Commentary
Mulligan!
President Obama is teaming up with General Colin Powell right now to talk dropout reduction. I've got no beef with that.
Topics
Commentary
Commentary
Commentary
RTT predictions
Ed Week's Michele McNeil and Lesli Maxwell have made some predictions about RTT finalists. Tom Carroll did likewise. (Finalists should be announced by ED later this week.)
Commentary
State RTT stuff
CT, which has one of the weakest RTT applications I've read, is considering policy changes to improve its chances the second time around.
Commentary
More Catholic closures
Yesterday, the Baltimore Sun had a front-page story about more upcoming closures of Catholic schools in the city. Despite their strong service of disadvantaged kids, these schools are suffering under an unsustainable financial model.
Commentary
Collision of religion, charters, vouchers, and accountability
This story is worth keeping an eye on. We've been able to hold off a major and messy policy debate about the intersection of vouchers, charters, private schools, accountability, and choice. Court cases like this though can force the conversation.
Commentary
Education news nuggets
If you thought the only ed story out of Rhode Island was Central Falls, think again.??
Commentary
Commentary
Commentary
Human capital in Boston
This Gadfly story about human capital in Boston is worth lingering attention. Apart from the drama related to the report's release, it shows how policies and contracts can clearly--and tragically--inhibit a city's ability to improve the quality of its teaching corps.
Commentary
Quotable and notable
???It is a fundamental principle of the free market that when you infuse competition into any equation, you make it better.?? We are lacking any substantial competition in education.??? ???Virginia Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah
Commentary
Caprice Young - Fordham's newest board member
The Board of Trustees of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute has elected Caprice Young as its newest member. An exceptional education reformer with extraordinarily wide-ranging experience, Ms.
Commentary
Seeking American history
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="(Three girls stand against a wall in the Manzanar War Relocation Center in California, one of 10 U.S. camps that interned Japanese-Americans during World War II.)"][/caption]
Commentary
Charter Schools
UTLA gains control of 22 LA schools
I've now gone from optimistic to doubtful to disappointed on the LAUSD outsourcing plan. If you recall, the district decided to outsource the management of 12 low-performing schools and 18 new ones. Teachers, parents, charter organizations, and other non-profits were invited to apply.
Commentary
Quotable and notable
???While we have some excellent individual teachers, our students continue to be held back by a lack of quality education and by union leadership that puts their self-interests above the interests of the students.??? ???Don Carcieri, Governor of Rhode Island
Commentary
Why the AFT should be an afterthought
“How much attention should we pay to AFT?” queries Mike Antonucci. His answer: not much. Since the reign of Al Shanker, we’ve regarded the American Federation of Teachers as the more open-minded of the two national teachers’ unions.
Commentary
Will the Common-Core standards prove safe and effective?
Even though they still haven't seen the light of day in draft form, much less been joined by any assessments, the evolving "common core" standards project of the NGA and CCSSO is already being laden with heavier and heavier burdens.
Commentary
Human Capital in Boston Public Schools
Emily Cohen, Aileen Corso, Valerie Franck, Bess Keller, Kate Kelliher, and Betsy McCorryNational Council on Teacher Quality and Massachusetts Business Alliance for EducationFebruary 2010
Commentary
The State of City Leadership for Children and Families
National League of Cities; Institute for Youth, Education, and Families2009
Commentary
D.C. School Chooser 2010-2011: A K-12 Guide to Finding a Great School for Your Child
GreatSchoolsFebruary 2010
Commentary
One gutsy guy
Is America’s civil-rights leadership looking out for the essential interests of African-American children? Former education secretary Rod Paige says no.
Commentary
Certifiably generous
Nevada is broke. But don’t worry, you can help--by purchasing one of Governor Jim Gibbons’ new Education Gift Certificates.
Commentary
Fringe goes mainstream
Milwaukee Public Schools faces a conundrum that might be familiar to systems nationwide. The district needs to rein in exploding healthcare and retirement costs, but must overcome a recalcitrant teachers union, which has outsized influence on the school board.
Commentary
Going to the Gallo(w)s
When Frances Gallo, Superintendent of Central Falls, Rhode Island, announced two weeks ago that she was going to fire all the teachers at the perennially failing Central Falls High School, teachers (not surprisingly) went ballistic.
Commentary
Education news nuggets
I pledge allegiance to Rod Paige's new book, which discusses the black-white achievement gap in pretty real terms.
Commentary
Congressional charter hearing
There was a big charter school hearing today in the House. Though it was directly related to pending legislation designed to help great charters replicate and expand, the discussion covered the broad charter terrain. It was fascinating to listen to Members' questions and comments.
Commentary
Quotable and notable
"If the American Dream includes sending your kids to college, what is America saying to these parents?" ??? James T. Meeks, Baptist Minister, and voucher advocate
Commentary
What Clevelanders can learn from Columbus middle school principals
Columbus City middle school principals’ views about how well their schools operate diverge quite a bit from what state report cards say.