Unclear Mandates & Uncertain Direction for Education Reform

Posted on November 9, 2012 by coreeducation

Yesterday, Andrew Rotherham reflected in TIME magazine on the election results and their meaning for public education reform. From the presidential election to local elections and ballot questions, the picture of public support for education is murky, leaving newly elected politicians with no clear roadmap for reform. Rotherham writes about the meaning of the election Read more about Unclear Mandates & Uncertain Direction for Education Reform[…]

6th Annual Education Next Survey Results

Posted on October 30, 2012September 12, 2020 by coreeducation

The results from the 6th annual Education Next survey have recently been released. Education Next is an education policy journal which, according to their website argues that “bold change is needed in American K–12 education” although they claim to partake “of no program, campaign, or ideology” and only to go “where the evidence points”. The Read more about 6th Annual Education Next Survey Results[…]

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”[…]

Green Dot Announces Pay-for-Performance Agreement

Posted on June 20, 2012 by coreeducation

Green Dot Public Schools (GDPS), a charter school network operating in inner urban Los Angeles, announced earlier this month the approval of a contract with its teachers that includes a pay-for-performance evaluation tool. Though the agreement does not “make the critical link between teacher compensation and student performance,” it does position the charter group to Read more about Green Dot Announces Pay-for-Performance Agreement[…]

A Match on Dry Grass

Posted on April 28, 2012 by coreeducation

The persistent failure of public schooling in low-income communities is a pressing civil rights and social justice issue, but too few policy- and decision-makers know what to do about it, write Keith Catone and Mark Warren on the Annenberg Institute for School Reform website. However, a recent call for a “community organizing” approach to school Read more about A Match on Dry Grass[…]

Shut Up and Teach?

Posted on February 21, 2012April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

In a recent article for The Hechinger Report, classroom teacher Eric Shieh reflects on his experiences working with his union to fight budget cuts in his district. As a music teacher in St. Louis, he was appalled by the district’s decision in 2007 to cut student time in the arts by 64% at the middle Read more about Shut Up and Teach?[…]

Teacher Union Launches Charter School Authorizer in Minnesota

Posted on December 21, 2011April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) has taken action to “help restore the professional autonomy of teachers,” in exchange for agreeing to accountability measures. Earlier this month, MFT became the first teachers union in the country to open a charter school authorizer. “Conventional wisdom suggests that the interests of teachers unions and charter schools are Read more about Teacher Union Launches Charter School Authorizer in Minnesota[…]

NEA President Announces Three-Part Action Agenda

Posted on December 21, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

The National Education Association’s (NEA) president, Dennis Van Roekel, recently announced a new action agenda for the nation’s largest teachers union. The plan aims to further the union’s goals of transforming the teaching profession and accelerating student learning, and utilizes proven best practices from teachers across the country. The three major strategies are: 1. Raising Read more about NEA President Announces Three-Part Action Agenda[…]

Occupy…your school district?

Posted on November 22, 2011April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

In this week’s School of Thought blog, Andrew Rotherham discusses the disparities in public education across the country. If the goal of the Occupy movement is to improve social mobility, then there is “no better example of how the system is rigged against millions of Americans than the education our children receive…today zip codes remain Read more about Occupy…your school district?[…]

Keep the Teacher Data Private

Posted on August 30, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

In an op-ed piece that appeared in the August 28 issue of the New York Daily News, well-known education scholar and author (and self-identified union critic) Frederick M. Hess blasted the recent decision by the New York state appellate court that will allow New York City to release student achievement data disaggregated on a teacher-by-teacher Read more about Keep the Teacher Data Private[…]

“Insurgents” Take on Teachers’ Union

Posted on August 16, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

Last week, Time’s Andrew Rotherham addressed a growing movement led by young teachers: taking action against traditional teachers’ unions. “These renegade groups…are trying to accomplish what a generation of education reformers, activists and think tanks have not: forcing the unions to genuinely mend their ways.” Rotherham nicknames the three most-talked about “insurgent groups” as “The Read more about “Insurgents” Take on Teachers’ Union[…]

Reform through Sustained Union-Management Collaboration

Posted on July 21, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

Last week, the Center for American Progress published a paper discussing an alternate path to school system reform: collaboration of stakeholders through labor-management partnerships among teachers’ unions, school administrators, and school boards. The authors base their recommendations on six examples of how teachers’ unions have been critical to improving public education systems in collaboration with Read more about Reform through Sustained Union-Management Collaboration[…]

NEA Shifts Position on Teacher Evaluations

Posted on July 20, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

Recently the nation’s largest teachers’ union, the National Education Association, changed their position on including student performance in teacher evaluations. In passing the new policy, the union hopes to take a leadership role in the national movement towards revamped teacher evaluation methods. However, the union also made it clear that it continues to oppose the Read more about NEA Shifts Position on Teacher Evaluations[…]

Illinois Senate Bill 7

Posted on May 16, 2011April 27, 2012 by coreeducation

The Illinois Senate passed SB7 unanimously in April, 57 to 0. Last Thursday, the bill also passed House nearly unanimously (112 for, 1 abstaining and 1 against). The Bill now goes to Governor Quinn’s desk for signature. SB 7 was developed during months of discussions involving a wide variety of education stakeholders including the Illinois Read more about Illinois Senate Bill 7[…]

Special Interest – Teachers Unions and America’s Public Schools

Posted on April 6, 2011April 27, 2012 by coreeducation

Hot off the Brookings Institution press is Terry Moe’s magnum opus on teacher unions, Special Interest – Teachers Unions and America’s Public Schools. At more than 500 pages, it is deeply informative, profoundly insightful, fundamentally depressing, and yet ultimately somewhat hopeful about our children’s educational futures due to the combined forces of technology and changing politics. Read more about Special Interest – Teachers Unions and America’s Public Schools[…]