Redesigned SAT to be given in spring 2016

In March, the College Board announced the following changes to the SAT:

• The SAT will be offered in print and, at selected locations, on computer.
• There will be three sections: Evidence-based Reading and Writing, Math, and the essay, now an optional addition.
• The length of the SAT will be about three hours, with an added 50 minutes for the optional essay.
• The exam will once again be scored on a 400 to 1600 point scale. The Evidence-based Reading and Writing section and the Math section will each be scored on a 200 to 800 point scale. Scores for the optional essay will be reported separately.
• Students will also no longer be penalized for answering questions incorrectly, a move the College Board hopes will encourage students to fill in the best answer they have for every question.

And in an attempt to make College Board preparation accessible to all, the College Board will be partnering with Khan Academy , a not-for-profit educational resource site, to offer free SAT test preparation materials to all students. Both the ACT and SAT have, in the past, been criticized for unintentionally favoring wealthier families who are able to pay for test prep courses.

Read more at: https://www.collegeboard.org/delivering-opportunity/sat/redesign and http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/03/10/behind-the-sat-the-good-and-bad-of-the-2016-redesign

Philadelphia public school advocate Helen Gym receives national honor Helen Gym, of Parents United Philadelphia, will receive the Cesar E. Chavez Champion of Change award
from President Obama. More at: http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20140331_A_national_honor_for_Philadelphia_activist_Helen_Gym.html

Is Arne Duncan “America’s Superintendent”?

A well worth-watching series hosted by John Merrow, Education Correspondent for PBS NewsHour and President of “Learning Matters”. Hear interviews on reauthorization of ESEA, Common Core the role of the federal government in education policy:
http://learningmatters.tv/blog/on-pbs-newshour/education-policy/watch-arne-duncan-profile/12138/