Displaying 1-30 of 32 results
Commentary
11.28.2001

Microsoft offers false hope to disadvantaged schools

Software giant Microsoft has proposed settling the myriad class-action lawsuits it faces by contributing a billion-plus dollars worth of software, computer equipment, technology training and cash to schools attended by low-income youngsters.  Yesterday's Wall Street Journal featured an op-ed by Checker Finn explaining why the software giant's offer - if approved by the plaintiffs an

Commentary
11.28.2001

Whole language reading instruction alive and kicking

While the "whole language" approach to teaching reading has been widely discredited, that didn't stop the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) from organizing a series of seminars called "A Day of Whole Language" during its annual convention in Baltimore last week.

Commentary
11.13.2001

Edison overstates failings of Philadelphia's schools

The report submitted by Edison Schools on Philadelphia's public education system paints a somewhat misleading picture of the condition that city's schools are in, writes Mike Casserly of the Council of the Great City Schools in an op-ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer.  While agreeing that schools in the City of Brotherly Love need dramatic improvement, Casserly complains that t

Commentary
11.13.2001

Ratings without substance

Raymond Domanico

Last month, much to my surprise, both the Education Gadfly and The Wall Street Journal touted the new Standard and Poor's School Evaluation Service. Such praise is premature.

Commentary
11.13.2001

State of the art accountability system proposed in Florida

Under a new accountability system being proposed by the Florida Department of Education, the progress of individual students will be tracked from year to year and this information will be used to determine letter grades for schools.  An accountability system based on annual learning gains has been a major goal of Governor Jeb Bush.

Commentary
11.7.2001

Creative reform efforts stymied by unions in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Unified School District's ambitious plan to reform secondary education and boost literacy in the upper grades has been derailed at least temporarily by the objections of teacher and administrator unions.

Commentary
11.7.2001

Houston gives principals budgetary autonomy

While there are increasing calls for principals to be held accountable for producing results, in few places are principals given much power over staffing their schools or spending school budgets.

Commentary
11.7.2001

Appraising state standards, tests & accountability systems

Chester E. Finn, Jr.

On November 2, the American Federation of Teachers released a hefty (235-page) report entitled Making Standards Matter 2001. It's an ambitious effort to appraise academic standards, curriculum, assessments and accountability arrangements in each of the fifty states and for the country as a whole.

Commentary
11.7.2001

A radical experiment: tuition-free private schools

Thanks to a black minister and a retired marine, roughly 450 students in St. Louis are attending private schools financed by public dollars this fall - without vouchers.  Determined to do something about the number of kids they encountered who couldn't read or write, Bishop Laurence Wooten and Marine Lt. Col.