Follow the money: Winerip takes out after education philanthropists
The other day Michael Winerip raised what has come to be an increasingly contentious question in the public education reform debate ? the use of private money for public purposes.
The other day Michael Winerip raised what has come to be an increasingly contentious question in the public education reform debate ? the use of private money for public purposes.
?If we tested schools in efficient use of energy, many of them wouldn't get a passing grade''* ?C. David Myers, president of building efficiency for Johnson Controls
So suggests Sam Dillon in his New York Times report this morning, ?State Challenges Seen As Whittling Away Federal Education Law.??
Some new education norms are emerging, even while Arne holds our states ransom: Ramadan night football,
? We've got to go where we can get the most quality in one swoop, and that happens to be Teach For America, both for teachers and future school leaders.?* ? Aylon Samouha, chief schools officer for Rocketship Education
Mike and Rick get down to brass tacks on Duncan's waivers and Wisconsin's recall elections before making wagers on Education Reform Idol 2011. Amber maps state proficiency cut scores (again) and Chris calls out a principal who wishes he was on ?Breaking Bad.?[powerpress]
On Thursday, August 11, Five states, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin, battled for the title of "Reformiest" in the 2011 legislative year at the Education Reform Idol!
Adding fuel to a small but growing anti-Common Core fire, Andrew Porter penned an op-ed in Education Week this week that questioned the value and rigor of the Common Core ELA and math standards. He explains:
I wrote a blog post here on Flypaper this week in response to what I'd seen as some unnecessary and unproductive personal jabs at actor Matt Damon, after he gave a brief speech at the Save Our Schools rally in D.
Education is and always has been profoundly shaped by demographics and economics. Ever since James Coleman's celebrated 1966 study showed that student achievement is strongly affected by nonschool factors, Americans have understood the manifold tribulations facing anyone bent on improving student achievement among our poorest children.
It was hardly a surprise that Indiana took home the Education Reform Idol trophy today.
?If we're going to make sure we truly look out for the best interest of kids, we have to take a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to cheating.?* ? Greg Meyers, HISD trustee
Excuse the pun, but here we go again.? News out of New York is that Gotham's public schools will ?mandate sex education? (how not to have sex, why not to have it, or to have it safely, whatever).?
In case it needs reiterating, Matt Damon is actually a pretty smart guy. He holds a Best Original Screenplay Oscar. He went to Harvard. He produces documentary films. He volunteers and donates to whole host of NGOs and non-profits. Sure, he's no authority of education, but he's probably the kind of person worth at least giving the benefit of the doubt.
Which of the five states competing to be America's next Education Reform Idol did the most to advance teacher effectiveness during the 2011 legislative session?
Arnius Duncanus is at it again. Unmoved by pleas that he "first do no harm" when it comes to promising reforms like the Common Core State Standards Initiative, he seems compelled to attach mandates to his forthcoming NCLB waivers that will require adoption of the Common Core standards.
Every so often educators and reformers think, if we're educating kids for the future, we need to do a better job of adapting our education system to meet the needs of tomorrow. That our education systems needs to, in some sense, ?get with the times? so that we can better serve our students today.
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.