🔥 Best of 2023, 🚨 More PISA Insights, 🏳️⚧️ Transgender Guidance & More!
SmartEdu News 2023-12-21
🇺🇸 U.S. EDUCATION
The Best Education Articles of 2023
Explore the highs and lows of the 2023 education scene, from groundbreaking policies in Iowa and Ohio to persistent challenges like absenteeism and learning loss. This article provides a snapshot of the impactful moments that defined the educational landscape throughout the year.
D.C. Faces an Attendance Crisis. Its Leaders Are Struggling to Solve it.
Despite various efforts, chronic absenteeism persists in Washington, D.C., post-pandemic, with traditional interventions showing mixed results. Advocates emphasize the need to address unique attendance challenges and evaluate program effectiveness. Referrals to child services and the court system are seen as last-resort measures with limitations.
PISA 2022: Uncle Sam vs. the World in Math, Reading, and Science
PISA assesses 15-year-olds in math, reading, and science, examining their problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills. Let’s explore how students in the United States compare to the OECD average and other selected countries. The U.S. performing close to the OECD average in math, scoring 465. In reading (504) and science (499), the U.S. surpasses the OECD average.
The Best and Worst of Education Reform in 2023
In a year filled with notable twists and turns in the education landscape, Michael J. Petrilli from Thomas B. Fordham Institute highlighst the best and worst moments of 2023. From groundbreaking policies in Iowa and Ohio to concerning trends like persistent absenteeism and learning loss, this artile offers a glimpse into the impactful developments that shaped the educational narrative.
Uproar as After-School Satan Club Forms at Tennessee Elementary School
A Tennessee school district faces controversy over the formation of an After School Satan Club (ASSC) at Chimneyrock elementary school. The federally recognized non-profit club, associated with the Satanic Temple, claims to be secular, promoting self-directed education. Parents and faith leaders express outrage, but the district superintendent asserts the club's right to operate. ASSC has faced resistance in other districts in the past. The Satanic Temple emphasizes its non-religious nature and commitment to equal access in schools
🌎 INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
The Low Results of Latin America and the Caribbean in PISA 2022
The PISA 2022 results indicate a stagnation in Latin America and the Caribbean's students' learning achievements, particularly in Mathematics, with over half not reaching basic competencies. The region's urgent need for measures to reverse this trend is emphasized by education specialists. Despite some progress, the average performance remains significantly lower than the OECD average, highlighting challenges such as inequality and resource scarcity in lower socioeconomic level schools.
Highly Anticipated Transgender Guidance for Schools to be Published After Delays
The long-awaited transgender guidance for schools in England, set to be published on Tuesday, is expected to require schools to inform parents if their children express a desire to change gender identity. The non-statutory guidance may include exemptions, stating schools aren't obligated to allow general social transitions. Critics argue the guidance may not adequately consider the mental health needs of transgender children.
Australia Cuts Post-Study Work Visa by Two Years and Increases English Language Test Requirements
Australia tightens student visa rules to curb non-genuine applications. The government slashes post-study work visas by two years, reverts to original durations, and ends pandemic concessions, including uncapped working hours for international students. Changes aim to improve education integrity and support genuine students, introducing a new "Genuine Student" test, strengthening visa processing, and streamlining graduate visa routes. English language requirements will increase in 2024.
UNESCO Renews Education Eledges to Support Refugees at Global Refugee Forum 2023
UNESCO reinforces its dedication to refugee education, pledging to improve data collection, advocate for inclusion in sector planning, and support refugee teachers through its Teacher Task Force. The organization emphasizes the need for structural inclusion of refugees in education systems globally and aims to address the challenges faced by the 36 million refugees worldwide, particularly the 14.8 million school-aged children.