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Georgia’s Public Universities Will Reinstate ACT/SAT Requirement

The University System of Georgia will reinstate its ACT and SAT requirement after a one-year suspension, the system announced on Wednesday. Students applying for admission for the spring of 2022 and beyond will be required to submit standardized-test scores. Last summer, amid uncertainty about applicants’ ability to take the ACT and SAT during the pandemic, the Georgia …

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To Teach Students to Read, Give Them Something Worth Reading

Every year, students across the United States take standardized tests such as the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) exam. Schools, like the one where I teach in Wisconsin, rely on these assessments to evaluate student achievement and to judge teacher performance. Some educators applaud tests like the MAP, a computer-adaptive assessment that adjusts the questions in real-time …

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It’s been a year of Zoom and gloom. Here’s how we can build something better.

Online learning works best when students, families, and school communities have chosen it to meet their specific needs. A year ago, as the country was thrust into remote schooling, I found myself thrown unwittingly — and uncomfortably — into the role of “expert.” For the past decade, I’ve been a champion of online learning as …

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Baltimore schools see positive results in virtual tutoring districtwide

Baltimore City said it’s starting to see results from its districtwide virtual tutoring program. It was put into place to help students recover from learning loss. Now, some religious leaders are hoping it’ll continue over the summer and they’re willing to help out. It was billed as a sort of prescription for academic progress for …

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Don’t blame the test for the small number of minorities at elite NYC high schools

The class of ninth-graders that in September will enter the city’s eight “specialized high schools” — entry to which is determined solely by doing well on a standardized test — will be substantially less black and Latino than before. Per Department of Education data, black and Latino kids, who make up almost 70 percent of …

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Don’t blame the tests: Getting rid of standardized testing means punishing poor students

Teachers unions aren’t happy, but this time, they’re mad at President Joe Biden. In February, the Biden administration released guidelines to keep standardized tests in schools. Needless to say, a lot of school administrators weren’t pleased. After all, school board officials across the country are trying to delegitimize test scores. But the administration did the right thing …

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77-year-old substitute teacher who lives in his car gifted $27,000 check by former student

A former substitute teacher who was living in his car was gifted with a $27,000 check by a former student. Jose Villarruel, lovingly known as “Mr. V” by his students, turned 77 years old on Thursday. His former student, Steven Nava, now 21, decided to arrange a celebration for Villarruel. Villarruel has served as a substitute teacher for …

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