[Weekly EdNews Round Up] Classroom Background Noise Especially Distracting for Young Students

No one knows better than educators about the importance of staying up-to-date. In Edmentum’s Weekly News Round Up, you’ll find the latest and most interesting education news, all in one place.

You probably already had a good idea that classroom background noise was distracting to your students, but did you know that a recent study found that students age 6-9 have a significantly harder time filtering out the sound? Read all about this story and more in this week’s EdNews Round Up.

Classroom background noise especially distracting to young students
Education Dive
Neuroscientists found students ages 6 to 9 have a harder time tracking and distinguishing voices amid background noise, just as they're learning to read.

‘Any talks of striking?’: How a West Virginia teacher’s Facebook post started a national movement
USA Today
On Feb. 22, 2018, teachers across West Virginia went on strike, sparking a movement that spread to other red states. But the 2018 West Virginia teacher strike, which changed so much nationally, didn’t change that much back where it started. And on Tuesday, West Virginia teachers again staged a walkout – just to maintain the status quo.

Higher Pay Leads to Smarter Teachers, Global Study Says
EdWeek
Students perform better academically when they have teachers with higher cognitive skills, the study found.

How Extra Arts Education at School Boosts Students’ Writing Scores — And Their Compassion
MindShift
The annual data dump isn't just a check-in on the venerable advanced-coursework program. It's also where the AP highlights certain initiatives or announces new changes in approach, and this year is no exception. Let's take a look at what's new, and what we can learn from this year's data.

Oakland teachers go on strike, demand pay raises
Associated Press
Teachers in Oakland, California, went on strike Thursday, part of an ongoing national wave of discontent by educators over classroom conditions, pay and other issues. Recent walkouts have taken place in West Virginia, Los Angeles and Denver.

These Governors Are Calling for Teacher Pay Raises
EdWeek
Amid threatened teacher strikes and budget surpluses, more than 15 governors so far this year have recommended that their state boost teachers’ pay, according to an Education Week analysis of State of the State addresses.

The U.S. Teaching Population Is Getting Bigger, and More Female
The Atlantic
Women now make up a larger share of educators than they have in decades.

Education policy is often a topic of conversation in state and federal legislatures. Stay in-the-know with this week’s top stories regarding education reform.

Stark Choice for States: Bank Surpluses, or Spend Them on K-12
EdWeek
Public school advocates have a long wish list even as state policymakers weigh whether to fatten "rainy day" funds instead of pumping surplus cash into schools.

Report: Nearly half of Tennessean students not college ready
Associated Press
Nearly half of Tennessee students enrolled in higher education during the 2016-2017 school year needed some sort of remedial classes during their first year of college, according to new state data.

Proposed Florida bill calls for career training pathway to getting high school diploma
Fox News 13
A bill in the Florida Senate proposes changing high school graduation requirements for students who want to get a head start on vocational training.

Bill aims to direct more marijuana money to Colorado schools
KOAA
A bill making its way through the Colorado legislature would allocate more marijuana tax revenues for school construction projects. Under the current law, $40 million or 90 percent of total excise tax revenues goes toward the public school capital construction assistance fund. The new bill would enable 100 percent to be credited to the account.

School funding in Arkansas could be based on reading readiness performance
KTHV
An Arkansas legislator has introduced a bill that would reduce National School Lunch state categorical funding for a school if the "overall reading readiness is below a certain percentage."