Author

Andy Smarick

Articles

Toothless Reform?

If the feds get tough, Race to the Top might work

Spring 2010 / Vol. 10, No. 2


Wave of the Future

Why charter schools should replace failing urban schools

Winter 2008 / Vol. 8, No. 1


The Turnaround Fallacy

Stop trying to fix failing schools. Close them and start fresh.

Winter 2010 / Vol. 10, No. 1


Blog Posts/Multimedia

Were RTT Applications Graded on a Curve?

I’m very disappointed with the Department’s decision to name 16 states RTT finalists. A number of these states have glaring deficiencies that would make them unable to get over a medium bar much less the “very, very high bar” that Secretary Duncan said he would set.

03/04/2010

Last Word on School Turnarounds?

In its Winter 2010 issue, Ed Next published my article, “The Turnaround Fallacy.” I appreciate the careful reading of and thoughtful responses to the article by those who have written. It’s encouraging that so many talented and energetic people are working to improve the opportunities available to kids assigned to troubled public schools. But I’m as convinced as ever that closing schools in a persistent state of failure is necessary.

02/11/2010

Keeping the Race to the Top on Track

Today, at close of business, state applications are due for the first round of Race to the Top funds. Coinciding with today’s deadline and the important work about to begin, Education Next is releasing my new article “Toothless Reform?” which makes the case that previous ARRA education funding hasn’t been used for reform and that the department needs to go to great lengths to ensure that the RTT generates the changes needed. As I write in the article, “when state proposals hit Arne Duncan’s desk, the secretary must become the toughest schoolmarm in America.”

01/19/2010

Race to the Top Forecast

Podcast: Andy Smarick and Joe Williams (Democrats for Education Reform) discuss efforts to ensure that Race to the Top funds are used to promote reform.

01/19/2010

Will Education Stimulus Spending Promote School Reform?

Video: Andy Smarick talks with Education Next about how $75 billion in stimulus funds have been spent to sustain the status quo in education and whether Race to the Top funds will be spent differently.

01/19/2010

Should Failing Schools Be Fixed or Closed?

Video: Andy Smarick talks with Education Next about why the Obama administration needs to rethink its embrace of turnarounds and adopt a new strategy for the nation’s persistently failing schools.

11/16/2009

Putting the Brakes on Turnarounds

Though the inclination to fix our worst schools is understandable and is often the result of the best intentions, it is misguided. Turnarounds have not only consistently failed in education; they fail in the vast majority of instances in other industries and sectors. Moreover, and most importantly, continuing to pursue turnarounds actually inhibits our ability to build healthy urban school systems.

10/27/2009

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