See the new look of NASBE’s weekly education news dispatch. Enjoy the NASBE State Ed Smartbrief!  

OREGON STATE BOARD BANS NATIVE AMERICAN-THEMED MASCOTS — In a 5-1 vote, the Oregon State Board of Education banned Native American-themed mascots. Schools there have until 2017 to get rid of all references to tribal customs and traditions in sports or will face state funding cuts. Supporters of the ban have worked for years to [...]

BILL REQUIRING COLORADO COMMITMENT TO ASSESSMENT CONSORTIA RESCUED AT THE LAST MINUTE — A bill requiring the Colorado State Board of Education to commit to joining one of the consortia developing assessments for the Common Core State Standards was rescued at the last minute and will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper for signature. As [...]

UTAH BOARD CHANGES STATE’S STATUS IN SMARTER BALANCED CONSORTIUM — The Utah Board of Education voted to change the state’s role in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium from that of a governing member to an advisory member. Since governing members of the Consortium must adopt the assessment it develops, the Utah board decided to change [...]

COLORADO STATE BOARD OPPOSES SENATE BILL THAT REQUIRES COMMITMENT TO A TESTING CONSORTIUM — A week after the Colorado State Board of Education voted to oppose a measure that would require it to join a multi-state assessment consortium, the Colorado Senate passed proposing that very mandate. While the state board is participating in both the [...]

VERMONT BILL WOULD SHIFT AUTHORITY OVER STATE CHIEF FROM BOARD TO GOVERNOR — A bill to transfer the authority to hire the state education chief from the Vermont State Board of Education to the governor awaits the governor’s signature. The measure creates a cabinet-level secretary of education and converts the department of education into an [...]

MAINE LAW MANDATES NEW SYSTEM FOR TEACHER EVALUATIONS — A new Maine law requires districts to implement educator evaluation and professional development systems and authorized a new panel to develop the evaluations. The new body could also create criteria for local districts to follow as they set up their own evaluation plans for teachers and [...]

ARIZONA STATE BOARD GIVEN AUTHORITY TO OK MASTERY-BASED PROGRAMS — The Arizona State Board of Education can now approve competency-based college- and career-readiness programs. A new education reform law allows students in 7th through 12th grades to receive credit based on subject mastery instead of meeting the traditional seat time requirements. The new law is an extension [...]

UTAH STATE BOARD INCUMBENTS WILL NO LONGER GET NOMINATION PREFERENCE — The practice that gives Utah State Board of Education members seeking reelection an automatic pass for nomination is coming to an end. Instead, sitting board members must first be approved by the nominee selection committee that vets all other prospective board contestants before nominations are approved by the governor. [...]

GEORGIA STATE BOARD ACTS TO REMOVE ALL MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD — In a unanimous decision, the Georgia State Board of Education recommended the removal of every member of the Miller County school board after it failed to reconcile its dysfunctional relationship with the local superintendent. A state law passed last June permits the state [...]