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Displaying 121-150 of 288 results
Commentary
12.1.2011

ED: poor kids get fewer resources

Chris Tessone

The Department of Education's new study explains how the U.S.'s poor allocation of resources hurts disadvantaged children.

Commentary
12.1.2011

UK teachers strike over pensions

Chris Tessone

Two-thirds of schools in the UK were closed for a day recently as teachers went on strike over proposed changes to pensions.

Commentary
11.30.2011
Charter Schools

Romancing the stone

A charter-like governance arrangement for LAUSD

Commentary
11.30.2011

The cost of K-12 dropouts

Chris Tessone

Students who don't finish school hurt the efficiency of our education system.

Commentary
11.28.2011

Ohio needs competition and high standards to elevate its digital learning marketplace

Terry Ryan

One could argue that 2011 has been the year of ?digital learning? across America but in fact digital learning has been big business in Ohio for more than a decade. Lessons from that experience should inform the Buckeye State?s approach to new digital learning opportunities that are generating excitement and optimism.

Commentary
11.28.2011
Charter Schools

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Fordham Sponsorship 2010-11 Year in Review

Terry Ryan, Kathryn Mullen

Since their inception in 1997, charter schools have been at the center of some of the most politically contentious debates about education in Ohio. The past year offered yet another example of charter school controversy, but this time with a twist. The 2010 elections were very good for Buckeye State Republicans, with John Kasich winning the governor?s race (replacing Ted Strickland who had been a charter adversary throughout his four-year term). Republicans also took control of the House while expanding their majority in the Senate.

Report
11.22.2011
Charter Schools

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Fordham's 2010-11 Sponsorship Accountability Report

Terry Ryan

The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation is pleased to share its latest annual Sponsorship Accountability Report, Two Steps Forward, One Step Back. The sixth of its kind, the report reflects on Ohio??s charter school policy environment and the performance of Fordham sponsored charter schools ??? in terms of absolute achievement, growth, and adherence to goals set forth in our authorizing contract ??? as well as developments in state law over the year. Despite some tough battles during the state budget as it relates to holding authorizers (and operators) accountable, overall Fordham and its schools had an encouraging year, with Fordham sponsored-charters making achievement gains and positioning themselves to do even better in the future.

Commentary
11.22.2011

Pricing public education

Chris Tessone

Reformers who are focused on ?doing more with less? in the nation?s schools should reclaim the high ground on school finance. Case in point: the rising cost of higher education in California.

Commentary
11.21.2011
Charter Schools

Suffering schools should learn to do more with less

As school levies fail across central Ohio, I am concerned and disappointed to see so many school districts quickly threaten to reduce the quality of our children?s education. Providing an excellent education for our children may be the single most important thing we can do as responsible citizens.

Commentary
11.18.2011

Does our school funding system threaten digital learning's potential?

Tyson Eberhardt

Education technology is a hot sector for innovative entrepreneurs and ambitious investors. While interest and investment in digital education skyrocket, though, the inflexibility of the existing school funding system may stifle its potential?at least according to Paul T. Hill in "School Finance in the Digital-Learning Era," the latest installment in Fordham's Creating Sound Policy for Digital Learning series.

Commentary
11.18.2011

For next-generation educating, we need next-generation funding

Futurists have long regaled us with predictions about technology dramatically improving education by giving millions more students access to the very best teachers and deploying computer-based systems that allow them to learn at their own pace at whatever time and place works best for them. This vision is now becoming a reality, partly because tight budgets are forcing K-12 schools to employ fewer teachers and boost the productivity of those who remain.

Commentary
11.18.2011

Rhode Island pension reform is not a success story

Chris Tessone

Last night, Rhode Island?s legislature passed a sweeping reform of its public-sector retirement system. It cuts retiree benefits, mostly by suspending cost of living adjustments, and institutes a cheaper hybrid plan with a 401(k)-like private account component, and it should save taxpayers billions of dollars in coming years.

Commentary
11.17.2011
Charter Schools

From talking the talk to walking the walk of urban school choice

Emmy L. Partin

Fordham has been involved in the arena of school choice in Ohio at virtually every level for the past decade, except that of a parent. Issues of school choice and the quality (or not) of urban schools have been a big part of my professional life the last five years. Now, they are front and center in my personal life, too.