Education Nation Weekly Newsletter Education Nation // Febraury 11, 2015 // 6:01 PM EST Introducing the newest part of the Parent Toolkit: Parenting Perspectives . A place to debate important parenting and education issues of the day. This month our Parent Toolkit experts weigh in on Whether 'no-homework' policies work. Join the conversation by sharing your perspective on social media with the hashtag #ParentingPerspectives .   This week in education news: Schools find ways to keep learning going During snow days; Indicate new numbers less than half of teachers are a member of a union; and lack of college counseling resources further Top widens the class divide between students. As always, you can join the conversation on  Facebook  and Twitter . Are the Solution to iPad Snow Days?  (The Atlantic, 2/10) Fewer Than Half of Teachers Now Covered by Unions  (USA Today, 2/10) Rich School, Poor School  (Hechinger Report, 2/9) How Spelling Keeps Kids from Learning  (The Atlantic, 2/9) School District Wants To Close Achievement Gap by Recruiting More Black Teachers  (Huffington Post, 2/9) The GED is Out and Common Core is In  (Hechinger Report, 2/9) Common Core-Based Tests Causing Scramble for Computer Literacy  (Education News, 2/9) Graduation Loophole Common in Camden  (Courier-Post, 2/9) Anti-Testing Advocates Flood Inboxes Congressional Staff  (Education Week, 2/7) How Elementary School Teachers' Biases Can Discourage Girls from Math and Science  (New York Times, 2/6) Inside the Bilingual Classroom  (WNYC, 2/6) Fewer Top Graduates Want to Join Teach for America  (New York Times, 2/5)

This App Alerts Parents When College Students Skip Class Class 120, the brainchild of Jeffrey Whorley, uses GPS signals to track student's locations, and will send Their parents a message If They are not in class. Some experts argue que Could the app undermine students' ability to motivate Themselves.  More

Amateur Space Scientists Get Second Chance After Rocket Explosion Young students who watched the devastation in Their science projects exploded along with an unmanned Antares rocket bound for the International Space Station in October have gotten a second chance.   More

Calendar Problem: Snow Days Are Piling Up for Boston Kids School Has Been canceled in Boston eight times this academic year due to snow. While classes Were expected to end on June 19, tacking all of These Days on the end of the calendar would mean scheduling class in July.More