Charter Schools

Catholic schools are back

Finally, some cause for optimism. Andy Smarick

Examining district-charter collaboration grant implementation with interviews and site visits

The goals of specific collaboration activities are too often fuzzy. David Griffith

Charter schools' effect on property values

Do zone-based priority admissions to charter schools affect home purchases? Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.

The missing young men in most of Washington's top high schools

One of the biggest debates raging in education policy today is whether schools of choice are serving their fair share of the hardest-to-educate students or abandoning them to traditional public schools.

The prison-to-school pipeline

An awkward name for a great idea; Dan Willingham on teacher training; and an education idea so good it needs to bust out of jail.

How "no-excuses" charter schools affect academic achievement

High-performing charters earn the approval of policy commentators and researchers alike. Kevin Mahnken

Exploring the supply side of charter school openings

Surprisingly, parent dissatisfaction with neighborhood schools doesn’t contribute to charter school location. Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.

A court decision only the Kremlin could love

The Washington State Supreme Court clung to antiquated ideas at the expense of our most vulnerable kids. Robin J. Lake

New Orleans: A success story? Yes. A national model? Maybe not.

The charter sector’s reach should not exceed its grasp. Robert Pondiscio

On charter backfill debate, I'm with #TeamPaul

In the CRPE debate between Paul Hill and Robin Lake on the issue of charter back-fill, Paul's right. Robin, as always, makes excellent points and raises legitimate concerns.

Tales from the rubber room

New Orleans’s schools ten years after Katrina, a new low for NYC’s infamous rubber rooms, and an education hunger strike.

Education on the campaign trail

Six themes for 2016, and the candidates most likely to embrace them. Robert Pondiscio

Candidates ponder presidential role in U.S. education

Assessing my NOLA advice eight years later

Eight years ago, I offered my first public commentary about New Orleans’s post-Katrina reform strategy. In the spirit of personal accountability, I’m putting those words to the test, and I’ve asked six very smart, tough graders to check my work.

Measuring diversity in charter school offerings

Diversity is important, but school quality ought to come first. Robert Pondiscio

Pedal to the metal: An overview of the Cincinnati school accelerator

Increasing quality seats for Queen City students

An appreciation of Building Excellent Schools

Teaching success, one school leader at a time

Using schools and clinics as hubs to create healthy communities

The example of a D.C. partnership that shows promise but needs more data. Clara Allen

What types of buildings do charters call home?

Catch as catch can

Ed reform irony from atop the tower

The Education Gadfly

The resurgence of urban Catholic education?

For years, I worried that I was auditioning to be the Edward Gibbon of urban Catholic schooling, chronicling the decline and fall of an invaluable, sprawling institution.

Partnership schools: The hundred-year-old start-ups

Let’s not break those things about Catholic schools that make them effective. Kathleen Porter Magee

The 2015 Ohio charter legislation roundup: so far, it’s all about the numbers

Charter reform in the state budget

A hopeful trend in charter school teacher turnover

The Education Gadfly

The case for career-focused charter schools

A great way to get kids knowledge, skills, credentials, and work experience. Robert Schwartz

Charters should offer pre-K…but can they?

As my colleague Sara Mead has written, we recently completed an analysis of state policies that affect charter/pre-K collaboration. In the analys

Clear and compelling goals could stimulate pre-K charter collaboration

Sara Mead and Ashley LiBetti Mitchel have done a great public service by providing a detailed study of how the early care and K–12 education policy landscape creates barriers to collaboration. It is good to see the Thomas B. Fordham Institute focusing its considerable knowledge and prestige on thinking about this opportunity.

Why should charter schools offer pre-K?

Last week, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute released a new report authored by my colleague Ashley LiBetti Mitchel and me on charter schools and pre-K.

Senator Tim Scott’s impassioned speech on school choice

Editor’s note: Last week, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) sponsored an amendment that would have allowed Title I dollars to follow low-income children to the schools of their choice. It failed, 45–51.

Lessons from four years as superintendent of Tennessee’s Achievement School District

Editor’s note: Chris Barbic announced today his decision to step down as the head of Tennessee’s Achievement School District, a position he has held since 2011.