To fire or not to fire. Eric Hanushek and Diane Ravitch are debating the pros and cons of removing the lowest-performing teachers from schools: (Hanushek says student achievement will be on par with our global counterparts if we remove the bottom 5 to 10 percent of teachers; Ravitch says we should focus more on attracting and training top-notch candidates, rather than firing current teachers.) They started the online debate Monday and will continue until Thursday. (Eduwonk)
Checking in on virtual learning. University of Kansas officials will use a $7.5 million federal grant to look at the state’s virtual schools and find new ways to improve learning and student achievement through technology. Education Sector analysts have taken a look at E-schools in Ohio in two separate blog series this year. (Kansas City Star)
Los Angeles suit pushes teacher evals. Education advocates and some parents are filing suit against Los Angeles Unified School District and its teachers union, demanding that they follow an old state law that requires officials to link student performance to teacher evaluations. Although the Stull Act was passed in 1971, officials never enforced all of the provisions. (Los Angeles Times)
Schooling foster kids. Half of the nation’s foster children won’t finish high school. And if they clear that hurdle, they’re unlikely to finish college (94 percent don’t, according to a 2010 study). (Huffington Post)