Past Contributions

• The Brief: Aug. 6, 2015

  By Polo Rocha Aug. 6, 2015

  Opponents of Texas' voter ID law got a partial victory yesterday with an appeals court panel's decision that the law violates a section of the Voting Rights Act, which was signed 50 years ago today. Full Story 

• Head Start’s Benefits Prove Hard to Measure

  By Polo Rocha Aug. 5, 2015

  Despite vast evidence that early childhood education improves outcomes for students later in life, a recent report from the U.S. Department of Education concluded that there is little evidence to support measurable benefits of one specific early learning initiative: Head Start. Full Story 

• The Bookshelf: Aug. 6, 2015

  By Polo Rocha Aug. 5, 2015

  In this week's Bookshelf, our content partner Kirkus Reviews highlights The Prize. Full Story 

• Kansas Struggles With Record-Breaking Teacher Shortage

  By Polo Rocha Aug. 5, 2015

  With more than 450 positions open, Kansas is scrambling to find willing educators to staff its increasingly resource-strapped public schools for some of the lowest pay in the country. Full Story 

• Opinion: Frame Online Learning for Teachers as an Opportunity

  By Polo Rocha Aug. 5, 2015

  Online learning has become an integral part of education, yet teachers sometimes don't see the benefits of learning how to use these options effectively, writes a director at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. Full Story 

• Pearson Settles After Tests in Minnesota Disrupted

  By Polo Rocha Aug. 5, 2015

  Pearson has agreed to pay Minnesota $1 million in fees and provide almost $4.7 million in educational fees after the state's public education assessments were fraught with technical difficulties earlier this year. Full Story 

• Free-Range Playgrounds Let Kids Manage Their Own Risk

  By Polo Rocha Aug. 5, 2015

  Free-range public playgrounds are emerging as an alternative to structured play dates, allowing school-aged kids a space to play — really play. Full Story 

• Education Analytics Company Wins Over Investors

  By Polo Rocha Aug. 5, 2015

  Panorama Education, a data analytics company focused on K-12 education, has just scored $12 million from high-profile investors like Google Ventures and Mark Zuckerberg’s Startup:Education. Full Story 

• The Q&A: Daniel R. Taber

  By Polo Rocha Aug. 5, 2015

  In this week's Q&A, we interview Daniel R. Taber, an assistant professor of health promotion and behavioral sciences at the University of Texas School of Public Health-Austin Regional Campus. Full Story 

• The Brief: Aug. 5, 2015

  By Polo Rocha Aug. 5, 2015

  A day after his indictment was made public, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told his supporters he expects he'll be "fully vindicated." Full Story