Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Rethinking the high school graduation age
The “godfather of charter schooling” pushes us to reimagine adolescence. Kate Stringer
Curriculum & Instruction
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
The bright children left behind
We mustn’t let other countries surpass us in producing tomorrow’s inventors, entrepreneurs, artists, and scientists. Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Brandon L. Wright
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Early childhood interventions—a slow fade and a strong comeback?
When trying to improve educational outcomes, it is hard not to feel the need for urgency. We want to figure out what works now and implement changes immediately—because if we wait, kids who are in schools now will miss out.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
How test-based retention affects student outcomes
Mixed results, at least in the short term. Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
On Constitution Day, in search of the public mission of schools
When school boards describe their missions, they often overlook citizenship. Robert Pondiscio and Kate Stringer
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Teaching 9/11
The first few weeks of September make up a sweet spot between seasons, with summer's last days of warmth and play mingling with the beginning a new school year. All that beauty and excitement can make it easy to forget the significance of today's date: Fourteen years have passed since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Teaching religious literacy in American classrooms
In Faith Ed: Teaching About Religion in an Age of Intolerance, Linda K.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
"Hamilton" is a miracle of civics education
Today marks the first class in a yearlong seminar in civics and citizenship I teach at Democracy Prep Charter High School in Harlem. My goal is for students to see America as their own, a country worthy of their dreams and ambitions. I will assign readings and papers, lead discussions, and design tests. I should take them all to see Hamilton on Broadway as well.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Two routes to college readiness
Editor's note: This post originally appeared in a slightly different form at InsideSources.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
We need to know more about credit recovery
Editor's note: This post originally appeared in a slightly different form at U.S. News & World Report
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
We need to know more about credit recovery
Editor's note: This post originally appeared in a slightly different form at U.S. News & World Report
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
The myth of the overstressed American teen
Privileged outliers get media attention, while far greater numbers of kids live inactive and unchallenged lives. Robert Pondiscio
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
A pause in the history wars
The College Board listened—and set AP U.S. History right. Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Commentary
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
How districts and schools can make the most of course access
The potential for customization is no bull. Kevin Mahnken
Commentary
Charter Schools, Curriculum & Instruction
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.
Commentary
Charter Schools, Curriculum & Instruction
Partnership schools: The hundred-year-old start-ups
Let’s not break those things about Catholic schools that make them effective. Kathleen Porter Magee
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Career technical education and labor market outcomes
CTE works, but some programs are better than others. James White
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
The effectiveness of instructional practices for first-grade math
Step one: Teach the math. Step two: Have the students practice it. Step three: There is no step three. Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Creative schools
More of the same nonsense from TED talk superstar Sir Ken Robinson. Robert Pondiscio
Commentary
Charter Schools, Curriculum & Instruction
The case for career-focused charter schools
A great way to get kids knowledge, skills, credentials, and work experience. Robert Schwartz
Commentary
Commentary
Charter Schools, Curriculum & Instruction
Faith, hope, and hard work: Reflections on Year One of Partnership Schools
June marked the end of my first year as superintendent of Partnership Schools, a nonprofit school management organization that (thanks to an historic agreement with the Archdiocese of New York) was granted broad authority to manage and operate six K–8 urban Catholic schools.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Tapas-style curriculum
Editor's note: This post originally appeared in a slightly different form at the Core Knowledge Blog.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Want to change school names? Involve students in the decision
I taught fifth grade for many years at P.S. 277, in New York City’s South Bronx. But the school's full name was the Dr. Evelina Lopez-Antonetty Children's Literacy Center.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Building Literacy Skills: The state of reading instruction in grades K–3
It’s working! Evidence of positive changes in teaching practices under Common Core. Robert Pondiscio
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
A peek inside the classroom black box
District curriculum choices should be transparent—and making it so is easy. Robert Pondiscio
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Common Core's first breakout hit?
A free online curriculum taps a need—and a nerve.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Closing the Expectations Gap 2014
We’re doing an awful job of ensuring that kids graduate from high school with the skills to succeed. Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Truth and consequences
States shouldn’t sugarcoat the bad news when reporting Common Core test results to parents. Chester E. Finn, Jr.
