This demands urgency: "18% of 8th graders and 13% of 4th graders failed to hit the lowest achievement threshold. The proportions of ultra-low-performers were, respectively, twice and three times higher than they were in 2011." www.the74million.org/article/four...

🚨 New TIMSS results 🚨 US student performance PLUNGED on the latest international math test. Just shockingly bad. “We have countries leapfrogging over us,” Carr said.

What a get for The74! Excited for @phylliswjordan.bsky.social to continue contributing to important conversations in this new role!

Maybe this is a Boston ed news account now? A thoughtful and important op-ed about the downsides of de-tracking. "Classes may appear more diverse...we have seen firsthand that the students who need the most support are those least served by multilevel." www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/02/o...

It's hard not to feel sad watching what's sure to unfold in MA, a model for a so long. "...<12 of the state’s 50 largest districts require all students to take and pass coursework that [makes them] eligible for admission to the state’s flagship public university." www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/02/m...

In need of motivation? Or looking to motivate others? I loved speaking with David Yeager about his recent book on motivating young people -- arguably, we can all benefit from a high-standards, high-support model. www.future-ed.org/qa-david-yea...

Though most states are seeing a slight recovery from the highs of 2022, chronic absence from school remains a troubling problem. "This fundamental thing has shifted and we can't quite get it back," says @lizcohen12.bsky.social. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...

Today, Virginia is launching a statewide tutoring effort to help students recover. @maureenkelleher.bsky.social tells us what it will take from the state, principals, and teachers to succeed: www.the74million.org/article/as-v...

I'd vote to ban cell phones in a lot places, but schools seem like a good place to start. Now there's pretty strong evidence that banning cell phones in schools improves student achievement, particularly for the lowest-achieving students. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you ask question at an event or panel, please don't tell a story. Just ask the question.

I increasingly feel my education policy views make me sound crotchety (schools should teach more rigorous math; teachers should have higher grading standards; test scores have a role to play in college admissions; college tends to pay off). But I'd like to think it's evidence-based crotchetiness.

This is an impressive national move to ban cell phones in schools. Would love to see more consensus on this here in the US. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Important job opening in DC -- executive director of the school enrollment lottery. Help OSSE recruit a great leader for this post -- or maybe you are that leader! osse.dc.gov/page/executi...

Outcomes-based contracting in tutoring is so interesting, and has SO MUCH potential. This is a great piece about two districts I've also spoken with - what they're doing is some of the best stewarding of public funds I've seen. @the74 www.the74million.org/article/tuto...

Once a data lover, always a data lover. I kept seeing "new attendance data!" & then realizing the "new" data was from 2021-22. Some districts are improving (ABQ, Detroit) while others are getting worse (MCPS MD, Oakland). Need state data for full picture; lagging data hurt efforts.

Hey, we're here! Future Ed offers policy analysis and insightful commentary on K-12 education. Follow us and take a look at how states and district can keep tutoring going after the ESSER money is gone, from @lizcohen12.bsky.social. www.future-ed.org/a-long-term-...

This feels like the 1st day of high school in a new place. I'm the policy director at FutureEd at Georgetown Univ McCourt School of Public Policy. Right now I'm particularly focused on tutoring, DC high schools, & chronic absenteeism. Generally interested in anything that's good for kids.