Seeking American history
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="(Three girls stand against a wall in the Manzanar War Relocation Center in California, one of 10 U.S. camps that interned Japanese-Americans during World War II.)"][/caption]
One gutsy guy
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Is America’s civil-rights leadership looking out for the essential interests of African-American children? Former education secretary Rod Paige says no.
The State of City Leadership for Children and Families
Daniela FairchildNational League of Cities; Institute for Youth, Education, and Families2009
Human Capital in Boston Public Schools
Stafford PalmieriEmily Cohen, Aileen Corso, Valerie Franck, Bess Keller, Kate Kelliher, and Betsy McCorryNational Council on Teacher Quality and Massachusetts Business Alliance for EducationFebruary 2010
D.C. School Chooser 2010-2011: A K-12 Guide to Finding a Great School for Your Child
Janie ScullGreatSchoolsFebruary 2010
Fringe goes mainstream
Milwaukee Public Schools faces a conundrum that might be familiar to systems nationwide. The district needs to rein in exploding healthcare and retirement costs, but must overcome a recalcitrant teachers union, which has outsized influence on the school board.
Going to the Gallo(w)s
When Frances Gallo, Superintendent of Central Falls, Rhode Island, announced two weeks ago that she was going to fire all the teachers at the perennially failing Central Falls High School, teachers (not surprisingly) went ballistic.
Certifiably generous
Nevada is broke. But don’t worry, you can help--by purchasing one of Governor Jim Gibbons’ new Education Gift Certificates.
Why the AFT should be an afterthought
“How much attention should we pay to AFT?” queries Mike Antonucci. His answer: not much. Since the reign of Al Shanker, we’ve regarded the American Federation of Teachers as the more open-minded of the two national teachers’ unions.
Will the Common-Core standards prove safe and effective?
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Even though they still haven't seen the light of day in draft form, much less been joined by any assessments, the evolving "common core" standards project of the NGA and CCSSO is already being laden with heavier and heavier burdens.
Congressional charter hearing
There was a big charter school hearing today in the House. Though it was directly related to pending legislation designed to help great charters replicate and expand, the discussion covered the broad charter terrain. It was fascinating to listen to Members' questions and comments.
Education news nuggets
I pledge allegiance to Rod Paige's new book, which discusses the black-white achievement gap in pretty real terms.
Quotable and notable
"If the American Dream includes sending your kids to college, what is America saying to these parents?" ??? James T. Meeks, Baptist Minister, and voucher advocate
Cincinnati: We'll sell you a school building, just don't use it for a school
Kathryn Mullen UptonCan a school district sell a school building and prohibit the buyer from opening a school in that building?
Expanding Choice in Elementary and Secondary Education: A Report on Rethinking the Federal Role in Education
The Brookings InstitutionFebruary 2010
Teaching as Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher's Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap
Steven Farr, Teach For AmericaFebruary 2010
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em: Cleveland teachers union wants to organize charter schools
Emmy L. PartinSpeaking to reporters last month about the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Academic Transformation Plan, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten warned that teachers need to be full partners
Fordham's charter school sponsorship contract 2.0
Kathryn Mullen Upton, Terry RyanNext school year marks the Fordham Foundation’s fifth year as a charter school sponsor in Ohio. We currently have four schools up for renewal of their original sponsorship agreements (aka, charters).
What Clevelanders can learn from Columbus middle school principals
Columbus City middle school principals’ views about how well their schools operate diverge quite a bit from what state report cards say.
When there is less of it, school funding should encourage innovation
Terry RyanNo one denies that Ohio’s economy is in crisis. The state’s current $50.5 billion biennial budget was made whole in 2009 by $8 billion in one-time federal Reinvestment and Recovery Act dollars and $2.4 billion in budget cuts. It is estimated that the state will face at least an $8 billion deficit in 2011 ($3.9 billion in FY2012 and $4 billion in FY2013).
Will the Common Core Standards prove safe and effective?
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Even though they still haven't seen the light of day in draft form, much less been joined by any assessments, the evolving "common core" standards project of the National Governors Association (NGA) and Council of Chief State Scho
Weighing NY charter school and district school demographics
New York City's United Federation of Teachers (UFT) recently published a report in which it said the area's charter schools don't serve at least the district-wide average of neediest students, despite serving an overwhelmingly poor population.
The miniaturization of education reform
Michael J. PetrilliOnce upon a time, education reform concerned itself with fixing "the system." Then we moved into our current fascination with fixing (and creating) individual schools.
School data's date with destiny
Michael J. PetrilliOne of the reasons that ???data quality??? can be so elusive is that bad data can just sit there, in a drawer in someone's desk, never getting discovered. It's an old axiom: data that never see the light of day tend not to be as reliable as data that are viewed and used. With more visibility comes more accountability for data quality.
RTT finalists announced soon?
This Post article about Duncan's speech to the nation's governors focusses primarily on potential teacher layoffs (giving more reason to suspect we're about to see a second stimulus, at least for school
Common standards
Dillon writes in the NYT this morning that the president, in a speech to the governors today, will announce that the administration's NCLB proposal will require states to adopt "college- and career-ready standards" in order to receive Title I funds.
Big charter hearing
The House is holding a hearing this Wednesday on the All Students Achieving through Reform (All-STAR) Act, which would create a new competitive grant program designed to help replicate and expand high-performing charters.
Worth your attention
Two things you might want to check out. A flyer from the Los Angeles teachers union. Tomorrow, they are holding a candlelight vigil to protest district reform efforts.