Here’s what’s happening in education news both locally and nationally!

LOCAL

Moving Past Charter Wars in Newark 
A new editorial from the Star-Ledger sheds light on the growing financial crisis facing the Newark School District and highlights the need for the charter and district sectors to join forces to support better outcomes for all students.

Baraka Joins Forces with Rivals to Form Newark School Board 'Unity' Slate
With school board elections just three months away, Mayor Ras Baraka, charter school advocates and other key stakeholders have announced a joint “Newark Unity” slate.

Opinion: I am Living Proof That Education Reform Has Not Failed in Newark
On track to earning her MBA, Wydeyah Hay, a founding class member of KIPP New Jersey, chronicles the positive impact the school has made in her life.

More Than 100 Community Members Attend First Strategic Planning Session
With more than 100 community members attending, the District held its first strategic planning session in the East Ward to discuss plans for success in the years ahead.  The next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 28^th at 6:00 p.m. at West Side Campus.

REGIONAL

Christie Floats Nixing Dept. of Education 
In a recent campaign stop in New Hampshire, NJ Governor and GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie shares his criticisms with the current state of the Department of Education and the role of the federal government in education.

Christie Signs Legislation Creating New Position of Special-Ed Omsbudsman
Parents of students with special needs will now have a special-education omsbudsman, a state-level information and support office to address their family’s and children’s needs.

Last Run for Current SAT This Week; New One Debuts in March
After Saturday, January 23rd, schools will switch to the redesigned SAT. Key changes include a reduction from three sections to two, an optional rather than mandatory essay, and a new maximum score of 1600 as opposed to the previous mark of 2400.

NATIONAL

The Future of Restraint and Seclusion in Schools
In a group that also includes New Jersey and North Dakota, Mississippi is one of five states without a policy governing the use of restraint and seclusion in schools. In an effort to ensure greater alignment with the recently reauthorized Every Student Succeeds Act, Mississippi plans to pass new regulations to determine how punishment tactics are used in schools.

For Some Schools, Learning Doesn’t Stop on Snow Days
E-Learning gains more traction as a teaching method to combat student’s educational progress too often derailed by winter storms.

Parents and Local Politicians Combat Success Academy Charter Network
With plans to open its 37^th school, Success Academy, New York City’s largest charter school network, has received negative backlash from education stakeholders, most notably a legal complaint filed by teachers that claims the school discriminates against students with learning disadvantages.

Why are There So Few Black Children in Gifted Programs?
A new study published in the American Educational Research Association Journal provides new insight into why black students (66 percent) and Latinos (47 percent) are less likely than their white counterparts to be assigned to gifted-and-talented programs.

Click here for more findings from the study.

Chicago Public Schools Give Layoff Notices to 227 Staff Workers
In an effort to close its half-billion dollar budget gap, Chicago Public Schools has called for 433 layoffs, targeting its central office and administrative staff.

Acting U.S. Secretary of Education Speaks Out in a State Where Anti-Testing Backlash Looms
During his “Opportunity Across America Tour” stop in Delaware, acting U.S Secretary of Education John King, shares his thoughts on the ways in which adaptive achievement tests and education technology can strengthen teaching and improve student learning in the classroom.