Afternoon Announcements: Can Achievement Gaps Be Narrowed in the Womb?

Can achievement gaps be narrowed before birth? Data shows that there are already vast cognitive gaps between children from higher-income and lower-income families by age 3. There’s potential for narrowing that gap by prepping mothers-to-be. The Atlantic

Georgia may not be able to afford the new assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards, set to be implemented in 2014. The state’s budget is $25 million for all types of assessments, and the Common Core related tests could run as high as $27.5 million.Education Week

The US Department of Education’s office for civil rights asked for public comment in the June 21st register on how students are disciplined in school. Other questions that could reach the public and school districts involve bullying, harassment, and whether pre-K pupils are spanked. Education Week

A new report from Education Trust suggests that Maryland students may struggle less to meet the more rigorous benchmarks set by the Common Core State Standards than students in other states. Maryland’s schools have a better track record of student achievement than almost any other state in the nation. The Baltimore Sun