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Commentary
12.11.2002

DC, New York tackle school transfers

In a move aimed at bringing the Big Apple into compliance with NCLB, Chancellor Joel Klein announced this week that students may transfer from continually failing schools to better ones anywhere in the city instead of being limited to choices within their local districts.

Commentary
12.11.2002

Does tutoring level the playing field?

Test prep firms such as Princeton Review and Kaplan have always been popular among students preparing for college entry exams, but these companies are now pitching their services to a younger crowd - elementary and junior high students - thanks to NCLB.

Commentary
12.11.2002

Colleges searching for presidents beyond the ivory tower

Although still a minority at roughly twelve percent, college presidents hired from outside traditional academic circles have doubled in number in recent years according to a new study by the American Council on Education (ACE).

Commentary
12.4.2002

ASBJ examines teacher induction, urban school leadership

In the December issue of American School Board Journal, Harry Wong and Christina Asquith make the case for a comprehensive, multi-year "induction" program for fledgling educators that goes beyond assigning a mentor and passing out copies of the discipline code ("Supporting New Teachers"; not available online).

Commentary
12.4.2002

Which comes first: good schools or vibrant cities?

In last month's Governing, Alan Ehrenhalt argued that politicians' grandiose promises to turn around failing schools - which reveal a lopsided emphasis on the condition of education at the expense of other pressing issues - are harmful and misleading.

Commentary
12.4.2002

Why the Blob hates charter schools

In a ringing endorsement of charter schools, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter recently explained why "mindless boards of education and reactionary teachers unions" are trying to smear them. He claims charters are a "workable and often inspiring form of public school choice" halfway between vouchers and the status quo - and, as such, they threaten the establishment's power.

Commentary
12.4.2002

Massachusetts approves alternative to MCAS diplomas

After months of heated debate, the Massachusetts Board of Education has voted to allow Bay State school districts to award "certificates of attainment" to students who, despite solid attendance and acceptable grades in their academic courses, thrice fail to pass the MCAS exam required for high school graduation.

Commentary
12.4.2002

In praise of information

Chester E. Finn, Jr.

The federal Department of Health and Human Services recently unveiled a new website where one can obtain comparative data on U.S. nursing homes - thousands and thousands of them. Check out http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Home.asp and follow the steps to locate a county, city or state that interests you. It's fascinating.

Commentary
12.4.2002

NEA updates education indicators

The National Education Association has released an 8-page update to its annual Rankings & Estimates: Ranking of the States and Estimates of School Statistics, which will now be compiled semi-annually.

Commentary
12.4.2002

Calling the ACLU!

Diane Ravitch

In its issue of November 27, 2002, Education Week described the efforts being made by public schools to accommodate the religious needs of Islamic pupils.

Commentary
12.4.2002

Georgia offers teacher "warranty"

The Peach State's public university system will retrain graduates of its fifteen teacher ed programs if they prove ineffective within their first two years on the job. The extra training - possibly the country's first large-scale attempt to guarantee teacher quality - will be provided at no cost to the teacher or school district.

Commentary
12.4.2002

Title I Regulations

Chester E. Finn, Jr.

U.S. Department of EducationNovember 2002

Commentary
11.20.2002

Texas, Michigan wrestle with standards

Noting that it's better to raise standards than to back down from a higher benchmark, Texas's board of education approved a motion to set a moderate but rising standard for passing the rigorous new TAKS exam. This replaces the celebrated TAAS test, on which many Lone Star students and schools had bumped against the ceiling.

Commentary
11.20.2002

Young Americans clueless about geography

Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 earned a "D" average on a recent National Geographic survey of geography and current events. Only 13 percent could identify Iraq on a map of the Middle East, and an astonishing 11 percent failed to locate the U.S. on a global map!

Commentary
11.20.2002

Bearing, and shedding, the failure label

The Jacksonville Times offers a depressing look inside Andrew Jackson High School, one of 64 failing Florida schools, revealing a "battle zone of academic frustration" and blame that's unlikely to change anytime soon.

Commentary
11.20.2002

On private schools and urban schools

Chester E. Finn, Jr.

Unless you've been wholly absorbed trussing your turkey, you have read of the recent flap concerning Sanford Weill's assistance to Jack Grubman in gaining admission of the latter's twin tykes to the 92nd Street Y's pre-school program in 2000. This ultra-exclusive Upper East Side pre-school program enrolls 175 youngsters and accepts just 65 annually.

Commentary
11.20.2002

Pennsylvania adopts sensible teacher quality reforms

Eliminating a major barrier to classroom entry for recent college graduates and career-switchers, the Keystone State's board of education last week voted to deem "qualified" those teachers who receive training from Teach for America and other national alternative programs.

Commentary
11.20.2002

Reformers, not teachers, lack a funny bone

Checker Finn asked why there is so little humor among educators in America. [See http://www.edexcellence.net/gadfly/issue.cfm?issue=35#1480.] Three reasons come to mind.

Commentary
11.20.2002

Portland principal wishes one-fourth of his teachers would leave

If ever there were a case to be made for allowing principals to hire and fire their staff, Portland's Whittaker Middle School is it. Principal Tom Pickett told The Oregonian that, until a quarter of his current teachers are replaced, pupils in his failing school won't stand much chance of being adequately educated.

Commentary
11.20.2002

Professional development dollars down the drain

Chicago's public schools reaped little reward for their nearly $200 million investment in professional development last year because the money was spent "without any 'overarching strategy' for improving instruction," and without a demand for proof of improvement. So concludes an outside audit.