'Public' schools in name only
Michael J. PetrilliA new report from Fordham today, authored by yours truly and our research assistant Janie Scull, identifies some
Did YOU attend a "private public school"?
Michael J. PetrilliOur new report, America's Private Public Schools (described below), is meant to pierce the tired rhetoric used by so many defenders of the status quo in education.
Can failing schools be turned around or is it better to close them?
Watch our debate on school turnarounds vs. closures, and don't miss insightful and provocative comments from the panelists, including this one from Andres Alonso, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools:
Messy democracy
Stafford PalmieriThat's certainly what the LAUSD vote on which of 30 schools to hand over to outside operators sounds like.
Another gold star for NYC charters
Stafford PalmieriThe now famous (or infamous) CREDO charter study from last June generated a ton of hype. (See our analysis here.) The results were largely mixed, seemly putting numbers behind the assertion that putting "charter" in front of (or after) a school name does not guarantee success.
U.S. News rankings out today
Stafford PalmieriThe annual U.S. News and World Report high school rankings have been released. Thomas Jefferson HS in Alexandria, VA takes number 1 (again).
Strong charter school demand in Texas
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Anybody who thinks charter schools are plateauing or reaching some sort of natural limit had better think again.??The Texas Public Policy Foundation has just released the number of young Texans who were on waiting lists for charter schools in that state during the last scho
Seeking Quality in the Face of Adversity: 2008-09 Fordham Sponsorship Accountability Report
Kathryn MullenAs a charter school sponsor (authorizer), Fordham submits an accountability report to the Ohio Department of Education at the end of November each year. The report includes profiles of each Fordham-sponsored school, as well as graphics comparing the achievement data of our schools, their home districts, and statewide averages. You'll also find pertinent information on Ohio charter school spending over the last decade, and in the introduction, a timely analysis of the political and legislative environment impacting Ohio charters in 2008-09 that explains why the title, "Seeking Quality in the Face of Adversity," is befitting.
Stars by Which to Navigate? Scanning National and International Education Standards in 2009
Sheila Byrd Carmichael, W. Stephen Wilson, Chester E. Finn, Jr., Stafford Palmieri, Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.Expert reviewers appraise the Common Core drafts -- which outline college and career readiness standards in reading, writing, speaking and listening, and in math -- and also evaluate the reading/writing and math frameworks that undergird the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Programme for International Student Achievement (PISA). How strong are these well-known models?
Michael Gove: Attempting a revolution
Stafford PalmieriWe commented on the new British Tory plan for education in last week's Gadfly.
More on Caroline Hoxby and New York charter schools
Eric OsbergToday's Education Gadfly and Wall Street Journal editorial both capture the most important news about Caroline Hoxby's
From Schoolhouse to Courthouse
From Schoolhouse to Courthouse: The Judiciary's Role in American Education examines the role of the courts in modern American K-12 education. From race to speech, from religion to school funding, few aspects of education policy have escaped the courtroom. In this book, experts describe just what the impact of judicial involvement has been. Published jointly by Fordham and Brookings Institution Press.
RSD for a few more years, at least
Stafford PalmieriState Superintendent of??Louisiana??Paul Pastorek says the state will retain control of RSD for at least a few more years--and maybe forever. In a recent poll conducted in New Orleans, schools were found to be the number one improvement area in a pre- and post- Katrina comparison.
Recognizing Agassi
Stafford PalmieriThe U.S. Open starts on Monday and the opening ceremony will have a special guest: Andre Agassi.
RE: Majority of Americans misinformed about charters
Stafford PalmieriI'm just as outraged as Jamie about the general American populace's ignorance about charters... but I can't say I'm surprised. Take for example this survey of federal spending from the U.S. Census Bureau.
International Lessons about National Standards
Sharif Shakrani, Richard Houang, William H. SchmidtWhether the United States should embrace national standards and tests is perhaps today's hottest education issue. For guidance in addressing it, this report looks beyond our borders. How have other countries navigated these turbid waters? What can we learn from them? Expert analysts examined national standards and testing in Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore and South Korea.
Tautological thinking from WV
The following is a guest post from Fordham Staff Assistant Mickey Muldoon.
D.C. enrollment drops, again
Stafford PalmieriYesterday was the first day of school in our nation's capital and only 37,000 students showed up for the big day.
The Great Graduation-Rate Debate
This paper aims to promote a clearer understanding of the graduation-rate debate by distilling the policy developments and controversy surrounding the measurement of these rate. Why are there so many different ways to calculate graduation rates? How do these different rates account for the multiple pathways to graduation? What are the data sources used in the various dropout-rate calculations, and what are their pros and cons?
Not mincing words
Emmy L. PartinAfter his second attempt to dismantle the state's charter school program was thwarted, Ohio Governor Ted S
Increasing Charter Accountability in the Wild, Wild Midwest
Terry RyanOhio's charter school program dodged a bullet this recent budget cycle (here).
Speakers announced for Fordham's forum on the future of school choice
Join us Wednesday, August 19, for a panel discussion on how the changing education policy landscape is affecting both charter schools and voucher programs. The Obama administration is aggressively pushing to expand the number of charter schools available to American families.
Today's 'Quotable and Notable'
Quotable "Sometimes I think, 'What if I'm sitting at the same desk she sat in?'" --Branaijah Melvin, 11-year-old student at Blessed Sacrament, Judge Sonia Sotomayor's K-8 school
DC voucher program saga turns into DC rights issue
Stafford PalmieriAs Andy reported last Friday, the DC Council has sent a letter to Secretary Duncan urging him to reconsider the fate of the DC Opportunity Scholarship program.
School reform and the growing disconnect between DC and the states
Terry RyanThe Fordham Institute is unique in the school reform sector in that we have offices in both Washington, DC and Ohio
Howard Fuller's straight talk
Stafford PalmieriFeeling blue about school reform? This riveting no-nonsense address by Howard Fuller at last week's National Charter School Conference will relieve your doldrums.
The Hassels: Don't turn our backs on turnarounds yet
This post, written by Bryan C. Hassel and Emily Ayscue Hassel of Public Impact, is a response to Andy Smarick's June 25 post about turnarounds.