Newsflash: Teachers want smaller class sizes

That's one finding from this new Public Agenda survey.

Everyone loves Core Knowledge except for Alfie

First it was Randi Weingarten, who yesterday embraced Core Knowledge as the sort of program New York City's schools need.

John McCain loves poor children

So reports Charles Barone, a former (Democratic) hill staffer: Memo to Democrats: Bush used a message similar to McCain's to good effect in 2000.

Evidence that charters really can pressure public school districts to reform

A teachers union negotiating with a public school district to eliminate seniority rules? That's what's happening now in Washington, D.C., according to today's Washington Post .

Islam-o-propaganda

For years, the media has been obsessing over the rise of "Islamophobia" (never mind that America's Muslims enjoy full political, religious, and civil rights--considerably more, in fact, than their co-religionists in Europe, Africa, and even the Middle East, where tyranny and Islamic sectarian violence are rife).

Thoughts and prayers

Mitch Chester departs for Massachusetts leaving the plate half full

Mitch Chester, former senior associate superintendent for policy and accountability at the Ohio Department of Education, began a new job Monday as commissioner of elementary and secondary education in Massachusetts.

Initial report indicates Reading First program doesn't work

The federal Department of Education has released its interim report of Reading First (see here), the centerpiece program of No Child Left Behind that is supposed to help the most economically disadvantaged and academically struggling elementary students learn to read.

Teacher probed for allegedly teaching religion in science class

MOUNT VERNON - A Mount Vernon City Schools' science teacher has a monitor in his classes these days after he allegedly promoted Christianity in his classroom and used a hand-held laboratory electricity generator to mark crosses onto the skin of students.

Another day, another teachers-are-underpaid report

The Economic Policy Institute updates its 2004 report on teacher pay and then some in The Teaching Penalty: Teacher Pay Losing Ground. The institute finds that the pay of public school teachers is 15 percent lower than that of comparable professionals and that, over time, teacher pay has grown at a slower rate than inflation or the pay of similar workers.

AG's office may be too busy to carry the OEA's water

We take no joy in the Marc Dann scandal, but the Attorney General's resignation does raise the possibility of a more level-headed approach to the charter-school debate in Ohio.

NewSchools summit, capital edition

As Alexander Russo mentioned yesterday, the annual NewSchools Venture Fund summit comes to Washington today. Here's the agenda: 8:00-9:00 Welcome Opening by Ted Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer, NewSchools Venture Fund

The real Neal

I've disagreed with Neal McCluskey before--about the federal role in education, the effectiveness of vouchers, the correct spelling of the name "Neal"--but I had a mostly positive reaction to his take, posted today on National Review Online, about ED in '08, the platform of which McCluskey f

Three questions for the NewSchools Summit

Today's conference--see the agenda below --brings together leaders of charter school networks, major funders, start-up curriculum companies (or "tool builders" in NewSchools-speak), policy types, and assorted "edu-preneurs."

Liveblogging the NewSchools Summit: Two questions answered

We're only 15 minutes into the main event, and already two of my three questions have been resolved. Yes, someone has spoken about education... and that someone was none other than UFT president (and AFT heir apparent) Randi Weingarten.

Herbert on high schools

I read Bob Herbert columns when I have trouble sleeping, and so it was that I noticed his piece, published Saturday, about high schools--how they're not preparing students for college and work, and how too many students drop out.

Liveblogging the NewSchools Summit: Randi's ridiculous rant of the week*

"If [teachers unions] are really really really so bad, then why wouldn't the schools in states that are union-free do so much better than the states that have unions?"

Liveblogging the NewSchools Summit: The gloves are off

Andy Rotherham might not want to throw Randi tough questions, but D.C.

Liveblogging the NewSchools Summit: Washington, D.C., the envy of the school reform world

One clear message from today's conference is that Washington, D.C., is the new "it" city for education reform activity. The jealousy in the room is palpable. First, there's Michelle Rhee (speaking now), who is dynamic, entrepreneurial, and fearless.

Liveblogging the NewSchools Summit: It's 4:30 and the room is still packed

After a long hiatus for lunch and some break-out sessions, the liveblogging returns. As someone who's helped to organize many an education conference, I can't help but be impressed by the full room this late in the day. It's either because: a) People really want to hear Newark mayor Cory Booker speak. (He's about to start.)

Liveblogging the NewSchools Summit: The Obama-esque Cory Booker

I'm hardly the first person to note the striking similarities between Cory Booker and Barack Obama. (Whitney Tilson, for example, discussed this connection long ago.) But their commonalities are overwhelming. Both men are black, highly educated, eloquent, inspirational, former community organizers and exude post-racial post-partisanship.

Liveblogging the NewSchools Summit: This is an education conference, right?

It's twenty minutes into his speech, and Cory Booker is finally starting to talk education. He describes walking into excellent charter schools in Newark--Northstar, KIPP--and seeing "what's possible."

Liveblogging the Fordham after party: How's the food?

We're throwing a little soiree at the Fordham offices. The crowd is filing in, and one question is on many minds: How's the food?

Liveblogging the Fordham after party: Good looking crowd!

Don't let anyone tell you that ed reformers are a ragged bunch. The crew I'm observing right now is as sartorially sophisticated as they come. Especially noteworthy: Ben Wildavsky, wearing a particularly natty sport coat, and our own Amber Winkler, whose skirt is multi-hued, multi-pleated, and strikes one as a fresh burst of springtime.

Taming the Terminator

Arnold Schwarzenegger was supposed to be the education governor of California.

Liveblogging the Fordham after party: Raise the roof

Flypaper readers may not know that above Fordham's palatial new offices sits a well-appointed roof deck. And it features quite a nice view. Checker just noted that from one edge you can see the Washington Monument rising behind the White House and at the other end the National Education Association headquarters. Paragons of liberty, both.

Does calling Bill Ayers a "terrorist" make me a "McCarthyite"?

Dean Millot at Edbizbuzz seems to think so.

And does advocating for teaching American history make me "reactionary" and "anti-world"?

Corey Bower seems to think so.

It's just silly

Clearly blogging is having a dumbing-down effect on my punditry. Though it is silly ("unwise"? "counter-productive"?

Sol Stern's latest target: Russ Whitehurst

Now that Sol Stern has completely ruffled the feathers of the "whatever wo