Displaying 1-19 of 19 results
Commentary
12.3.2012
Curriculum & Instruction

Solipsism generation

Chester E. Finn, Jr.

It isn't going to be easy for David Coleman and his fellow authors of the Common Core English/Language Arts standards to wean U.S. students off writing about themselves.

Commentary
11.20.2012
Curriculum & Instruction

Social studies follies

Chester E. Finn, Jr.

The cumbersome, inscrutable title is the first clue that something is not right: “Vision for the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3): Framework for Inquiry in Social Studies State Standards.”

Commentary
11.12.2012
Curriculum & Instruction

A closer look at union strength

The Thomas B. Fordham Institute's recent study of teacher-union strength is an example of the institute's willingness to "get into the weeds" of standards

Book
9.28.2012
Curriculum & Instruction

The Diverse Schools Dilemma

Michael J. Petrilli

Lots of parents favor sending their sons and daughters to diverse schools with children from a variety of racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. But can such schools successfully meet the educational needs of all those different kids? How do middle class children fare in these environments? Is there enough challenge and stimulation in schools that also struggle to help poor and immigrant children reach basic standards? Is there too much focus on test scores? And why is it so hard to find diverse public schools with a progressive, child-centered approach to education? These quandaries and more are addressed in this groundbreaking book by Michael J. Petrilli.

Commentary
8.29.2012
Charter Schools, Curriculum & Instruction

Vouchers − Darwin= ??

Chester E. Finn, Jr.

Let there be controversy

Report
6.20.2012
Standards

Commentary & Feedback on Draft I of the Next Generation Science Standards

Paul Gross, Lawrence S. Lerner, John Lynch, Martha Schwartz, Richard Schwartz, W. Stephen Wilson

In May, Achieve unveiled and solicited comments on the first draft of the Next Generation Science Standards, the product of months of work by a team of writers from twenty-six states. This document provides commentary, feedback, and constructive advice that Fordham hopes the NGSS authors will consider as they revise the standards before the release of a second draft later this year.

Texas math standards review
Report
4.17.2012
Standards

Review of Draft Texas Mathematics Standards 2012

W. Stephen Wilson

In April 2012, Texas adopted new math standards. Fordham reviewed the draft standards and found them to be a modest improvement. But not by much, and they remain inferior to the Common Core math standards. Download the review to learn more.

Texas math standards review
Report
4.2.2012
Accountability & Testing, Standards

Defining Strong State Accountability Systems: How Can Better Standards Gain Greater Traction?

Eileen Reed, Janie Scull, Gerilyn Slicker, Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.

Rigorous standards and aligned assessments are vital tools for boosting education outcomes but they have little traction without strong accountability systems that attach consequences to performance. This pilot study lays out the essential features of such accountability systems, intended to add oomph to new common standards and aligned assessments.

Report
1.30.2012
Standards

The State of State Science Standards 2012

American science performance is lagging as the economy becomes increasingly high tech, but  our current science standards are doing little to solve the problem.