Commentary
How Well Are American Students Learning? Part II: Measuring Effects of the Common Core
Small but noticeable early-stage differences Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
Topics
Commentary
How Well Are American Students Learning? Part I: Girls, Boys, and Reading
In reading, Finland’s girls are the real superstars. Robert Pondiscio
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Charter Schools
Why school choice is the highest form of fairness
The impulse to protect kids from bad choices serves no one well. Matthew Levey
Commentary
College preparedness over the years, according to NAEP
The benefit of different post-diploma paths. Michael J. Petrilli and Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Commentary
Charter Schools
How Do School Leaders Respond to Competition? Evidence From New Orleans
Short review of new study on the effects of competition on schools
Commentary
Charter Schools
The rough balance serves students well
Andy Smarick is clearly disappointed with the
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction, Charter Schools
The promise of mastery grading
Call it mastery or competency-based education, it holds promise for students of all abilities
Commentary
Will we ban driverless cars?
Last year, Mike daydreamed of a future in which autonomous vehicles would shuttle his kids around the Beltway while he was freed to relax and tweet the extra hours away.
Commentary
Charter Schools
Choice, accountability, and charter performance
If you’re at all interested in school choice, you really should read a trio of recent reports.
Commentary
Real-world governance change
We need to take issue with a point in Andy Smarick’s thoughtful review, published in Flypaper, of our new book, A Democratic Constitution for Public Education.
Commentary
Charter Schools
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.
Commentary
The demise of college is greatly exaggerated
This post has been updated with the full text of "The demise of college is greatly exaggerated."
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Charter Schools
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.
Commentary
Charter Schools
Accountability in Private School Choice Programs
A good primer on programs in twenty-four locales. Jeff Murray
Commentary
Advanced Education
What Works in Gifted Education: Documenting the Effects of an Integrated Curricular/Instructional Model for Gifted Students
Another good idea limited by flawed assessments. Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
Commentary
Charter Schools
CREDO Urban Charter School Study Report on 41 Regions
Charter schools are making a difference. Robert Pondiscio
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
Opting out, race, and reform
Arne Duncan was half right about those “white suburban moms.” Robert Pondiscio
Commentary
Standards
Not meeting standards: A warning light, not a death sentence
Misunderstanding Common Core’s aspirational nature. Michael J. Petrilli
Commentary
Has Brookings lost its mind?
Unless Grover (Russ) Whitehurst was truly weary of leading the Brookings Institution’s widely respected Brown Center on Education Policy, only demented think-tank hierarchs would have let him exit that role.
Commentary
Charter Schools
New systems of schools and common enrollment
I didn’t see common enrollment systems coming.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Getting observations wrong: the Phil Jackson Fallacy
Was Phil Jackson really a great coach? Despite his reputation as the Zen master of hoops, I’ve never been convinced. After all, Kobe, Shaq, and His Airness would have made any coach look like a genius, and there’s never been a natural experiment quantifying Jackson’s impact.
Commentary
Impacts of the Teach for America Investing in Innovation Scale-Up
Outcomes of students with TFA-trained vs. traditionally-trained teachers
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Don't know much about history
Editor's note: This post has been updated with the full text of "Don't know much about history."
Commentary
Comparable but Unequal: School Funding Disparities
Looking at school costs through a cracked lens. Amber Northern
Commentary
Commentary
Inspiring Teaching: Preparing Teachers to Succeed in Mission-Driven Schools
A smart alternative to one-size-fits-all teacher prep. Dominique Coote
Commentary
Impacts of the Teach For America Investing in Innovation Scale-Up
New study meets old opinions about TFA. Robert Pondiscio
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction, Standards, Accountability & Testing
Ten arguments against Common Core presidential hopefuls should avoid
An open letter to the candidates. Tim Shanahan
Commentary
Accountability & Testing, Charter Schools
Bless the tests: Three reasons for standardized testing
It takes more than a "gut feeling" to know how a school is doing
Commentary
Charter Schools
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.
