The Department of Education approved Maine’s application for flexibility under the rigorous No Child Left Behind requirements. The addition of Maine brings the total count of states with NCLB waivers to 40. The only states with outstanding applications are Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Politics K-12
The Obama administration is funneling hundreds of millions of dollars of discretionary funding into early learning. Race to the Top early learning awards and Affordable Care Act money are helping states carry out their pre-K and early childcare plans. Politico
Idaho’s adoption of the Common Core State Standards can help low achieving students. State education officials plan to put $22 million of state and private money into training teachers next school year to help with student instruction based on the new standards. “Many kids who live in poverty… or are underachieving will need additional quality time to catch up,” said Kathleen Budget, a Boise State University associate professor and coordinator of the college’s education leadership program. Magic Valley.com