Commentary
First Bell 1-18-13
A first look at this morning's education news: NY's deadline to make a teacher-evaluation deal has come and gone, cash-strapped school districts struggle with school-security concerns, and more
Commentary
First Bell 1-17-13
A first look at this morning's education news: Pres Obama announces a slew of school-safety and mental-health programs, the school-bus strike in NYC disproportionately affected special-ed students, and more
Commentary
Commentary
Charter Schools, Curriculum & Instruction
The progressive view of school choice
Options for students, not parents
Commentary
First Bell 1-16-13
A first look at this morning's education news: Gov. Andrew Cuomo reveals his education agenda for New York, a study finds that the PISA test undervalued U.S. educational achievement, and more
Video
State of Education, State Policy Report Card 2013
StudentsFirst's much-awaited (and plenty contentious) 2013 State Policy Report Card awarded its highest rankings (B-minuses) to Louisiana and Florida; a dozen states earned an F. After California was flunked, chief deputy superintendent Richard Zeiger took his ire to the New York Times: “‘This group has focused on an extremely narrow, unproven method that they think will improve teaching—and we just flat-out disagree with them.’” This video's panel discussion digs into the new report card, the future of education reform, and how to bridge the divide between policy and practice.
Commentary
First Bell 1-15-13
A first look at this morning's education news: Arne Duncan to say on as Education Secretary, the New York Archdiocese to close many Catholic schools, and more
Commentary
The MET study: implications, winners, and losers
It’s hard to believe that it’s taken this long for our field to undertake a research project of this level of sophistication on arguably the most important and confounding aspect of K–12 practice and policy: educator effectiveness
Commentary
First Bell 1-14-13
A first look at this morning's education news: Critics of "gifted-and-talented" programs argue that they create racial "castes" in public schools, NYC school-bus drivers may go on strike as early as Tuesday, and more
Commentary
First Bell 1-11-13
A first look at this morning's education news: A panel worries that shutting down CPS high schools will put students in the path of gang violence, a study finds that poor and minority students are more likely to be taught by low-quality teachers, and more
Commentary
Commentary
First Bell 1-10-13
A first look at this morning's education news: The California teachers' pension fund began to divest itself of gun stocks, parents at a struggling elementary school in Atelando, California, are the first to successfully use the parent-trigger law, and more
Report
Governance
Education Governance for the Twenty-First Century: Overcoming the Structural Barriers to School Reform
America’s fragmented, decentralized, politicized, and bureaucratic system of education governance is a major impediment to school reform. In Education Governance for the Twenty-First Century: Overcoming the Structural Barriers to School Reform, a number of leading education scholars, analysts, and practitioners show that understanding the impact of specific policy changes in areas such as standards, testing, teachers, or school choice requires careful analysis of the broader governing arrangements that influence their content, implementation, and impact.
Commentary
Commentary
Commentary
Measures of Effective Teaching: Final Reports
The Gates Foundation found the secret sauce—or did it?
Commentary
Commentary
First Bell 1-9-13
A first look at this morning's education news: PBS Frontline profiles Michelle Rhee, CA superintendent wants to reduce testing, and more
Commentary
Charter Schools
Interesting tidbits
News pieces from over the weekend that piqued Andy Smarick's interest
Commentary
First Bell 1-8-13
A first look at this morning's education news: An advocacy group charged CPS with failing to provide disabled students with access to special-ed services, the second draft of the Next Generation Science Standards will be released this afternoon, and more
Commentary
Curriculum & Instruction
Children's museums and social-studies mush
The new National Children's Museum, like our kids' social-studies curriculum, doesn't teach much of anything
Commentary
First Bell 1-7-13
A first look at the education news from this weekend and this morning: StudentsFirst releases their 2013 State Policy Report Card, negotiations on NYC's teacher-evaluation negotiations are falling apart, and more
Commentary
Commentary
Race to the Top-District and the union juggernaut
When we take a closer look at the districts that opted to apply for RTTT-D grants, a picture of union influence emerges
Commentary
What’s right with Montgomery County
I profiled several dozen schools and school districts that were working for kids, and Montgomery County was not just one of them—it was one of the best.
Commentary
First Bell 1-4-13
A first look at today's education news: Todd Rokita will be the new chairman of the House subcommittee on K-12 education policy, parents of students whose schools may close are looking into new options for the children, and more.
Commentary
First Bell: 1-3-13
A first look at today's education news: The NY Ed Reform Commission released their initial recommendations, Teach for America is popular with would-be finance professionals, and more
Commentary
Trapped in Mediocrity: Why Our Schools Aren't World-class and What We Can Do About It
Another governance-reform convert
Commentary
Gifted students have ‘special needs,’ too
You don't have to search hard for evidence that teachers and school systems are neglecting gifted students
Commentary
First Bell 1-2-13
A first look at today's education news: Education funding has been temporarily spared from "fiscal cliff" cuts, the NRA's proposal to place armed security guards at schools is met with skepticism, and more