Maybe 'school' isn't the answer for the world's poor
Michael J. PetrilliAccording to Campaign K-12, Senator Barack Obama told the Clinton Global Initiative gathering today that he would invest $2 billion to close the international "education gap" by 2015--which I think means he'd work to get all kids across the world into schools by that date.
Gadfly--It's hot!
Stafford PalmieriYou won't want to miss this week's Gadfly. Checker and Stafford explain why community schools (as espoused by the Broader, Bolder folks and Randi Weingarten over at the AFT) are the antithesis of David Whitman's paternalistic model.
San Francisco Bay Area KIPP Schools: A Study of Early Implementation and Achievement
SRI InternationalSeptember 2008
The Misplaced Math Student: Lost in Eighth-Grade Algebra
Tom LovelessBrown Center on Education Policy, Brookings InstitutionSeptember 2008
The community schools con
Chester E. Finn, Jr., Stafford PalmieriWhen Randi Weingarten introduced her brainchild, the "community school," in her speech accepting the presidency of the American Federation of Teachers, we found it sorely wanting. And, of course, we found it not the least bit new, either.
Outward bound
In what has become a regular autumnal occurrence, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, and Broward Country, Florida, school systems find themselves embarked upon yet another year of declining enrollments. And they're not alone.
How schools can survive the financial downturn
Michael J. PetrilliBack-to-school time, soaring fuel prices, and a wobbly economy are all upon us, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that the papers are brimming with sad stories about schools getting slammed by skyrocketing costs and slumping tax revenues. "Hard Times Hitting Students and Schools," reported the New York Times recently. "Schools eye four-day week to cut fuel costs," declared Reuters.
Nanny state
Does Junior have a sour attitude? Tired of his aberrant adolescent behavior? Just drop him off at a local hospital to become a ward of the state. That's right. No need to ground him for attending that raucous party last weekend. Of course, you may have to move to Warren Buffett's neighborhood to pull this off.
Troubling indecision
That there still exist parents who have not yet extricated their children from Wake County's public schools is a marvel.
Tragically not so different after all
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.Educators, researchers, and policy types around the world admire (and envy) Finland's students, who repeatedly demonstrate remarkable academic prowess on international assessments.
Cut bad teachers, not art programs
Stafford PalmieriWhen times get rough, why do school districts cut the good stuff? It's a very good question and one we should be outraged about, explains Mike. Read the whole argument on National Review Online.
Another take on merit pay
Stafford PalmieriWhen I first read this article, I was skeptical. Giving bonuses to teachers and principals at failing schools? Doesn't that undermine the whole concept of merit pay--as in, rewards for meritorious performance? But perhaps not.??
The push for diagnostic testing
Ohio is in the midst of a debate about how best to use its student assessments and ever- increasing amounts of student-achievement data to improve student performance. The data is used by the state for accountability purposes, but how can this data also be used to improve teaching and learning in all schools?
Strickland slashes state budget, while state board asks for more
Emmy L. PartinFacing constitutional requirements for a balanced budget, Gov.
Guide to 21st Century Skills, Education, and Competitiveness
Partnership for 21st Century SkillsSept. 2008
Has Barack Obama been reading The Gadfly?
Mike Lafferty, Terry RyanDemocratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's head-turning education speech in Dayton Sept. 9 was notable for stepping away from several planks dear to traditional Democratic thinking. The national audience surely paid attention. But did his fellow Democrats in the Buckeye State?
Where We Stand: America's Schools in the 21st Century
Public Broadcast SystemAired Sept. 15 on WOSUOhio stood out on Sept. 15 when PBS aired Where We Stand: America's Schools in the 21st Century. The special's host, Judy Woodruff, used four Ohio schools to describe the current state of American education. Viewers should have come away feeling uncomfortable.
Fordham scoops Harvard!
Michael J. PetrilliToday in Education Week: "NCLB Testing Said to Give 'Illusions of Progress'" Last October from Fordham: "No Child Left Behind's ???Proficiency Illusion'"
Cruel and unusual or just brilliant?
Stafford Palmieri"Stand-up desks provide a firm footing for fidgety students" "Teachers report improved focus, behavior"
Holes in the rolls
Michael J. PetrilliEnrollment continues to decline in a number of big-city school systems. In Washington, DC , the student population is down 8 percent from last year, in large part because of charter school expansion.
Cover-up!
Michael J. PetrilliFraud! Misleading information! A huge price tag for America! I'm not talking about the mortgage-backed securities meltdown. I'm referring to the new TOM LOVELESS ALGEBRA STUDY.
This should do wonders for the 'damaged brand' that is NCLB
Michael J. Petrilli"Polygamous community school gets NCLB honors"
Educational defeatism is just as bad as educational romanticism
Stafford PalmieriOr so Liam argues in the Weekly Standard. With his usual panache, Liam reviews Charles Murray's new book, Real Education.
Gadfly has landed (a late notice)
Stafford PalmieriArrival was on time; blog notification was not. Nevertheless, the issue is spectacular. Lesson from this week?
A hard line on the bottom line
Eric OsbergNational Review Online must have been a fan of Fordham's Education Olympics, for this week it has articles by not one, but two of its stars, Roy Romer and our own Mike Petrilli.
From NRO's mouth to Governor Granholm's ears?
Michael J. PetrilliI didn't expect my call for Michigan to declare Detroit Public Schools bankrupt to lead to action so quickly. But it doesn't sound like the state is willing to go far enough.
The search is over
Michael J. PetrilliDavid Hoff has found the 10,000 pound gorilla that is NCLB, and the "Washington Consensus" to boot.