Superintendent demands raises for nation’s wealthiest teachers, says they deserve $100,000+ a year
...Last week, state Superintendent Mike Flanagan proposed boosting teachers’ salaries in Michigan to the $100,000 range. The raises would attract better math and science teachers to the state, he said.

“When you ratchet-up teacher salaries to $100,000-plus, market forces will direct more mid-career changers and you’ll attract more math and science college students into our educator prep programs,” he said in a statement.

But according to a new study from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Michigan teachers are already among the wealthiest in the country. When cost of living is factored in, Michigan teachers make more than teachers in every other state, except Illinois....

California no longer requiring eighth graders to take Algebra
California will no longer require eighth-graders to take algebra — a move that is line with the Common Core standards being adopted by most states, but that may leave students unprepared for college.

Last month, California formally shifted to the Common Core mathematics standards, which recommend that students delay taking algebra if they aren’t ready for it. Previously, algebra class was a requirement for all eighth-graders in the state.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative, which is sponsored by the National Governor’s Association, is an effort to unify diverse state education curricula. Forty-five other states and the District of Columbia have signed on so far.

But some education experts worry that the change will further damage struggling students’ college chances, since early proficiency in Algebra I is an excellent predictor of college graduation, according to the Mercury News....

Why the 'naughty' stereotype holds boys back at school: Children as young as 7 believe girls are better in class
The belief that girls are brainier and better behaved is holding boys back at school, research suggests.

A study of British pupils found that, from a young age, children think girls are academically superior.

And, what’s more, they believe that adults think so too. Girls are perceived as more hard working and organised by teachers

University of Kent researchers said the beliefs may be self-fulfilling and help explain why boys lag behind at so many subjects.

Simply boosting boys’ self-belief could help close the academic gap, they said.

Research showed that boys performed better in tests when told they were as good as girls....