?We're not fixated on how many charter schools we have open.? What we're fixated on is the result we get from the charter schools that are open.? ?Deborah Fallin, spokesperson for the Colorado Education Association
It's not a joke -- New York's RTT application requested money for office furniture.
It's not a joke ? New York's RTT application requested money for office furniture.
Conventional wisdom in many education circles (see here) tells us that multiple choice tests are the enemy of critical thinking and deep content mastery. Such tests, we're told, can't really assess student learning. What's worse, they ???encourage???
Conventional wisdom in many education circles (see here) tells us that multiple choice tests are the enemy of critical thinking and deep content mastery. Such tests, we're told, can't really assess student learning. What's worse, they ?encourage?
Leaders in both West Virginia and Kentucky are admitting that they suffered in RTT scoring because they still lack charter laws.
When I registered exasperation with the Department for choosing 16 RTT finalists, lots of people emailed me in protest. The large number of finalists, they said, was no big deal.
Yesterday, I wrote that states could win RTT grants in round two without sacrificing their bold reforms in order to garner stakeholder support. Florida is a good example.
Yesterday, I wrote that states could win RTT grants in round two without sacrificing their bold reforms in order to garner stakeholder support. Florida is a good example.
When I registered exasperation with the Department for choosing 16 RTT finalists, lots of people emailed me in protest. The large number of finalists, they said, was no big deal.
A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down from the Thomas B. Boredom Finnstitute.
A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down from the Thomas B. Boredom Finnstitute.
???I think there needs to be an explanation from the systems that choose not to do it.?? I think they owe their taxpaying constituents in those districts an explanation as to why they wouldn't choose to participate, quite frankly.??? ???Ted Strickland, Governor of Ohio
?I think there needs to be an explanation from the systems that choose not to do it.? I think they owe their taxpaying constituents in those districts an explanation as to why they wouldn't choose to participate, quite frankly.? ?Ted Strickland, Governor of Ohio
The crux of many education reform arguments is to shift the age-old conversation over what inputs we should mandate to a conversation about what outcomes we should be driving towards, measuring, and holding states, districts, schools and teachers accountable to.
Although I was pleased that Secretary Duncan chose only two states in the first round of the Race to the Top, we need to remember that there is well over $3 billion left in the kitty.?? He has estimated that 10 to 15 more grants could be made in the second round.
I've been going through state RTT scores, and based on what I'm seeing, I'm becoming convinced that states should refuse to capitulate to stakeholder demands to weaken their applications. I'm growing confident that states that put together bold proposals can win in the second round even if a significant number of their unions and districts refuse to sign on.
There has been much written about Secretary Duncan's decision to choose only Delaware and Tennessee for first round winners in the Race to the Top.?? Perhaps the decision was easier than people think. [quote]
We mourn the passing of Jaime Escalante, one of America's foremost educators in the late 20th century, a cla
Reactions continue on RTT, and stakeholder support is the big winner (well, other than
About a week ago, Tim Hoffine from the Ohio office, wrote up the recent NPR debate on the influence of teachers unions on America's schools. I'd also strongly commend it to you.
???No one is protecting the status quo.?? No one is saying they're doing well enough.??? ???Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education
Over the weekend, David Broder argued that education should be the next issue on the Congressional agenda, and that it could be a rare chance for a bipartisan victory.
Later today, we'll find out which states have been selected as winners in the first round of the Race to the Top. The Department's announcement will answer three burning questions: How many? Why???Which?
The selection of DE and TN answers the questions I posed this morning--not necessarily in the ways I wanted, but we got answers nonetheless. First, both state had good plans. Not great plans but certainly good. And the Department deserves credit for selecting only two states. Secretary Duncan was tougher in choosing winners than in choosing finalists, and I give him credit for that.
The Department of Education has released the final peer reviewers' scores for Race to the Top (RTT) finalists. I find it very worrisome.
"I think the process was robust. We literally met with thousands of people who expressed their views. We heard them, and in the end, we disagreed." ??? Joel Klein, New York City Schools Chancellor
