In the name of love
It's hard to miss the media firestorm over Chicago's latest educational innovation, the School for Social Justice Pride Campus. The school would cater to gay students who are teased and bullied at their current schools.
Why school systems cannot lose weight
Chester E. Finn, Jr.There's plenty of evidence that state and municipal budgets are strapped these days, due to shrinking tax revenues from a faltering economy, declining property values, etc. It's also clear that a number of school systems are feeling the pinch.
Windbag city
Chi-town, home of deep dish pizza, The Band, and an education reform powerhouse? That's John Simmon's take.
Can school districts be bribed to do the right thing?
Michael J. PetrilliThere's been a lot of debate recently about the degree to which the feds can coerce states or school districts to do things they don't want to do (see here,
Quick and the Ed Watch: Lessons unlearned
Michael J. PetrilliFormer Ed Truster Kevin Carey loves Education Trust's trusty new report on graduation rates (timed to coincide w
Strickland Roadmap for Academic Reforms--Translated by the Gadfly
Governor Strickland's office recently shared his "Roadmap for Academic Reforms," which appears to be the forerunner or prelude to the governor's long-awaited plan for renewing and strengthening K-12 education in Ohio. The present document, regrettably, is not only devoid of specifics but also brimming with catchy buzz phrases and trendy eduspeak nostrums.
The agony of a Gadfly
Michael J. PetrilliI'm not sure whether his analysis about the McCain campaign is spot-on, but how are we supposed to feel about Rich Lowry's depiction of us Gadflies?
On education, the Democrats are already in charge
Michael J. PetrilliBefore the 2004 presidential election, it was obvious what the liberal advocacy group Education Trust thought about President George W. Bush.
Education Dept. steps in the right direction
Chester E. Finn, Jr.I don't much cotton to this bloggish practice of holding internal conversations in public view, but this time I think Mike is over the top--and he didn't ask my advice before "publishing". He's right about NCLB's built-in flaws and the need to rethink the law??so as to set them right. A fair amount of that is statutory repair work; some, however,??is regulatory.
What to do with NCLB?
Stafford PalmieriLast week, Mike explained (in the Washington Times), that NCLB needs to be "flipped" on its head. What does he mean?
What's the deal?
Fordham's Mike Petrilli is participating in an online discussion where panelists--even as I type this--are attempting to answer the question "Do we need a new deal for teachers?" ??Moderator Steve Farkas, of the Farkas Duffett Research Group, kicked things off by
Rich Randi
Michael J. PetrilliMike Antonucci wants everyone to know that AFT President Randi Weingarten only makes $350,000 a year.
Maryland's inter-generational income transfer scheme
Michael J. PetrilliAs a Maryland resident I have to decide how to vote on the state's Question 2 next week, whic
School Finance Redesign Project panel at National Press Club
Stafford Palmieri/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
Final thoughts--School Finance Redesign Project
Stafford PalmieriWe've just returned from the School Finance Redesign Project Panel (and were caught in the rain, no less!) Here are some final thoughts: Great ideas... not so practical. I'll give you two examples.
The Marmalard factor
Michael J. PetrilliI really enjoy Andy Rotherham as a colleague and friend (you know, the way Joe Biden loves Joh
Portfoliogate continued
Michael J. PetrilliDon Soifer of the Lexington Institute provides some interesting background on the portfolio issue, and why this wonky topic matters.
It's Friday, the sub is in
Today's Friday, which means there's a pretty good chance your child is being taught by a substitute teacher.
Educators for McCain?
Michael J. PetrilliNot everyone votes their pocketbook, but if they did, these education leaders would be pulling the lever for John McCain. That's because each one makes $250,000 or more per year: Joel Klein, New York City Chancellor???????????????????????????????? $250,000 (as of 2005) John Wilson, NEA Executive Director?????????????????????????????? $258,000 (as of 2005)
Would the Obama administration be anti-TFA?
Michael J. PetrilliIf you think that parsing Obama's portfolio policy is difficult, what to make of the conflicting signals over Teach For America?
What to do about No Child Left Behind law?
That's one heck of a tough question that the next president - whether McCain or Obama - will eventually have to answer. Fordham's Mike Petrilli is trying to help out with a few suggestions.
Improving on No Child Left Behind
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Richard D. Kahlenberg, ed.Century FoundationOctober 2008
Civics lesson
Lawsuits, Columbine...Election Day? That seems to be the thought process for many a school district contemplating November 4th and worried that their schools can't safely serve as polling stations and learning environments at the same time. That's why Illinois's Indian Prairie school system cancelled classes for the day.