News and Resources Roundup: Kentucky gets NCLB waiver, more

Here's a roundup of some important developments in education, and other resources and helpful items:

• Focus author Mike Schmoker is coming next week!
• Kentucky is one of nine states to receive a waiver for NCLB.  This means that the new school accountability system adopted under Senate Bill 1 will also serve the purposes of federal accountability - and that NCLB's 2014 deadline for proficiency has been postponed.
• The Kentucky House and Senate have passed competing bills regarding the requirement to raise the minimum dropout age to 18.  The Senate bill essential gives districts the discretion to do this if they wish.  Proponents of the House version say that's no good.
• The number of reported incidents of teacher sexual misconduct in Kentucky skyrocketed in 2011.  A spokesperson for the Professional Standards Board credits aggressive investigations by school administrators and heightened awareness.
• Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday wants to see better tracking and standards for alternative schools.  See video here.
• Kentucky gets a "D" for its science standards in a recent report.
• An analysis of teacher performance on state certification exams finds that most handily surpass the minimum score for certifying.  Is that a problem?
• Here's a great essay from Learning Forward on the power that is unleashed when school leaders make themselves vulnerable and openly admit their own weaknesses and growth areas.
• ASCD Edge offers a terrific little formula for giving students better feedback on their work (instead of just handing out numeric grades): SER2, for "Submit," "Explain," "Redirect," and "Request resubmission."  Read more here.
• Several states are pondering ways to better evaluate school efforts to promote creativity and innovation among students.  I'm typically pretty skeptical about the efficacy of statewide, one-size-fits-all tools like this, but the effort and intent is to be commended.

Registration for summer courses at WKU begins in mid-March.  Remember that all students currently enrolled in Principalship Level I and Level II programs must complete all coursework by December 2013.