State ESSA plans embrace CTE, but there's still much work to be done
By Kate Kreamer and Ryan Reyna
State policymaking in the ESSA era
On this week's podcast, special guest Chris Minnich, who is stepping down after five years at the helm of the Council of Chief State School Officers, joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss the future of state education policymaking in the ESSA era. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern highlights the best research studies of 2017.
Are states' ESSA plans naughty or nice?
On this week’s podcast, special guest Chad Aldeman, a principal at Bellwether Education Partners, joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to compare Fordham’s ESSA review to that of Bellwether and the Collaborative for Student Success. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines educators’ political persuasions and their potential effects on classrooms.
National experts agree that Ohio’s school accountability system is too complicated
Aaron ChurchillLast week, Bellwether Education Partners (in partnership with the Collaborative for Student Success) released its review of Ohio’s plan to comply with the federal law known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
First-person perspective: Personalized learning is real—and it works
Jeff MurrayIn a recent blog post, University of Virginia cognitive scientist Dan Willingham posits three possible types of personalization in personalized learning—children learning at their own speed, pedagogical tailoring, and individualized content.
Three cheers for charter leaders of color
On this week's podcast, special guest Kim Smith—CEO of the National Charter Collaborative—joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss single-site charter school leaders of color. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines Raj Chetty’s new “Lost Einsteins” study, which finds that smart low-income kids are much less likely than their affluent peers to grow up to become inventors.
A deeper look at parent power
Jamie Davies O'LearyThe annual “parent power index” published by the Center for Education Reform raises worthy questions—how much power is afforded to parents, and what can they do to acquire more?
The charter schools popularity contest
On this week's podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright discuss why charters enjoy more support in some states than in others. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the impact of administrator and parent support on teacher retention.
Do ESSA plans deserve our thanks?
On this week's podcast, special guest Marc Porter Magee—founder and CEO of 50CAN—joins Mike Petrilli and Brandon Wright to discuss states’ accountability plans under ESSA. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines an international meta-analysis of how technology is affecting academic outcomes.
High achievers will benefit from most state ESSA accountability plans
Brandon L. WrightBy Brandon L. Wright
You’re invited to a discussion of school choice and collaborative solutions for education success
Ohio Education GadflyFor too long, the topic of school choice in Ohio has been divisive and polarizing. You are invited to attend a thoughtful and substantive discussion of school choice with experienced leaders from across the state. This effort to find common ground and collaborative solutions in support of students promises to be a great evening. We hope you can attend.
Ohio’s latest charter sponsor ratings are out: What do the numbers mean?
Jamie Davies O'LearyYesterday, the Ohio Department of Education released the second round of charter sponsor (a.k.a. authorizer) ratings.
Good news for students and federalism: Most states step up on accountability under ESSA
Brandon L. Wright, Michael J. PetrilliBy Brandon L. Wright and Michael J. Petrilli
What CER’s parent power report card gets wrong about Ohio
Jamie Davies O'LearySince 2012, the Center for Education Reform (CER) has released an annual “parent power index,”—a scorecard for states as well as an interactive tool for parents “to discover whether their state affords them power ov
Rating the Ratings: An Analysis of the 51 ESSA Accountability Plans
Brandon L. Wright, Michael J. PetrilliThe Every Student Succeeds Act grants states more authority over their accountability systems than did No Child Left Behind, but have they seized the opportunity to develop school ratings that are clearer and fairer than those in the past?
Reputation or data: One parent's effort to identify "good" schools
Jeff MurrayFor the first time in their lives, my twin daughters are attending separate schools. It was a hard decision made after a lot of research and soul searching. My wife and I think both schools are good ones, but I’d be lying if I said I was 100 percent confident.
Cheer up, education reformers
On this week's podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright discuss education reform’s surprisingly good year. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines a rigorous new study of career and technical education and its relationship to higher graduation rates.
Ohio charter critics now stealing metaphors from horror genre
Jamie Davies O'LearyHas William Phillis, head of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding and long-standing charter critic, been watching too many horror films this month?
Reinventing Andy Smarick
On this week's podcast, special guest Andy Smarick, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Mike Petrilli and Brandon Wright to discuss his review of David Osborne’s new book, Reinventing America’s Schools. During the Research Minute, David Griffith examines how heightened parent expectations affect Chinese students born during the Year of the Dragon.
You’re invited to an important hands-on workshop: Closing the achievement gap for economically-disadvantaged students
Ohio Education GadflyThe teachers and administrators at Columbus Collegiate Academy-Main Street have a strong track record of supporting their students in closing the achievement gap and putting them on a college prep path.
Rising star
NOTES: The Thomas B. Fordham Institute occasionally publishes guest commentaries on its blogs. The views expressed by guest authors do not necessarily reflect those of Fordham.
Schools were made to help students, not the other way around
Jamie Davies O'LearyIt’s frustrating feeling like a broken record, but Stephen Dyer’s comparisons between school districts and charter schools can’t go uncontested.
The state of early childhood education
On this week's podcast, special guest Sara Mead, a partner at Bellwether Education, joins Alyssa Schwenk and Brandon Wright to discuss the past, present, and future of early childhood education. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the positive effects of education reform in Newark, New Jersey.
Compassion and academic rigor not mutually exclusive for kids in poverty
Jamie Davies O'LearyI recently visited United Preparatory Academy (UPrep). It’s a charter school serving students in grades K-4 (growing to grade five) located in Franklinton—one of Columbus’s poorest neighborhoods, where the median household income is thirty percent lower than the city-wide average.
Calling all aspiring filmmakers: How has school choice made a difference in your life?
Ohio Education GadflySchool choice is becoming more and more common across the country, creating more and more stories of student and family success. The Foundation for Excellence in Education wants to hear as many success stories as possible and has launched a contest to find them.
Thoughts on educational privilege from a middle-class parent
Jamie Davies O'LearyWhen it comes to gauging the performance of Ohio’s public charter schools, unfair comparisons and generalizations are all too common.
Equal access? Analyzing charter location relative to demographics in Ohio
Jessica PoinerBy expanding access to options including charters, choice advocates hope that more students will reap the benefits of attending high-performing schools. But do all families have charter options in their area?
Benefits of open enrollment from an Ohio superintendent's perspective
NOTE: The Thomas B. Fordham Institute occasionally publishes guest commentaries on its blogs. The views expressed by guest authors do not necessarily reflect those of Fordham.
The thing about school closures
On this week's podcast, special guest Scott Pearson, executive director of the DC Public Charter School Board, joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss the pros, cons, and challenges of closing low-performing schools. During the Research Minute, David Griffith explores why unionized charter schools in California perform better.