Jeanne makes it manifest
Chester E. Finn, Jr.It isn't perfect, but Jeanne Allen's new education reform "manifesto" makes a number of valuable points and powerful suggestions for the future.
Fordham Institute media statement on today's virtual school quality report release
Ohio Education GadflyToday, a consortium of charter school supporters released a new report containing solid, commonsense policy recommendations aimed at improving virtual schools. This report comes on the heels of national research studies that have documented the dismal performance of virtual schools across the country.
Life lessons from a grandfather's wisdom
During my first year at the University of South Carolina, I often purchased a morning cup of coffee in the university’s student union. Early one morning, I spotted a young man dressed in a business suit and bow tie carrying on an animated conversation with a group of undergraduates.
Charter school restarts get a set of online resources
Kathryn MullenBy Kathryn Mullen Upton
Charter Icahnoclast
Kevin MahnkenWe here at Fordham are really jazzed about the potential of high-quality career and technical education (CTE).
Market malfunctions in the charter sector
Chester E. Finn, Jr., Brandon L. WrightBy Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Brandon L. Wright
Standard deviations: Creative writers take standardized writing tests?
Students at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology produce the highest SAT and ACT scores in the nation. All of the students take at least one Advanced Placement exam, with 97 percent of them scoring well enough to receive college credit. But those high scores don’t come without intellectual cost.
We need to take a closer look at charter school graduation rates
A high school diploma is a critical marker in the transition to adulthood that affects labor participation, social mobility, and opportunities for success. The good news is that high school graduation rates reached an all-time high of 82 percent in spring 2014. The overall graduation rate for charter public schools, however, fell short of that number by ten points.
Auditor Yost visits high-performing United Preparatory Academy
Jamie Davies O'LearyA first-hand look at another high-performing charter school
Charter school pluralism: "No-excuses" and beyond
Chester E. Finn, Jr., Brandon L. WrightThis is the third in a series of essays marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of America’s first charter school law.
Social justice, education reform, and how this whole Left-Right feud is missing the point
Derrell BradfordBy Derrell Bradford
Gary Johnson quotes about education
Brandon L. WrightGary Johnson, the former two-term governor of New Mexico, is the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee.
The importance of parent intuition and observation in recognizing highly creative children
In my work with hundreds of families, I have observed one common truth: Parents are the experts on their own children, especially when it comes to giftedness. Parents often observe certain characteristics in their children and view them as positive traits—until those same characteristics are regarded negatively in school.
The Left may have the louder voice in school reform, but conservatives shouldn't despair
By Terry Ryan
Fordham Institute media response to Know Your Charter’s review of Ohio CSP grants
Chad L. AldisLike much of Know Your Charter’s (KYC) charter school coverage, today’s report, “Belly Up: A Review of Federal Charter School Program Grants,” intentionally inflates the failures of Ohio’s charter sector, makes misleading performance comparisons, and falls short
The Chewbacca Mom edition
On this week’s podcast, Robert Pondiscio and Alyssa Schwenk look at the radical Left’s attempted takeover of education reform, Common Core’s impact on the achievement gap, and the difficulty in measuring charter school quality. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines whether a teaching exam predicts educator effectiveness.
School failure in Milwaukee's school voucher program
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.By Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
The importance of robust state gifted policies
If you had a magic wand and could change one thing to ensure the availability of great gifted education services for students in your community, what would it be? A state mandate? More funding? A wide array of service requirements based on what we know about giftedness and best practices for promoting the development of high-ability learners?
Introduction to Fordham Ohio's latest report: Pathway to Success
Jamie Davies O'LearyFirst in a series of charter school student success stories from across Ohio
Why it's hard to grasp charter school effectiveness
Chester E. Finn, Jr., Brandon L. WrightThis is the second in a series of essays marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of America’s first charter school law. These commentaries are informed and inspired by our forthcoming book (co-authored with Bruno V.
Ohio’s all-star schools serve students who are poor, wealthy, and somewhere in between
Jamie Davies O'LearyStudent growth is a vitally important measure for all schools
Kudos to Columbus Collegiate
Kevin MahnkenAt the same time we wrapped up our Wonkathon on parental choice under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Washington Post’s Jay Mathews published a column on the new law’s implications for s
The effects of private school vouchers across the globe
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.By Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
Pursuing innovation: How can educational choice transform K-12 education in the U.S.?
Sarah SoudersAn overview of recent research
When it comes to choice, small grants can make a big difference
Editor's note: This is the final post in Fordham's 2016 Wonkathon. We've asked assorted education policy experts to answer this question: What are the "sleeper provisions" of ESSA that might encourage the further expansion of parental choice, at least if advocates seize the opportunity?