California develops “early warning system” for school dropouts

The California legislature has been working on an “early warning system” for preventing school dropouts based on attendance. Children Now, one of our Voices members in California, has been tracking the legislation:

“We all know that dropping out is…

Critique of “common core” education standards

The “common core standards,” an effort by the states to coordinate their school curriculums, needs a greater emphasis on interdisciplinary education and citizenship, according to a piece in Education Week.

“Their near-total silence on the role of education in…

Who’s reading to their kids the most?

Voices member Children’s Action Alliance (of Arizona) recently brought up an interesting statistic from the latest KIDS COUNT report: young children who are read to by their parents. The report, compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, shows…

Are All America’s Children Really Above Average?

Through a recent report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, we saw how important it is that children be strong readers by the fourth-grade.  Voices is now proud to release a complimentary report that compares national and state reading tests to…

Congress disappoints on early education promises

On the campaign trail, then-Senator Obama promised an additional $10 billion in federal funding for early education in the style of the popular Race to the Top program.  But since watching funding for the Early Learning Challenge Fund get stripped…

Taking a “whole child” approach to education

As a multi-issue child advocacy group, Voices looks at all aspects of a child development. Fixing the education system, for example, will take more than just a focus on test scores. So at a round table discussion held today at…

Building better early learning systems

We know that 85% of a child’s core brain structure is developed by age four. Yet less than 4% of public investments in education and development are made by that time. One key place to improve the education system, then,…

Obama calls for No Child Left Behind Act overhaul

As President Obama promised on the campaign trail, he will seek to change the controversial No Child Left Behind Act, aiming to pass reform legislation before the midterm electionspass reform legislation before the midterm elections.  His changes would attempt to…

States, educators propose common education standard

Recognizing a crisis in the U.S. education system, governors and school superintendents across the country released the outline for a proposed set of U.S. education standards.  The Obama administration has signaled its support and promises to reward schools that…

Scientific American: Start science sooner

In a column from its March edition, Scientific American notes that a negative impression of science is taking root even in kindergartners.  The piece urges school boards and superintendents to teach a love of scientific learning earlier.