From the Washington Post’s Answer Sheet blog we learn that Washington’s mayor-to-be, Vincent Gray, “believes a student’s family life is at least as important” as the quality of that student’s teacher and has “questioned whether kids can pr
In September, the U.S. Department of Education announced a grant of $10 million to help Western Governors University (www.wgu.edu), a virtual university, create an online, competency-based teachers college. The University is now hiring a director of assessment as well as faculty members in math education, reading, and English language learning.
Join Kevin Carey, John Kirtley, Gerard Robinson, and Susan Zelman as they discuss, "With charter schools ascendant, is there still a future for vouchers?" The discussion, which will take place on August 19 from 4 to 5:30 pm, will be moderated by Mike Petrilli. RSVP to Amy Fagan at [email protected].
The Walton Foundation seeks an education program officer. This position is one of a ten-person team that oversees grantees under the Foundation’s Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area.
This week, Mike and Rick discuss why some kids shouldn't go to college, the Reading First study is flawed, and Randi Weingarten lies so much. Jeff Kuhner is outraged about L.A., and Education News of the Weird has bite. Click here to listen through our website and peruse past editions.
Congratulations to Terry Ryan, Fordham's VP for Ohio programs and policy, who is part of the NewSchools-Aspen Institute Fellows Class of 2008 (he passed his entrance exam with flying colors). Learn more here about all the 2008 Fellows.
Virtually join Fordham—and an inspired group of panelists—today from 3:30 to 5:00 PM for our event “Are Education Schools Amenable to Reform?”
Our book launch event for former Education Secretary Rod Paige’s new treatise The Black-White Achievement Gap: Why Closing It Is the Greatest Civil Rights Issue of Our Time is at capacity.
This week on the Education Gadfly Show, Mike Petrilli and Rick Hess explain why everyone’s wrong about Race to the Top, go tit-for-tat over the L.A. Times, and ponder life in D.C. after Michelle Rhee. Then Amber Winkler disses Education Next and Kyle Kennedy explores a different kind of tracking.
In case you missed the fascinating debate on weighted student funding between John Podesta, Rod Paige, Arlene Ackerman, and Michael Rebell, video is available online via the Center for American Progress. John Merrow's questions and the panelists' feisty remarks made it a real barn-burner (we're serious) worth checking out.
Who could tell you whether, "With charter schools ascendant, is there still a future for vouchers?" Simple: our panelists for this event! Join us for the wisdom of Kevin Carey (Education Sector), John F.
So, too, does the American Federation of Teachers, the newest edition of the magazine of which, American Educator, devotes pages to covering the topic. Find the articles here.
This week, Mike and Rick chat about illegal immigrants, rich suburbanites, and Bobby (formerly Piyush) Jindal. Amber brings us a Research Minute, and Education News of the Weird is a swing state. Click here to listen through our website and peruse past editions.
Fordham seeks a research assistant for our Washington, D.C., office to help us launch a new organization advocating for improved curricula in schools. It's an exciting opportunity for a bright, talented self-starter. For more information, see here.
Fordham is moving. Our new address, beginning December 19, 2005, will be: 1701 K Street, NWSuite 1000 Washington, DC 20006Our phone and fax numbers will remain the same.
Last week, Gadfly editorialized that "Putting most of the available energy, political capital, brain power and money into 'helping' districts engage in chartering rather than devoting those (limited) assets to advancing the frontier of independent charter schools: removing caps on their numbers and enrollments, creatin
I love Joel Klein. He made New York City a magnet for reform-minded entrepreneurs, sent forth more than a few excellent leaders to other big city school systems, and is never afraid to speak his truth.
A month ago, I wondered what Sonia Sotomayor might think about teacher tests, as the more rigorous ones typically have a "disparate impact" on minorities; African-American and Hispanic candidates fail them at much higher rates than whites do.
Here’s a piece of unsurprising news: More students are failing Advanced Placement exams. We could have told you this last spring, when we surveyed AP teachers about the push to offer the program’s rigorous content to more students.
This week, Mike and Rick blast the Times Magazine for its naiveté, puzzle over the effect of crack dealers on math scores, and bemoan the error of testing companies' ways. We have an interview with education columnist Linda Seebach, who puts Gadfly in his place, and Education News of the Weird is probably in the Axis of Evil.
Education Next's Summer 2006 edition is out, and it contains some gems. Paul Peterson and The Education Gadfly Show's Rick Hess investigate a possible "Race to the Bottom," Laura LoGerfo gives teachers another reason to believe they make a difference, and Eva Moskowitz bemoans teacher (and custodian) union contracts.
"I read stuff like this and think it's some kind of joke. That teachers in Los Angeles are required to spend one hour of the school day protesting outside school, or else, according to union president A.J.
...New York City's education personalities will play. In case you've missed the latest goings-on at eduwonk, Chris Cerf, deputy chancellor of the NYC Ed Department, and Randi Weingarten, UFT president, have lately been blogging away. (Weingarten's first post was nearly 2,000 words!) Check out the fun here.
We want to thank Gadfly readers who gleefully joined our Name that Union! contest. First off, we acknowledge the many NEA members who supplied their own descriptions of their organization - and expressed their displeasure with us. Welcome to the Gadfly, and we sincerely hope you keep reading.
Encouraged by the success of his recent bestseller The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman has finished a new book, The World Is Even Flatter Than I Thought! Excerpts appeared in last Sunday’s Times under the headline “Prostrate world book holds promise for infinite citations.” And, indeed, pundits have already begun invok
GreatSchools, which has no use for the spacebar, seeks a program director. Information is here.
The Lexington Institute, a Northern Virginia-based free-market think tank, seeks an executive assistant to support the CEO and senior scholars. Duties include correspondence, database management and serving as receptionist. PowerPoint proficiency is a must.
We know we keep reminding you, but it's because we can't contain our excitement! "From Brown to 'Bong Hits': Assessing a Half-Century of Judicial Involvement in Education," is less than one week away! This, truly, is momentous.
Once you're friendly with Flypaper, hop on over to Facebook, where Thomas B. Fordham is keen to become your friend. He likes to use his minifeed to tell you about new Education Gadflies, cool events, and new reports.
Congratulations to Bill Evers, recently confirmed as assistant secretary of education for planning, evaluation and policy development. Those who don't want to be planned, evaluated or developed had best gird their loins. Bill is formidable.
