Rise & Shine: Real-life experiences dot curriculum at P.S. 142

News from New York City:

  • The city has released details about “Targeted Action Plans” to help set-to-close schools improve. (Post)
  • A investigation is open into grading practices at Manhattan Theatre Lab, which is closing. (Daily News)
  • Michael Winerip: P.S. 142 adds real-life experiences such as sitting in a car to the curriculum. (Times)
  • Gov. Cuomo’s deadline for districts to agree on new teacher evaluations is this week. (PostDaily News)
  • Professors at Bronx Community College rejected requests to offer less rigorous course options. (Post)
  • Parents are worried about special education services as the city’s special ed reform advances. (DNAInfo)
  • Parents at P.S. 87 want to know why a school aide with a checkered past could work there. (Times, NY1)
  • A longtime “rubber room” teacher who retired last week could get a $90,000 pension. (Daily News, Post)
  • The teacher, Alan Rosenfeld, will also get $55,000 for more than 200 unused sick days. (Post)
  • Churches held services inside public schools for the last time yesterday. (Times, WSJ, NY1)

And beyond:

  • At least four states are weighing bills to end “social promotion” of third-graders who fail state tests. (WSJ)
  • A North Carolina district is finding success in reshaping instruction through new technology. (Times)
  • The head of Georgia’s schools says the state’s NCLB waiver means “teaching to the test” is over. (AJC)
  • A Vermont school recruits Bronx students, but tension is rising over the basketball team. (Times)
  • Some wonder what will happen to a Chicago school’s basketball glory after the school closes. (Times)
  • Some California parents are funding P.E. teachers so schools can afford to teach fitness. (Times)
  • A new trend in “unified” athletics integrates special education students on high school teams. (Times)
  • Illinois is struggling to provide bilingual services to the new immigrants in its suburban districts. (Times)