The link between principal quality and schools' effects on student achievement
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.By Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
Challenges await Dayton’s new superintendent: Five suggestions to getting on the right track
Kathryn MullenAugust 16 marked the first day of school for the thousands of children who attend the Dayton Public Schools (DPS). They returned to a district with a new superintendent, but many old problems. Regrettably, Dayton is at the end of a five-year strategic plan that barely moved the needle on the city’s dismal track record for student achievement.
How do we define success for gifted students?
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose. — Bill GatesHow do you define success? Is it the accomplishment of one’s goals? Is it the attainment of wealth, position, honors? Is it happiness? Is it all of these, selected from a number of definitions on Wikipedia?
Why teacher vs. non-teacher pay comparisons are misleading
The Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a D.C. think tank aligned with teacher unions, has released yet another in a series of reports purporting to show that public school teachers are “underpaid.”
A response to Chester Finn's critique of California's new school accountability system
I am glad that Finn agrees with my views on the limitations of a single number to report school status. Parents are used to student report cards that have several metrics and do not see the need to oversimplify their child’s performance with a single grade or number.
Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost’s opening remarks to the Ohio Charter School Summit
On August 11, 2016, Ohio’s elected state auditor delivered the following remarks during the opening of the Ohio Ch
Athletes aren’t America's only Olympic stars
Chester E. Finn, Jr.By Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Schools should support gifted students, not work against them
Editor's note: This blog was first published as a letter to the editor in the Washington Post on August 7, 2016.
California goes over the rainbow: An accountability farce
Chester E. Finn, Jr.No, I’m not referring to the Golden State’s rich palette of ethnic and other minority (and majority) groups, nor to its desire that they’ll live, work, and go to school in harmony, like Monet’s Water Lilies or Matisse’s Fauve masterpieces.
Help shape educational accountability in Ohio
Ohio Education GadflyYou're invited to join in the conversation and contribute to Ohio’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan.
Jill Stein quotes about education
Brandon L. WrightJill Stein is the Green Party’s presumptive nominee for president in the 2016 election.
Project-based learning needs more learning
After almost eighteen years in the field of education, I have become convinced of the need to transform the way our children learn so that they can confront the unknowable challenges of the twenty-first century.
An expert overview of the U.S. public school system
Robert PondiscioBy Robert Pondiscio
An open letter to Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan
Chester E. Finn, Jr.By Chester E. Finn, Jr.
The virtual charter school edition
On this week’s podcast, Alyssa Schwenk and Dara Zeehandelaar discuss Fordham’s new study of Ohio’s virtual charter schools. During the research minute, Amber Northern examines the effects of school closures in New York City.
Three recommendations to improve online charter schools
Dara Zeehandelaar Shaw, Ph.D., Michael J. PetrilliBy Dara Zeehandelaar and Michael J. Petrilli
Change the narrow focus on grade-level proficiency
Earlier this year, in his final State of the Union address, President Barak Obama asked, “How do we give everyone a fair shot at opportunity in this new economy?” Education is a powerful tool to help do that.
Faith, hope, hard work, and results
Kathleen Porter-MageeBy Kathleen Porter-Magee This week, results from the 2016 New York State ELA and math test prove just how promising new approaches to urban Catholic education can be.
Is the new federal testing pilot worth the work?
Jessica PoinerMany education stakeholders see the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as an opportunity to fix the most problematic provisions in NCLB. For many critics, the biggest bogeyman was too much standardized testing and its associated accountability measures.
Enrollment and Achievement in Ohio's Virtual Charter Schools
June Ahn, Ph.D.This Fordham study, conducted by learning technology researcher June Ahn from NYU, dives into one of the most promising—and contentious—issues in education today: virtual schools. What type of students choose them? Which online courses do students take? Do virtual schools lead to improved outcomes for kids?