Ohio's billion dollar bonanza
Aaron ChurchillThe proposal of a few members of the state legislature to increase the transparency around charter schools is a fine idea. But their allegation that charters “waste” public funds—apparently without acknowledging the infirmity of Ohio’s urban districts—is shameful discourse that conceals the woeful facts about public schools in urban areas, where most charters reside.
4-7-14 Ohio Education News
Jeff MurrayDaily education stories of interest from news outlets across Ohio
The electorate's apathy toward school boards
Aaron ChurchillSchool boards matter. Indeed, in Fordham’s new report Do School Boards Matter? researchers found that knowledgeable, hard-working boards that prioritize student achievement govern higher-performing districts.
PISA 2012 Results: Creative Problem Solving
Brandon L. WrightIs a consolation prize better than no prize at all? That’s the question American educators might ponder with this week’s release of the PISA 2012 problem-solving-assessment results.
PISA 2012 Results: Creative Problem Solving
Is a consolation prize better than no prize at all? That’s the question American educators might ponder with this week’s release of the PISA 2012 problem-solving-assessment results.
Building a Better Teacher: How Teaching Works (and How to Teach It to Everyone)
Andrew McDonnellAuthor Elizabeth Green on what makes a great teacher—and great teaching.
A big win for the Big Apple’s charters
The Education GadflyGovernor Andrew Cuomo and embattled Mayor Bill de Blasio have reached a tentative deal.
The Petrilli Putsch
As announced last fall, Michael J. Petrilli will be succeeding Chester E. Finn, Jr. as president of the Fordham Institute come August. Here’s an update on the transition.
A facilities fracas and well-deserved kudos
Jeff MurrayAn ODE data guru gets a big honor and a Toledo charter school gets a big run around.
Skill-Based Sorting in the Era of College Prep for All: Costs and Benefits
Brandon L. WrightTo sort or not to sort? That question vexes many schools. And still will, despite this new research brief, which summarizes pros and cons of tracking students by skill level but fails to resolve anything. The authors looked at a number of studies of the effects of two Chicago Public Schools policies—one that reduced skill-based sorting and one that increased it.
Closing the Expectations Gap: 2013 Annual Report on the Alignment of State K–12 Policies and Practice with the Demands of College and Careers
Andrew McDonnellThis eighth edition of Achieve’s annual report monitoring states’ adoption of core academic expectations arrives at a critical moment—and underscores the mammoth challenges associated with standards implementation.
The New Opportunity to Lead: A vision for education in Massachusetts in the next 20 years
Chester E. Finn, Jr.The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education was born in response to A Nation at Risk, and in a 1991 report, it pointed the way toward the Bay State's much-praised 1993 education-reform act.
A case of a functioning school marketplace?
Aaron ChurchillLife Skills Centers, a group of fifteen dropout-recovery charter schools operated by White Hat Management, is on the decline. Last year’s enrollment (school year 2012-13) was less than half that of 2006.
Down to the wire for one charter school
Jeff MurrayHot off the presses: sometimes even a signed and sealed deal can't secure a facility for charter school.
Even with the success of most charter schools, it's time to consider doing a better job on the 'front end'
Guest commentary on the need for diligence on the part of authorizers at the front end of charter school creation.
Research and policymaking: Kissing cousins or long-lost relatives?
Aaron ChurchillI had the good fortune of attending the Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP) conference last week. AEFP attracts some of the nation’s finest researchers along with a small smattering of policymakers and advocates.
2014 Brown Center Report on American Education: How Well Are American Students Learning?
Pamela TatzSince 2000, the Brown Center has released an annual report taking on three important issues in education policy.