Science as a search for truth has come under attack from both the left and the right. This report explores four case studies of threats to the integrity of science education.
Education experts tend to ignore research-based practices like Direct Instruction and instead embrace constructivist methods that are not backed by good research. This report by Douglas Carnine explains why.
According to this comprehensive report, only five states combine solid academic standards with strong school accountability.
Minnesota was the first state to embrace many important education reforms, from statewide open enrollment to charter schools to tax credits for parents paying certain education expenses. This report, written by Dr. Mitchell Pearlstein, President of the Minneapolis-based Center of the American Experiment, tells the stories behind Minnesota's unique policy experiences.? What lay behind Minnesota's worthy innovations? Who was responsible for the bad ideas? Mitch's short answer: governors were behind most of the proposals that expanded education choice, while the flawed policies emerged from the state's education bureaucracy.
This report explains how New Jersey has implemented high standards for teachers without causing a teacher shortage by creating an alternative certification program.
Most states are beginning to get serious about boosting the quality of their teaching force. Unfortunately, most of the steps they are taking point in the wrong direction. This "report card" contains plenty of evidence of that fact-together with some happy exceptions and hopeful signs.
Nappi tells the engaging story of how Princeton parents tried to change "the system" from within but had to resort to starting a charter school in order to raise academic standards.
Louis Chandler, professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, determines how widespread progressive and traditional practices are in public, Catholic, and independent schools in the fairly typical state of Ohio. This report the results of his survey of 336 elementary schools that was conducted in the Buckeye State early in 1999.
This report takes a close look at the implementation of standards-based reform in one state, Washington, and asks why it was successful in some places but not others
According to this 250-page volume, proposed federal and state policies aimed at boosting teacher quality may well worsen the problem. Instead of adding even more regulation to the teacher training system, policymakers should open up the profession to well-educated individuals and should hold principals accountable for student learning.
