GreatBigBlog

Here at NYCAN, we believe that every child is entitled to a great public education, no matter where they live or how much money their family makes. We also believe, as research has shown time and again, that a great education begins with access to high quality pre-K. To provide that access to all students, every public school must be able to offer programs and have access to public funding streams to support pre-K.

Though there is no silver bullet to closing the achievement gap, most advocates and experts agree that the positive impact of high-quality pre-K is indisputable. This is backed by years of research, which shows that achievement gaps start much earlier than third grade when we are able to use state assessments as a barometer of performance. In fact, by the time kids enter kindergarten, 75 percent of more affluent students are deemed “kindergarten-ready.” The same can be said for only 48 percent of kids from families below the poverty line.

Luckily, the importance of expanding quality pre-K is also top of mind for policymakers at the state and national level...

Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:

News & analysis:
NCLB Waivers Granted To Alaska, Hawaii, West Virginia By Education Department
Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced on Monday that three more states would join the ranks of those given permission to ignore parts of the federal No Child Left Behind law in favor of their own school improvement plans. (Huffington Post) 

Khan Academy to Focus on Common-Core Math With Private Grant
Fueled by a $2.2 million grant, Khan Academy will develop online content and tools over the next two years to help teachers and students meet the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics. (Education Week – Curriculum Matters) 

Minnesota:...

Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:

News & analysis:
This Week's School Choice News Roundup
To round out the week, here's a look back on this week's school choice news from around the country. (Education Week – Charters and Choice) 

Home visiting programs are preschool in its earliest form
Caleb Cantres-Maldonado was all of 6 weeks old and just stirring from a nap when his mother propped him up and pointed him in the direction of a picture book. “Look what I have! See the book?” said Milenka St. Clair, a family support worker who visits Caleb’s Manassas home once a week. “It’s a drum! What else do you see?” (Washington Post) 

Maryland:...

Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:

News & analysis:
Broad Foundation Names Three Finalists for Charter Schools Prize
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation today named three of the nation's best-known charter-management organizations as finalists for its national award for top-performing charter schools. (Education Week – District Dossier) 

Judge declines to block D.C. school closures
Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson can move forward with plans to close 15 D.C. schools, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, rejecting activists’ claims that the closures violate the civil rights of city children. (Washington Post) 

...