The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation this week announced the creation of two annual $25,000 prizes to be awarded to individuals who have made extraordinary accomplishments in education scholarship and reform. The Foundation is seeking nominations for these new prizes, which will first be awarded in January 2003. A prize committee will choose the winners.
At the release of the National Math Panel report last month, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics president Prancis "Skip" Fennel-pollen argued that just as "plastics" was the catchword of The Graduate, "fractions" should be the catchword for today's teachers.
Schoolwide reform is capturing the attention of policymakers, parents and educators across the nation, and Congress is appropriating huge sums to promote the adoption of dozens of "whole school" designs. But how to choose among these designs? Better By Design, written by distinguished journalist James Traub and published by the Thomas B.
Once upon a time, centrist school reform had a single, overriding theme: accountability for results. This was apparent in the standards movement, with its focus on delineating clear expectations for all students, the achievement of which was to be measured by rigorous tests and linked to real consequences for adults.
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is searching for a vice president for quality and growth. It sounds like a fine opportunity, about which more information can be gleaned by clicking here.
I knew as soon as we had finished saying the Pledge that it could be an interesting school board meeting: there were only four members present, which (because we were a 7-member board) meant that we had to have unanimous consent to pass any resolution, including, as we would soon learn, convening a meeting. A motion to accept the agenda was made and seconded.
While Mike was reporting that special education spending was “heading toward one-third” of all school outlays, I was listening to a report from our school district’s special education director who said she didn’t really know how much it cost
Red or green? Seeds or seedless? Concord or cabernet? Join us on Saturday afternoon for this stemwinder of a discussion. The debate will feature our own Deanne Ravaged taking on everybody else. Reception to follow, featuring a carefully chosen selection of the fruit of the vine.
We are happy to announce that the next class of Fordham Fellows has begun work at various education-policy organizations about Washington. Irrepressible to the core, they're also blogging. Read what they have to say, here.
We are happy to announce that the next class of Fordham Fellows has begun work at various education-policy organizations about Washington. Irrepressible to the core, they're also blogging. Read what they have to say, here.
Are you smart and interested in education policy? Want to come to Washington for nine months, work in a really interesting organization, meet everyone in town, make $25,000? Of course you do! Click here to find out how.
Have we got a job for you! The Florida Schools of Excellence Commission, the new statewide chartering board, seeks an executive director responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the commission, as well as disseminating information to the public. The best candidate will have a graduate degree, be able to write logically and fluently, and be skilled in financial analysis.
Next Wednesday, February 20th, at 4:00 p.m. This is when Fordham will host a riveting discussion about our new report on collective bargaining, The Leadership Limbo.
This week, Mike and Andy discuss Charlie Crist’s veto, Linda Darling-Hammond’s charter school, and Race to the Test’s quickly narrowing field. Then Amber tells us about a new PEPG study on teacher compensation, and Stafford eats a cold cheese sandwich—and loves it!
This week, Mike and Rick discuss Barack Obama's comments on vouchers, the battle between charter schools and Catholic schools, and whether Fordham's new report is really "laughably reactionary." Jeff Kuhner serves up an Education Outrage of the Week, and Education News of the Weird sacrifices for fashion.
Don’t forget: On August 26 from 3:30-5pm, our own Terry Ryan will be presenting Fordham’s new book Ohio’s Education Reform Challenges: Lessons from the Frontlines.
Is TSL really a secret? Find out on September 23 from 9 to 10:30 at AEI’s event, “Total Student Load: The Secret to Boosting School Performance?” UCLA Professor William Ouchi, author of The Secret of TSL, will present while two panelists, Eric Nadelstern (New York City Department of Education), and our own Checker Finn, respond.
Literacy purists bemoan ‘kids these days’ and their inability to understand and appreciate the beauty and substance of written language. What with instant-messaging and texting, they just don’t want to learn grammar and syntax.
Did you watch the “Lost” series finale? Don’t worry, Rick’s here to explain, before debating Mike on for-profit organizations, Representative Chu’s new “turnaround” plan, and the timeline snafu with RTT apps and the Common Core standards release date.
The American Enterprise Institute will host two major education events in the upcoming weeks. On November 17 at 10:30 AM, Secretary Arne Duncan takes the floor, explaining how districts can get more bang for their school buck. Learn more here.
Have you ever wanted to grow your “emotional intelligence including managing your gremlin,” while receiving training in “resilience” or “creativity”?
The headmaster of Washington Latin School seeks an assistant who has a bachelor's degree, five years experience related to assistant-type duties (scheduling, organizing, etc.), and a professional demeanor and upbeat personality.
This week, Mike and guest host Kate Walsh of the National Council on Teacher Quality talk race and teacher tests, Bob Herbert, and lotteries. New York City Department of Education Deputy Chancellor Chris Cerf clears up some misunderstandings, and Education News of the Weird is all about doing what's right.
The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) seeks a policy director to direct policy advocacy and help formulate research strategies and agendas. NACSA plans to develop model authorizing legislation and to increase its attention to legislative issues around the country.
This week, an all-Fordham team looks at autonomy gaps, achievement gaps, and teacher quality gaps. We interview Checker Finn about Peru and Ohio, and Education News of the Weird is about the Jeb Bush College of Education. Click here to listen through our website and view past editions.
The Manhattan Institute is seeking a full-time Research Assistant/Press Officer for Education Policy for its new office in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Candidates should have at least a bachelor's degree and an interest in education reform.
This week, Mike and Rick chat about the Supreme Court, why Californians don't like preschool, and the U.N.'s subversive influence in Minnesota's schools. Martin A. Davis Jr. rails against Hugo Chavez, and Education News of the Weird is all about second chances. An Inconvenient Truth: this 15-minute podcast may be our only hope.
Interested in peering into the black box of teacher quality? Analysts from the Gates Foundation’s large-scale teacher-effectiveness initiative, Measures in Effective Teaching, will share preliminary findings via a webcast tomorrow, December 10 from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Rick is back from his booze cruise and ready to go. This week, he and Mike discuss Fordham's new AP report, taxpayers versus parents making education decisions, and Obama's first 100 days in office. Then Amber explains the long-term trends on the NAEP and Rate that Reform exposes itself (for a good cause!).
This week, Mike and Rick discuss charter schools' racial and socioeconomic makeup, long-term suspensions for school fighting, and parental input into L.A.’s school turnarounds. The Research Minute is on vacation this week, so we skip straight to Rate that Reform, which considers Oregon's possible new grading model.
