Florida Department of Education formally adopts B.E.S.T. Standards – from WTXL.com
The Florida Department of Education has formally adopted B.E.S.T. Standards and plans to replace Common Core through "the most aggressive transition timeline in Florida's history."
FDEP made the announcement Wednesday.
Starting in the 2021-2022 school year, the new B.E.S.T. (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking) Standards for English Language Arts (ELA) will be rolled out for kindergarten through 2nd grade. Teachers in those grades will also be given new instruction materials.
The move would make Florida the first state with a civics booklist incorporated into English Language Arts (ELA) standards, as well as the first in the nation to have a booklist across all grades.
Bill would allow public schools in Kansas to pay for college tuition – By Sherman Smith and Sydney Hoover, Leavenworth Times
Terrell Davis pictures a future where students currently at risk of falling through cracks instead walk across a graduation stage with both a high school diploma and 60 hours of college credit.
Davis, executive director of public affairs for Wichita Public Schools, said the launch this year of the district’s Early College Academy will change the trajectory of 50 students.
These students may come from low-income families, and current state law blocks public schools from paying for higher education classes. Davis said the district is raising funds to help offset tuition costs, but he encouraged members of a Senate panel on Monday to support legislation that would allow schools to use general fund dollars on programs like the one in Wichita.
The district wants to add 50 students for every incoming class. Davis said students pay $50 per credit hour, which totals $3,000 per year, through an agreement with Friends University.
The proposed legislation would allow local school boards to decide how much money to dedicate to college tuition or technical courses and which students are eligible to receive assistance.
NYC Council bill seeks to make free summer camp available to all city students – By Michael Elson-Rooney, New York Daily News
A new bill introduced in the City Council Tuesday would make summer camp free to all city students.
Co-sponsored by Councilmembers Debi Rose (D-Staten Island) and Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan), the legislation would require the city’s Youth and Community Development Department to figure out how many programs they need by fall 2020. Then they have a year to make sure there’s adequate space.
The plan should be ready to go for summer 2022.
“Summer programs are invaluable experiences that build self-esteem, social skills, leadership skills and friendships in a safe, constructive environment,” said Rose. “It is time we build on our successes with early childhood education in the city and give all students seeking a spot in a summer program the opportunity to participate.”
Getting Students to Give Back – By Lindsay McKenzie, Inside Higher Ed
Eight universities in California are embarking on an experiment to help students pay for college through public service.
The Civic Action Fellowship, announced Monday, will award students up to $10,000 to put toward their college costs in exchange for one semester working with a local nonprofit or government office.
Students will tackle a range of regional and local community challenges, such as reducing homelessness. The challenges each institution will address will be selected by the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, and form part of a statewide initiative to encourage more citizens to give back to their communities.
Rather than making students work on weekends or over the summer, the public service commitment will take the place of classes for one semester. Staff members at each institution will work with local partners to ensure the student placements tie into the academic curriculum and are substantive.
