Afternoon announcements: States seek flexibility on NCLB waiver accountability

Three additional states joined the quest for flexibility under the No Child Left Behind Act, wanting to redesign their own accountability systems. Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wyoming submitted their waiver applications, but at least two of the states – Pennsylvania and Wyoming – failed to submit their plans to the public, despite the federal requirement to seek input from stakeholders. Education Week

The Utah State Senate is putting their resources where their mouths are, passing more than $15 million worth of school technology-related bills on Monday. The funds include $5 million for a web-based math program for K-6 students; $3 million to increase the number of tablets for student use; and $2.4 million to expand a smart schools technology program. The Salt Lake Tribune

New York City’s Panel for Educational Policy voted to close 22 low-performing schools. Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said, “We are consistently working with schools to improve their outcomes. There are, unfortunately, some schools that just do not get better.” New York Post

Flipped classrooms have become a trend in K-12 education, and are becoming one in colleges as well. Washington Post