Sign Up For Our Newsletter

SURVEY NONSENSE.  Don’t we all just love surveys that give zero sum options to respondents? A group called GenForward partnered with the prestigious University of Chicago to ask Millennials their views on the issues that will drive their votes, including education.  These 18-24-year-olds think more progress was made under Obama in education than during Trump, (because they remember or because they were told?) and have a less than favorable view of Ed Sec Betsy DeVos. In isolation the survey finds that millennials like charters and vouchers, but when given a choice as to which would most likely improve public education, they strongly prefer strengthening unions and paying more money. This is the kind of public opinion analysis (push polls they are called, because they push a point of view) that really gives the profession a bad name (and the university, I might add). This stuff is hard folks; the issues complex. It takes more than a flippant inquiry of very green young people to determine public opinion.

---

SPEAKING OF MONEY…  Despite record education spending in K-12 ($620 Billion and roughly $12,500 per student), money is a big issue in these elections. Some states have low per pupils, even though the funds they spend are up. What gives, you say? It’s called bloat, according to EdChoice. Bureaucracy has increased dramatically more than teachers, and teachers more than enrollment.

---

ABOUT THOSE ELECTIONS?  Wherever there are elections, there will most assuredly be candidates paying lip service to their own interpretations of “education reform” or “educational improvement.” Naturally, many politicians favor the abstract concepts of “building better schools,” “accountability,” and an old favorite, “doing what’s best for our kids.” But do these lofty statements on education make these candidates more likely to support what’s best for kids? Most of the time, like polls, it’s all lip service. CER produced this handy Candidate Meter to help you determine the score on your local candidates at all levels.   Wondering how to spot a real champion of education opportunity and innovation?  When speaking of education, the real education opportunity advocate emphasizes the need for educational options and Parent Power; advocates for transformation will talk about student centered learning, ensuring student outcomes are measured by competency vs. seat time. Charter school advocates will argue that there need to be more, not fewer charters, and that it’s time to allow numerous organizations to create them and support their efforts.

Conversely, if a candidate reform isn’t for them, and insists that money and support for our teachers is enough, you’ve likely got a wolf in sheep’s clothing and you might want to reconsider how you are voting. CER’s ED50, coming soon, will help you with your votes on gubernatorial candidates. Keep your eyes on this spot!

---

ED TECH LEADERS TALK.  Want to know what ed and tech are all about? Listen to podcasts brought to you by the Boston Search Group (BSG)’s Todd Hand, from Google’s Jamie Casap, EdTech Exec and former MA Gov. Jane Swift, Edmentum’s Jamie Candee, to CER’s own Jeanne Allen. Plus check out the wealth of info BSG provides while you’re there.

---

THIS WEEK’s GUEST ON REALITY CHECK…  Tommy Thompson has spent decades of his career bringing people of all stripes together to solve problems, from his time as governor of Wisconsin from 1987 to 2001, to his service as Secretary of Health and Human Services under George W. Bush, to his role as a strategic advisor to entrepreneurs and lawmakers alike and as a voice in his community and for many across the country. Throughout his life and across all his initiatives and efforts Thompson has remained a staunch and relentless advocate for improving health and expanding opportunity. This week on Reality Check former Governor Tommy Thompson sits down to discuss the beginnings and condition of education and opportunity in America, as well as some of his newest ideas to increase economic prosperity for some seldom thought-of candidates.

---