The Condition of Education 2008
Michael Planty, William Hussar, Thomas Snyder, Stephen Provasnik National Center for Education StatisticsJune 2008
Teachers want autonomy, too
Freedom's scent wafts through the thin air of the Mile High City. Montclair Elementary School is the third public school in Denver to petition the district for autonomy on budgeting, hiring, and scheduling decisions. Teachers at Montclair voted overwhelmingly in favor of the plan in April and the Denver Public Schools approved it in May.
Seattle's common sense
Good news out of Seattle: It seems to have foresworn the social engineering of diversity in its public schools. In the 1970s, Seattle was leading the voluntary desegregation efforts of big cities.
In praise of (and sympathy for) teachers
Chester E. Finn, Jr.June has come, the school year is ending, and it's time for a word in appreciation of teachers.
ESRA mischief
Chester E. Finn, Jr.If, like most Americans, you haven't the faintest idea what ESRA is, don't feel bad. The Education Sciences Reform Act is a classic inside-the-beltway statute best known by the smallish number of people and institutions directly affected by it.
We'll miss you, Sam
Michael J. PetrilliToday's is Samuel Freedman's last New York Times column, he reports.
This week is getting better and better
Michael J. PetrilliIt's not just that Leo Casey noticed that I lost a few pounds, or that
Shocker
Michael J. PetrilliThe NEA is finally moving to endorse Senator Barack Obama for president, reports Mike Antonucci. Well I'm glad they cleared that up!
What world is this?
I read stuff like this and think it's some kind of joke. That teachers in Los Angeles??are required to spend one hour of the school day protesting outside school, or else, according to union president A.J. Duffy, they "will be crossing a picket line," is just anachronistic and ridiculous.
There they go again, again
Race-based school integration is on the way out. But Richard Kahlenberg thinks, and hopes, that economic integration is on the way in.
Teacher of the year
Michael J. PetrilliThis woman isn't just saving her life, she's saving taxpayers money.