Boys in one class, girls in another (Washington Times)...Teacher evaluation gets a new start (NJ Spotlight)...Virtual classes go from optional to mandatory (WCTV)...and more in Today's Daily Headlines Read more »

Leaving gifted students behind? (Christian Science Monitor)...Michigan school reform recap (The Detroit News)...Advocate sets road map for school reform (Daily Press and Argus)...and more in Today's Daily Headlines. Read more »

In education, money isn't all (Denver Post)...Oregon students taking classes online (KDRV-OR)...K-12 reform needed (Topeka Capital Journal)...and more in Today's Daily Headlines. Read more »

MORE BLENDED LEARNING. You know an innovation is on the rise when they write a white paper about it. And, so it is with blended learning, a mixture of on-line and brick-and-mortar education. "The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning: Profiles of Emerging Models," the white paper, was published by Innosight Institute, a research firm, and the Charter School Growth Fund, which invests in charter school management organizations. Report authors call blended learning a "disruptive innovation," a term coined by Harvard's Clayton M. Christensen that describes those innovations that "fundamentally transform a sector by replacing expensive, complicated and inaccessible products or services with much less expensive, simpler and more convenient alternatives." Blended learning, which is beginning to bubble up around the country, may be the spark that totally transforms the delivery of American education. In 2000, only 45,000 K-12 kids took an online course. By 2010, 4 million students participated in some type of on-line learning, according to "The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning." The paper tells us that it started with a small group of students – homeschoolers, gifted kids needing classes their schools didn't offer, rural students, kids needing remedial support and others. But, now it is weaving its way into a broader population, sometimes embraced because it is seen as soft on the budget and sometimes because it simply supports student and family flexibility. Read more »

Most New Jerseyans support Christie's ed reforms (NJ Newsroom)...Feds test teacher bonuses (The Tennessean)...Virtual schooling, real results (Detroit News)...and more in Today's Daily Headlines. Read more »

Teacher ratings can be made public (Los Angeles Times)...Teachers reject pay hike for longer school day (Chicago Sun-Times)...School board members resort to fisticuffs (Seattle Times)...and more in Today's Daily Headlines. Read more »

How to fix our math education (New York Times)...Parents and advocates save schools from drastic cuts (Charlotte Observer)...Facebook donation sets off firestorm (The Star-Ledger)...and more in Today's Daily Headlines. Read more »

777 NYC school employees to be let go (New York Times)...New Orleans education groups get donation (Times-Picayune)...Oklahoma’s math, science scores (The Oklahoman)...and more in Today's Daily Headlines. Read more »

Vol. 13, No. 33 BACK2SCHOOL.It’s that time again, when kids start packing their bags and getting back on a routine that makes families happy and, hopefully, makes student life productive for the future. This week all over the South schools are back in session. But despite an increase in charter school seats (estimated to be [...] Read more »

Shortchanged by the bell (New York Times)...Ackerman out (Wall Street Journal)...New year, new hopes for D.C. schools (Washington Post)...and more in Today's Daily Headlines. Read more »