- In most states, black and Hispanic students and students with disabilities are disproportionately referred to the criminal justice system. Virginia, where an 11-year-old autistic boy who struggled with a police officer was found guilty of felony assault this month, has the highest referral rate. (Center for Public Integrity)
- Parents of students at Success Academy charter schools in New York City share their experiences following the Times’ feature on the network last week. (New York Times)
- At one of New Orleans’ “second-chance schools,” teachers fight to reach the students who have been nudged out of or expelled from other charter schools. (NPR)
- “Opting out students stands as a powerful rebuke of the idea that standardized tests should be the primary determinant as to whether a school stays open or not.” (Jose Vilson)
- The head of Chicago’s schools is taking a leave of absence as federal officials investigate a no-bid contract awarded to a company the schools chief once worked for. (Chicago Tribune)
- Undocumented students offer a different perspective and bring a strong work ethic to their classrooms and school communities, a teacher explains. (The Atlantic)
- A teacher-mentor has five ideas for teachers ready to throw in the towel. (Edutopia)
- How computer science could and should be woven into all sorts of classes, according to some educators. (Hechinger)
- A comprehensive look at the research on blended learning shows little definitive evidence that it works (or that it doesn’t). (Ed Week)
Weekend Reads: How Success Academy parents describe their experiences
Alan Petersime