Why school choice is the highest form of fairness
The impulse to protect kids from bad choices serves no one well. Matthew Levey
How Do School Leaders Respond to Competition? Evidence From New Orleans
Jeff MurrayShort review of new study on the effects of competition on schools
The rough balance serves students well
Andy Smarick is clearly disappointed with the
The promise of mastery grading
Jessica PoinerCall it mastery or competency-based education, it holds promise for students of all abilities
Choice, accountability, and charter performance
If you’re at all interested in school choice, you really should read a trio of recent reports.
Time for a new non-district charter authorizer in D.C.
D.C.’s charter school sector stands as a shining example of what urban chartering can accomplish for kids in need.
The new school board
Andy delivered a shortened version of the following comments at a PPI launch event for Hill & Jochim’s new book, A Democratic Constitution for Public Education.
Accountability in Private School Choice Programs
Jeff MurrayA good primer on programs in twenty-four locales. Jeff Murray
CREDO Urban Charter School Study Report on 41 Regions
Robert PondiscioCharter schools are making a difference. Robert Pondiscio
Opting out, race, and reform
Robert PondiscioArne Duncan was half right about those “white suburban moms.” Robert Pondiscio
New systems of schools and common enrollment
I didn’t see common enrollment systems coming.
Ten arguments against Common Core presidential hopefuls should avoid
Tim ShanahanAn open letter to the candidates. Tim Shanahan
Bless the tests: Three reasons for standardized testing
Aaron ChurchillIt takes more than a "gut feeling" to know how a school is doing
The limits of equity
Editor’s note: This is the eighth in a series of personal reflections on the current state of education reform and contemporary conservatism by Andy Smarick, a Bernard Lee Schwartz senior policy fellow with the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.
The 2014 Education Choice and Competition Index
Aaron ChurchillRating school choice in the country’s biggest districts. Aaron Churchill
The 2014 Education Choice and Competition Index
Aaron ChurchillTaking a look outside the public education monopoly at the educational marketplace
The Academic Impact of Inter-district Open Enrollment in Public Schools: The Results from a Decade of Choice
Jeff MurrayInter-district open enrollment: the oldest, yet least studied, choice option in Ohio
How to end the education reform wars
Michael J. PetrilliOn Sunday, Mike spoke to the New York State Council of School Superintendents. These were his remarks as prepared for delivery.
School choice technocrats wanted
One of the most important developments in urban education over the last two decades has been the rapid expansion of school choice.
Turn and Face the Strain: Age Demographic Change and the Near Future of American Education
Jane SongComing soon: Fifty states of grey. Jane Song
Using equity reports to drive school improvement in D.C.
When we talk about high standards, accountability, and school choice, one essential element is often overlooked: giving parents and education leaders information they can actually use. It’s one thing to produce data, but quite another to make it useful—easily understood, comparable, and actionable.
Four ideas for Montgomery County Public Schools
Michael J. PetrilliThe sudden departure of Joshua Starr, superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, caught many by surprise—including Starr.
The state-led ESEA compromise
A few weeks ago, I used a graphic to show the four dimensions of federal accountability, each of which has a range of options. I then used this graphic to show the consensus for preserving NCLB testing.
Ed Trust Midwest report on Michigan's charter authorizers: A decent start, but hardly the final word
Michael J. PetrilliFollowers of Fordham’s work know that we are obsessed with charter school quality, both nationally and in our home state of Ohio. We are also a charter school authorizer, responsible for overseeing a portfolio of eleven schools in the Buckeye State—a job we take very seriously.
Kids in Crisis, Cobwebs in Classrooms
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.Put empty Milwaukee school buildings to use for kids who desperately need them. Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
ESEA testing proposals in one picture
A couple weeks ago, I created a graphic to help explain the contours of the debate about federal accountability in the ESEA reauthorization process.
Comparing Student Attrition Rates at Charter Schools and Nearby Traditional Public Schools
Jeff MurrayBusting myths, but not much to cheer about
NCLB accountability is dead; long live ESEA testing
Chester E. Finn, Jr.It’s fascinating—and telling—how rapidly the zillion issues tucked away in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act have been distilled down to arguments about testing.