The five themes of ESSA coverage
I re-read about fifty major articles, blog posts, and other missives about ESSA over the break, since this written record will serve as the foundation for years of commentary and analysis. Below are the five major themes that jumped out (along with gobs of the supporting links).1. The diminished role of Uncle Sam in schools
Accountability under ESSA: Announcing a design competition
Michael J. PetrilliAs everyone knows, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)—the long-overdue reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act—was approved by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate and signed into law by the president in December.
Advanced civics for U.S. history teachers
Robert PondiscioThe importance of making history an academic priority once again. By Robert Pondisico
Education posts I wish I'd written this year
Robert PondiscioThe best compliment I can pay a fellow education blogger is to confess professional jealousy. By Robert Pondiscio
How to solve Scalia's race problem
Brandon L. Wright, Chester E. Finn, Jr.There is a fast track in American education. And we’re getting far too few African American students onto it. By Brandon L. Wright and Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Governor Cuomo's task force looks to bury higher standards
Robert PondiscioSome say the world will end in fire. Some say in ice. But if you’re pressed for time and want to end all intelligent life quickly, nothing beats a task force.
What I saw at Success Academies
On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of visiting Success Academy Harlem 1 and hearing from Eva Moskowitz and the SA staff about their model. I’m not going to venture into the thorny stuff about SA here. What I will say is that their results on state tests are clearly impressive, and I doubt that they’re fully (or even largely) explained by the practices that cause controversy.
The effect of public and private schooling on anti-Semitism
Kevin MahnkenAttending a religious school might reduce bigotry. Kevin Mahnken
If you build it, they will come
The Education GadflyThe creation of Brooklyn Ascend charter school, textbooks in Texas, and substitute teachers in impoverished schools.
How five states are boosting college readiness in twelfth grade
As states have implemented college and career readiness standards, it has sometimes been assumed that most of the work and attention has occurred at the elementary grades. In truth, many states have been working for some time to ensure that grade twelve prepares all students for post-secondary success.
States v. districts in the Every Student Succeeds Act
The dominant narrative about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is that it shifts authority over schools back to state governments. But this belies a key feature of the legislation.
Parents: Children's first math teachers
We’ve seen a lot of hand wringing over math achievement in this country. Our students continue to underperform against their peers in other countries, lighting a fire under educators and politicians to push new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programming in schools. While these panicked efforts have admirable intentions, they are mostly barking up the wrong tree.
ESEA and the return of a well-rounded curriculum
Robert PondiscioUndoing damage inflicted by the blunt axe of test-driven accountability. Robert Pondiscio
Accountability and the Every Student Succeeds Act
Earlier this year, when it looked like ESEA finally had a chance of being reauthorized, I came up with a graphic for assessing the accountability provisions of the various proposals.
The new ESEA will help America's high achievers, but only if states rise to the challenge
Brandon L. WrightThe ESEA reauthorization conferees delivered some good news for America’s high-achieving students last week.
Do "Response to Intervention" practices work for elementary school reading?
Kevin MahnkenA new study suggests that they don’t. But mind the details. Kevin Mahnken
The condition of STEM 2015
Robert PondiscioSTEM interest doesn’t necessarily translate into STEM aptitude. Robert Pondiscio
The new ESEA, in a single table
Michael J. PetrilliThe action is moving to the state level. It’s about time. Michael J. Petrilli
Fordham's Mike Petrilli and Checker Finn on the ESEA compromise
Michael J. Petrilli, Chester E. Finn, Jr.Editor's note: Politics K-12 reports that House and Senate negotiators have reached a preliminary compromise on reauthorization of No Child Left Behind.
Scaling up the "Success for All" model of school reform
Robert PondiscioAn affordable model that helps students who are already behind become better readers. Robert Pondiscio
Don't mess with NAEP now!
Chester E. Finn, Jr.Remember that past changes were controversial and probably unwise. Do not stir this pot again now. Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Aligning K-12 and postsecondary career pathways with workforce needs
Stephan ShehyState efforts are uneven, but some are on the right track. Stephan Shehy
Doing the right thing
The Education GadflyPell grants for dual college enrollment and Nevada’s early returns on education savings accounts.
The problem isn't testing, it's short-term thinking
David GriffithLast week, in the wake of President Obama’s pledge to reduce the amount of time students spend taking tests, my colleagues Robert Pondiscio and Michael Petrilli weighed in with dueling stances on the current state of testing and accountability in America’s schools. Both made valid points, but neither got it exactly right, so let me add a few points to the conversation.
Pell grants should go (only) to needy students who are ready for college
Chester E. Finn, Jr.What if federal aid for college students were focused exclusively on those who are truly ready for college? What if we stopped subsidizing remedial courses on campuses and insisted that students pursuing higher learning be prepared for college-level courses (none too strenuous nowadays in many places)?
President Obama's meaningless pledge to reduce school tests
Robert PondiscioThe time spent testing isn’t the issue; the problem is the sky-high stakes attached. Robert Pondiscio
The hidden value of curriculum reform
Robert PondiscioWhat’s it going to take to get curriculum taken seriously as a reform lever? Robert Pondiscio
Down and out in Jackson and Selma
The Education GadflyIs LAUSD railroading Rafe Esquith? Also: the value of lectures, and a sad tale of wasted promise.
America's abandoned smart kids
Chester E. Finn, Jr., Brandon L. WrightIntel cuts the cord on its Science Talent Search sponsorship and drives another nail into the coffin of U.S. gifted education. Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Brandon L. Wright