Commentary
Accountability & Testing
A test of education reform
The testing “opt-out” movement is testing education reform’s humility.
Commentary
Standards, Accountability & Testing
Getting College and Career Ready During State Transition Toward the Common Core State Standards
Promising early signs that the standards are working. Jane Song
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
Wanna opt out of tests? Try this instead
Parents should use the threat of test refusal to demand a well-rounded education for their kids.
Commentary
Accountability & Testing, Standards
Review: Brookings analyzes opt-outs and teacher evaluations
What is the critical mass of opt-outs and to what might it lead?
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
Opting out, race, and reform
Arne Duncan was half right about those “white suburban moms.” Robert Pondiscio
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction, Standards, Accountability & Testing
Ten arguments against Common Core presidential hopefuls should avoid
An open letter to the candidates. Tim Shanahan
Commentary
Accountability & Testing, Charter Schools
Bless the tests: Three reasons for standardized testing
It takes more than a "gut feeling" to know how a school is doing
Commentary
Accountability & Testing, Charter Schools
Using equity reports to drive school improvement in D.C.
When we talk about high standards, accountability, and school choice, one essential element is often overlooked: giving parents and education leaders information they can actually use. It’s one thing to produce data, but quite another to make it useful—easily understood, comparable, and actionable.
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
The state-led ESEA compromise
A few weeks ago, I used a graphic to show the four dimensions of federal accountability, each of which has a range of options. I then used this graphic to show the consensus for preserving NCLB testing.
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
ESEA testing proposals in one picture
A couple weeks ago, I created a graphic to help explain the contours of the debate about federal accountability in the ESEA reauthorization process.
Commentary
Commentary
Charter Schools, Accountability & Testing
Comparing Student Attrition Rates at Charter Schools and Nearby Traditional Public Schools
Busting myths, but not much to cheer about
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
NCLB accountability is dead; long live ESEA testing
It’s fascinating—and telling—how rapidly the zillion issues tucked away in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act have been distilled down to arguments about testing.
Commentary
Accountability & Testing, Charter Schools
Stump speech challenge: A New Deal on testing
All the pro-testing talking points you’ll ever need. Robert Pondiscio
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
Stump speech contest: What members of Congress should say about testing
The word around town is that support for annual testing among rank-and-file members of Congress—in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle—is dangerously low. They are constantly hearing complaints from their constituents about the overuse and abuse of standardized tests, and many are eager to do something about it.
Commentary
ESSA
ESEA update: More red than green in Lamar Alexander's reauthorization bill
Last week, I explained the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (a.k.a. No Child Left Behind) in a single table:
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
Ten things to know about Secretary Duncan's ESEA reauthorization speech
As I wrote last week, with the ESEA reauthorization process heating up, lots of advocates are now trying to influence the congressional deliberations. Secretary Duncan weighed in this morning.
Commentary
ESSA
ESEA reauthorization explained in a single table
ESEA reauthorization explained in a single table
Commentary
Standards, Accountability & Testing
What the Dickens! 2014 in Education Reform
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Michelle Lerner, Robert Pondiscio, and Alyssa Schwenk
Commentary
Standards, Accountability & Testing, Curriculum & Instruction
The reading paradox: How standards mislead teachers
You can’t teach reading the way you teach other subjects. Kathleen Porter-Magee
Commentary
Standards, Accountability & Testing
A five-point plan to resuscitate Catholic schools
Opportunities abound if only Catholic schools will seize them. by Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
Fordham Institute to evaluate Common Core assessments on quality and content alignment
Fordham Institute to evaluate Common Core assessments on quality and content alignmentPARCC, Smarter Balanced, ACT Aspire, and Massachusetts participating in landmark studyMedia Contact:Michelle [email protected]
Commentary
Charter Schools, Standards, Accountability & Testing
(What) Do Americans really think about education?
Joe Sixpack: You’re not paying attention. And much of what you think you know is wrong. Morgan Polikoff
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
Ten things to know about the CCSSO-CGCS testing plan
On Wednesday, CCSSO (the organization of state superintendents) joined with CGCS (the organization of big urban school districts) to announce joint plans to reassess and scale back testing programs.
Commentary
Accountability & Testing, Curriculum & Instruction, Standards
Let's tell the truth: High-stakes tests damage reading instruction
Accountability works. But not in reading, which isn’t a subject or a skill. Robert Pondiscio
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
In defense of annual testing
Testing works. Federal intrusiveness and poorly designed interventions are the real problem. Andy Smarick
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
The new Education Trust report: The triumph of hope over experience
The Education Trust has a proud and distinguished history. When the group got its start in the mid-1990s, achievement for poor and minority children was lagging, and the education policy community largely ignored their needs. Ed Trust changed all that with a single-minded focus on equity, hitched to the relatively new notion of school-level accountability.
Commentary
Accountability & Testing, Standards, Charter Schools
Time for a Reboot
Ed reform is dead. Long live ed reform. Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Commentary
Standards, Accountability & Testing
A new start on accountability
Every child should be in a school where he or she can learn effectively. That’s not a controversial goal in itself, but the methods meant to accomplish it can become hot buttons.
Commentary
Standards, Accountability & Testing
Embrace the Common Core
On September 9th, the Fordham Institute’s Mike Petrilli participated in an Intelligence Squared U.S. debate on the Common Core. These are his opening comments, as prepared for delivery.
