Important ARRA evaluations
The Department's independent research arm, IES is going to be conducting several studies to determine the effectiveness of the various education programs under the ARRA, including the Race to the Top.
Today's Quotable and Notable
Quotable: "The issue of space really plays on that emotional level. Everything is about ???they are taking your space' even if it's not clear who ???they' are." -Spencer Robertson, founder of PAVE Academy Charter School
Duncan-Bloomberg event
Despite the rainy weather, early morning start, and day-before-Thanksgiving scheduling, the CAP event with Secretary Duncan and NYC Mayor Bloomberg was standing room only.??Going in it wasn't at all clear what the actual purpose of the event was (
Today's Quotable and Notable
Quotable: "We want members to be proactive, and have an impact on what reform looks like. We don't want teachers thrown under the bus. We don't want teachers blamed for everything that's going wrong."
Jolting Maryland, take two
This Baltimore Sun editorial excoriating Maryland for its lassitude on the Race to the Top hits the bull's eye. It's pitch perfect.
More closures
According to the Post, 14 more Catholic schools in the DC area are in danger of closing. When great schools in urban America in are such short supply, it is senseless to allow these schools to disappear.
States' RTT self-evaluations
I've been reading lots of local and regional newspaper articles to figure out how states see themselves stacking up in the RTT competition. I've found a couple fascinating patterns (most interesting: just about all state leaders are telling the media that they are well positioned to win).
Today's Quotable and Notable
Quotable: "The bottom line is teachers need to be retained based on their achievement, not on how long they've been at a job...This is where the United States is going and we're just with the early leaders." - Rep. Rich Crandall, chairman of the Arizona House Education Committee, Title
Dell and performance management
The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation is out with a worthwhile report on performance management, one of the foundation's major investment areas.
Amazing
What a story. Earlier this week city council members in Philly held a hearing about charters and the traditional school system.
Worth considering
In Australia, the government just agreed to provide more than $400 million in new funding to Catholic and other private schools in Victoria.*
Huge shot and an assist for Arne
In a major and much-welcomed move, Florida has begun using the FCAT to evaluate colleges of education with some fascinating results:
Iowa Gov. Culver and reform
Iowa Governor Chet Culver is obviously auditioning for Democrats For Education Reform 's Ed Reformer of the month.
Gargantuan education grants
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.An email about Gates' latest gargantuan investment in education appeared in my inbox today. I've now picked my jaw up off of the floor and thought I'd pass it along:
Interesting stuff
More reason to be excited about Baltimore (despite this) Florida to ask for $1 billion in RTT funds???
Today's Quotable and Notable
Quotable: "The civil right is to an excellent education. It's not about having an art room." -Miriam Lewis Raccah, founder and executive director of Girls Prep Charter School
Are High Quality Schools Enough to Close the Achievement Gap? Evidence from a Social Experiment in Harlem
Janie ScullWill Dobbie and Roland G. Fryer, JrNational Bureau of Economic ResearchNovember 2009
Blinded by the (green) light
The education bill that made it through the Massachusetts state senate, replete with a whopping 95 amendments, late Tuesday is being lauded as the biggest reform bill since
Bookish homecoming
In a story that would make Detective Bookman proud, Arizona’s Camelback High School received a package this month containing two half-century-overdue library books. Though neither was by Seinfeld’s favorite Henry Miller, the school was glad if a bit baffled to retrieve its aged copie
Short-Run Effects of Parental Job Loss on Children
Ann Huff Stevens and Jessamyn SchallerNational Bureau of Economic ResearchNovember 2009
Considering merit in the Middle East
Rewarding teachers based on their skill and performance may be a contentious issue in the United States, but in Afghanistan it’s seen as a recruiting tool.
Dusk
Chester E. Finn, Jr.I, too, will be celebrating and giving thanks for America next week. The backward look is pretty darn impressive. But I worry when I look ahead.
Just jealous
“Why you should hate this school.” That’s the sub-head for an article in September’s Washingtonian on what some say is America’s best high school: Thomas Jefferson in Northern Virginia.
Unrest about a national test
If statewide content standards are political sausage, and voluntary national standards are political foot-longs, then national tests are probably a political 250-foot “Monterrey monster dog.” As we and others have pointed out, standards are only as good
Duncan's Maryland mistake
Late last week, Secretary Duncan (and his able team) acted on what I have every reason to believe were noble intentions. Unfortunately, the secretary missed a golden opportunity and possibly did more harm than good for reform in my beloved Maryland.
Today's Quotable and Notable
Quotable: "There is no way in the world [New Jersey Governor Elect Chris Christie] can do all of that. The money is not there to pay the bills...Before it's all over, he's going to wish he had asked for a recount." - Shirley K. Turner, Democratic chair of the New Jersey Senate education committee
Racing to the Top in a time of fiscal peril
Terry RyanI've just finished reading the Race to the Top program executive summary released by the U.S.
Mathews on closing schools
Interesting new column here by Jay Mathews. In it, he writes that??striving to turn around chronically low-achieving schools is "a noble quest I have long supported. But I have come to wonder if it might be a big waste of time and money. Most efforts to save such places have been failures.