Morning bell: Vacancies on DC’s State Board of Education

Open positions: The Washington Post has endorsed Phil Pannell for the recently vacated Ward 8 seat on the DC State Board of Education, in a race that will be decided by a July 15 special election. And the Ward 6 representative, who has called for giving the board more responsibility, won’t run for re-election in November. (Post)

Teachers’ union blocking extended day?: The Post editorial board says the Washington Teachers’ Union should let DCPS teachers at individual schools vote on a longer school day.

Community schools get a second year: The 2015 DC budget includes $1 million to continue the effort to turn some schools into hubs for a range of community services. (DCFPI)

Increasing the graduation rate: One in 4 high school students in Prince George’s County fails to graduate within 4 years, and county officials are focusing on literacy across the curriculum in an effort to address the problem. (Post)

Duncan calls for teacher-equity strategy: The Secretary of Education wants every state and DC to come up with a plan to ensure that poor and minority students have equal access to great teachers. (Ed Week)

NEA calls for Duncan’s resignation: Delegates to the nation’s largest teachers’ union passed a resolution denouncing the Education Department’s focus on high-stakes testing. (Teacher Beat/Ed Week)

Lessons from Peru: A US design company has masterminded the development of a network of low-cost private schools, at the behest of a Peruvian businessman. (NYT)

The value of school Internet filters: Tech-savvy kids may get around them, but they’re an important means of reducing distractions and conveying what’s important. (Hechinger Report)