Scrutiny of Federal School Lunch Program Would Mean Fewer Free Lunches, Better School Data
The federal school lunch program does not do a very good job of verifying that students whose families sign up for the program actually meet the eligibility requirements. While many people might not object to a policy that errs in the direction of generosity to hungry children, having ineligible students on the free lunch list has a lot of other consequences.
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.
Fraud in the Lunchroom?
Federal school-lunch program may not be a reliable measure of poverty
Federal school-lunch program may not be a reliable measure of poverty
What Happens When States Have Genuine Alternative Certification?
We get more minority teachers and test scores rise
We get more minority teachers and test scores rise
Wisconsin Teachers’ Union Calls The Shots on RTTT
With the approval of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), Wisconsin legislators this week approved a decidedly tepid package of legislation supposedly designed to help the state win a Race To The Top grant.
Wisconsin’s Race To The Top
Wisconsin appears to be a strong contender for Race To The Top funds. Melody Barnes, the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, said in a conference call that the president on Wednesday will ‘applaud positive steps forward’ on education reform in Wisconsin. One wonders: has Arne Duncan vetted the pending bills to determine if they represent the kind of change that will meet RTTT criteria?
Stimulating Stagnation in Education
According to a New York Times report, the Obama Administration admits that over half of the jobs it created or saved by its stimulus package were in the field of education. Had that money really been spent in ways to promote educational productivity, it would have been faithful to the investment goals of the stimulus package.
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.
The Nobel Committee Isn’t the Only One Giving Speculative Prizes
Podcast: Education Next’s Paul Peterson and Chester E. Finn, Jr. talk this week (October 22) about wishful thinking in the education reform community. Do school reformers need to temper their enthusiasm about the reform du jour?
Instead of Creating Charters, Just Incarcerate the Students
A Massachusetts state commission has solved the high school drop-out problem. Just incarcerate the students. That’s the thrust of its recommendation.
E Pluribus Unum?
Two longtime school reformers debate the merits of a national curriculum
Two longtime school reformers debate the merits of a national curriculum
New Ed Next Podcast: Will the Federal Role in Education Double?
Education Next’s Paul Peterson and Chester E. Finn, Jr. talk this week about Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s recent speech, the future of federal education spending, and making NCLB’s successor tighter about ends and looser about means. Click here to get to the podcast.
Will the Federal Role in Education Double?
Podcast: Education Next’s Paul Peterson and Chester E. Finn, Jr. talk this week about Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s recent speech, the future of federal education spending, and making NCLB’s successor tighter about ends and looser about means.
Evaluation of D.C. Voucher Program
Video: Patrick Wolf talks with Education Next about his “gold standard” evaluation of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program and about the likely future of that program.
Mostly Harmless
Beneath the over-reactions and counter-over-reactions on Obama’s speech today is a real issue — Who should have primary responsibility for raising (educating) children?
Health Lessons from Schools
If the public-school analogy holds, the public option in health-care insurance won’t create a system of choice and competition, as the White House claims; it will slowly — or not so slowly — give way to a (nearly) single-payer system.
President Obama’s Real Message
The President’s real message on education reform will be delivered early next year, when Education Secretary Arne Duncan makes the first round of Race to the Top grants.
May 2009 Rally for DC Voucher Program
Photos: Images from the May 2009 rally for the DC Voucher Program held in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC.
What Is to Be Done (by the U.S. Department of Education)?
As the education blogosphere turns its attention from Secretary Duncan’s Race to the Top fund to his Investing in Innovation fund, economist Eric Hanushek offers his take on what federal education policy can and cannot accomplish.
Another Lemon
Florida’s public school establishment could hardly have a better friend than Florida’s courts.
Florida’s charters under attack
The Reading First Controversy
Promise and perils of federal leadership
Promise and perils of federal leadership
New Kids on the Block
Results from the Moving to Opportunity experiment
Results from the Moving to Opportunity experiment
Much Too Early
SIDEBAR: Head Start by Tyce Palmaffy.
SIDEBAR: More than the Three Rs by Edward Zigler and Sally J. Styfco.
SIDEBAR: Head Start by Tyce Palmaffy.
SIDEBAR: More than the Three Rs by Edward Zigler and Sally J. Styfco.
Fixing Federal Research
Education demands a first-rate R&D shop. The Department of Education isn't it--yet
Education demands a first-rate R & D shop. The Department of Education isn’t it-yet
The Politics of No Child Left Behind
The scene in January 2002 was a civics text come to life. Flanked by jubilant members of Congress and standing in front of a cheering crowd, President George W. Bush declared the start of a “new era” in American public education with the signing of the No Child Left Behind Act. The new law represented [...]
