[Weekly EdNews Round Up] The Cult of Homework: A Look at Our Fickle Relationship

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.

America has had a fickle relationship with homework for more than a century. These days, students are reporting spending twice as much time on homework as students did in the 1990s. Experts agree it’s time to revisit our relationship with homework, but why can’t we make up our mind about it once and for all? Read this story and more in this week’s EdNews Round Up!

The Cult of Homework
The Atlantic
America’s devotion to the practice stems in part from the fact that it’s what today’s parents and teachers grew up with themselves.

Lawmaker Calls on DeVos to Resign
U.S. News
Rep. Katherine Clark wants the education secretary to resign because of “racist research” used to justify revoking school discipline guidance.

Teacher Shortage is ‘Real and Growing, and Worse Than We Thought’
neaToday
A perfect storm in the teacher labor market has formed, and students in high-poverty schools are bearing the brunt of its impact.

Brain Science Backs Up Role of 'Mindset' in Motivating Students for Math
EdWeek
A wealth of research suggests that a student's academic "mindset"—whether she believes math skill is an inborn, fixed trait or that it can be grown through practice—can make the difference in how she engages with the subject

District maternity leave policies fall short on teacher support
Education Dive
While many developed nations have mandated paid parental leave policies, the United States doesn't, and only a handful of states — including New Jersey and Washington — offer these benefits from teachers, most of whom are women.

Puerto Rico's Education Secretary Julia Keleher Is Stepping Down
EdWeek
Puerto Rico Secretary of Education Julia Keleher is leaving her position as the island's top K-12 official, and will serve as an adviser at the island's education department to help with the leadership transition and ongoing policy changes.

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.

States Fall Short on School Data Transparency, Advocacy Group Says
EdWeek
After reviewing states’ school report cards, the Data Quality Campaign says dozens of states are failing to offer a clear window into the data they’re required to collect under ESSA.

Indiana school district turns unused cafeteria food into take-home meals for kids
WJLA
An Indiana school district is taking steps to make sure kids have enough to eat. Elkhart Community Schools students usually get breakfast and lunch at school, but on the weekends at home, they may be without food.

Tennessee would take a year off from computer-based testing under legislative proposal
Chalkbeat - Tennessee
All Tennessee students would take their TNReady tests on paper next school year under a legislative proposal to give the state’s next testing company more time to prepare to administer computer-based exams.

State laws may hinder biometric technology in schools
District Administration
Many U.S. states are enacting biometric information privacy laws. These rules will have important implications for companies that collect biometric information as well as for public schools that adopt the technology.

N.C. bill would give teachers $400 to buy supplies
WRAL
Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson and several Republican lawmakers announced a bill Wednesday that would give every licensed public school teacher in North Carolina $400 to buy school supplies instead of sending that money to local school districts.