A new AEI report raises the right questions—and promulgates some of the wrong answers. Kathryn Mullen Upton
Advocates hoped Common Core would incentivize good new curriculum. It’s happening. Kathleen Porter-Magee and Victoria Sears
Editor's note: This post has been updated to include the entirety of "Knowledge is literacy."
Last week, Fordham hosted Robert Putnam for a discussion of his new book Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, which argues that a growing opportunity gap is leaving many American children behind.
Editor's note: This post originally appeared in a slightly different form at U.S. News & World Report.I wanted to hate this book.
Call it mastery or competency-based education, it holds promise for students of all abilities
Was Phil Jackson really a great coach? Despite his reputation as the Zen master of hoops, I’ve never been convinced. After all, Kobe, Shaq, and His Airness would have made any coach look like a genius, and there’s never been a natural experiment quantifying Jackson’s impact.
Editor's note: This post has been updated with the full text of "Don't know much about history."
An open letter to the candidates. Tim Shanahan
This post has been updated with the full text of "Shifting from learning to read to reading to learn."
A great resource fact-checks textbooks’ “Common Core-aligned” claims. Victoria Sears
Just when you thought we’d run out of things to blame on the standards. Kathleen Porter-Magee
Both teacher and student characteristics ought to influence instructional design. Megan Lail
I’d like to see Bobby Jindal use a teleprompter the next time he attacks Common Core. I’d like to be reassured he knows how to read.
Character education with real characters. Peter Sipe
While the merit and politics of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have been much debated and discussed, one topic has been virtually ignored: What do the standards portend for America’s high-ability students? In a new brief from Fordham, Jonathan Plucker, professor of education at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, provides guidance for districts
We at Fordham are big fans of Jason Riley, a Wall Street Journal columnist who just joined the team at the Manhattan Institute.
There’s no such thing as too much, too soon in reading. Robert Pondiscio
Revisiting the Common Core debate in Ohio
It’s the Holy Grail! If only we could figure out what it is. David Griffith
At Inside Schools, a website for parents covering New York City schools, reporter
Editor's note: This post originally appeared in a slightly different form in the Daily News and City Journal.
Some of ed reform’s leading lights finally see that what kids learn makes a difference. Robert Pondiscio
Previously, I posted about the perils of applying standards-driven instruction to reading classrooms.
Just in time for Christmas, my Fordham colleague Mike Petrilli has left a present under the tree for inquisitive children and busy parents who don’t think the sky will fall if the kids get a little screen time now and again (it won’t).
Editor's note: This post originally appeared in slightly different form on the Commentary website.
College isn’t the only springboard to the middle class. Michael J. Petrilli
Good morning. It’s wonderful to see so many friends and colleagues here today. My name is Michael Petrilli, and in August I took over as the president of the Thomas B.
You can’t teach reading the way you teach other subjects. Kathleen Porter-Magee
A college-track student looks back with envy at career-track schooling. Emily Hanford
