Dollars and Sense: The Cost Effectiveness of Small Schools
Terry RyanBarbara Kent Lawrence, Steve Bingler, et. al.2002
Evaluating Success: KIPP Educational Program Evaluation
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Harold Doran and Darrel Drury, Education Performance Network, New American SchoolsOctober 2002
Testing backlash in key gubernatorial races
Democratic gubernatorial candidates in at least five key races - including Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Texas - are pledging to curtail their states' use of standardized tests to evaluate student and school performance and as accountability instruments.
The autism boogeyman
Greg ForsterRecently, the New York Times showered attention on a new study from the M.I.N.D. Institute at U.C. Davis, giving it front-page news play and devoting an editorial to hand-wringing over its findings. Numerous other publications accorded it prominent attention, too, and just this week Senator Barbara Boxer cited it while arguing for new federal initiatives on autism.
Paige warns states not to lower standards to foil NCLB
Last week, Education Secretary Rod Paige warned state officials not to attempt to skirt the intent of "No Child Left Behind" by lowering standards or redefining proficiency to ease the impact of the law's accountability provisions.
Cracking the education monopoly with vouchers
With the blessing of the Zelman decision, the last big civil rights battle - enabling poor minority children to attend good schools - can now begin in earnest, writes Sol Stern in the autumn issue of City Journal.
AFT celebrates "the subjects teachers teach"
The American Federation of Teachers' quarterly, American Educator, often contains excellent material.
What's wrong with education research?
This incisive essay by E.D. Hirsch appears in the October-November 2002 issue of the Hoover Institution's Policy Review.
Attracting Principals to the Superintendency: Conditions that Make a Difference to Principals
Terry RyanAimee Howley, Edwina Pendarvis and Thomas Gibbs, Education Policy Analysis ArchivesOctober 16, 2002
Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Jonathan ZimmermanSeptember 2002
Legislating Equity: The Distribution of Emergency Permit Teachers in California
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Laura Goe, Education Policy Analysis ArchivesOctober 14, 2002
A "Noble Bet" in Early Care and Education: Lessons from One Community's Experience
Eric OsbergBrian P. Gill, Jake Dembosky, and Jonathan P. Caulkins, RAND 2002
Who Is Teaching California's Children?
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Camille Esch and Patrick Shields, Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning2002
The Private Sector Serving the Educational Needs of the Poor: A Case Study from the Philippines
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Charisse Gulosino and James Tooley, E.G. West Centre, School of Education, University of NewcastleAugust 2002
Charter School Closures: The Opportunity for Accountability
Kelly Scottedited by Melanie Looney, Center for Education ReformOctober 2002
Textbook companies to issue Virginia-specific supplements to match state history standards
The Commonwealth of Virginia has joined Texas and California - which adopt textbooks on a statewide basis - in persuading major publishing companies to issue textbooks aligned with state history and social studies standards, a trend that may continue as other states seek texts aligned to their standards.
The MCAS appeals process: deliberately difficult?
Some 12,000 students - or 19 percent - of the Bay State's high school class of 2003 may be denied diplomas after repeatedly failing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exams.
The social studies problem: Is there a federal solution?
Chester E. Finn, Jr.The White House recently launched several ambitious initiatives to strengthen the teaching of history and civics in U.S. schools.
PTA fights for relevance, membership
A long article in Sunday's Los Angeles Times describes the Parent-Teacher Association's struggle to survive declining membership and increasing demands on parents' time and energy.
Rookie superintendents share their battle stories
During the 2001-2001 school year, nearly one-fifth of the nation's superintendents were newcomers to this demanding role. The American Association of School Administrators contacted six of these rookies with diverse backgrounds and asked each to keep a journal of his or her experiences as a first-year superintendent.
New York City's poorest students receive the least Title I money
An unintended consequence of a 1994 rule governing Title I - the largest federal education aid program - is that New York City's poorest boroughs receive far less money per disadvantaged student than other boroughs with lesser concentrations of poor kids.
California's education awards cancelled for this year
California's budget crisis has dried up funds for the state's highly touted education awards program, which will not be distributed this academic year, Governor Gray Davis's administration announced last week.
Ed Department releases condensed guide to the No Child Left Behind Act
The Department of Education has released a helpful "desktop reference" manual to the No Child Left Behind Act.
Massachusetts approves controversial history guidelines
This week, the Massachusetts' Board of Education unanimously approved new K-12 history standards despite criticism that the guidelines were rushed and weighted more heavily toward facts than concepts. The state maintains that the public had ample time to offer input, as the standards' two-year development included numerous meetings with teachers and community groups.
Teacher Training Programs: Activities Underway to Improve Teacher Training, but Information Collected To Assess Accountability Has Limitations
Allison ColeStatement of Cornelia M. AshbyOctober 2002
Ballot initiatives on class size, after-school programs before voters this fall
No states have voucher initiatives on the ballot this November, but a range of other education issues will be presented directly to voters this fall in different states.
No Child Left Behind: Meeting Challenges, Seizing Opportunities, Improving Achievement
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Achieve, Inc.Summer 2002
Education Reform Through Standards: What Does it Mean for Youth in Alternative Education Settings
Terry RyanAmerican Youth Policy ForumDecember 12, 2001