Afternoon announcements: Study finds students whose parents pay for college earn lower grades

A really interesting back and forth from two education scholars on the pros and cons of the Common Core State Standards from Valerie Strauss’s blog. Washington Post

The debate over the proposed 20+ school closings in Washington, D.C. got louder today after a report shows the closures are unlikely to save much money in the 2013-14 school year. Washington Post

A new study shows that the more money parents provide their students for college, the lower the students’ grades tend to be. The connection between greater parental financial contributions and lower grades stayed steady across all kinds of four-year postsecondary institutions. New York Times

The Clark County School District in Denver is instituting an “open book” policy that will allow taxpayers to see exactly where money goes. It’s one of the first school districts in the nation to make its expenses and budget so accessible to the public. Education Week

We’re inundated with news stories on how the recession has negatively impacted recent college graduates attempting to enter the workforce. But is it really true, or is it a myth? The Atlantic