Washington Insiders Favor ESEA Flexibility in Theory but Not in Reality
It’s not just the President’s bizarre State of the Union request that states raise their compulsory attendance age to 18. No, I’m referring to the Army of the Potomac’s reaction to John Kline’s ESEA proposal and to Chairman Tom Harkin’s and Rep. George Miller’s response to the waiver requests put forward by several states.
Are Charter Schools Models of Reform for Traditional Public Schools?
Yes, answers Roland Fryer in an amazing study released this month.
Let the Dollars Follow the Child
How the federal government can achieve equity
How the federal government can achieve equity
What We’re Watching: Whose Side Are You On? The NAACP Sues Charter Schools
Choice Media TV looks into why the NAACP joined a lawsuit to evict charter schools from buildings they share with traditional district schools in New York.
Five Thoughts About NCLB on its Tenth Anniversary
The federal law that everybody loves to hate turns ten on Sunday. Here’s what to think about it…
What We’re Watching: Creating Opportunity Schools
The Mind Trust’s CEO discusses bold school reform plans for Indianapolis Public Schools.
The Accountability Plateau
In Texas and across the nation, high-stakes testing regimes produced real gains for a few years, then flat-lined
In Texas and across the nation, high-stakes testing regimes produced real gains for a few years, then flat-lined
Texas Hit the Accountability Plateau, Then the Rest of the Country Followed
“Consequential accountability” corresponded with a significant one-time boost in student achievement. As an early adopter, Texas got a head start on big achievement gains, and also a head start on flat-lining thereafter.
The Future of Educational Accountability, As Envisioned by 11 Leading States
The states are presenting sensible alternatives to the antiquated Adequate Yearly Progress model. The challenge to Arne Duncan, his peer reviewers, and his team: Say yes to these proposals or be accused of a “Washington knows best” mentality.
Obama’s NCLB Waivers: Are they necessary or illegal?
Education Next talks with Martha Derthick and Andy Rotherham
Education Next talks with Martha Derthick and Andy Rotherham
Grinding the Antitesting Ax
More bias than evidence behind NRC panel’s conclusions
More bias than evidence behind NRC panel’s conclusions
When the Best is Mediocre
Developed countries far outperform our most affluent suburbs
Developed countries far outperform our most affluent suburbs
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View the Global Report Card
View the Methodological Appendix
Evaluate Teachers on How Much Students Have Learned
On Tuesday, Nov. 1, a group of parents and taxpayers sued the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to make the district follow the law, by evaluating teachers based on how much their students have learned.
City-Based Strategies For Excellent Charter Schools
A number of forward looking cities have set aside contentious debates about charter schools, and have instead chosen to embrace high-quality charter schools in their reform strategies. This is a welcome development for students stuck in underperforming schools. But these city-based movements are not without challenges.
NAEP 2011: The Reading First effect?
Last night was fun for the kids, but today is every education wonk’s favorite holiday: NAEP release day!
It Sure Wasn’t Pretty, but Harkin-Enzi’s Out of Committee
Assuming that the House bills will be even better, I would claim that reauthorization is finally heading in a hopeful direction.
Harkin-Enzi’s Hodgepodge
We finally have a serious, thoughtful ESEA reauthorization proposal in the Senate, one that should gain support from both sides of the aisle and both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. But here’s a warning: It’s not the bill that the Senate is currently marking up.
The Past, Present, and Future of Common Standards
A new book explains in depth the content of the standards, what they expect of students, and how the assessment of student results is going to be carried out.
Poor Results for High Achievers
New evidence on the impact of gifted and talented programs
New evidence on the impact of gifted and talented programs
A Teacher’s Response to Mike Petrilli’s Article, Accountability’s End?
Mike Petrilli’s article was probably my favorite article ever about accountability. To be fair, it doesn’t have much competition. Many articles about the subject are so one-sided they leave me too frustrated to even try to respond.
What We’re Watching: The Other Achievement Gap
Are America’s highest achieving students being left behind? Watch the Thomas B. Fordham Institute’s webinar “The Other Achievement Gap”
Accountability’s End?
If the debate around the federal role in accountability is coalescing, a much bigger question remains wide open: Could we be watching the beginning of the end for the accountability movement in toto?
A progressive school finds some accountability religion
I was prepared for a rant against all things reform when I started reading the New York Times Q & A interview with Maria Velez-Clarke, the principal of the Children’s Workshop School in Manhattan’s East Village, about the school’s C-grade from the City.
Regardless of Who is to Blame, Accountability and Merit Pay are Taking Some Heat in Texas
I am encouraged when Sandy Kress tells me that the moves away from accountability and merit pay that have taken place recently in Texas were forced upon Governor Rick Perry and Robert Scott, the state’s education commissioner, by legislative pressures beyond their control.
