75 Examples of How Bureaucracy Stands in the Way of Students and Teachers

Posted on August 26, 2012 by coreeducation

The Broad Center for the Management of School Systems released last week “75 Examples of How Bureaucracy Stands in the Way of America’s Students and Teachers,” giving parents, teachers and voters a critical resource for understanding the systemic crisis in America’s public schools. This week’s release of the PDK/Gallup poll of the “Public’s Attitudes Toward Read more about 75 Examples of How Bureaucracy Stands in the Way of Students and Teachers[…]

Teacher Quality Since NCLB

Posted on August 13, 2012February 5, 2013 by coreeducation

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) recently released a new study that takes an in-depth look at “teacher quality,” and how our understanding of the concept has changed over the past decade. The report, From Teacher Education to Student Progress: Teacher Quality Since NCLB, notes that prior to NCLB, it was assumed that teacher effectiveness was Read more about Teacher Quality Since NCLB[…]

Each Child Learns Act: Open for Comment

Posted on August 9, 2012 by coreeducation

On August 1, the Alliance for Excellent Education began an unprecedented digital process asking the American public to participate in developing major new state legislation designed to make digital learning and educational technology available to all students around the country. The proposed draft legislation, titled the Each Child Learns Act, will help states think strategically Read more about Each Child Learns Act: Open for Comment[…]

Building Support for Effective Teaching: The Impact of Public Will

Posted on August 7, 2012 by coreeducation

The United Way Worldwide (UWW) recently released a study on how communities can work together to advance effective teaching and empower effective teachers. Beginning in July 2009, the study took place in 14 communities located in Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. United Way Worldwide worked with the communities to identify strategies to support and enhance Read more about Building Support for Effective Teaching: The Impact of Public Will[…]

Institute for Higher Education Policy Launches PolicyDirect

Posted on August 6, 2012August 6, 2012 by coreeducation

Last week the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) launched a new site containing cutting-edge postsecondary education research for a policy-focused audience. PolicyDirect is a one-stop, online resource that delivers more than 300 easy-to-use summaries of academic research that highlights critical findings on important higher education issues such as college preparation, financial aid, productivity, and Read more about Institute for Higher Education Policy Launches PolicyDirect[…]

Executive Order Establishes Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans

Posted on July 30, 2012March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

Last Wednesday, during his remarks at the National Urban League conference in New Orleans, President Obama announced he would sign an Executive Order to improve outcomes and advance educational opportunities for African Americans. The President has made providing a complete and competitive education for all Americans – from cradle to career – a top priority. Read more about Executive Order Establishes Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans[…]

NCES Updates State Education Reforms Website

Posted on July 24, 2012September 12, 2020 by coreeducation

New state-level data on charter schools and teacher certification are now available on the State Education Reforms website. The State Education Reforms website, which draws primarily on data collected by organizations other than NCES, compiles and disseminates data on state-level education reform efforts in five areas: (1) Accountability (2) Assessment and standards (3) Staff qualifications Read more about NCES Updates State Education Reforms Website[…]

Obama Administration Creates National STEM Master Teacher Corps

Posted on July 22, 2012 by coreeducation

The Obama Administration recently announced the President’s plan for the creation of a new, national Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Master Teacher Corps comprised of some of the nation’s finest educators in STEM subjects. The STEM Master Teacher Corps will begin with 50 exceptional STEM teachers established in 50 sites and will be expanded Read more about Obama Administration Creates National STEM Master Teacher Corps[…]

Teachers “Trending Toward Reform”

Posted on July 18, 2012July 18, 2012 by coreeducation

Over the past decade, teachers have seen changes in both their conditions of employment-from pay to retirement benefits-and their practice. Far too often, these policies have been made by people who talk about teachers, rather than talking to them. Last fall, Education Sector surveyed a nationally representative random sample of more than 1,100 K-12 public Read more about Teachers “Trending Toward Reform”[…]

The Condition of Education 2012

Posted on June 1, 2012 by coreeducation

The National Center for Education Statistics released The Condition of Education 2012 last week, an annual publication mandated by Congress. The report summarizes important developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report presents 49 indicators on the status and condition of education. The indicators are grouped under three main areas: (1) Read more about The Condition of Education 2012[…]

New Framework for Principal Evaluation Challenges National Model

Posted on May 21, 2012 by coreeducation

A new report from the American Institutes for Research (AIR) argues that principal evaluation systems should not be based only on student achievement gains, but on the quality of principal leadership and performance. Additionally, principals and other school-based leaders are being left out of education reform discussions. The report, called “The Ripple Effect,” also noted Read more about New Framework for Principal Evaluation Challenges National Model[…]

Preparing Teachers to Meet the Needs of ELLs

Posted on May 16, 2012 by coreeducation

As states begin to implement the Common Core, there has been an increased focus on English Language Learners, or ELLs, in the classroom. An estimated 25% of children in America live in households where a language other than English is spoken. How can “regular” classroom teachers support the needs of these students? A new report Read more about Preparing Teachers to Meet the Needs of ELLs[…]

The Allure of Teacher Quality

Posted on May 14, 2012 by coreeducation

In a recent post for the Shanker Blog, Matthew Di Carlo discusses the current policy focus on teacher quality as a way to improve schools. He observes that “some (but not nearly all) components of this all-hands-on-deck effort are perplexing to the many teachers, and have generated quite a bit of pushback…what drives it is Read more about The Allure of Teacher Quality[…]

What the U.S. Can’t Learn from Finland

Posted on May 6, 2012 by coreeducation

Finland, with its high-achieving public schools, has been held up as a standard for the US as we slog down the path of education reform. However, are there things we can’t learn from Finland’s model? Pasi Sahlberg, author of Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn About Educational Change in Finland?, recently wrote an article Read more about What the U.S. Can’t Learn from Finland[…]

State Education Agencies Add “Innovation Offices”

Posted on April 1, 2012April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

Across the country, state education agencies have begun to institute new offices to specialize in innovation—searching for new ideas and helping them to make it into education policy. The “new ideas” cover a variety of areas, from teacher quality to online learning, which means they “transcend the assigned duties of any single office or division,” Read more about State Education Agencies Add “Innovation Offices”[…]

SCORE Releases “State of Education in Tennessee” Report

Posted on March 28, 2012April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), the nonprofit research and advocacy group that is the major partner in effecting change in Tennessee’s K-12 public education system, released its annual report on Tennessee’s education reforms earlier this month. SCORE also outlined what it believes are four priority areas the state will need to focus on Read more about SCORE Releases “State of Education in Tennessee” Report[…]