have made gains since the pandemic. Meanwhile, Memphis is addressing a teacher shortage by partnering with Texas-based Proximity Learning to provide 100 virtual teachers for its middle and high school students. In New York, a report recommends significant changes to the state's school funding formula, which has sparked mixed reactions from advocates and lawmakers. Additionally, Colorado's public universities and colleges are prioritizing support for immigrant students on campus, following a similar approach taken in 2016.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2024/12/04/timss-international-test-result-us-math-scores-decline-post-pandemic/