Draft academic standards in math and English—the bedrock of the national common standards movement, of which Illinois has played a central role—were released yesterday. (NYT)

The new standards are likely to touch off a vast effort to rewrite textbooks, train teachers and produce appropriate tests, if a critical mass of states adopts them in coming months, as seems likely. But there could be opposition in some states, like Massachusetts, which already has high standards that advocates may want to keep.

“Many states have too many expectations in their academic standards that force teachers to cover too much in a superficial way,” said Gene Wilhoit, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers. “We said: ‘Let’s keep these very understandable and at a number that is manageable. Let’s not put on teachers more requirements than they can deliver.’ ”

* Schools Inspector General launchs investigations into 30 Chicago high schools where grade-changing may be rampant; Mayor Daley lashes out. (Sun-Times)

“Anybody who phonies a grade up for a student is really cheating the student. You’re moving a student ahead who can’t read or write or function, and you’re really cheating them in the long run. It’s the easy the way out and that’s unacceptable,” Daley said.

The mayor said it would be up to Huberman to decide how or whether to punish the teachers responsible for changing grades. Asked whether it’s time to re-organize or reconstitute Hyde Park Academy, the mayor said, “Oh, I think they’re looking at that. A lot of schools have to be re-organized.”

Ald. Latasha Thomas (17th), chairman of the City Council’s Education Committee, demanded that the Chicago Board of Education conduct an exhaustive investigation of alleged grade changing.

* Undocumented Chicago youth come out to press for immigration overhaul. (WBEZ)

* CEO Ron Huberman’s performance management highlighted on All Things Considered.

* Hundreds protest cuts to Chicago sophomore sports programs. (ABC7)

* Study finds debate programs boost student achievement in cities like Chicago. (9News)

* Whitney Young teacher wins coveted prize for novel. (Sun-Times)

In state news

* Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed a 1 percent for schools income tax hike to offset nearly $1.3 billion in cuts to schools.

From the Tribune:

Quinn wants to raise the individual income tax rate to 4 percent from the current 3 percent rate — a 33 percent increase. Corporations would see the rate go to 5.8 percent from 4.8 percent…If approved, the state could raise more than $2.8 billion, with $1.3 billion to prevent Quinn's slashing of school funding, and the rest for paying down old bills, depending on how lawmakers divide the funds.

From Illinois Issues:

Senate President John Cullerton said he would support Quinn’s tax increase, but because the Senate passed a tax increase last session, the effort would have to start in the House.

“The Republicans in the House … along with the Democrats have to take this issue up and lead the way, and the Senate will certainly follow. … It’s clearly now focused on education and avoiding draconian cuts to education,” he said.

From the State Journal-Register:

The Responsible Budget Coalition continued to reiterate its support of HB 174, which would raise the Illinois income tax rate to 5 percent.

“Illinois communities are already hurting from the failure of legislators to stop damaging cuts and delayed payments to education, human services, public safety and more,” the organization said in a statement. “If they fail again to support a responsible budget with adequate revenue, they will not only force schools to cut thousands of teachers, but cities will lay off police and close libraries, and our state will turn its back on the most vulnerable in their time of need.”

The Capitol Fax Blog has reactions from the Four Tops.

Eden Martin knocks Quinn’s budget address for paying little more than lip service to pension reform. (Tribune)

* Red-ink roundup: 14 teachers cut in Hillsborough (Journal-News); Palatine schools prepare for cuts, $27 million bond (Daily Herald)

In national news

* Race to the Top finalists cram for next week’s presentations. (Ed Week)

And some finalists are turning to outside experts to help them dress-rehearse their presentations. A select group of states— Colorado, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Tennessee are among them—have been invited by the nonprofit Aspen Institute to do a dry run of their presentations before the real thing.

* Ohio’s Race to the Top plan criticized for its $2 million communications plan. (Columbus Dispatch)

For deeper coverage on Ohio’s bid, turn to Catalyst Ohio.

* A coalition of education groups in New Jersey says the state has inappropriately used stimulus dollars to fill budget gaps and wants Ed. Sec. Arne Duncan to intervene. (The Record)

* Day Two in the Education Department’s civil rights push: Los Angeles Unified draws fire for its struggling bilingual programs. (Ed Week)

* Legislation passes in Utah that will clear enrollment checks for charters. (SLT)

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