Newest Race to the Top Stresses Early Ed. Rating Systems (Education Week - August 23)

In the next round of Race to the Top, the Department of Education is placing the highest importance on public rating systems for early childhood programs. Secretary Arne Duncan insists that "the bar will absolutely be high" when judging the entries.

K-12 America Since 1981 (Education Week - August 24)

Education Week has dipped into its archives to build an interactive timeline on the U.S. education system and its ever-changing reforms, theories and opinions.

A Pledge to End Fraternity Hazing (New York Times - August 23)

The president of Cornell University has ended the tradition of "pledging" at the school after a sophomore died while being hazed in February.

Decade Later, Schools Find Lessons in Sept. 11 (The Durango Herald/AP - August 23)

With each year that passes after Sept. 11, 2001, teachers have the daunting task of trying to explain its significance and the country's evolving rhetoric on the attacks to students who don't remember them. This year's high school seniors were in second grade a decade ago.

CALIFORNIA: Advocates Push Public Aid for Undocumented College Students (Los Angeles Times - August 24)

Advocates are rallying this week to support a vote on AB 131, a hotly-contested measure that would give undocumented students access to $40 million in Cal Grants.

CALIFORNIA: California Education Bill Gets an A (Los Angeles Times - August 24)

The editors of the L.A. Times write that SB 547, which has passed the Senate, would not only use test scores to measure California schools' improvement, but would also improve graduation rates and help prepare students for college or careers.

CHICAGO: CPS Chief Offers Grade School Teachers Raises for Longer Day, Year (Sun-Times - August 23)

City Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard promised to add 90 minutes a day and two weeks a year to the Chicago Public School calendar. He also said he would be willing to pay elementary teachers a two percent raise if they worked 90 extra minutes this coming school year.

MASSACHUSETTS: State Asks to Oversee Special Ed Agency (Boston Globe - August 24)

In Massachusetts, an agency for special needs children may have spent more than $30 million on excessive salaries, inflated rents and luxuries like country club fees and golf outings.

NEW JERSEY: ACLU Suing Newark Over Transparency in Facebook Founder's $100M Donation to City Schools (The Star-Ledger - August 23)

The ACLU of New Jersey is accusing the city of Newark of violating the Open Public Records Act, after a parent group filed a request for correspondences between Newark officials and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. 

NEW YORK: 777 School Employees Will Be Let Go, in the Largest Layoff Under Bloomberg (New York Times - August 23)

It is the biggest layoff at a single agency since Mayor Bloomberg took office in 2002 and budget cuts are to blame. The employees of the NYC Education Department will lose their jobs by October.

PHILADELPHIA: Acting Philly Schools Chief Nunery Facing Tough Path Forward (Inquirer - August 23)

Former Philly schools Chief Arlene Ackerman will be replaced - for now - by her deputy, Leroy Nunery II. 

CHINA: Follow Their Lead? Most Chinese Believe Their Students Are Overworked (GOOD - August 24)

A Pew research poll found that 68 percent of Chinese adults think they are putting too much academic pressure on their kids. 

All statements and opinions expressed on this blog are those of the individual contributors, and not of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation or NBC News.