The power-hungry P-21
Michael J. PetrilliLynne Munson of Common Core has the latest low-down, here.
Public pensions in the spotlight
Emmy L. PartinThe Cincinnati Enquirer has been running a powerful series of articles about the troubles facing that city's generous public pension systems. The newspaper's editorial board says enough is enough:
So much for burying this story
As Mike noted, the third-year report on the DC voucher program, showing statistically significant benefits for scholarship recipients, presented a challenge for the folks at ED, who responded by using the time-honored tactic of releasing unwelcome news on a Friday afternoon.
Putting things into perspective
Think of all of the energy that some folks are putting into killing the $13 million DC voucher program. Then consider the following:
The Washington Consensus, alive and well
Michael J. PetrilliWhile the name "No Child Left Behind" might be history, the law's animating principles are here to stay. So it appears from Secretary Arne Duncan's recent policy letter. Note this passage:
Arne Duncan's Title I regulations redux
Michael J. PetrilliAfter sitting idle for a week, our Obama Administration Reform-o-Meter is about to get a workout. That's because things are finally happening over at 400 Maryland Avenue.
Good voucher news is bad news for Obama
Michael J. PetrilliReleasing bad news on a Friday afternoon is a time-honored tradition among governments of all political leanings. (The public is distracted by weekend plans; few people read the Saturday paper.) The Obama Administration is showing itself to be no different; it's no coincidence that the latest (very positive) findings about the D.C.
DC voucher study is in
The third-year evaluation on the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program reports that students who received vouchers outperformed their non-voucher peers in reading. There was no difference in math.
Leaving "No Child Left Behind" behind
Michael J. PetrilliThis time I'm not making an April Fool's Day joke. If you give Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's new??letter about the Title I regs* a good look, you'll notice a subtle linguistic shift:
Kerri Briggs in
Confirming Mike's post from last night, Kerri Briggs is the new state chief for Washington, DC.
John Easton to be director of the Institute for Education Sciences
Michael J. PetrilliIt's been rumored before, but I'm hearing that it's a done deal: John Easton,
Rhode Island: The little state that could
Michael J. PetrilliWatch out Massachusetts; your little neighbor to the south is poised to become the next big school reform powerhouse.
Marguerite Roza to speak at Fordham - register today!
Christina HentgesThis morning, the Department of Education posted all the information you could ever want about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (phew). But we're still interested in exploring budget cuts and whether they can catalyze education reform. Are you?
Get some Gladfly
Stafford PalmieriWe got a bit ahead of schedule this week so we thought we'd publish a day early. You know what they say about that early worm... or early bird? Whatever.
Pension worries need to be addressed now, not later, two lawmakers say
Mike LaffertyTwo Ohio lawmakers on opposite sides of the political aisle say it is critical for the state to address a looming pension crisis among teachers and other public-sector employees."There have been rumblings about pensions for some time. We've seen bloated pension benefits take down companies like GM," said Rep. Seth Morgan (R-Huber Heights).
Governor's proposal for charter-school funding a head scratcher
Terry RyanMuch has been much written about the challenges of understanding Gov. Strickland's school-funding plan. For example, the Akron Beacon Journal asked, why some "wealthy districts receive more state money than much poorer ones?
Comparative Indicators of Education in the United States and Other G-8 Countries: 2009
National Center for Education StatisticsMarch 2009
Happenings in Newark
Very encouraging article out of Newark, NJ about the growth of high-quality charters in that city and other urban areas in the state.
Simpatico
Fred Hiatt pens a very good piece in today's Post about Bill Gates' priorities for K-12 education reform and how these align with the positions of the president, secretary of education, and DC schools chancellor.
Parents and great urban schools
When I talk to friends or suburban audiences about urban education, the conversation nearly always turns to the role of parents. ????The consensus is that disinterested, disengaged parents are to blame for the discouraging results of inner-city public schools. ????From this, they typically infer that these schools will never turn around until parents shape up.
Friday's good-news story
During my time at the Alliance, I got to know and greatly respect the work of ConnCAN, a nonprofit education research and advocacy organization in Connecticut.
P21-palooza
Michael J. PetrilliLynne Munson of Common Core offers the inside scoop on the Partnership for 21st Century Skills's pep rally held at the NEA yesterday.
Proximity breeds obesity?
The NYT reports on a new study finding that if a school is within a block of a fast-food restaurant, its students are more likely to be obese. ????I've been fascinated by obesity studies since I read that 100 years ago the wealthiest quartile in America was the heaviest but today the poorest quartile is.
Obama's virtual town hall
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This week's Gadfly...
Stafford Palmieri...is here.??First up, take a closer look at our new voucher and accountability paper.
Charter Schools in Eight States: Effects on Achievement, Attainment, Integration, and Competition
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.Ron Zimmer, Brian Gill, Kevin Booker, Stephane Lavertu, Tim Sass, and John WitteRAND EducationMarch 2009