The National Center For Education Statistics issued a report today titled Characteristics of Public Elementary and Secondary School Teachers in the United States: Results From the 2015–16 National Teacher and Principal Survey.

Here’s a depressing, though unsurprising, excerpt from it:

 

Learn more about why these numbers are so bad, how they affect our students, and what can be – and is – being done about it at A Collection Of Useful Posts, Articles & Videos On Race & Racism – Help Me Find More).

Here are some recent useful posts and articles on educational policy issues (You might also be interested in The Best Articles, Videos & Posts On Education Policy In 2017 – So Far):

A New Kind of Classroom: No Grades, No Failing, No Hurry is from The New York Times.

Betsy DeVos: School Voucher Program Could Be Included in Tax Overhaul Discussion is from TIME. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About Our New U.S. Secretary of Education.

After 6 months on job, education chief still highly divisive is from The Associated Press. I’m adding it to the same list.

When Privatization Means Segregation: Setting the Record Straight on School Vouchers is by Leo Casey. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning Why School Vouchers Are A Bad Idea (& Other Commentaries On “Choice”).

What should America do about its worst public schools? States still don’t seem to know. is from The Washington Post.

Black plaintiffs in Alabama appeal decision to allow white city to secede from its school district is from The Washington Post. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About School Desegregation (& Segregation) – Help Me Find More.

This sequence of tweets from education researcher Kirabo Jackson (You’ll Want To Read This Interview With Education Researcher Kirabo Jackson) seem pretty important to me. He points out that while test scores might not be increasing rapidly, that “slow” growth coincides with a substantial reduction of the drop-out rates across all ethnic groups. So, the overall student population taking the tests now has different, and more challenging, characteristics than the student population who formerly took the test:

THIS is why worrying about slow growth in average NAEP scores among 17-year olds is misguided: Hint: Dropout rates have been falling. pic.twitter.com/whb0gptYE7

— C. Kirabo Jackson (@KiraboJackson) August 12, 2017

pic.twitter.com/MtGMfWS3rl

— C. Kirabo Jackson (@KiraboJackson) August 12, 2017

NAEP scores (measured before dropout age) *have* increased over time. Even though many people are shocked by this, it is well documented. pic.twitter.com/GogZuw5Hq9

— C. Kirabo Jackson (@KiraboJackson) August 12, 2017

Here are some recent useful posts and articles on educational policy issues (You might also be interested in The Best Articles, Videos & Posts On Education Policy In 2017 – So Far):

New Fears For Public Service Loan Forgiveness is from NPR.

Japan Might Be What Equality in Education Looks Like is from The Atlantic.

Justice Department To Probe Universities Over Affirmative Action Policies is from NPR.

Of course the Trump Justice Department wants to target affirmative action is from The Washington Post.

New Florida Law Lets Residents Challenge School Textbooks is from NPR.

Chicago’s school funding disaster just got a lot worse is from The Washington Post.

Here are some recent useful posts and articles on educational policy issues (You might also be interested in The Best Articles, Videos & Posts On Education Policy In 2017 – So Far):

School segregation didn’t go away. It just evolved. is from Vox. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About School Desegregation (& Segregation) – Help Me Find More.

6 problems the NAACP has with charter schools — and 5 of its ideas for how to reshape the sector is by Matt Barnum. I’m adding it to The Best Posts & Articles Analyzing Charter Schools.

A surprising story about our Sacramento District has been making national news: Migrant Labor: Sacramento Unified Goes to The Philippines for its Teachers and School Districts Look To Philippines To Fill Teacher Vacancies are both from Ed Week.

On to Education—Chan Zuckerberg’s Next Investment is from NonProfit Quarterly. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About The Role Of Private Foundations In Education Policy.

Priscilla Chan is running one of the most ambitious philanthropies in the world is from ReCode. I’m adding it to the same list. Thanks to Alexander Russo for the tip.

NYC class size limits could boost learning — but in practice, they often don’t. A new study explains why. is from Chalkbeat. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About How Class Size Does Matter.

We’re not all teaching in Oklahoma, where school budgets have been particularly hit hard and where a teacher has received a lot of media attention for begging on the roadside for money to purchase supplies.

But, wherever we teach, it’s a safe bet we’ll be spending some of our money to get ready for the new school year.

You might be interested in The Best Data On How Much Money Teachers Pay Out Of Their Own Pocket – What Do You Spend? to see how what you spend compares with the national average.

Here are some recent useful posts and articles on educational policy issues (You might also be interested in The Best Articles, Videos & Posts On Education Policy In 2017 – So Far):

Teachers With Student Debt: The Struggle, The Causes And What Comes Next is from NPR.

‘Personalized Learning’ and the Power of the Gates Foundation to Shape Education Policy is from Audrey Watters. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About The Role Of Private Foundations In Education Policy.

Beyond scraped knees: The implications of a Missouri playground on state voucher programs is from Brookings. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning Why School Vouchers Are A Bad Idea (& Other Commentaries On “Choice”).

Trump Administration Advances School Vouchers Despite Scant Evidence is from Scientific American. I’m adding it to the same list.

Former L.A. Unified teacher Rafe Esquith can continue with his lawsuit, judge rules is from The L.A. Times. I’m adding it to The Best Posts, Articles & Videos On The Rafe Esquith Controversy.

Chicago Will Hold Diplomas Hostage Unless Teens Can Prove They Have Plans After High School is by Andre Perry.

For School Improvement, Demographics Aren’t Destiny is from Ed Week.

Teacher Tests Test Teachers is from The American Prospect. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About The “Value-Added” Approach Towards Teacher Evaluation.