Recess round-up: July 21, 2010

A daily dose of education news around the nation – just in time for a little mid-day break!

Common standards: The Thomas B. Fordham Institute reports that the Common Core State Standards are more rigorous than those in three-quarters of all states. Twenty-eight states have adopted the Common Core State Standards, much to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s delight. (Associated Press and United Press International)

Today, Massachusetts became the 28th state to sign on. (Associated Press)

Education PR: A new public relations campaign is underway in Tennessee called “Expect More, Achieve More,” which aims to “raise awareness of a change in student test score standards that will mean lower scores.” (Knoxville News Sentinel)

Remedial education: MySanAntonio.com takes a look at the “logjam” in community colleges caused by the high percentage of students in remedial classes.

Turnaround grants: Eduwonk points out some facts missing from Michael Winerips’s New York Time’s story about a highly regarded principal in Vermont who was fired in a move to meet the requirements for a School Improvement Grant.

Community colleges: More community colleges are starting to use competitive admissions for nursing programs. (InsideHigherEd)

Special education: After refining screening methods and intervention models, the city of Green Bay, Wisc. has seen its special ed population decrease from 20 percent of all students in 2003-2004 to 15 percent in 2009-2010. (Green Bay Press-Gazette)

Sarah Butrymowicz