Here are some recent useful posts and articles on educational policy issues (You might also be interested in The Best Articles, Posts & Videos On Education Policy In 2014 – Part Two):

Debunking one myth about U.S. teachers is from The Hechinger Report. I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Attracting The “Best Candidates” To Teaching.

The Increasing Academic Ability Of New York Teachers is from The Shanker Blog. I’m adding it to the same list.

A Grand Compromise: Supporting School Choice Without Savaging Poor Kids is by Richard Kalhlenberg. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning Why School Vouchers Are A Bad Idea.

The Unsurprising Limits of School Choice in New Orleans & Elsewhere is by John Thompson. I’m adding it to the same list.

More than 500 researchers sign NCLB letter to Congress: stop test-focused reforms is from The Washington Post. I’m adding it to The Best Resources On The No Child Left Behind Reauthorization Process.

Why teaching is more like basketball than baseball — and why it matters is by Esther Quintero.

Re-Evaluating the Gates MET Study is by John Thompson. I’m adding it to A Beginning List Of The Best Posts On Gates’ Final MET “Effective Teaching” Report and to The Best Resources For Learning About The Role Of Private Foundations In Education Policy.

Strings Attached: Why Philadelphia Schools May Reject a $35 Million Gift is from Inside Philanthropy. I’m adding it to the Foundations “Best” list.

Pearson’s philanthropy entwined with business interests is from Politico. I’m adding it the same list.

Why Teach for America is suddenly having trouble recruiting college students is from The Washington Post. I’m adding it to The Best Posts & Articles Raising Concerns About Teach For America.

Fewer Top Graduates Want to Join Teach for America is from The New York Times. I’m adding it to the same list.

The Proper Use of Standardized Tests is by Walt Gardner at Ed Week. I’m adding it to My Best Posts On How To Prepare For Standardized Tests (And Why They’re Bad).

Policy kicking out students with low grades comes under scrutiny is from Southern California Public Radio. It’s about a charter expelling students with bad grades. Unfortunately, even though they are now changing their official policy, there are plenty of other ways charters “counsel” students they don’t want anymore to leave.

This is not good news: Fewer than half of teachers now covered by unions is from USA Today. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning Why Teachers Unions Are Important.

I previously posted the good news about the increasing high school graduation rate in the U.S. (see Statistic Of The Day: “Nation’s high school graduation rate ticks up for second year in a row”). Unfortunately, that missed an important point: Graduation Rates Rise; Gap Between Black and White Males Grows, Report Says