How five states are boosting college readiness in twelfth grade
As states have implemented college and career readiness standards, it has sometimes been assumed that most of the work and attention has occurred at the elementary grades. In truth, many states have been working for some time to ensure that grade twelve prepares all students for post-secondary success.
America's Best (and Worst) Cities for School Choice
Priscilla Wohlstetter, Ph.D., Dara Zeehandelaar Shaw, Ph.D., David GriffithMore than twelve million American students exercise some form of school choice by going to a charter, magnet, or private school——instead of attending a traditional public school.
Don't let shuttered schools rot
Kevin MahnkenThere’s something about the sight of an abandoned school that tears at your heart.
States v. districts in the Every Student Succeeds Act
The dominant narrative about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is that it shifts authority over schools back to state governments. But this belies a key feature of the legislation.
Parents: Children's first math teachers
We’ve seen a lot of hand wringing over math achievement in this country. Our students continue to underperform against their peers in other countries, lighting a fire under educators and politicians to push new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programming in schools. While these panicked efforts have admirable intentions, they are mostly barking up the wrong tree.
Key Trends in Special Education in Charter Schools: A Secondary Analysis of the Civil Rights Data Collection 2011-2012
Jamie Davies O'LearyHow do charters stack up next to district schools?
Funding growth and expanding opportunity in private schools
Damien SchusterHow new and innovative financing structures might fix the private school supply chain. Damien Schuster
How parental overaspiration might undermine students' learning in mathematics
Jeff MurrayParental involvement can be counterproductive when it’s coupled with unrealistic expectations. Jeff Murray
How students react to news of their AP potential
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.It can be self-fulfilling, regardless of actual ability levels. Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
A Massachusetts story
The Education GadflyYoungsters interview their elders, a new teacher prep program opens in Cambridge, and a governor launches a laudable workforce-skills initiative.
ESEA and the return of a well-rounded curriculum
Robert PondiscioUndoing damage inflicted by the blunt axe of test-driven accountability. Robert Pondiscio
The Bay State edition
The MCAS/PARCC hybrid assessment, Governor Baker’s new workforce skills initiative, Harvard’s new teacher training program, and the state of K-12 computer science education.
A Common Core check-up: Not dead yet
Michael J. PetrilliThe diagnosis is mixed, but the prognosis is hardly dire. Michael J. Petrilli
Accountability and the Every Student Succeeds Act
Earlier this year, when it looked like ESEA finally had a chance of being reauthorized, I came up with a graphic for assessing the accountability provisions of the various proposals.