Gadfly: hot off the press
Stafford PalmieriThis week, we start off with a double header on the education system's economic woes--and what to do about them. First Checker explains why districts have so much trouble cutting the fat. Enlightening, surely, but not too surprising.
H is for hummus...S is for salmon
Stafford PalmieriYou gotta love California. Seems the Golden State, worried that their wee toddlers' arms are too short for proper tree-huggery, will inculcate them with the prerequisite environmentalism another way: through their stomachs.
The Carnegie Conversation on Catholic Education
John Staud, ed.Alliance for Catholic Education PressAugust 2008
The Future of Educational Entrepreneurship: Possibilities for School Reform
Frederick M. Hess, ed.Harvard Education PressSeptember 2008
The three R's (recession, reform, and results)
Dreading the pinch of a tight economy on your state's budget? You're not alone. According to the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, nearly every state experienced flat or declining revenues in the first half of 2008 compared to last year, and 39 states have developed "budget shortfalls"--gaps between expected revenue and planned expenditures.
In the name of love
It's hard to miss the media firestorm over Chicago's latest educational innovation, the School for Social Justice Pride Campus. The school would cater to gay students who are teased and bullied at their current schools.
Why school systems cannot lose weight
Chester E. Finn, Jr.There's plenty of evidence that state and municipal budgets are strapped these days, due to shrinking tax revenues from a faltering economy, declining property values, etc. It's also clear that a number of school systems are feeling the pinch.
Windbag city
Chi-town, home of deep dish pizza, The Band, and an education reform powerhouse? That's John Simmon's take.
Can school districts be bribed to do the right thing?
Michael J. PetrilliThere's been a lot of debate recently about the degree to which the feds can coerce states or school districts to do things they don't want to do (see here,
Quick and the Ed Watch: Lessons unlearned
Michael J. PetrilliFormer Ed Truster Kevin Carey loves Education Trust's trusty new report on graduation rates (timed to coincide w
Strickland Roadmap for Academic Reforms--Translated by the Gadfly
Governor Strickland's office recently shared his "Roadmap for Academic Reforms," which appears to be the forerunner or prelude to the governor's long-awaited plan for renewing and strengthening K-12 education in Ohio. The present document, regrettably, is not only devoid of specifics but also brimming with catchy buzz phrases and trendy eduspeak nostrums.
The agony of a Gadfly
Michael J. PetrilliI'm not sure whether his analysis about the McCain campaign is spot-on, but how are we supposed to feel about Rich Lowry's depiction of us Gadflies?
On education, the Democrats are already in charge
Michael J. PetrilliBefore the 2004 presidential election, it was obvious what the liberal advocacy group Education Trust thought about President George W. Bush.
Education Dept. steps in the right direction
Chester E. Finn, Jr.I don't much cotton to this bloggish practice of holding internal conversations in public view, but this time I think Mike is over the top--and he didn't ask my advice before "publishing". He's right about NCLB's built-in flaws and the need to rethink the law??so as to set them right. A fair amount of that is statutory repair work; some, however,??is regulatory.
What to do with NCLB?
Stafford PalmieriLast week, Mike explained (in the Washington Times), that NCLB needs to be "flipped" on its head. What does he mean?
What's the deal?
Fordham's Mike Petrilli is participating in an online discussion where panelists--even as I type this--are attempting to answer the question "Do we need a new deal for teachers?" ??Moderator Steve Farkas, of the Farkas Duffett Research Group, kicked things off by
Rich Randi
Michael J. PetrilliMike Antonucci wants everyone to know that AFT President Randi Weingarten only makes $350,000 a year.
Maryland's inter-generational income transfer scheme
Michael J. PetrilliAs a Maryland resident I have to decide how to vote on the state's Question 2 next week, whic
School Finance Redesign Project panel at National Press Club
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Final thoughts--School Finance Redesign Project
Stafford PalmieriWe've just returned from the School Finance Redesign Project Panel (and were caught in the rain, no less!) Here are some final thoughts: Great ideas... not so practical. I'll give you two examples.
The Marmalard factor
Michael J. PetrilliI really enjoy Andy Rotherham as a colleague and friend (you know, the way Joe Biden loves Joh
Portfoliogate continued
Michael J. PetrilliDon Soifer of the Lexington Institute provides some interesting background on the portfolio issue, and why this wonky topic matters.