Afternoon Announcements: Graduation Rate Remains Stagnant

Controversy mounted today over Maryland’s reporting of the performance of its students on a national reading test. Critics point out that the state prevented more than half of its English language learners and students with learning disabilities from taking the test, inflating its scores. The Washington Post

GoldieBlox, the toy company that has garnered media attention after a media campaign encouraging girls to get interested in STEM fields, went viral, continues to promote smart toys for girls who will “build the spaceship.” High School Notes

Graduation rates remain stagnant in the United states, according to a new study by the National Student Clearinghouse. The study found that graduation rates improved only two-tenths of 1 percent from last year. The Hechinger Report

Novelist Wallace Stegner called America’s national parks “America’s best idea” for authentic learning. The national parks teach about US history, geology, and more. Homeroom