Strategies for Smarter Budgets and Smarter Schools
Nathan LevensonThis new policy brief by Nathan Levenson, Managing Director at the District Management Council and former superintendent of Arlington (MA) Public Schools, offers informed advice to school districts seeking to provide a well-rounded, quality education to all children in a time of strained budgets. Levenson recommends three strategies: prioritize both achievement and cost-efficiency; make staffing decisions based on student needs, not student preferences; and manage special-education spending for better outcomes and greater cost-effectiveness.
The Diverse Schools Dilemma on the air and on the net
Pamela TatzHere’s a roundup of recent and forthcoming media attention that Mike Petrilli's new book, the Diverse Schools Dilemma, has garnered.
Thank you, Diane Ravitch, but…
Peter MeyerIf Ms. Ravitch herself aimed to be self-critical and honest in the matter of the best interest of students, she would need to examine the public school model that she has, of late, been trumpeting
"Common Ground," the DIY-version
Guest-blogger Paul Basken's take on the Diverse Schools Dilemma
Map: Charter-school penetration by city
Michael J. PetrilliA picture is worth a thousand words--the bigger the dot, the bigger the charter-school market share
The grand slam for New Jersey charter schools
CREDO, a Stanford-based research center, concluded that New Jersey charter schools are among the highest-performing studied to date
Catching up from the break
Andy Smarick's pick of education news from over the Thanksgiving holiday
Fordham President Chester E. Finn, Jr. receives NAGC President's Award
Pamela TatzCongratulations to Checker, who received the 2012 National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) President’s award for outstanding contributions to the field of gifted education
Hidden gems: America's exam schools
Expanding exam schools would be an extremely wise national investment—a way to provide a world-class public education to high-performing students
Three ways to create integrated schools in newly gentrified neighborhoods
Michael J. PetrilliKeeping mixed schools mixed
The 10 fastest-gentrifying public schools in the U.S.
Michael J. PetrilliInvestigation of whether or not demographic changes in communities are leading to demographic changes in their schools
The Urban School System of the Future: Applying the Principles and Lessons of Chartering
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Going after governance
The Diverse Schools Dilemma: On sale now!
Pamela TatzMike Petrilli's highly-anticipated book, the Diverse Schools Dilemma, drops today
Election results: Bennett, Common Core, and more
A review of education-related responses to Tuesday's election
A not-so-great night for education reform
Michael J. PetrilliThe results are in and our non-partisan candidate, Ed Reform, had a mixed performance. Here's a look at how the seven key races and referenda turned out
Education reform on the ballot
Michael J. PetrilliSeven education races and referenda to watch tonight
How Strong Are U.S. Teacher Unions? A State-By-State Comparison
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D., Janie Scull, Dara Zeehandelaar Shaw, Ph.D.This timely study represents the most comprehensive analysis of American teacher unions’ strength ever conducted, ranking all fifty states and the District of Columbia according to the power and influence of their state-level unions.
When private schools and common standards collide
What the Common Core may mean for accountability
Leadership lessons from a brazen cheating scandal
Gregg VanourekKeeping ethics and results aligned
Vouchers − Darwin= ??
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Let there be controversy
Boosting the Quality and Efficiency of Special Education
Nathan LevensonThis groundbreaking study uses the largest database of information on special education spending and staffing ever assembled to uncover significant variance in how districts staff for special education. The report concludes that if the high-spending districts studied reduce their staffing in this area to the national median the public could save $10 billion and offers clear recommendations for improving special-education quality and efficiency.
How Americans Would Slim Down Public Education
Steve Farkas, Ann DuffettEducation budgets are tight and state and district leaders must make tough decisions about where to save. But is the public willing to accept cuts? If so, where? According to the results of this new survey, many Americans are open—selectively open—to dramatic changes in how school districts do business.
The case for public-school choice in the suburbs
Michael J. Petrilli“Customization” isn’t just for urban hipsters
Should CMOs really be in the business of ed reform?
The premise that charter management organizations can—or should—be effective advocacy vehicles rests on assumptions of questionable validity.
Disruptive innovation and independent public schools
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Education’s mini mills