The Center for Education Reform, an organization which supports the role that charter schools have to play in education reform in the U.S., has a new report out addressing individual states’ policies about charter schools. Following is an excerpt from their press release about the report: Of the 42 states and the District of Columbia Read more about Charter School Laws Across States – 2015 Rankings & Scorecard[…]
We have heard much in recent years about college readiness and the role that standards, particularly the Common Core, have to play preparing students for life after high school. But we have heard much less about how institutions of higher education are thinking about the changes of the Common Core, and how much they will Read more about Colleges Not Ready for College-Ready Standards?[…]
A new policy paper by Rick Hess and Bethany Little for the American Enterprise Institute and Results for America wants to bring the thinking of baseball’s “Moneyball” to federal education policy. Key points: The ‘moneyball’ strategy, which used data to help improve success and cost-efficiency in baseball, should be applied to the US education system Read more about Moneyball for Education: Using Data, Evidence and Evaluation to Improve Federal Education Policy[…]
States should focus more on setting high performance standards than on debating the content of their academic standards. This is according to a new report out from the American Institutes for Research. THE ISSUE Content standards, not performance standards, have been almost the sole focus of state policies and recent conversations about academic standards. Although Read more about Does the focus on Content Standards detract from rigor?[…]
The Foundation for Excellence in Education is launching a new initiative called EdPolicy Leaders Online, a series of free, self-paced online education reform massive open online courses (MOOCs) designed specifically for policymakers and education reform partners. The courses feature nearly 40 experts and leaders across the education landscape from superintendents to senators, parents to policymakers, Read more about EdPolicy Leaders Online[…]
The Rural Opportunities Consortium of Idaho, the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, and Bellwether Education Partners have teamed up to write a new report, “Federal Education Policy In Rural America”. The authors of the report believe that, while roughly a quarter of American students are educated in rural areas, federal policy is not suited to Read more about Federal Education Policy in Rural America[…]
Education Policy 101 is an innovative online course that introduces the key education policies that affect American K-12 students. It provides a comprehensive, research-based foundation for navigating current education-policy issues such as school choice, teacher quality, education finance, early childhood education and standards and accountability. Course instructors include: Martin West, Harvard Graduate School of Education Read more about Education Policy 101 — a joint project of 50CAN and the Fordham Institute[…]
Forbes Education recently released their list of 15 key higher education issues for 2015. Many of these will be prominent this year as the Obama Administration nears the end of its eight year run. You can expect this blog to discuss these issues over the coming year: The arrival of a new year brings with Read more about Higher Education Issues: 15 for ’15[…]
While there are still more questions than answers, the U.S. Department of Education the Department has released a draft framework for the ratings of colleges and is seeking public feedback. The new College Ratings framework is important. Secretary Duncan says, “As a nation, we have to make college more accessible and affordable and ensure that Read more about What we Know: ED’s Proposed College Rating System[…]
Tenure and tenure reform are in the news of late given the Vergara decision in California and similar efforts challenging tenure laws in New York. Teachers unions argue that current statutes suffice for removing underperforming teachers. Some student advocates argue that these laws are not sufficient because students must endure underperforming teachers for too long. Read more about CALDER Conversations: Implications of Tenure Reform Lawsuits[…]
Whiteboard Advisors have gathered the predictions of Education Insiders related to what will happen with education policy in the wake of the recent midterm elections. Education Insiders express slight optimism that both K12 and higher education policies will become higher priorities with Republican control of the Senate, though agreement between the President and Congress is Read more about What Do the Elections Mean for Education?[…]
More than 100 education advocacy groups are imploring Congress and the administration to make sure all students have access to effective teachers. The groups, operating under the Coalition for Teaching Quality, will hold House and Senate briefings on Capitol Hill. The coalition is releasing its own “roadmap” to get the work done. The roadmap contains Read more about All Students Need Effective Teachers[…]
Matthew M. Chingos of The Brookings Institution has written a compelling new piece arguing that ending teacher tenure would have little impact on its own. Tenure for public school teachers is increasingly under attack, with the Vergara v. California judge ruling in June that “both students and teachers are unfairly, unnecessarily and for no legally Read more about Ending Teacher Tenure Would Have Little Impact on its Own[…]
This past July, the U.S. Department of Education released the Transparency Best Practices for Schools and Districts, a new set of guidelines created to improve relations between school districts and parents surrounding school districts’ collection, maintenance, and distribution of student data. The new guidelines seek to keep parents more informed and if properly implemented, such Read more about U.S. Department of Education Issues New Guidelines On Collecting Student Data[…]
Anne Hyslop of the New America Foundation has written a compelling piece about the supposed test-and-punish legacy of No Child Left Behind. Nearly 15 years on from that piece of legislation, which many prominent public school advocates such as Linda Darling-Hammond of Stanford University and AFT President Randi Weingarten have lampooned for its punitive measures Read more about Test and Punish – A Reality or Mirage?[…]
The Common Core State Standards, which have been adopted by more than 40 states, are one of the most important reforms to American public education in decades. However, despite the many benefits of the Common Core, its bipartisan support, and the widespread adoption and integration into state plans to redesign their education systems, the success Read more about 9 Steps to Successfully Implementing the Common Core[…]