Don't let shuttered schools rot
Kevin MahnkenThere’s something about the sight of an abandoned school that tears at your heart.
States v. districts in the Every Student Succeeds Act
The dominant narrative about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is that it shifts authority over schools back to state governments. But this belies a key feature of the legislation.
Parents: Children's first math teachers
We’ve seen a lot of hand wringing over math achievement in this country. Our students continue to underperform against their peers in other countries, lighting a fire under educators and politicians to push new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programming in schools. While these panicked efforts have admirable intentions, they are mostly barking up the wrong tree.
Key Trends in Special Education in Charter Schools: A Secondary Analysis of the Civil Rights Data Collection 2011-2012
Jamie Davies O'LearyHow do charters stack up next to district schools?
Funding growth and expanding opportunity in private schools
Damien SchusterHow new and innovative financing structures might fix the private school supply chain. Damien Schuster
How parental overaspiration might undermine students' learning in mathematics
Jeff MurrayParental involvement can be counterproductive when it’s coupled with unrealistic expectations. Jeff Murray
How students react to news of their AP potential
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.It can be self-fulfilling, regardless of actual ability levels. Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
A Massachusetts story
The Education GadflyYoungsters interview their elders, a new teacher prep program opens in Cambridge, and a governor launches a laudable workforce-skills initiative.
ESEA and the return of a well-rounded curriculum
Robert PondiscioUndoing damage inflicted by the blunt axe of test-driven accountability. Robert Pondiscio
The Bay State edition
The MCAS/PARCC hybrid assessment, Governor Baker’s new workforce skills initiative, Harvard’s new teacher training program, and the state of K-12 computer science education.
A Common Core check-up: Not dead yet
Michael J. PetrilliThe diagnosis is mixed, but the prognosis is hardly dire. Michael J. Petrilli
Accountability and the Every Student Succeeds Act
Earlier this year, when it looked like ESEA finally had a chance of being reauthorized, I came up with a graphic for assessing the accountability provisions of the various proposals.
How Washington State can keep the door open to charter schooling
In refusing to reconsider its September ruling that public charter schools are unconstitutional and not entitled to receive public funds, the Washington State Supreme Court is bringing the state one step closer to shutting the door on promising educational opportunities for disadvantaged Washington students.
On payday lending and parental choice
Michael J. PetrilliIf every school in America was pretty good—if not better—our education policy debates would largely evaporate. Politicians would feel comfortable leaving educators alone to do their thing. And they would empower parents with the ability to choose the good (or great) school that best fit their values and their children’s needs.
The new ESEA will help America's high achievers, but only if states rise to the challenge
Brandon L. WrightThe ESEA reauthorization conferees delivered some good news for America’s high-achieving students last week.
MCAS 2.0 charts a good course, but more wind is needed
The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education wisely decided this week to tack between the Scylla of MCAS and the Charybdis of PARCC. Following Commissioner Mitchell Chester’s recommendation, they chose to adopt MCAS 2.0, a yet-to-be-developed hybrid of the two options. Their adroit navigation calms the troubled waters for the time being.
Do "Response to Intervention" practices work for elementary school reading?
Kevin MahnkenA new study suggests that they don’t. But mind the details. Kevin Mahnken
Racial differences in teachers' evaluations of high, average, and low performing students
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.Lower perceptions of high-achieving minorities may have consequences beyond the classroom. Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
The condition of STEM 2015
Robert PondiscioSTEM interest doesn’t necessarily translate into STEM aptitude. Robert Pondiscio
What’s next for charters?
The Education GadflyThe uncertain future of school choice, Louisville’s school discipline crisis, and the passing of one of reform’s brightest lights.
Let's check our halos at the door, education reformers
Michael J. PetrilliIf this is really supposed to be about the kids, we need to stop vilifying our opponents. Michael J. Petrilli
The new ESEA, in a single table
Michael J. PetrilliThe action is moving to the state level. It’s about time. Michael J. Petrilli
“Similar Students” measures: a flawed approach to school accountability
Vladimir KoganA threat to accountability for both charters and district schools Vladimir Kogan
Failing Our Brightest Kids: A talk with NAGC's executive director René Islas
Chester E. Finn, Jr., Brandon L. WrightLast week, at NAGC's splendid 62nd Annual Covention and Exhibiton, NAGC's executive director René Islas interviewed us about our book, Failing Our Brightest Kids: The Global Challenge of Educating High-Ability Students.
R.I.P. John Chubb
Chester E. Finn, Jr.John Chubb was not only a fine scholar, tireless education reformer, and creative innovator. He was also my friend and colleague for more than two decades. I first came upon him in 1990, when he (then at Brookings) and Terry Moe published their blockbuster school choice book, Politics, Markets and America’s Schools.
Fordham's Mike Petrilli and Checker Finn on the ESEA compromise
Michael J. Petrilli, Chester E. Finn, Jr.Editor's note: Politics K-12 reports that House and Senate negotiators have reached a preliminary compromise on reauthorization of No Child Left Behind.
Rubio, Carson, and the Republican conundrum on education
Kate StringerEver since the birth of the modern reform movement, the GOP has faced a dilemma on federal education policy: Should it focus on the party’s federalist principles and push for a limited federal role in the nation’s schools, or use Washington’s authority to empower parents and shake up the system?
Behind in the ninth inning, Duncan digs in again
Any baseball team finding itself down 3-0 in a seven-game series points to the 2004 Boston Red Sox. Despite the longest of odds—they hadn’t won a World Series in eighty-six years!
Addressing the underperformance of Ohio’s online charter schools
Jamie Davies O'LearyHow Ohio currently regulates online schools and how it can do better