Common Core: Lessons learned from a year of debate
Jessica PoinerRevisiting the Common Core debate in Ohio
Comparing Student Attrition Rates at Charter Schools and Nearby Traditional Public Schools
Jeff MurrayBusting myths, but not much to cheer about
NCLB accountability is dead; long live ESEA testing
Chester E. Finn, Jr.It’s fascinating—and telling—how rapidly the zillion issues tucked away in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act have been distilled down to arguments about testing.
Differentiated to death
David GriffithIt’s the Holy Grail! If only we could figure out what it is. David Griffith
Stump speech challenge: A New Deal on testing
Robert PondiscioAll the pro-testing talking points you’ll ever need. Robert Pondiscio
Stump speech contest: What members of Congress should say about testing
Michael J. PetrilliThe word around town is that support for annual testing among rank-and-file members of Congress—in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle—is dangerously low. They are constantly hearing complaints from their constituents about the overuse and abuse of standardized tests, and many are eager to do something about it.
Don’t confuse jargon with rigor
Robert PondiscioAt Inside Schools, a website for parents covering New York City schools, reporter
Carmen Fariña's war on evidence
Robert PondiscioEditor's note: This post originally appeared in a slightly different form in the Daily News and City Journal.
Ten things to know about Secretary Duncan's ESEA reauthorization speech
As I wrote last week, with the ESEA reauthorization process heating up, lots of advocates are now trying to influence the congressional deliberations. Secretary Duncan weighed in this morning.
2015: The year of curriculum-based reform?
Robert PondiscioSome of ed reform’s leading lights finally see that what kids learn makes a difference. Robert Pondiscio
The missing link between standards and instruction
Kathleen Porter-MageePreviously, I posted about the perils of applying standards-driven instruction to reading classrooms.
Petrilli’s Christmas present
Robert PondiscioJust in time for Christmas, my Fordham colleague Mike Petrilli has left a present under the tree for inquisitive children and busy parents who don’t think the sky will fall if the kids get a little screen time now and again (it won’t).
What the Dickens! 2014 in Education Reform
Michelle Lerner, Robert Pondiscio, Alyssa SchwenkIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Michelle Lerner, Robert Pondiscio, and Alyssa Schwenk
The NEA's racial profiling curriculum
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Editor's note: This post originally appeared in slightly different form on the Commentary website.
Education and upward mobility
Michael J. PetrilliCollege isn’t the only springboard to the middle class. Michael J. Petrilli
Introductory comments to "Education for Upward Mobility" conference
Michael J. PetrilliGood morning. It’s wonderful to see so many friends and colleagues here today. My name is Michael Petrilli, and in August I took over as the president of the Thomas B.
The reading paradox: How standards mislead teachers
Kathleen Porter-MageeYou can’t teach reading the way you teach other subjects. Kathleen Porter-Magee
Turning the tables on the vocational ed debate
A college-track student looks back with envy at career-track schooling. Emily Hanford
Punishing achievement in our schools
Chester E. Finn, Jr.President Obama’s contempt for the Constitution, and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s unfortunate disregard of that document, have been loudly and justly decried by critics of executive overreach. Less heralded, but equally troubling, is the mission creep of the Office for Civil Rights as it works to reshape the education world and to right whatever alleged wrongs it thinks it sees.
Ten rules for teaching reading with prior knowledge
Tim Shanahan[Editor's note: This is part two of a multi-part series on the use of prior knowledge in literacy. It originally appeared in a slightly different form at Tim Shanahan's blog, Shanahan on Reading.
Prior knowledge: Can we really level the playing field?
Tim Shanahan[Editor's note: This is part one of a multi-part series on the use of prior knowledge in literacy. It originally appeared in a slightly different form at Tim Shanahan's blog, Shanahan on Reading.]
A five-point plan to resuscitate Catholic schools
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Opportunities abound if only Catholic schools will seize them. by Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Fordham Institute to evaluate Common Core assessments on quality and content alignment
The Education GadflyFordham Institute to evaluate Common Core assessments on quality and content alignmentPARCC, Smarter Balanced, ACT Aspire, and Massachusetts participating in landmark studyMedia Contact:Michelle [email protected]
How to challenge voracious young readers
Give ‘em great books and get out of the way. Peter Sipe
Responding to critics of Common Core math in the elementary grades
Robert Pondiscio, Kevin MahnkenTheir criticisms don’t add up. Robert Pondicio and Kevin Mahnken
(What) Do Americans really think about education?
Joe Sixpack: You’re not paying attention. And much of what you think you know is wrong. Morgan Polikoff
Ten things to know about the CCSSO-CGCS testing plan
On Wednesday, CCSSO (the organization of state superintendents) joined with CGCS (the organization of big urban school districts) to announce joint plans to reassess and scale back testing programs.
Let's tell the truth: High-stakes tests damage reading instruction
Robert PondiscioAccountability works. But not in reading, which isn’t a subject or a skill. Robert Pondiscio
What's right about Common Core
Robert PondiscioI confess I’m somewhat bewildered by the passionate arguments over the Common Core State Standards. Getting in high dudgeon about K–12 learning standards, which say almost nothing about what kids do in school all day, makes no more sense to me than getting apoplectic about food-handling procedures, which I seldom think about when pushing my cart through the grocery store.