Teacher News of the Day

Providers of Child Care May Now Vote on Unionizing – “The state has given the go-ahead for New York City’s 28,000 home-based child care providers to hold an election on whether to unionize.” New York Times, more at Edwize, City Room and Daily Politics

State ranks 44th in graduation rate – “New York [state] has one of the nation’s lowest high school graduation rates, ranking 44th according to a new report.” Albany Times-Union, more at the New York Times

School Closures May Open Way For New Charters – “The Department of Education is pledging to help solve a charter school space crunch, pointing to an aggressive campaign to close a slew of city-run schools in the next two years.” New York Sun

A Teacher Grows Disillusioned After a ‘Fail’ Becomes a ‘Pass’ – “Several weeks into his first year of teaching math at the High School of Arts and Technology in Manhattan, Austin Lampros received a copy of the school’s grading policy. He took particular note of the stipulation that a student who attended class even once during a semester, who did absolutely nothing else, was to be given 45 points on the 100-point scale, just 20 short of a passing mark.” New York Times

Pol & principal say consultant’s screwup was costly to students – “A foulup by an Education Department contractor cost 14 eighth-graders their top high school choices and may have affected others, a city councilman says.” New York Daily News