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A look around the new www.edexcellence.net
It’s been a busy day on the revamped Fordham Website. Here’s a rundown of what you may have missed:
Five thoughts about NCLB on its tenth anniversary
Michael J. PetrilliIt’s time for the federal government to lead from behind
A new year, a new look for Fordham’s blogs
Michael J. PetrilliMike explains Fordham's new approach to blogging and previews all the offerings.
Flypaper’s 11 most popular posts of 2011
Tyson EberhardtA look back at the year's most-read and most-tweeted content on Flypaper.
My 7 predictions for 2011: A scorecard
Michael J. PetrilliMike looks back at his bold predictions for 2011 and tallies up his score.
The Green-tea Party
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Checker lays out a third party platform for disaffected Republicans and Democrats.
Unsolved problems – and signs of hope – as 2012 dawns
Chester E. Finn, Jr.The challenges and opportunities of the year ahead.
What Kevin Carey didn’t say about Diane Ravitch, but should have
Michael J. PetrilliSetting the record straight on Diane Ravitch.
Budgeting smartly for digital success
Phyllis McClureGuest blogger Paul Teske reflects on the future of digital learning and Paul T. Hill's "School Finance in the Digital Learning Era."
Ed Next Book Club: Checker Finn’s Troublemaker
School reformers are a dime a dozen these days, with education policy a suddenly sexy field and more than a few people willing to challenge the status quo.
The lessons of “The Accountability Plateau”
Chester E. Finn, Jr., Michael J. Petrilli“Consequential accountability,” à la No Child Left Behind and the high-stakes state testing systems that preceded it, corresponded with a significant one-time boost in student achievement, particularly in primary and middle school math.
The Accountability Plateau
Mark SchneiderAfter more than ten years under NCLB, that law’s legacy continues to be fiercely contested. This analysis of NAEP scores—focusing on Texas and on the entire nation—by former NCES commissioner Mark Schneider finds that solid gains in math achievement coincided with the advent of "consequential accountability," first in the trailblazing Lone Star State and a few other pioneer states, then across the land with the implementation of NCLB. But Schneider warns that the recent plateau in Texas math scores may foreshadow a coming stagnation in the country’s performance. Has the testing-and-accountability movement as we know it run out of steam? How else might we rekindle our nation’s education progress?
Take five
This week's NewSchools Venture Fund gabfest left Mike and Rick all talked out. The Gadfly Show will return next week at its usual place and time.
Take no prisoners
Through December 1st, Fordham's Eric Osberg will be engaged in a fierce, online, written debate on edspresso.com over weighted student funding (what, you haven't read our WSF report?). Witness the carnage here.
Taking a look at national standards
Our next event is only a week away, and though it’s currently at capacity, we will have a live webcast of all the proceedings. Don’t miss “National Education Standards circa 2009” on our website, November 4 from 3:30 to 5 pm.
Talented leaders wanted for mentorships with urban superintendents
The new Broad Residency in Urban Education offers a small group of talented leaders from the private and nonprofit sectors a chance to do hands-on work as managers in urban school districts across the U.S. In addition to a mentorship under an urban superintendent, Broad Residents will receive executive-level training and $80,000 per year.
Talking in paragraphs
This week, Mike and Rick discuss Fordham's new voucher paper, the future of private school choice as a viable ed policy strategy, and whether students should be able to check off more than one box when listing their race. Then Amber explains the new RAND study of charter schools and Rate that Reform is infected with March Madness.
Tasty puffins
This week, Mike and Education Sector's Sara Mead chat about Bush-Bloomberg opacity, schisms between ed reformers, and how not to offend atheists. We have an interview with Checker Finn, the original Education Gadfly, who talks about Buckeyes, and Education News of the Weird is a gem in the rough with an albatross on its back. All in under 20 minutes.
Teacher quality in living color
The Joyce Foundation just brought out a swell interactive guide to all things teacher-quality—from recruiting and defining quality teachers to improving and rewarding them. This one-stop shop houses relevant research, a guidebook and a TQ toolkit. Find it here.
Teachers union may dominate L.A. school board again
In 1999 Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and billionaire Eli Broad helped elect a new reform-minded school board for the L.A Unified school district. The teachers unions have fought back, though, and on March 4, two union-backed candidates defeated reformist incumbents supported by Riordan and Broad (and their political action committee, the Coalition for Kids) for seats on the school board.
Teach for America seeks VP for research and evaluation
Teach For America is seeking a Vice President of Research and Evaluation to join its Management Team as head of internal and external evaluation efforts. Candidates must possess a strong background in research and evaluation, and preferably a PhD.
Teaching industry goes retro?
The large-scale arrival of women in the U.S. workforce has brought serious change to many industries, certainly including education. The Economist peeks at the social consequences of this transition, specifically how these changes have affected decisions on motherhood. Previously, one of the few paths open to women was teaching.
Teaching the value of a dollar
On October 26, 2010 from 12:30 to 2:00PM, Fordham will host “Cost-Cutting Strategies and Opportunities for Schools and Districts,” with panelists Michael Casserly, J. Wm. Covington, Frederick M. Hess, and Karen Hawley Miles. RSVP here, and join us for a wallet-bending conversation.
Teach some kids, catch some waves
Teach California Charters is a new initiative identifying talented individuals to teach in some of California's most rigorous charter schools.
Ten-Hut! School reformer Leslye Arsht to the DOD
StandardsWork's co-founder Leslye Arsht has been named Deputy Under Secretary for Military Community and Family Policy at the U.S. Department of Defense. Among her many new responsibilities is overseeing DOD's Education Activity, which serves 100,000 students in 223 schools in 13 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
Tennessee needs you
The Tennessee Charter Schools Association is looking for an executive director. The ideal candidate will possess at least an undergraduate degree and will be responsible for various duties related to organizational development, advocacy and public engagement, and technical assistance.
Testing, testing
Curious about tests? Then pop over to AEI on September 22 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. for a panel entitled, "What Educational Testing Can and Cannot Do." The ever knowledgeable Rick Hess will moderate. (He might even wear long pants.) To register, go here.
Textualists
This week, Mike and Rick talk about how to pay educators, test four-year-olds, and train middle school teachers. Education Week's Mark Walsh stops by to discuss Bong Hits 4 Jesus, and Education News of the Weird is melting, melting! Click here to listen through our website and view past editions.