About three-quarters of the way through Alan Schwarz's story in today's New York Times, "Atlanta School Year Begins Amid a Testing Scandal,? a parent of a first grader is quoted as saying, ?But I love the principal.? Was she named?? No. Was her previous school named?? No. Are the cheaters still there?? No?.?
Which of the five states competing to be America's next Education Reform Idol did the most to advance charter schools and private-school choice during the 2011 legislative session?
"[AFT] knocked me out, but in the end we gave parents power. We gave them power under statute." * ? Jason Bartlett, former Connecticut State Representative
What is the best way to draw attention to your cause? Should you commission a tank? Accuse your interviewer of incompetence??
The following is a guest post from Ryan Murray, Policy and Legislative Affairs Director for the Office of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, on why Wisconsin should be considered the reformiest state at our Ed Reform Idol event next week.
The latest Education Next poll results are packed-full of interesting findings on topics ranging from choice to merit pay, from NCLB to tenure reform. But particularly timely, in this era of fiscal austerity, are new insights about the public's views on school budgets.
Now that we've reached the age of digital learning and the online university and
?Educators and policymakers must boil the chatter down to two essential questions: To what degree will this policy enhance student learning and how will we know?" * ? Marilyn Rhames, third-grade teacher
Mike and Rick are in the zone this week analyzing the Save Our Schools March, how states can improve ed schools, and the merits of Missouri's anti-Facebook-friending legislation. Amber gives Teach For America a high-five and Chri$ gives NC charter schools the flat-out deny. [powerpress]
A few weeks ago, I wrote about our schools' ?secret success.? Simply stated, poor and minority students are achieving at dramatically higher levels today than they were two decades ago?in some cases two or three grade levels higher.
?If a kid gets out of school hungry and the first thing he sees is pizza on the side of his bus, he's going to ask for pizza when he gets home.? * ? Limor Baum, Dietician
As you know by now, Fordham is on a mission: to find the reformiest state in the country!
The following is a guest post from Tony Bennett, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, on why Indiana should be considered the reformiest state at our Ed Reform Ido
Education Sector is one of my favorite groups in K-12 policy, and not just because I have lots of friends who work there. Since its creation five years ago its analysts have produced a steady stream of thoughtful, thought-provoking papers and posts on the most important issues facing education policymakers today.
Jon Stewart wasn't able to make it to the Save Our Schools rally last weekend, but at least Reason was there. Some of us D.C.
?We understand schools have taken cuts over the past two years, and they've made tough decisions as a result of that. But we always said there was going to be a brighter day and we're hoping that day is not too far off.? *
The following is a guest post from Robin M. Steans, Executive Director of Advance Illinois, on why Illinois should be considered the reformiest state at our Ed Reform Idol event next week.
If there is a silver lining to the cheating scandals, it is the increased scrutiny being paid to the testing industry, including the education systems that administer the tests.
The more I read RiShawn Biddle ? he of Dropout Nation -- the more I like him (even though I don't know anything about him). ?He wrote a wonderful short essay last week on Bruce Baker of Rutgers, whom he called the ?poor man's Diane Ravitch?
Answering the phone falls into the wide range of duties I perform as the staff assistant here at Fordham. I've received some peculiar calls over my tenure, but perhaps none as hostile as one that came through today. I thought I'd share the paraphrased transcript: Me: Thomas B. Fordham Institute, this is Chris
? I wept when Barack Obama was elected president, but this isn't the type of history I thought he'd make. Funding is driven based on test scores. That puts all the focus on the test scores.
The following is a guest post from Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of the Foundation for Florida's Future, on why Florida should be considered the reformiest state at our Ed Reform
Friends don't let friends believe lazy LA Times articles about education budget cuts:
The answers to your most burning questions: Question 1: How can you really intimidate Arne Duncan? (A: Give him a doll)
It's been a busy week in the capitol: the onion reports that middle-school civics teachers have been dispatched to resolve the debt crisis and Jon Stewart will be making a televised appearance
?I never went to any student who didn't call me to help them cheat. But if somebody asked me a question, I wasn't willing to say, ?Just do your best.' They were my students, and I wanted to be there for them. ?*
We're looking at a long weekend for politicians, journalists, and finance professionals as the debt ceiling fight goes into extra innings. The House leadership has delayed a vote on the Boehner plan due to dissension in the Republican rank and file, and odds for a major deal don't look great.
