In Case You Missed It: School aides could face the ax; DOE quietly un-bans social promotion

Here on EdVox we’re excited to bring you the latest news about education issues and policies affecting our communities. It can be hard to keep up with all of the events and happenings, so – in case you missed it… Here is a recap of the latest stories in NYC education news, starting with the oldest (Tuesday, May 29th):

TUESDAY

• New York was the latest state to be granted a No Child Left Behind waiver by the federal government: 
  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/education/eight-more-states-get-waiver-from-no-child-law.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss
  
• The Daily News encourage Gov. Cuomo to have his new education advisory panel take a look at the contract for exam administrator Pearson: 
  http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/state-elementary-middle-school-exams-pass-smell-test-article-1.1084867
  
• Regents Chancellor Meryl Tisch was floated for NYC mayor, again:
  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303807404577434820960498732.html
  

WEDNESDAY

•  A State Supreme Court judge dismissed a case brought by parents challenging a new charter school in Cobble Hill, but he also noted in his ruling that the school could have done more to engage the community: 
  http://gothamschools.org/2012/05/30/judge-dismisses-suit-against-cobble-hill-success-academy/
  
• The NYPD made five arrests a day at City schools this winter, according to new data: 
  http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/05/30/police-report-on-school-arrests/?partner=rss&emc=rss
  
• Two hundred and twenty-five school aides could still be fired as part of this year’s budget, Chancellor Walcott warned at a City Council hearing: 
  http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/education/162180/chancellor-walcott-warns-of-layoffs-for-more-than-200-public-school-workers
  

THURSDAY

•  Hundreds of fifth graders in Washington Heights and Inwood sent letters to the Bloomberg Administration begging it not to cut beloved after school programs: 
  http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uptown/uptown-students-mayor-bloomberg-axe-after-school-programs-article-1.1087150
  

FRIDAY

•  After years of rejecting the pleas of parents, advocates and researchers to amend its policy, the City quietly ended the ban on “social promotion” in schools on Friday by sending an email to principals: 
  http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/education/162312/doe-to-revise-ban-on–social-promotion-
  
• More emails between former Chancellor Klein and Success Academies CEO Eva Moskowitz were released by the City, including one in which Moskowitz implores Klein to use the teachers’ union as a punching bag: “Blame em.  Every hour of the day,” she wrote: 
  http://gothamschools.org/2012/06/01/blame-em-klein-is-urged-about-teachers-union-in-latest-emails/
  
• The City spent nearly $100M on un-vetted teacher training consultants last year: 
  http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/06/01/teacher-training-programs-lack-oversight/