Behind the Headline: Changes urged for Mass. schools
In Massachusetts, the commissioner of education is recommending that the state replace its highly regarded academic standards with the Common Core Standards. In an article that appeared in Ed Next last year, Charles Chieppo and Jamie Gass worried that Massachusetts might turn its back on the nation’s most successful reform strategy, including its high academic standards.
Behind the Headline: New Evaluation Laws Split Teachers Even More
In Colorado and other states, teachers’ job security will now be tied to how well their students perform on state tests. In an article appearing in the Summer 2010 issue of Ed Next, Rick Hanushek and Kati Haycock debate the best ways to get more effective teachers into high-need schools. They both note that removing poorly performing teachers is an important part of any strategy to boost teacher quality.
Behind the Headline: NJ teacher drain
In New Jersey, a flood of teachers are retiring this month in response to a proposal to reduce pension benefits for future retirees. In an article that appeared in Ed Next in 2008, Bob Costrell and Mike Podgursky investigated the peculiar incentives that are built into teacher pensions, incentives which can encourage teachers to leave teaching when they are still effective or to remain in their jobs when they have burned out.
Behind the Headline: How Many Graduates Does It Take to Be No. 1?
On Top of the News How Many Graduates Does It Take to Be No. 1? 06/26/10 | New York Times Behind the Headline Competition Makes a Comeback Summer 2010 | Education Next Many high schools are naming multiple students–sometimes dozens–as valedictorians to reduce pressure and competition among students. An article by June Kronholz in the [...]
Behind the Headline: Villaraigosa backs charter school bids, rips Cortines
On Top of the News Villaraigosa backs charter school bids, rips Cortines 06/25/10 | The Los Angeles Times Behind the Headline Palace Revolt in Los Angeles? Summer 2010 | Education Next The mayor of Los Angeles has criticized the L.A. Unified school district for not allowing more charter organizations to take over low-performing district schools [...]
Behind the Headline: TAKS grade inflation is nothing new
On Top of the News TAKS grade inflation is nothing new 06/13/10 | Houston Chronicle Behind the Headline State Standards Rising in Reading but Not in Math Fall 2010 | Education Next It has been reported that the “passing” mark for some parts of the Texas state proficiency exam was altered after the results came [...]
Behind the Headline: Cincinnati Public Schools to put top teachers at weak schools
On Top of the News Cincinnati Public Schools to put top teachers at weak schools 06/14/10 | Cincinnati.com Behind the Headline An Effective Teacher in Every Classroom Summer 2010 | Education Next Cincinnati teachers who receive special training to serve as “lead teachers” will no longer be able to return to their home schools, but [...]
Behind the Headline: Microsoft’s Philly high school traveled rocky road
On Top of the News Microsoft’s Philly high school traveled rocky road 06/15/10 | Forbes Behind the Headline High School 2.0 Spring 2010 | Education Next Philadelphia’s School of the Future graduates its first senior class today, and every graduate is headed for an institution of higher learning. In the Spring 2010 issue of Ed [...]
Behind the Headline: Some educators question if whiteboards, other high-tech tools raise achievement
On Top of the News Some educators question if whiteboards, other high-tech tools raise achievement 06/11/10 | The Washington Post Behind the Headline Bye-Bye Blackboards Summer 2010 | Education Next Expensive and interactive, whiteboards are sprouting up in classrooms across the country. But do they improve academic achievement, Stephanie McCrummen wonders in the Washington Post. [...]
Behind the Headline: D.C. contract is just the tool to let creative, renegade teachers soar
On Top of the News D.C. contract is just the tool to let creative, renegade teachers soar 06/07/10 | The Washington Post Behind the Headline Palace Revolt in Los Angeles? Summer 2010 | Education Next The new teachers contract in D.C. will give innovative teachers an opportunity to prove that they can help poor kids [...]
Behind the Headline: Why should education be exempt from recession budgeting?
On Top of the News Why should education be exempt from recession budgeting? 06/06/10 | The Washington Post Behind the Headline The Phony Funding Crisis Winter 2010 | Education Next George Will writes that before Congress agrees to spend another $23 billion to prevent teachers from being laid off, “it should read ‘The Phony Funding [...]
Behind the Headline: 1 competitor, 1 spelling bee — 20,000 note cards
On Top of the News 1 competitor, 1 spelling bee — 20,000 note cards 05/31/10 | The Boston Globe Behind the Headline Competition Makes a Comeback Summer 2010 | Education Next With the National Spelling Bee just days away, attention has turned to its talented and dedicated competitors – including Tim Ruiter, one of the [...]
Behind the Headline: Slow learners at the 9th Circuit
On Top of the News Slow learners at the 9th Circuit 05/18/10 | The Washington Post Behind the Headline Credits Crunched Fall 2009 | Education Next On Thursday the Supreme Court will consider whether to reverse a ruling by the 9th Circuit that Arizona’s tax credit program violates the Establishment clause. “Surely this question was [...]
Behind the Headline: School Factors May Influence Teacher Effectiveness
On Top of the News School Factors May Influence Teacher Effectiveness 05/17/10 | Teacher Beat Behind the Headline An Effective Teacher in Every Classroom Summer 2010 | Education Next A new study by C. Kirabo Jackson finds that teachers who are effective in one school might not be as effective in other kinds of schools–schools [...]
Behind the Headline: Mass. hunting for star teachers
On Top of the News Mass. hunting for star teachers 05/10/10 | Boston Globe Behind the Headline An Effective Teacher in Every Classroom Summer 2010 | Education Next Massachusetts will today announce a new effort to recruit hundreds of successful teachers to work in 35 low-performing schools in Boston and other school districts. In the [...]
Behind the Headline: U.S. Falls Short in Measure of Future Math Teachers
On Top of the News U.S. Falls Short in Measure of Future Math Teachers 04/15/10 | The New York Times Behind the Headline The Mystery of Good Teaching Spring 2002 | Education Next A new study finds that America’s future math teachers have less knowledge of math than their counterparts in other countries. An article [...]
Behind the Headline: Obama’s plan to reward schools for innovation sparks debate
On Top of the News Obama’s plan to reward schools for innovation sparks debate 04/14/10 | The Washington Post Behind the Headline Toothless Reform? Spring 2010 | Education Next The U.S. Department of Education is embracing an approach to spending that rewards states and districts for innovating instead of simply disbursing funds by formula to [...]
Behind the Headline: Teachers agree to shorten LAUSD school year
On Top of the News Teachers agree to shorten LAUSD school year 04/11/10 | Los Angeles Times Behind the Headline Time for School? Winter 2010 | Education Next The teachers union in L.A. has ratified a deal that will shorten the school year this year and next as a cost-saving measure. As reported in the [...]
Behind the Headline: Budget cuts could lead to fewer options at Florida Virtual
On Top of the News Budget cuts could lead to fewer options at Florida Virtual 03/24/10 | The Gradebook Behind the Headline Florida’s Online Option Summer 2009 | Education Next The Florida Legislature is considering cutting Florida Virtual School’s per-student funding and limiting the length of time students may take to complete courses. An article [...]
Audio Book Excerpts
Authors reading short excerpts from their recent books
