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Don’t forget to submit your questions for Superintendent Terry Grier. I’m meeting with him this morning to talk about dropout rates, test scores, and, oh yeah, Houston. Now on to your education newsapalooza:
- We report on the revived interest of the business community in San Diego Unified politics as Superintendent Terry Grier eyes a job in another school district. But will bad memories, a bad economy and a bad rap keep business leaders from being a force within the school system? We also blog on Grier’s words to principals at a staff meeting: Dance in the rain!
- The Union-Tribune reports that Grier’s words at that same meeting pretty much confirm it: He’s out. KPBS also says he’s out. SDNN says he’s not out — yet. Read our explainer for a refresher on why this is so darn confusing.
- First 5 San Diego, which gives out grants for early childhood education and health, has picked a new executive director, the Union-Tribune reports.
- The Los Angeles school board has opened up 250 schools to outside groups, including charter operators, the Los Angeles Times reports. “For too long we have protected the status quo,” one board member says.
- The Associated Press reports that the average SAT score dropped this year, though that could actually be a good sign: More and more kids are taking the test to get into college. For a more detailed breakdown of the scores, check out this article from Education Week.
- The New Yorker has this wowzer of an article about “rubber rooms” in New York City where teachers are sent while facing charges of misconduct or incompetence. There’s been a lot of press on rubber rooms, but this article really gives you a sense of both sides and the complex political context for this weird phenomenon.
- A guest blogger at ThisWeekinEducation.com argues that schools need to tackle attendance and tardiness separately from classroom instruction — and that such issues can’t just be blamed on an unengaging teacher.
- And the Boston Globe reports that New Hampshire is the last state to require all school districts to offer kindergarten. Oregon was the last holdout — and it changed its ways in 1989. Why the wait? Some areas sent 95 percent of their kindergartners to private school.