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How School Districts Can Stretch the School Dollar
Fordham president Michael J. Petrilli explains three solutions to schools’ money woes.
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Stretching the district dollar
In Fordham's latest policy brief, Mike Petrilli provides districts dos and donts for dealing with tight budgets.
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Standards
Review of Draft Texas Mathematics Standards 2012
In April 2012, Texas adopted new math standards. Fordham reviewed the draft standards and found them to be a modest improvement. But not by much, and they remain inferior to the Common Core math standards. Download the review to learn more.
Commentary
Digital learning 101
There’s still time to hear experts answer that question by registering for this Thursday’s panel discussion, “Education Reform for the Digital Era,” from 9 to 10:30 a.m. EDT.
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The Gadfly Daily’s week in review
A look back wit and wisdom from the Fordham Institute for the week of April 9, 2012
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We don't judge teachers by numbers alone; the same should go for schools
Bring on the school inspectors
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Report
School Finance, Governance
How School Districts Can Stretch the School Dollar
The "new normal" of tougher budget times is here to stay for American K-12 education. So how can local officials cope? This policy brief, by Mike Petrilli, provides a useful tool for navigating the financial challenges of the current school-funding climate, complete with clear dos and don'ts for anyone involved in or concerned with local education budgets.
Commentary
Charter Schools
Next stop for Louisiana: Accountability, done right
Louisiana became the latest state to embrace the introduction of school vouchers, but the legislative moxie it showed should stimulate a new conversation about private school choice and accountability.
Video
The Tartans: The Story of the Sciotoville Community Schools
Watch the unique story of a traditional public school that was going to be shut down by its district until the community rallied around the school to keep the school from closing the doors.
Commentary
Is the media biased in favor of reform? It depends on the reform
As it turns out, journalists (especially broadcast journalists) are enamored with policies put forward by lefty reformers.
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Defining Strong State Accountability Systems
Fordham's latest publication asks, how can better standards get greater traction?
Commentary
A journalism review dupes its journalists
Paul Farhi’s smackdown of education reform and education reporting in the American Journalism Review may be inspirational to those who would march with the status quo, but it is dangerous coming from a publication that sets the standard for how newsrooms ought to conduct their affairs.
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Accountability & Testing, Standards
Defining Strong State Accountability Systems: How Can Better Standards Gain Greater Traction?
Rigorous standards and aligned assessments are vital tools for boosting education outcomes but they have little traction without strong accountability systems that attach consequences to performance. This pilot study lays out the essential features of such accountability systems, intended to add oomph to new common standards and aligned assessments.
Commentary
Charter Schools
10 years after Zelman, challenges still loom for voucher advocates
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision a decade ago didn't end the fight over private school choice, even though it should have caused states to rethink what they so sweepingly consider “aid” to sectarian institutions.
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Video
Commentary
The Gadfly Daily’s week in review
A look back at wit and wisdom from the Fordham Institute’s blogs for the week of March 26, 2012
Commentary
Charter Schools
Wisconsin, school vouchers, and the perfidy of Tony Evers
Wisconsin's top educator has again used his position to imply that the Badger State is throwing more money at a voucher program he once called "morally wrong."
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Digital learning debate not dying down
To parse the debate swirling around digital learning’s potential and the policy challenges it poses, Fordham will host several leading lights on the subject at our D.C. office on April 19.
Commentary
Alfie Kohn's message: Half-crazy, half-true
Alfie Kohn’s startling message on schools may be hurting America's poorest students.
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Commentary
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The Gadfly Daily’s week in review
A look back at wit and wisdom from the Fordham Institute’s blogs for the week of March 12, 2012
Commentary
George Miller and the do-gooder caucus double down on No Child Left Behind—A top 10 list
Perhaps Rep. Miller and his allies are "conservatives" on education after all.
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Commentary
Teacher compensation reform is possible...
NCTQ Director of Teacher Preparation Studies Robert Rickenbrode explains the significance of the program described in Fordham's latest report, "Teacher Compensation Based on Effectiveness: The Harrison (CO) School District's Pay-for-Performance Plan."
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Michelle Rhee on the Harrison (CO) School District's pay-for-performance plan
Michelle Rhee and Eric Lerum of StudentsFirst analyze the Harrison School District's approach to teacher compensation.
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A “how-to” guide for teacher compensation reform
Fordham's latest report profiles the Harrison (CO) School District's innovative pay-for-performance teacher compensation plan.
Report
Governance, Teachers & School Leaders
Teacher Compensation Based on Effectiveness: The Harrison (CO) School District's Pay-for-Performance Plan
This report, authored by Superintendent Mike Miles, takes a detailed look at the Harrison (CO) School District 2's Pay-for-Performance Plan. The Harrison Plan confronted the dual challenges of defining an effective teacher and identifying all the things that demonstrate her effectiveness. This how-to guide is meant to serve as a tool and model for Ohio’s school districts.
