The Center for Digital Education/Government Technology talks with Kristen Amundson about the Spring 2016 issue of The State Education Standard: “The May issue of The State Education Standard is the scholastic world’s cue to do two things: use data and start whistling a different tune. Kristen Amundson, executive director of the National Association of State […]

EdScoop’s Corinne Lestch writes about the new Education Leaders Report, “Policymaking on Education Data Privacy: Lessons Learned.” From Corinne Lestch’s story: Congress is currently considering seven bills on the topic, and there have been more than 100 bills introduced in about 38 states, according to the Data Quality Campaign, a nonprofit based in Washington. Now, the Every […]

The Journal’s Dian Schaffhauser writes about NASBE’s Education Leaders Report, “Policymaking on Education Data Privacy: Lessons Learned.” From Dian Schaffhauser’s story: Last year 187 bills in 48 states were introduced that touch on some aspect of student data privacy, up from 110 in the previous year; 34 states have passed new laws on student data privacy; and the United […]

Education Week’s Daarel Burnette II writes about the NASBE Legislative Conference and the new Policy Update, “Take It Off the Consent Agenda: Nine Questions State Boards of Education Should Ask about State Assessment Systems.” From Daarel Burnette II’s story: The work of coming up with accountability plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act took center stage as […]

Education Week’s Benjamin Herold writes about the new Education Leaders Report, “Policymaking on Education Data Privacy: Lessons Learned.” From Benjamin Herold’s story: State boards of education can play a number of significant roles in protecting student data privacy, from direct oversight to public communications to federal advocacy, according to a new report from their national membership […]

April 1, 2016 NASBE Director of Education Data and Technology Amelia Vance pens an op-ed in Real Clear Education about finding the right balance between strong privacy protection and the need for student data collection. From the Op-ed: Is a Supreme Court confirmation more likely than balancing student privacy with data needs to improve education? Listening to the discussion at […]

NASBE’s Executive Director Kristen Amundson talks with Education Week about the new policy environment created by  the Every Student Succeeds Act. From Daarel Burnette II’s story: The board members who meet in Washington aim to map out a strategy to handle the new policy environment under ESSA. They’ll discuss building community support, learn how to craft their […]

NASBE’s Amelia Vance talks with Deseret News about new federal student data privacy legislation. From Eric Schulzkle’s story:  “In an era of NSA snooping, email hacking and rampant identity theft, the specter of poorly protected student data strewn throughout cyberspace and being sold to the highest bidder has caught the attention of privacy advocates and, now, policymakers. […]

NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson pens an op-ed in The Washington Post about finding the right balance in legislating student data privacy. From the Op-ed: Educators struggle with inherent contradictions in education data. On the one hand, they produce very real benefits. When teachers can identify precisely what students know, they can focus their teaching on areas students […]

NASBE Director of Education Data and Technology Amelia Vance discusses the prospects of new federal legislation on student data privacy with FedScoop’s Corinne Letsch. From Letsch’s article: “…Amelia Vance, director of education data and technology for the National Association of State Boards of Education, said the basic framework of the bill — strengthening safeguards around student data […]

NASBE’s Amelia Vance explains how states are taking action on protecting student data privacy in The Austin Chronicle. From Richard Whittaker’s article:  “…The legislative landscape is already shifting. In 2014, there were 110 new laws dealing with student data in 36 states, and most of them put more pressure on state boards of education. According […]

U.S. New & World Report talks with NASBE’s Kristen Amundson about sexual assault and discipline policies and practices in states and schools across the country. From Tierney Sneed’s article: “…While the campaign against college rape has raised awareness about the statute, many parents and even some school administrators are unaware that it also applies to primary […]

Education Week’s StateEd Watch features NASBE data on state boards of educations’ review timelines of education standards From Andrew Ujifusa’s article: “Much of the talk about the fate of the Common Core State Standards is focused on state legislatures and whether or not they will repeal the standards. But it’s important to remember that in nearly every […]

NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson talks with the Associated Press about how recent measles outbreaks may impact state policies around vaccinations. From Christine Armario’s story: “While much of the attention in the ongoing measles outbreak has focused on student vaccination requirements and exemptions, less attention has been paid to another group in the nation’s classrooms: Teachers […]

NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson talks with the Associated Press about changes to school drug policies. From Michael Felberbaum’s story: “…But the concerns raised by school districts may not be too far-fetched. Devices that look exactly like e-cigarettes but have a compartment that can be filled with substances like concentrated forms of marijuana are sold online […]

NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson quoted on new developments around Smart Snacks state exemptions in the Associated Press. From Mary Clare Jalonick’s story: When it comes to school fundraisers, bake sale tables loaded with sugary goodies are out. Fun runs, auctions and sales of healthier treats are in. Government rules requiring schools to hold more nutritious fundraisers, along with […]

USA Today recently interviewed three NASBE leaders—Kristen Amundson, Jay Barth, and Mireya Reith—on the state board take over of Little Rock Public School District. From Greg Toppo’s story: “The recent takeover of the Little Rock School District by the Arkansas State Board of Education has angered parents and surprised even seasoned school reform observers. The move […]

NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson is quoted in Center For Digital Education on the the Obama administration’s new student data privacy proposal. From Tanya Roscorla’s article: “…After Obama’s speech, leaders in several organizations said they were pleased to see California’s main student data privacy law held up as a model for the nation. California created […]

The November 2014 elections are leading to changes in the membership of state boards of education across the country, and  significant shifts in state education policy are sure to follow. Read commentary by NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson here, accompanied by a state-by-state analysis of the elections.  

Education Week‘s Alyson Klein covered the NASBE Annual Conference session on turnaround schools. An excerpt from “Promise, Challenges Seen in Use of Federal Turnaround Aid”: Connecticut, like many other states, didn’t get nearly as much transformational change in schools as officials there had hoped from the Obama administration’s multibillion-dollar School Improvement Grant program. Still, the […]

NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson is quoted on the practical implications of a new pediatrics study that indicates later school start times are better for kids’ health and academic achievement. In an Associated Press story: “Pediatrician’s RX for Schools: Later Start Times” by Lindsey Tanner “‘The issue is really cost,’ said Kristen Amundson, executive director of the […]

NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson pens an op-ed in The Detroit News on the importance of legislatures and state boards working together to raise student achievement. From the Op-ed: The U.S. education system recently received a report card from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a think tank for developed countries. America’s grades weren’t […]

NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson pens an op-ed in The Hill with CoSN CEO Keith Krueger. From the Op-ed:  As another school year winds down and our students gear up for their summer break, school systems nationwide are already preparing for a major shift beginning next fall: the implementation of new technology-powered assessments. Fostering the success […]

NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson was interviewed by several media outlets about Oklahoma’s House Bill 3399. In Education Week: “Common-Core Repeal Bill Faces a Potential Constitutional Problem” by Andrew Ujifusa “…Kristen Amundson, the executive director of NASBE, said in an interview that while legislatures have a great deal of power, when it comes to altering the […]

NASBE’s Kristen Amundson talks with the Wall Street Journal about state efforts to make up lost instructional time from snow days. Read an excerpt below. “…Officials in Maryland, Delaware and Ohio have cleared the way for waivers that would truncate the school year by several days, and a New Jersey district has opted for Saturday […]

The Oklahoman cites NASBE’s Kristen Amundson in a recent editorial on common core legislation. Read an excerpt below. “…House Bill 3399, the Legislature’s effort to toss Common Core and replace it with other standards, has drawn the attention of the National Association of State Boards of Education. Although Oklahoma isn’t a part of the group, its […]

NASBE’s Kristen Amundson talks with The Atlantic about the importance of a diversified board. Read an excerpt from the article below. “…Kris Amundson, executive director of the National Association of State Boards of Education, said the new Fordham report confirms what she came to believe after nearly a decade on the Fairfax, Va., school board: […]

Education Week’s Andrew Ujifusa and Christiana Samuels report on NASBE’s recent Legislative Policy Forum.  Read excerpts below. From Education Official Stresses Need for ‘Results-Driven Accountability’: “While states are being asked to change how they evaluate their special education programs, the U.S. Department of Education also plans to change the way it interacts with states, Michael […]

Nationally known school parent blog cites NASBE School Health Policy Database in piece about school discipline. View Full Post

The Oct. 29 issue of Association and Non Profit Bisnow offers a feature on NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson and her career. View Full Post

NASBE Project Director Efrain Mercado discusses assessments with the News-Press of Ft. Myers, Florida. View Full Article

Follow the link to hear NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson discuss the shifting balance in education policy authority back to the states from the federal government on Education Talk Radio. Listen to Podcast

NASBE policy update primary source for “Here’s Proof That Learning Cursive Makes You Smarter” in Business Insider. Read Full Article

NASBE School Health Policy Database cited as one of the top reference sites on the web for school nurses. See Full Post

The Delaware State Board of Education adopted the Next Generation Science Standards. Article cites NASBE webinars and members’ attendance at NASBE events as a training source for the board. Read Full Article

Jeff Charbonneau, 2013 National Teacher of the Year, received a standing ovation for his keynote remarks on Sunday at the National Association of State Boards of Education Annual Conference in Arlington, Va., where he implored members of the education community to maintain a focus on teaching “students of all backgrounds, all abilities to be successful […]

Kansas State Board of Education member Ken Willard, an avowed conservative, explains why he supports the Common Core State Standards. View Full Article

On the off chance people were looking for a lively discussion about the connections between the Common Core State Standards and teacher evaluations on a mid-summer Sunday afternoon, they would have found it at the National Association of State Boards of Education’s annual conference in Arlington, Va., on July 28. View Full Post

NASBE partners with Crescerance, a leading Mobile Communications Provider, to help bring their members to the Mobile Era. July 22, 2013 Arlington, Virginia The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is pleased to announce the launch of its exclusive Mobile Application for members and other constituents to help them connect with NASBE anytime, […]

Last year, more than 57,000 incidents of aggressive conduct were reported in public schools in West Virginia — about 1,000 fewer than the previous year.
In addition, the number of out-of-school suspensions decreased by 30,000 from 2011 to 2012.

On May 13, 2013, NASBE sent a letter to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), ranking member of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, for greater investments in education […]

NASBE policy update from September 2012 cited as source in article that examines what states teach cursive writing and how it is taught in New Jersey. View Full Article

Article in the Camarillo (Calif.) Acorn asks “Could technology hit delete on cursive writing?” NASBE Senior Communications Manager Steve Berlin tries to help answer that question. View Full Article

NASBE joined eight other health and education organizations, led by the American Lung Association, to issue a joint statement on improving asthma management in schools. NASBE has long supported the need for clean air in schools in the belief that students cannot succeed in school if they are continually absent due to illness. According to […]

Last February my son’s school had a fundraiser on Valentines Day. Called “A Crush for a Crush”, students had the option to purchase an Orange Crush to send to another student for a mere $1.
Cute, huh? But technically illegal.

NASBE President Patrick Guida discusses changes at NASBE in the last year as part of a larger feature about changes in several nation education organizations headquartered in the D.C. area. View Full Article

NASBE policy update and Senior Communications Manager Steve Berlin cited in article about the value of cursive writing. View Full Post

NASBE Policy Update – The Handwriting Debate – cited in Salt Lake Tribune article about cursive instruction. View Full Article

Miss the recent discussion on EduTalkRadio about the intersection of state policy and arts education? Listen to the podcast by following the link below! Listen to Podcast

NASBE Chief Knowledge Officer David Kysilko  is cited for his knowledge of state education boards in a Stateline article about Oregon’s reorganization of its education management systems. View Full Article

Chestertown resident Madhu Sidhu, a member of the Maryland State Board of Education, recently spoke to lawmakers and their staff as part of a congressional briefing to support a new report from the National Association of State Boards of Education about education technology. View Full Article

NASBE Chief Knowledge Officer David Kysilko offers national perspective to a state education governance story.   View Full Article  

NASBE study group report Born in Another Time featured in Education Week blog post “Taking a Closer Look at Teachers’ Technology Shortcomings.” View Full Post

NASBE study group report Born in Another Time: Ensuring Educational Technology Meets the Needs of Students Today — and Tomorrow reviewed in California NPR affiliate blog.

NASBE Gearing Up study group report referenced in article about pledge by NASBE and other groups to work with 25 states in transforming teacher preparation. View Full Article

NASBE joins CCSSO and other associations in a pledge to transform teacher preparation programs in 25 states. Executive Director Jim Kohlmoos talks here about the kinds of changes being planned. View Full Article

Article explains new report om teacher preparation led by CCSSO, but panel that developed the report included NASBE Directors Brenda Gullett (AR), Steven Pound (ME), and Patrick Guida (RI). View Full Article View Full Report

NASBE’s Policy Update from September on the Handwriting Debate provides main resource in a Utah article on the teaching of cursive writing in local schools. View Full Post

From Education Week Blogger Sean Cavanagh: Teachers may be the undisputed authorities on academic content in their classrooms, but when it comes to their knowledge of technology, many of them have a lot of catching up to do. The widely acknowledged need to improve the tech skills of teachers and other school officials, and help […]

The Kansas State Board of Education will discuss the role of cursive handwriting in school curricula during its monthly meeting on Tuesday, the Wichita Eagle reports. Multiple sources cite NASBE’s September Policy Update “The Handwriting Debate” by David Kysilko as a resource on this issue.   View Full Article

NASBE Executive Director Jim Kohlmoos extensively cited in article about what may follow the Presidential election no matter who wins.   View Full Article

The American education system — inasmuch as it’s actually a system — is not failing. … There are indeed problems that need addressing, but there is significant cognitive dissonance in how the public views K-12 education.

NASBE Executive Director Jim Kohlmoos discusses upcoming elections and how state boards are a stabilizing force amid changes in leadership.   View Full Article

News article about the 2012 NASBE study group on education technology and the report’s summary and findings. View Full Article

NASBE Senior Communication Manager Steve Berlin gives the school calendar some historical perspective in this Georgia district story. View Complete Article

NASBE President Gayle Manchin makes the case for increasing the reach of partnerships to benefit education and policy development at the state level.   Read Full Post

Arlington, VA — A statement by Jim Kohlmoos, Executive Director of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), on the results of the PDK/Gallup poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools: “Half of the American public believes the Common Core State Standards will help improve public education here, and with all of […]

NASBE Executive Director Jim Kohlmoos cited in this article about  the ESEA waiver process and what’s happening in the states that had applications denied, or decided not to apply at all. View Full Article (Also available at Huffington Post)

Before Susan B. Anthony became a famous abolitionist and suffragette, she was director of a girls’ school in upstate New York. Indeed, she combined her passions to agitate for including more women in education professions, and for better pay. Now, for all of her accomplishments, she is best known by many people as the face […]

Tennessee county board member cites NASBE endorsement of Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium standards in vote to renew superintendent’s contract. View Full Article

Three big-deal groups representing state lawmakers and education officials—the National Governors’ Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, and the National Association of State Boards of Education—put out a joint critique that says, basically, “Don’t Tread On Me.”

Muskego Schools spell out protection for religious beliefs in an addition to their current discrimination, harassment and bullying policy, which reflects new national guidelines to ensure the ability to express one’s faith.   View Full Article

NASBE Project Director Whitney Meagher discusses childhood obesity, school food and nutrition, and physical activity policies on Education Talk Radio. Listen to Podcast

Court rulings have provided precedent about how K-12 students may express their opinions—even potentially offensive ones—on campus, but a new set of guidelines attempts to provide further clarity for school administrators under pressure to curb bullying and harassment. View Full Article

California is among a handful of states that haven’t taken the U.S. Department of Education up on its offer of wiggle room on the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. But that doesn’t mean the state wants to stick with the NCLB law as it is. View Full Article

One thing is certain; educators should be strong proponents of lay governance and work to preserve the institutions. As proponents of lay leadership in education governance they should pay close attention to governance debates and challenges taking place in their own states and across the nation. The attacks on governance are real and the ongoing […]

Seattle Times editorial on state education funding references 2001 NASBE study group report.   View Full Article

Several associations of state and local government officials on Thursday called on House and Senate leaders to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and to do so in a way that gives state officials more flexibility over how to spend federal dollars. View Full Article

State and local groups united in a letter sent Thursday to Capitol Hill, urging Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). View Full Article

The Connecticut State Board of Education was one of only three states awarded a $15,000 grant by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) to develop and implement policies to foster healthy eating among students and promote school health programs. View Full Article

Connecticut is one of three states to receive a grant from the National Association of State Boards of Education to develop policies that promote healthy eating in public schools. View Full Article

The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) has awarded grants to seven state boards of education in order to develop and implement policies as a way to improve nutrition throughout the states’ school districts. View Full Article

NASBE’s “Green Cleaning Schools” State Education Standard featured in edutopia blog about the need for schools to be environmentally aware in their policies and practices.

Junk food may soon be hard to buy at American public schools as the U.S. government readies new rules requiring healthier foods to be sold beyond the cafeteria – a move most parents support, according to a poll released on Thursday. View Full Article

Longtime NASBE Publications Director David Kysilko was named the organization’s first-ever Chief Knowledge Officer. View Full Article

Before choosing to restrict the use of social and mobile tools in schools, policymakers and education leaders have to consider the negative impact such restrictions will have on learning. That’s the premise of a new policy report released jointly this week by more than a dozen prominent education associations and advocacy groups (including NASBE). View Full Article

Did you know New Teacher Center is a resource for policymakers and state boards of education? Recognizing the importance of comprehensive teacher induction, the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) recently partnered with NTC to develop a discussion guide and webinar for state boards of education and policymakers about new teacher induction. View Full Article

NASBE Senior Communications Manager Steve Berlin stresses the importance of independent state boards that make decisions based on long-term successes.

The Learning First Alliance (LFA) welcomes Jim Kohlmoos to its Board of Directors.   View Full Article

The Learning First Alliance (LFA), a partnership of 16 leading education associations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America’s public schools, welcomes Jim Kohlmoos to its Board of Directors. Kohlmoos recently became executive director of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE). View Full Article

NASBE Executive Director Jim Kohlmoos describes the future of public education as a migration to using evidence-based reforms to inform policy and practice.

NASBE Executive Director Jim Kohlmoos discusses the future of education reform and the migration of education policy to an evidence-based practice. Listen to Podcast

Two assessment consortiums, SMARTER Balanced and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), have risen from the Common Core movement. Although it might seem counterintuitive to have different tests for the same set of standards, policymakers see a potential upside in having two distinct means of assessing Common Core. Replacing individual […]

NASBE responds to President’s education budget proposal but takes issue with expansion of competitive grant programs.

In 2009, the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Chief Council of State School Officers (CCSSO) launched the Common Core State Standards initiative, a state-led effort to construct national academic standards that would prepare students for success in higher education and future careers. In the subsequent years, 45 states and the District of Columbia have signed onto […]

In his third State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Barack Obama urged states to require that students stay in school until they either graduate or turn 18. “We… know that when students aren’t allowed to walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma,” Obama said in […]

The first place to go at school or work when you’re craving a snack is the vending machine. However, If your looking for a healthy option, what you think may be the best, isn’t always the best. No matter what the contents are the “healthy” label can often be misleading. View Full Article

NASBE Deputy Executive Director Brad Hull discusses digital learning in Governing magazine.

NASBE Executive Director Brenda Welburn discusses No Child Left Behind in a Jan. 6, 2012 article in Governing magazine.

NASBE Executive Director Brenda Welburn discusses the role of state boards and NASBE’s role in convening study groups and aiding boards nationwide. Listen to Podcast

NASBE’s Gearing Up study group report on teachers featured in Pearson’s “Making the Grade” blog. View Full Article

Video of Gen. Colin Powell accepting NASBE’s Policy Leader of the Year Award from Executive Director Brenda Welburn.   View Video

Teacher colleges need to give aspiring educators much more thorough, intense exposure to K-12 classrooms during their training—and set higher standards for admission—a group representing state school boards contends.  View Full Article

NASBE’s Steve Berlin speaks to Education Talk Radio for a discussion of the role of this important, yet little understood, aspect of education – state boards of education. Listen to Podcast

School children today should be aiming for an “F” to add to the three Rs of their curriculum. That’s what the National Association of State Boards of Education recommends to combat an alarming epidemic of obesity in American children. The “F” stands for fitness, and one way to achieve it is through a physical education […]

The Pinckneyville Middle School Symphonic Band, lead by its band director, Roland Ventura, performed its annual Spring Concert Monday night before a large gathering of family and friends. The band played a number of patriotic pieces to honor the men and women who have served or are serving in one of the branches of the U.S. armed […]

Dropout prevention pilot launching in Radcliff, KY.

Project PASS will Support Middle and High School Students RADCLIFF, Ky., March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Hardin County Schools are pleased to join the United States Army and the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) in the launch of a new pilot program aimed at developing leadership and academic skills for middle school and high school students. The […]

NASBE research and recommendations cited in WebMD post about physical education.

First Lady Michelle Obama spent time this week on a conference call with Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, and Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, along with key education organizations to urge more schools to participate in the HealthierUS School Challenge Program. View Full Article

Middle school cadets in Army uniforms screamed, “Hoo-rah.” Sally Cauble of Liberal, the District 5 representative on the Kansas State Board of Education, asked for another chorus of the U.S. Marine Corps battle cry, not only from the cadets but from the hundreds of adults and students jammed into the gymnasium at Abe Hubert Middle […]

Childhood obesity. Yes, it’s a problem and one that isn’t going to go away overnight. Join us as we discuss this overwhelming topic and how we can successfully address the problem.

In this segment, Lifetime TV’s show “The Balancing Act” welcomes Chris Toy, Educational Consultant of National Middle School Association, and Brenda Welburn, Executive Director of National Association of State Boards of Education to discuss the importance of technology, math and science in the success of our children and our nation.   View Full Segment