First Bell 4-22-13
Pamela TatzA first look at the education news from this weekend and today: Pearson is under fire in both NYC and Texas, Hawaii finally has a teacher contract, and more
Proud to be a private public school parent
Michael J. PetrilliThere's public, and then there's “public.”
First Bell 4-18-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: A coalition of parents petitions NYC for more gifted and talented spots, Brown University is set to offer an engineering MOOC for high schoolers, and more
The RNC on the CCSSI, OMG!
Michael J. PetrilliRepublicans make a colossal—but reversible—error on the Common Core
Will the assessment consortia wither away?
Chester E. Finn, Jr.The College Board and ACT have entered the ring
First Bell 4-17-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: Florida teachers are suing over the state's teacher-evaluation formula, the CTU zeroes in on ousting Rahm, and more
Redefining the School District in Tennessee
Nelson SmithAs the challenges of education governance loom ever larger and the dysfunction and incapacity of the traditional K-12 system reveal themselves as major roadblocks to urgently-needed reforms across that system, many have asked, “What’s the alternative?”
The end of the testing consortia as we know it?
Alabama’s decision to drop out of both consortia and choose a battery of ACT exams is enormous
First Bell 4-16-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: The RNC adopts a resolution attacking the Common Core, teacher unions aim to organize charter schools, and more
What’s your “Summer 2015 Plan”?
New Jersey just released new report cards for all schools in the state. The information now available, including indicators of college- and career-readiness and excellent “peer school” comparisons, is invaluable. And it is deeply discomfiting for many of the state’s complacent schools and districts.
First Bell 4-15-13
Pamela TatzA first look at the education news from this weekend and today: Some NY school parents are planning to boycott the new Common Core-aligned tests, researchers caution that school districts must be thoughtful about how they close schools, and more
Michelle Rhee probably blew it on cheating—but got much else right
Michelle LernerLet's mend it, not end it
First Bell 4-12-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: More contractors take advantage of NYC's poorly regulated pre-K special-ed program, Indiana's school-voucher expansion hits another snag, and more
Budget, KC, Dallas, anthropologists, and the zen of Bill Murray
Sage advice and news tidbits from Andy Smarick
First Bell 4-11-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: Simply explaining college admissions processes makes high-achieving students more likely to apply to colleges that match their abilities, robot teachers are on the loose, and more
Texas: Big, proud…and wimpy?
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Lone Star State moves to lower its own standards
The NGSS have landed
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Will the new science standards make the grade?
First Bell 4-10-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: The final NGSS draft and President Obama's budget proposal are out, most LAUSD students aren't prepared for college, and more
First Bell 4-9-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: Britain's Iron Lady is memorialized, NYC's revamped gifted screening process didn't change much, and more
Margaret Thatcher, education reformer
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Foreign policy isn’t all that Margaret Thatcher and her team had in common with Ronald Reagan and his
First Bell 4-8-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: Bill Gates cautions against overusing standardized tests in teacher evaluations, NYC teachers are staying in their jobs longer, and more
The right response to the Atlanta cheating scandal
Michael J. PetrilliIntelligently mend test-based accountability, don't end it
Agitating, standards, charters, teachers, and widgets
Andy's picks, from Kansas City to CALDER
First Bell 4-4-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: Mississippi passes legislation providing $3 million to partially fund pre-K programs, a look at Tennessee's Achievement School District, and more
The good news from Pakistan
Chester E. Finn, Jr.A new book from Sir Michael Barber, noted British education reformer, describes an effort to improve education in rural Pakistan
What can education reformers learn from the gay marriage movement?
Michael J. PetrilliIt's a stretch—education is a classic social issue, while education reform is largely a governance challenge
First Bell 4-3-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: "Cram schools" are gaining popularity, Texas considers scaling back its high school graduation requirements, and more
First Bell 4-2-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: Atlanta's former schools chief and three-dozen others have been indicted for test fraud, the common-assessment consortia will undergo a federal review process, and more