By the Company It Keeps: Derrell Bradford
Andy Smarick interviews Derrell Bradford, executive director of Better Education for Kids
On Tony Bennett’s “grading-gate,” avoid the rush to judgment
Michael J. PetrilliI don’t know what really went on inside the Indiana Department of Education—and neither do you
The futility of ESEA’s ‘Maintenance of Effort’ requirement
In its modern form, MOE simply can’t do what its advocates say it will do—i.e., maintain a consistent level of state and local investment in education
Opt-Out or Cop-Out? The great debate
Michelle Lerner, Pamela TatzA recap of our recent event, cohosted by DFER, on "new" accountability systems
First Bell 7-25-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: The Senate reaches and approves a compromise on student-loan interest rates, a study finds that the well being of immigrant students varies greatly by economic status, and more
Paternalism and public policy
Michael J. PetrilliPaternalism has been a hallmark of Progressive reform movements for over one hundred years, and today’s school-reform movement is no different
Partisanship and bipartisanship
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Education is no longer the exception to the rule
Chicken Little goes to school
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Repeat after me: The Common Core sky is not falling
First Bell 7-24-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: Behavior-modification programs are under scrutiny, states can now compare the prices of PARCC- and Smarter Balanced-developed Common Core tests, and more
That's how the consortia crumble
Yesterday, PARCC released the cost of its tests—and right on cue, another state, Georgia, dropped out of the testing consortia
First Bell 7-22-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: The House of Representatives passes the Student Success Act, Paul Vallas is under fire, and more
First Bell 7-19-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: The U.S. House of Representatives debated an ESEA rewrite, CPS will lay off more than 2,000 employees, and more
Milwaukee: Saved by Act 10…for now
Michelle LernerThough there's no shortage of political gridlock and bad news when it comes to public-sector pension reform, the reforms that Wisconsin undertook in 2011 give cause for hope on this front—at least for the time being
Governor Scott Walker: Public-Education Hero
Michael J. Petrilli, Michelle LernerGet the man a cape and a theme song
Milwaukee: Saved by Act 10...For Now
Robert M. Costrell, Larry MaloneyOne of three technical reports on retirement costs and school-district budgets.
First Bell 7-17-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: A Texas school district's controversial microchip program has been dropped, what to expect from the House's upcoming ESEA-renewal debate, and more
By the Company It Keeps: Ethan Gray
Andy Smarick interviews Ethan Gray, executive director of CEE-Trust
First Bell 7-16-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: A study finds that kids' spatial-reasoning skills may be a better indicator of future innovation in STEM than math or verbal skills, certificate programs are becoming increasingly popular, and more
Praise the exception, but remember the rule
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Let's not overlook the reality that worthy effort requires sound policy, not just praise for those who do a great job despite its absence
First Bell 7-15-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: A report finds that children's well-being is rising, Jack Martin replaces Roy Roberts as emergency manager of the Detroit Public Schools, and more
First Bell 7-12-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: Malala Yousafzai will address the United Nations in New York today, a near-compromise on student loans falls apart due to the project costs, and more
First Bell 7-11-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: A fissure in the Democratic party stalls efforts to fix the student-loan mess, California will decide on whether to adopt NGSS next fall, and more
By the Company It Keeps: Kathleen Porter-Magee
Andy Smarick interviews Kathleen Porter-Magee, senior director of the High Quality Standards program and Bernard Lee Schwartz policy fellow at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute
Conservatives on the Common Core: A media round-up
Michelle LernerA selection of recent press hits explaining how the Common Core are conservative
First Bell 7-9-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: Pennsylvania's charter school students are not doing as well as their traditional public school peers, a USED review panel finds that PARCC and Smarter Balanced need to pay more attention to ELL and disabled students, and more
First Bell 7-8-13
Pamela TatzA first look at today's education news: The Oregon Legislature wants to allow students to attend college now and pay the state later, the Obama administration's new guidelines on emergency planning at schools causes some consternation, and more
12 key takeaways from the national charter schools conference
Michelle Lerner...And only a few shameless Fordham plugs