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The death and life of great American education organizations
Why do the woes of the Education Commission of the States (ECS) put me in mind of the late Jane Jacobs?
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Science experiment
The latest results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in science are out, and they provide compelling evidence that accountability works. The old saying goes that "what gets tested gets taught." That's not quite right; what schools are held accountable for gets taught-and learned.
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Slavery sleuth
Few chapters in American history are more painful than the Atlantic slave trade. Historian Sheldon Stern, author of Fordham's Effective State Standards for U.S. History: A 2003 Report Card, is certainly aware of that.
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Soul sisters
Education bigfeet Deborah Meier and Diane Ravitch have been at odds on school-related issues over the last thirty years. But when they recently met over lunch to prepare for a debate about No Child Left Behind, both were surprised by how much common ground they shared.
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What Education Schools Aren't Teaching About Reading and What Elementary Teachers Aren't Learning
National Council on Teacher QualityMay 2006
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Can you comprenderme now?
Massachusetts's most recent test results show that non-native English speakers have trouble functioning in a regular classroom, and bilingual education activists are hyping the news like Don King promoting a Tyson fight.
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Local control, out of control
Last month, when Chicago's South Loop School held elections for its local school council, voters were surprised to witness "a ‘smelly' crew of disheveled men, some reeking of alcohol," punching ballots. The situation further deteriorated when one man asked the school's principal, "Where do we get our five dollars for voting?" Some foul play was afoot.
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Strengthening Transition by Encouraging Career Pathways: A Look at State Policies and Practices
Katherine L. Hughes and Melinda Mechur KarpAmerican Association of Community Colleges2006
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Funding secession
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford thinks he's found the solution to the state's school funding disparities. The Palmetto State's current model, he says, "disadvantages rural South Carolina." But a system "where you were funding kids and you put the money in the kid ... would lead to complete portability ...
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Take this job and shove it
A recent St. Petersburg Times survey found that last year over half of the Tampa Bay metro area's teachers considered leaving their jobs, and that "41 percent of teachers with 15-plus years' experience look back on their careers and wish they had chosen another profession." The dissatisfied teachers' complaints weren't all about salaries, either.
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Pass the roach, and pass on college?
As the law now stands, young adults convicted of a drug-related offense are ineligible for federal student aid. It sounds reasonable on the surface. But ultimately, the policy fails on both economic and moral grounds.
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Spellings stiffens spine
This past week brought three signals that Secretary Spellings and her team are emerging from their "flexibility" phase and ready to rumble with the education establishment.
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Politics of Charter Schools: Competing National Advocacy Coalitions Meet Local Politics
Occasional Paper 119Michael KirstFebruary 2006
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Title I Accountability and School Improvement From 2001 to 2004
U.S. Department of EducationPolicy and Program Studies ServiceApril 2006
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California judge fails his exam
Last week, an Oakland superior court judge struck down the Golden State's mandate that all high school students pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) to graduate. The class of 2006 is the first to face the requirement.
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Far-flung tutors
A lot of American students are firing up their computers to get the tutoring help they need. A typical session goes something like this:An instant messaging-type window opens, and the conversation-often an audio one--begins. "Hello, Brian. This is Ralph. Let's continue last week's review of algebra."
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"Highly Qualified teachers" not so special
Regarding last week's Gadfly editorial ("Highly qualified data," May 11), I am a special education teacher and have been following for some time the highly qualified (HQ) bandwagon. Only special education teachers must be HQ in both core areas and in special education.
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Horror High
Michael Maxwell, a high school teacher in St. Joseph, Missouri, was suspended from work this week after asking his class to write an essay about the person they would most like to murder and how they would do it.
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Policy wonks: Get thee to the couch!
New York Times columnist David Brooks thinks policymakers are missing the boat. Rather than propose structural remedies such as opening charter schools or implementing vouchers, he says education policymakers should "enter the murky world of psychology and human nature" and talk "about core psychological traits like delayed gratification skills" when trying to spur social change.
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Keep so-so schools afloat
Regarding last week’s Gadfly editorial (“It’s all about the authorizers,” May 4), I'm still fuzzy on why authorizers should close popular, legally operating charter schools. The abysmal state of traditional public schools often makes even mediocre charter schools choice-worthy.
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L'tat aux folles
Richard the Lionheart is best known as England's "Absent King," and for being the leader of the Third Crusade. Truman Capote, author of In Cold Blood, is credited with inventing the modern American crime novel. And any number of Greek thinkers are remembered for creating the intellectual framework of Western civilization.
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NCLB: Extreme makeover edition?
Are the worst schools in America about to get an overhaul? Don't count on it.
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Ed reform born again?
Whenever the Southern Baptists make the news, I often remember the question about the falling tree in the forest. If there's no one around to listen, does it make any noise?
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Gangsta's paradise
Last weekend, about 400 teachers gathered for a conference in Los Angeles to learn how to incorporate rap music into their daily lessons. Teacher Erica Carducci thinks the approach is a good idea; she uses Eminem lyrics to help students understand Robert Frost's poetry.
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Highly qualified data
NCLB requires all states, at the end of the current school year, to prove that their teachers in charge of academic classes are "highly qualified." In an era of accountability, it's a reasonable request. After all, we ask students to be proficient in their subjects. Shouldn't we ask the same of their teachersStates have had four years to prepare for this deadline-are they ready?
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Big improvements in the Big Easy
Here’s another silver lining of the Katrina tragedy: struggling New Orleans students who were once relegated to special education because they hadn’t learned to read or do math are finally getting the help they need. Scores of New Orleans schools, particularly new charter schools, are implementing full in
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Student Achievement and Passport to Teaching Certification in Elementary Education
American Board for Certification of Teacher ExcellenceMay 11, 2006
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Trends in Charter School Authorizing
As Ohio now has over 60 organizations sponsoring close to 300 charter schools, this new report from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute should be of interest to all anyone concerned about the state’s charter program.Among the report’s findings:1) sponsors do not renew charter school contracts because of poor