What Research Says about Small Classes & Their Effects
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Bruce J. Biddle and David C. Berliner, WestEdWinter 2002
Bringing Evidence-Driven Progress to Education: A Recommended Strategy for the U.S. Department of Education
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy and U.S. Department of EducationNovember 2002
Georgia offers teacher "warranty"
The Peach State's public university system will retrain graduates of its fifteen teacher ed programs if they prove ineffective within their first two years on the job. The extra training - possibly the country's first large-scale attempt to guarantee teacher quality - will be provided at no cost to the teacher or school district.
In praise of information
Chester E. Finn, Jr.The federal Department of Health and Human Services recently unveiled a new website where one can obtain comparative data on U.S. nursing homes - thousands and thousands of them. Check out http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Home.asp and follow the steps to locate a county, city or state that interests you. It's fascinating.
Calling the ACLU!
Diane RavitchIn its issue of November 27, 2002, Education Week described the efforts being made by public schools to accommodate the religious needs of Islamic pupils.
Massachusetts approves alternative to MCAS diplomas
After months of heated debate, the Massachusetts Board of Education has voted to allow Bay State school districts to award "certificates of attainment" to students who, despite solid attendance and acceptable grades in their academic courses, thrice fail to pass the MCAS exam required for high school graduation.
NEA updates education indicators
The National Education Association has released an 8-page update to its annual Rankings & Estimates: Ranking of the States and Estimates of School Statistics, which will now be compiled semi-annually.
New perspectives on "public" education and value-added testing
The Progressive Policy Institute recently released a pair of brief policy reports that deserve your attention.
ASBJ examines teacher induction, urban school leadership
In the December issue of American School Board Journal, Harry Wong and Christina Asquith make the case for a comprehensive, multi-year "induction" program for fledgling educators that goes beyond assigning a mentor and passing out copies of the discipline code ("Supporting New Teachers"; not available online).
Which comes first: good schools or vibrant cities?
In last month's Governing, Alan Ehrenhalt argued that politicians' grandiose promises to turn around failing schools - which reveal a lopsided emphasis on the condition of education at the expense of other pressing issues - are harmful and misleading.
Why private schools don't act like businesses
Regarding the issue raised in Chester Finn's editorial about the 92nd Street Y (Nov.
Why the Blob hates charter schools
In a ringing endorsement of charter schools, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter recently explained why "mindless boards of education and reactionary teachers unions" are trying to smear them. He claims charters are a "workable and often inspiring form of public school choice" halfway between vouchers and the status quo - and, as such, they threaten the establishment's power.