The challenges of education governance
Check out the footage from the first session of December 1st's Rethinking Education Governance conference.
Check out the footage from the first session of December 1st's Rethinking Education Governance conference.
White Hat Management, a major for-profit charter school operator, is fighting for its life. At least that?s the story told in a recent memo by founder David Brennan. Brennan told employees of White Hat that his family has committed over $50 million to sustaining White Hat, but that they simply cannot afford to do so anymore. Their financial commitment will only see the company through 2013. Brennan?s memo also pointed out that White Hat has not made a forecast for the bank in the last 5 years, and in order to start to turn things around they must produce in excess of $2 million every year.
Newt Gingrich's controversial comments in support of letting students work at schools may not be so crazy after all.
Guest blogger Stuart Buck explains the virtues of the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship program and the legal obstacles it faces.
The Department of Education's new study explains how the U.S.'s poor allocation of resources hurts disadvantaged children.
Two-thirds of schools in the UK were closed for a day recently as teachers went on strike over proposed changes to pensions.
Common Core assessment still remains largely unsettled.
And too many people who can say “no soup for you”
Charterin' ain't easy
Which came first, development or autonomy?
America: Take notes
Russ Whitehurst, pulling no punches
Students who don't finish school hurt the efficiency of our education system.
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.
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.
WILD AND WACKY POLITICAL BATTLES
Peter Meyer previews the latest edition of Education Next.
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.
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.
Peter Meyer reflects on Tom Friedman's column about parents and education.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With you for me, and me for you?