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Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Thursday he’s sensitive to the “noise associated with change” caused by the decision to close or turn around 17 underperforming schools, but he said he’s more concerned about the deafening “silence of failure.” (Sun-Times)

"Education reform alone can’t solve the problems that adults, acting like children, tend to sweep under the rug," Jim Warren writes in his final CNC column, which addresses the Chicago School Board's vote Wednesday to close and "turnaround" 17 public schools.

Legal Newsline looks at the recent Illinois Supreme Court decision on hiring laid-off teachers. The court ruled last week that the state's School Code does not give laid-off tenured teachers the right to be hired again after an economic layoff.

Chicago Magazine writer Whet Moser on the new push for vocational education in Chicago.

At least three universities in and around Chicago’s downtown plan to close or have already changed schedules because of the NATO and G-8 summits that are expected to attract an influx of thousands of protesters, many security restrictions and commuter headaches. (Sun-Times)

IN THE STATE
A $280,000 grant from the Illinois State Board of Education will create a two-year program for Champaign school district teachers to create secondary math curriculum based on the Common Core State Standards. (News-Gazette)

IN THE NATION
Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy said the district will report all teachers accused of misconduct to the state credentialing commission in an effort to keep those who pose a risk to students out of the classroom. (Los Angeles Times)

Since authorities charged an elementary teacher with lewd acts in his classroom nearly a month ago, the Los Angeles Unified School District has seen a flurry of arrests of school employees accused of inappropriate behavior with children. (Los Angeles Times)

Washington, D.C., mayor Vincent C. Gray and Chancellor Kaya Henderson are discussing a plan to restore the District’s power to create public charter schools as part of an effort to raise the quality of education in low-income communities. (The Washington Post)

A Philadelphia-based e-mentoring program aims to reduce dropout rate among black males. (The Notebook)

As states and districts begin the work of turning common academic standards into curriculum and instruction, educators searching for teaching resources are often finding that process frustrating and fruitless. (Education Week)