Hidden gems: America's exam schools
Expanding exam schools would be an extremely wise national investment—a way to provide a world-class public education to high-performing students
Expanding exam schools would be an extremely wise national investment—a way to provide a world-class public education to high-performing students
Keeping mixed schools mixed
Investigation of whether or not demographic changes in communities are leading to demographic changes in their schools
Going after governance
Mike Petrilli's highly-anticipated book, the Diverse Schools Dilemma, drops today
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute's recent study of teacher-union strength is an example of the institute's willingness to "get into the weeds" of standards
A review of education-related responses to Tuesday's election
The results are in and our non-partisan candidate, Ed Reform, had a mixed performance. Here's a look at how the seven key races and referenda turned out
Seven education races and referenda to watch tonight
What the Common Core may mean for accountability
100 books every child should encounter by age five.
Lots of parents favor sending their sons and daughters to diverse schools with children from a variety of racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. But can such schools successfully meet the educational needs of all those different kids? How do middle class children fare in these environments? Is there enough challenge and stimulation in schools that also struggle to help poor and immigrant children reach basic standards? Is there too much focus on test scores? And why is it so hard to find diverse public schools with a progressive, child-centered approach to education? These quandaries and more are addressed in this groundbreaking book by Michael J. Petrilli.
Keeping ethics and results aligned
Let there be controversy
Education budgets are tight and state and district leaders must make tough decisions about where to save. But is the public willing to accept cuts? If so, where? According to the results of this new survey, many Americans are open—selectively open—to dramatic changes in how school districts do business.
“Customization” isn’t just for urban hipsters
The premise that charter management organizations can—or should—be effective advocacy vehicles rests on assumptions of questionable validity.
If at first you don't succeed...
Education’s mini mills
No single public school is expected to serve students with every single type of disability. Except, apparently, public charter schools.
Success requires failure
Why not try strapping Title I dollars to the backs of needy kids and letting them take it to the schools of their choice?
Mike analyzes Governor Romney's education proposal on WSJ.com.
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English language arts and mathematics represent a sea change in standards-based reform and their implementation is the movement’s next—and greatest—challenge. Yet, while most states have now set forth implementation plans, these tomes seldom address the crucial matter of cost. This report estimates the implementation cost for each of the forty-five states (and the District of Columbia) that have adopted the Common Core State Standards and shows that costs naturally depend on how states approach implementation.
Program design matters
On integration and differentiation
Terry Ryan's writes today that Fordham would be willing to lead the way in going through a vetting process led by the Transformation Alliance in Cleveland.