- A student-led project at Queens’ August Martin High School brought more than 100 graffiti artists into the school to decorate the school’s hallways. (Animal New York)
- A California 11th-grader describes many logistical and conceptual challenges to the state’s new computer-based tests. (Slate)
- A University of Tennessee literacy professor argues that strategies to improve low-income students’ access to books during the summer is key to ending achievement gaps in reading. (Booksource Banter)
- A new report by an advocacy group backed by former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell argues that the record numbers of students graduating from high school can be attributed to education reform efforts like closing low-performing schools, rather than the improved economy. (The Atlantic)
- But although nationally graduation rates are at record highs, a few states like Arizona, Illinois and New York are seeing their graduation rates drop and income-based gaps increase. (The Atlantic)
- An overlooked takeaway from last week’s large study on social mobility is that in places that see good outcomes for poor children, rich children not only don’t fare worse, but in fact do better. (Wonkblog)
- The question of whether Chicago Public Schools ever had a “golden era” is complicated to answer, but one education reporter suggests that it might be right now. (WBEZ)
- L.A. Unified School District is building an affordable housing complex for teachers who want to live near work but who can’t pay L.A. rents on their salaries. (Curbed)
- The term “education reform” is often criticized as a misnomer for a movement that has increasingly become the status quo, but Alexander Russo argues that reformers still haven’t reshaped the fundamental structures of the American education system. (The Grade)
Weekend Reads: A student’s view of computerized test-taking
Marc Piscotty