The U.S. Department of Education approved the waiver requests of 10 states from certain requirements in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in return for implementing a host of state-driven initiatives. The states– Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee–must implement college-and-career-readiness standards, develop teacher evaluations tied to student achievement scores, and focus on improving their lowest-performing schools. New Mexico was the only state in the first round of waiver applications that was not granted an exemption, but the Department indicated it is working with officials there to help it get the flexibility in meeting ESEA terms it requested. These states will not be bound by the federal law’s annual yearly progress requirements and will have more program and funding flexibility under current law. Twenty-eight states and DC are expected to submit applications for the second round of waivers by February 21. More information can be found on the Department’s website at http://www.ed.gov/esea/flexibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education press release (2/9/12)

KENTUCKY STATE BOARD ENDS READER ACCOMMODATION FOR STATE AND NAEP TESTS — The Kentucky Board of Education eliminated the use of reader assistance to students who are taking state reading comprehension exams and NAEP assessments. The impetus behind the decision was better compliance with NAEP testing protocols and ending a practice that many believe hinders students’ ability to strengthen their reading fluency. The read aloud accommodation is defined as the practice of providing a student with reading assistance, such as a person or computer software that reads texts aloud to students for testing and instructional purposes, most often for students with disabilities. Students may still receive the accommodation for instructional purposes. The rule goes into effect for the 2012-2013 school year. Source: EdWeek.org (2/3/12), communication with Kentucky Department of Education (2/8/12)

MINNESOTA’S INTEGRATION TASK FORCE SENDS RECOMMENDATIONS TO LAWMAKERS — A  bipartisan, legislatively created task force adopted its plan on how to move forward with education funding for the state’s integration program and address persistent achievement gaps.  The panel recommended that: the state education department have the authority to withhold integration funding to schools that can’t show progress in closing achievement gaps; low-income students gain more access to college readiness programs; an incentive program be initiated to encourage districts to reduce racial disparities through voluntary school choice programs; and more funding be provided for full-day kindergarten for low-income families. The recommendations now go to the legislature.

Minnesota’s school integration and achievement gap efforts have had a contentious history, dating back to the late 1990s when the state board of education spent six years trying to develop a “diversity rule.” The proposed rule eventually lost the support of the governor, angry letters and even death threats were sent to the board, and several state senators vowed to abolish the board. In April 1998 this threat was carried out by the full legislature. More recently, a 2005 legislative audit was highly critical of the state’s integration aid program, finding that some schools weren’t spending the money as intended. The current program will expire in 2013. Sources: Minneapolis Star Tribune (2/7/12), “The Case of the Failed Diversity Rule,” in NASBE’s State Education Standard (Winter 2002)

NEW JERSEY ED. DEPT. DISQUALIFIES 29 LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS, CHARTER TRUSTEES FOR CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS AND INELIGIBILITY — Twenty-nine local school board members and charter school trustees were disqualified from service by the New Jersey State Department of Education because of criminal convictions or because they did not complete their criminal background checks by the January deadline. The determinations were based on a 2011 state law that requires all local school board members and charter school trustees to undergo criminal background checks. The original deadline to complete the checks was December 31, but the Department extended the deadline to January 27 to provide members more time. Disqualified or ineligible members are unable to appeal the ruling under current law. Source: Star-Ledger (2/6/12)

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES IN WYOMING MAY COST PARENTS $1,000 — In Wyoming, parents and legal guardians whose children have more than two unexcused absences from school could face fines of up to $1,000. A recently introduced bill would put sharper teeth into an existing law designed to enforce the public school attendance mandates. The penalty would increase the fines from a range of $5 to $100 to a $25 to $1,000 range, and in extreme cases parents could see a sentence of to 10 days in jail upon conviction. Students who are home-schooled or who have a legitimate reason for being absent will not be affected by the bill. Source: Wyoming Tribune Eagle (2/7/12)

INDIANA LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS BILL TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL BUS FEES — The Indiana Senate Education Committee is considering a House-passed bill (HB1134) that would prohibit local school districts from charging their students fees for school bus service. The state attorney general has indicated his belief that that such transportation fees violate the state constitution. The House approved the bill by a vote of 92-2. Source: Indystar.com (2/8/12)

held a hearing February 7 on accessible technology for all students, especially those students with special needs, to increase student achievement. Witnesses included an Indiana school superintendent. The archived hearing can be found at http://bit.ly/wkKJdo