Ted Allen, Author at The Center for Education Reform

Leading national education group applauds School Safety Commission recommendations

December 18, 2018 By Ted Allen

Filed Under: Press Releases, Uncategorized

Newswire – December 18, 2018

December 18, 2018 By Ted Allen

ALL WE WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS…

FORGET ABOUT TWO FRONT TEETH. We’d gladly swap those for two more Governors like educational choice superstars Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Jared Polis of Colorado. Republican Noem and Democrat Polis may not agree on much, but they are solid in their support of more innovation and opportunity for students stuck in failing schools. Having Governors in both parties with the courage and vision of Noem and Polis is even more important than being able to say “sister Suzie sittin’ on a thistle”.

MORE LEADERS LIKE “41”. The passing of President George H.W. Bush reminds us of what a champion President Bush was of choice and alternative pathways for students to make their own future. He earned and proudly wore the title “the education President”. Several charter schools and organizations won his “Thousand Points Of Light” award during his Presidency. He is sorely missed, but we can’t help but notice the thousand points of lights in the heavens at night, and strongly suspect that one of those stars has a slightly crooked smile and is holding hands with a lady named Barbara.

MISS AMERICA’S INSIGHT FOR ALL AMERICANS. The reigning Miss America, Nia Franklin, was a special guest at our recent 25th Anniversary Summit and Gala. Nia credits having a strong arts curriculum available in her high school with bringing her out of her shell, instilling pride and self confidence, and giving her the gumption to compete for a long shot dream – becoming Miss America. That made her an advocate of educational opportunity. A superb singer, she brought our anniversary crowd to its feet with her rendition of “America the Beautiful.” If you plan to sing “There she goes, Miss America…” you’d better be quick and have sharp eyes, for Nia is going to go far and do great things for our country.

STOCKINGS STUFFED WITH EDUCATORS LIKE “THE BLADE”. Former Indiana Governor and now President of Purdue University Mitch Daniels ran the White House budget office for President George W. Bush, who dubbed Daniels “the blade” for his cost cutting skills. He has carried over those skills to Purdue -to the amazing extent that come graduation day in 2020, Purdue will not have raised tuition in eight years.

In 2017 Purdue purchased Kaplan University, an online, for-profit distance learning institution. Now called Purdue Global, the online University enrolls 29,000 students. It’s aim is to serve working adults nationwide who want to complete a college degree but don’t have the time or geographic proximity to enroll in ordinary classes. “Distance learning” is a key component of providing educational opportunities to all students, regardless of age or location. There has of course been push-back from what we call the education “Blob” – the establishment that is so invested in brick-and-mortar, 20th century education concepts. Those folks deserve lumps of coal in their stockings. We are informing the jolly fat man – Santa, not Chris Christie, via Fedex.

MORE ANGELS LIKE STEVE FORBES FOR THE TREE TOPPER. Besides being a “Renaissance man” in the true meaning of that phrase, Steve Forbes has also been in the front lines fighting for a renaissance in education – giving students and parents the widest possible options to choose what educational path best suits them. He described this in his usual pithy prose. “When you don’t have real choice then you get not only mediocrity, but you often get institutions that become more interested in their own well being, rather than their original mission.” We’d put Steve on top of every tree so his voice would carry far and wide. Catch Steve on Reality Check with Jeanne Allen tonight at National Review Online and at 2024.edreform.com.

FLORIDA SUNSHINE FOR ALL AMERICA. Santa’s sleigh needs snow for optimum operation, so were not talking weather. We’re talking the light of new ideas in education. Governor-Elect Rick DeSantis has been a champion for school innovation in the House of Representatives, and shows every sign of continuing to fight the good fight as Governor. At a recent meeting of his education transition team, his chief education advisor Kim McDougal said; “We’re moving from school choice to informed, high quality school choice. The closer we can get to individualize education for each child the more success we will see.” Starting with Jeb Bush a long line of Florida Governors has recognized that in education, one size does not fit all. That trend will continue and grow under Governor DeSantis, and that is a present under the Christmas tree of every school child in Florida.

EVERY BLESSING OF CHRISTMAS ON YOU AND YOURS. CER has been blessed in so many ways over our first 25 years, but the foremost blessing has been the support, encouragement, constructive critiques, prodding and yes love from you our friends, compatriots, and supporters. This is a season that brings reflection, and ours is one of heartfelt thanks to you. And though it’s not yet the “Night Before Christmas”, we join Clement Moore’s St. Nicholas in saying MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

Newswire will be vacationing until after the New Year. But fear thee not, as we will continue to bring great tidings through our Twitter and Facebook feeds, and online at 2024.edreform.com!

Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education.

Filed Under: Newswire Weekly, Newswire

Year-End Report | 2018

December 13, 2018 By Ted Allen

The Center for Education Reform | 2018 Year-End Report

Dear Friends:

I know you’re right in the thick of the holiday season, but I need just a final minute or two before year’s end to thank you for your fantastic contributions to the work of education opportunity this year! Without it, our children, students, and adults who have been failed by our systems today will not be able to access the American dream, and that is what American education should be about – helping every learner at every level access what they need to achieve what our founder’s envisioned. We are unapologetic believers in American exceptionalism, and our mission is to help our country’s students become exceptional themselves. Your support makes that a “possible dream” for many because CER is relentless in everything we do! Read on:

… for all of those who took a call, (or be badgered to take one!) a meeting or simply wrote a check, we salute you. We will show you how much your investment counts even more in 2019, but for now, we give thanks for you that we can wake up every morning and do this work which is so meaningful and impactful.

God Bless you this season and always

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Filed Under: Commentary

Newswire – December 11, 2018

December 11, 2018 By Ted Allen

MAYBE WE NEED ANOTHER 1989. The tributes to President George H.W. Bush continue, and many of us have reminded and been reminded that perhaps his biggest contribution to education was getting all the governors together so they could all be winners in the fight against bad education. It wasn’t all selfless of course – Dems were trying to show they weren’t just defenders of the status quo and Republicans were trying to become the party of education change. While progress was made, on a party level, Democrats have always had a much harder time in accepting that massive transformation has to happen in public education and in embracing the right of parents to direct that transformation and make fundamental choices. The lines had become blurred with notables Ds at state and local levels being leaders in advancing education opportunity. But now, the battles lines are drawn once again, and as Education Week makes clear, the political fissure is severe.

WE’RE NOT SURPRISED. Just take a look at how week the Governor’s ratings are on Opportunity and Innovation on CER’s EdFifty. It was obvious in the elections but the rhetoric won the day in education sadly. For us @edreform and across numerous education sectors however, the floodgates will not close. New state legislators all over the country hear the cry of parents and see the data. Some can try return to business as usual, but it’s not a winning issue.

DON’T BELIEVE US? The broad array of participants at the CER Silver Summitjust 6 weeks ago are a living testament to what is possible in education and technology sectors when you are committed to outcomes and student success. Not one of the more than 3 dozen speakers, VIPs and keynoters at the Road to Innovation was ready to return to the status quo, put a moratorium on opportunity or draw a line in the sand between left and right. While Washington and State Capitols fiddle, advances are happening throughout the Globe. As we near the end of 2018, we’re buoyed by the excitement and opportunity to make a difference. Stay tuned.

MORE SUN IN THE SUNSHINE STATE. This week’s announcement that Governor-elect DeSantis wants former House Speaker Richard Corcoran to lead his Department of Education is a big-plus for ed reform advocates, especially in a state where parents with choice, regardless of political affiliation, made the difference in the DeSantis win. Corcoran’s eight-year tenure in the House was marked by his fight to expand opportunity and equity for all kids in Florida. Time to put Florida orange juice on the breakfast menu every day!

UNION DOESN’T LIKE APPLES, KUMQUATS OR SUCCESSFUL CHARTER SCHOOLS. A new from the SUNY Charter Schools Institute – the leading authorizer in the Empire State and a model for others – shows that SUNY charters perform substantially above regular public schools – 15 percent better in English and nearly 20 percent better in math! But Buffalo union boss Phil Rumore says it doesn’t matter, that comparing these 2 different types of public schools is “like mixing apples with kumquats.” No Phil, it’s comparing test scores of students in the same neighborhoods, in the same grades, studying the same subjects, but getting very different results. Give us a call, we’ll be happy to share the facts with you! And apples with kumquats? Please, everyone knows red wine is better with kumquats.

PHIL MAY WANT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD A BIT… and watch as the Academy of Health Sciences Charter School is developed to open in fall 2019 as Rochester’s newest charter school. The school received a charter late last monthfrom the state Board of Regents. The school will feature STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) curriculum combined with a focus on social-emotional needs. “It blends so nicely for students in terms of seeing science as a holistic field and also really developing themselves as a whole person and community member,” A school with a health sciences emphasis, featuring STEAM subjects—exactly what CER means when we talk about serving the unique needs of students to be successful from K through Career.

SPEAKING OF STEAM, STEM, AND JUST PLAIN SCIENCE… The Trump Admin is joining the chorus in demanding the nation make it all a top national priority. A new report says the focus is a must if we are to develop real talent among our people and expand our global competitiveness. We will note that not only is diversity and inclusion a cornerstone of charter schools across America, but that charter students routinely outperform their public school peers in the STEM subjects so important to successful futures in the 21st century. (Ahem… maybe those new Governors mentioned in our first story need to take a look at that data….)

SENATOR SASSE GETS SASSY. If you have not heard or seen Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse’s speech at Excel in Ed last week, you’ll want to add it to your playlist. He’s always thoughtful and challenging but this argument for transformation in education is a powerful antecedent to apathy.

SO IS THIS. Education Reimagined’s Director Kelly Young joins Jeanne Allen on Reality Check this week to discuss the need to reimagine and refocus on the way young people are educated and stay lifelong learners throughout their time as a bona fide student, as well as beyond classrooms in the workplace, and continuing as an individual among the many people of the world. Young takes listeners through Education Reimagined’s mission and the relationship between competency and a learner-centric model, why it’s so important for the future of school and work together, and what it means for the future of America.

Filed Under: Newswire Weekly, Newswire

Newswire – December 4, 2018

December 4, 2018 By Ted Allen

THE MAKING OF AN EDUCATION PRESIDENT. The nation lost a true patriot this weekend, with the passing of President George H.W. Bush. As often noted, he was a true gentleman with a good heart. Less known was that he was a stalwart champion for creative alternatives in education. His Administration fell square in the middle of the birth of the education reform movement. Polly Williams in Wisconsin was working with then Governor Tommy Thompson to adopt educational choices among all schools for kids (aka vouchers); choice, merit pay and the public school choice movement was being heavily debated among the Nation’s governors, and today. Taking a cue from the laboratories of democracy, our states, #Bush41 organized the first governor’s summit on education at Charlottesville, which took the mandate of a Nation at Risk and turned it into a movement of national, state-based reform efforts. Meanwhile in Washington, DC, President Bush used the bully pulpit to celebrate and advocate for the state efforts, and now Senator Lamar Alexander, his Ed Secretary, helped show the way. We honor him for this and the myriad other meritorious endeavors to which he contributed. America is a better place because of his public service. Rest in Peace, PRESIDENT GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH.

WHY AMERICA? The Elections. CER kicked off a major effort to bring the most important markers and milestones of America in and around the Nation’s Capital to students in Washington DC’s crown jewels – charter schools! Today’s event took place on the grounds of Lincoln’s Cottage and the Soldier’s home, a rarely visited landmark where President Abraham Lincoln and family resided seasonally to escape the heat and political pressure of downtown Washington. Middle school students from 10 charter schools were treated to an assembly about the value of elections and character, from two members of Congress – one who won and one who lost! Valuable lessons all around. Proud to work with our partner FOCUS-DC to drive more understanding and appreciation of American history in schools. Next month – Why America? Money – a celebration of Hamilton, introduction to our financial system and more! For more info contact [email protected].

WHY INNOVATION? Well we’ve said it for nearly 3 years now – without the potential for innovation, real education opportunity is just a term. So having the first daughter Ivanka Trump and Apple CEO Tim Cook launch a tour to highlight education innovation was music to our ears. They began at Wilder Elementary School in Wilder Idaho;

“Cook and Trump embarked on a nearly hour long tour of the school, visiting classrooms and watching students demonstrate their technological skills on the handheld devices. ‘In the past year I have visited 20 states across the country … these are states that are often called the laboratories of innovation,’Ivankasaid. Cook added, “…the students at Wilder hold the classroom in their hands and complete the work at their own pace. What that allows is you can push the person who learns faster onto building the next skill and the person who needs a little more help can get a little more help.”

Right out of the CER playbook. We’re delighted Ivanka and Tim Cook agree with us, and that Wilder elementary school is doing great things for its students.

BEFORE JANUS THERE WAS REBECCA FRIEDRICHS. Most of us know that the Janus v. AFCSME decision was a huge victory for the freedom of workers, breaking the chains of forced unionization. The road to that victory was paved by an earlier case on the same trajectory, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. The decision on the case was about to be handed down when Justice Antonin Scalia died, resulting in a 4 – 4 vote on the Supreme Court. Now Rebecca has a book “Standing Up to Goliath: Battling State and National Teachers’ Unions for the Heart and Soul of Our Kids and Country”. Get it on Amazon.

SIZE DOESN’T REALLY MATTER 😉 At least not in education. Former school teacher and CER friend Larry Sand, writing for the “California Policy Center” thoroughly debunks the myth that class size determines quality in teaching or outcomes. “Now we have a new meta-analysis – results from multiple studies – which again shows that small class size is a red herring. “The report, produced by the Danish Centre of Applied Social Science, examined 127 studies, eliminating many that did not meet strict research requirements, and finds that there may be tiny benefits to small classes for some students when it comes to reading. But in math, it found no benefits at all and the researchers “cannot rule out the possibility that small classes may be counterproductive for some students. So 127 studies later, it’s basically a wash.”

Filed Under: Newswire Weekly, Newswire

Newswire – November 27, 2018 #GivingTuesday

November 27, 2018 By Ted Allen

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Newswire to bring you a special announcement!

Last week we shared with you just a fraction of the reasons we are #Thankful. We stopped as we do often (though not often enough) to salute those parents who fight for better education, educators who create their own schools or programs, entrepreneurs who lead and more.

But as we all know, it’s in giving we receive. And today, well, today is #GivingTuesday.

And here are 10 reasons you should give and we should receive, today, and maybe tomorrow, and maybe in your end of the year giving, too. Now don’t click out of this communication until you’ve read every one. You’ll not regret it. If nothing else, it might make you laugh, or cry, or learn something new!

Top Ten Reasons to Give to CER

10. Apart from classic film buffs and hard core Steve McQueen fans, who else uses the term the Blob?

9. What other groups generate 166 million media impressions in just one year?

8. Do you know a lot of other groups with whose CEO union boss Randi Weingarten starts a Twitter war?

7. How many groups have made it to 25 years of age and still are the first call for policymakers, parents and the media?

6. Because our Why America? project is ensuring that authentic American, patriotic history is reaching DC charter children, just for starters.

5. Because we believe that Rural America deserves a brand-new ecosystem of education that includes all of education in all sectors, and we’re actually doing something about it!

4. Because CER is the only national group that understands and works with the grassroots to embrace every educational option available, not just one narrow pathway.

3. Where else do edtech, higher ed and edreform converge to promote and produce innovation in education at every level?

2. How many other EdReform organizations do you know that have a truly diverse board in every sense, including politically!?

1. Because for every $178 we receive we are able to create a new choice for a child.

So go ahead, use your #GivingTuesday compassion to give to CER. And if you are not able to do so, know that you can always give of yourself, by getting involved in numerous ways.

THE SMART CHOICE FOR KIDS & POLITICIANS. We really don’t want to take your concentration away from using #GivingTuesday. So just one additional item in this truncated Newswire. The item is important because it shows what CER has been saying for 25 years: Expanded opportunity, innovation and choices for kids and parents is NOT a partisan, ideological or racial issue.

The example comes from the Sunshine state, as reported by the James Madison Institute in the November 20th edition of The Wall Street Journal: “Believe it or not, Republican Ron DeSantis owes his victory in the Florida gubernatorial election to about 100,000 African-American women who unexpectedly chose him over the black Democratic candidate, Andrew Gillum.”

To paraphrase Mr. Spock, may school choice moms all across America live long and prosper. You can read the full WSJ article here.

ALRIGHTY THEN – OUR EARLY ADVENT GIVING TO YOU IS A SHORTENED “NEWSWIRE”. We hope you’ll consider using #GivingTuesday to give to what we believe is America’s most dynamic and effective engine for school change – CER.

AND THAT’S A WRAP, as exhausted store personnel all across America are saying. As always – thanks for reading. And ahem, did you know that today is Giving Tuesday? In case you forgot and are in the mood, you can give to your favorite educational change organization here.

Filed Under: Newswire Weekly, Newswire

Newswire – November 20, 2018

November 20, 2018 By Ted Allen

Besides the turkey, stuffing, gravy and pecan pie, CER gives thanks for many things even more important – well at least more important every other day of the year except this Thursday!

WE GIVE THANKS – like virtually everybody else in America, that the election is finally over. We are especially thankful that candidates who favored the CER education opportunity and innovation agenda did so well in all parts of the country and representing both parties. We reported last week on the full rundown of gubernatorial results – as a reminder they are here. Now we will need your help to hold the winners accountable.

WE GIVE THANKS that alternative education options continue to be increasingly available to students and parents. Much, much more needs to be done frankly, but great strides are being made. For the full state-by-state rundown in CER’s “Parent Power! Index” go to parentpowerindex.2024.edreform.com.

WE GIVE THANKS for dedicated teachers, administrators and parents of all charter schools, especially those in challenging environments. One such example is Alma del Mar, a K-8 charter public school in Bedford Massachusetts. As the Wall Street Journal notes, “Alma del Mar (which means “soul of the sea”) is a success story in a city that badly needed one. Started in August 2011, it now has 446 children on its rolls—and even more than that on a waiting list, clamoring to be admitted.”

WE DO NOT GIVE THANKS that Bedford’s shortsighted Mayor Jon Mitchell is opposing the schools plans to expand so it can serve more of the town’s disadvantaged kids. For opposing the rescue of his town’s students from his town’s failing schools Mitchell should get the gizzard on Thanksgiving. The full story can be read here

WE GIVE THANKS for the courage of parents to fight for quality education in yet another northeast city with a challenging education environment- Philadelphia. The Philadelphia school board will consider three applications to open new charter schools this year, all affiliated with at least one school already operating in the city.

If approved, the three proposed charter schools would add 2,300 students to the city’s charter enrollment. Charter schools already serve 70,000 pupils, or one-third of students in the district. With fully a third of students already being served by schools offering choice and innovation, it is understandable that the education Blob is in full panic mode. But shame on the Blob for putting obstacles in the path of largely poor parents fighting for a better education and future for their kids. Read the full coverage here.

WE GIVE THANKS that we are adding “Cyber Education Monday” to the post-Thanksgiving days of Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. Instead of cyber shopping, help CER shine a spotlight on Cyber Education on our Cyber Monday takeover! And, if you insist on cyber shopping this Cyber Monday, please do so through AmazonSmile and designate The Center for Education Reform as your charity.

You can donate directly to CER on Monday November 26 to support innovation & opportunity in personalized learning, and new policies that provide more direct, immediate access for Americans to increase their education and workforce skills to align with the modern needs of US business and industry! We send our cyber-thanks in advance!

Make a Donation

WE ARE BEYOND THANKFUL for the wonderful, dedicated supporters and friends who helped us make it through our first 25 years and celebrate our silver anniversary with a Gala & Summit last month in Miami. It was an amazing two days with innovative and visionary leaders from all walks of life (including the newly crowned Miss America!) sharing their best thoughts, experiences and recommendations to help CER launch our 2nd quarter century. See a recap and pictures from the event here.

LASTLY, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR AMERICA. We are unapologetic believers in American exceptionalism. CER’s mission is to help all of our country’s students become exceptional themselves. We are so very thankful to you. Our very best wishes for a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving.

Filed Under: Newswire Weekly, Newswire

Newswire – November 13, 2018

November 13, 2018 By Ted Allen

ELECTION RETURNS RATIOCINATION. We wouldn’t blame you if you have had your fill of election related items, but good and important things happened on election night for innovation and opportunity in education. Governor’s races are where the action was, and while not all the news was good, supporters in both parties of CER’s agenda of change and new avenues of success for students were victorious across the country. Read CER’s full rundown of the new Governor’s and read Jeanne Allen’s statement on the election h ere.

HOUSE GOP MAJORITY IGNORED ED REFORM & PAID THE PRICE. Improving outcomes for all students is a most definitely bi-partisan effort. As mentioned above several winners last Tuesday are both Democrats and strong supporters of new thinking and breaking the stranglehold of the education Blob. That said, most folks would think that a Republican majority in the Congress untethered to typical labor constraints would be receptive to CER’s agenda. The good news is that they WERE receptive. The bad news is that their openness to our ideas did not translate into action. We think that inaction, on an issue important to most voters but in particular suburban and women voters, cost them their majority. Jeanne Allen’s Op-Ed, appearing in the Washington Examiner, explains why here.

POOR MARKS FOR TEACHERS ON THE BALLOT. Last add on the election. A persistant pre-election talking point from the Blob was that the success of “non-traditional” schools (i.e. charters, vouchers, virtual, digital, etc, – anything not controlled by the Blob) had prompted record numbers of teachers to run for office and would carry them to victory. Here’s the results, courtesy of U.S. News: “The 2018 midterm election came on the heels of widespread teacher unrest that, in part, prompted thousands of educators to run for office. But as results rolled in Tuesday night, spilling into Wednesday and Thursday, it was clear voters ultimately didn’t propel a wave of teachers into elected positions. “According to an Education Week analysis, not even one-quarter of those currently employed as teachers ended up winning: In total, 42 of the 177 educators who filed to run for state legislative seats won, the analysis showed, just shy of 25 percent.” Even grading on the curve, the Blob’s candidates gets a failing grade. The full story is here.

PARENT POWER INDEX RELEASED. CER today released its 2018 Parent Power! Index (PPI), an exclusive study of parents’ ability to exercise educational options for their children. The Index scores each state, including the District of Columbia, from 0-100. It delves into state policy, looking at five “Elements of Power” that determine the extent to which educational choices and information are offered to families. The Parent Power Index gives families an interactive tool to see how their state ranks when it comes providing education choice and opportunity. This is MUST reading for anyone interested in how their state stacks up against others when it comes to empowering parents to make the best choices for their children’s’ schooling. See the full rankings here.

AMBASSADOR BAXTER AWARD. Great CER friend Ambassador Frank Baxter has paved the way for thousands of students in the City of Angels to dream the American dream, for real. His charitable pursuits put kids first; he founded the city’s largest and most successful charter school network, the Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools. He received the award for his role in co-founding Los Angeles’. The name of the alliance succinctly sums up the what should be the purpose of ALL schools – making their student’s college ready. Way too many schools are failing at that task, and Ambassador Baxter is rightly lauded and recognized for his determination to do something to correct the situation with the 2018 Savas Award. It is always rewarding to see good things happen to good people.

WHITTLE SCHOOL AND STUDIO HAPPENINGS. CER Board Member Chris Whittle’s Whittle School and Studios hosts the first of the Whittle Talk speaker series in Washington, DC on Thurs. 11/15 at 6 PM, featuring renowned author and educator, Kwame Anthony Appiahand a reading of his new book “The Lies That Bind”. Learn about the world’s first truly global school at www.whittleschool.org/events.

Filed Under: Newswire Weekly, Newswire

Newswire – November 7, 2018

November 7, 2018 By Ted Allen

(Washington, DC. November 7, 2018) The results of the 2018 election cycle will be deeply reviewed and analyzed for days, months and years to come, but the initial results among the states demonstrate that education opportunity is a winning issue. Candidates that embrace policies that empower parents, provide more flexibility for schools and teachers, and foster innovation and opportunity in education overwhelmingly won their gubernatorial elections. Anti-education reform groups failed to measurably impact the states and legislatures that they targeted. This was a rejection of the teachers unions who shut down schools to advance their political agenda. As CER’s recently released analysis of candidates for Governor and state Education Superintendent reveals, winners tended to embrace expanding alternative education options and innovative approaches for students of all backgrounds.

According to the analysis of yesterday’s elections, more than half of all elected Governors strongly support real education reform, and a third support some aspect of it. Only 10, or less than a third, are opposed to any substantive changes that would empower parents, and create transformative changes in education.

New England governors Charlie Baker and Gina Raimondo handily won their races, as did others who aggressively pushed back on the status quo and embraced 21st century education. New Governors like Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Jared Polis (D-CO) can be expected to fill out an increasingly bi-partisan group of pro-education opportunity governors. The question remaIns whether second term winners (like NY Governor Andrew Cuomo) will – now free from political risks – pursue the right approaches to solving educational malaise and failure.

Said CER’s Founder & CEO, Jeanne Allen:

“Ensuring excellence in education for every student is a non-partisan endeavor. Yet for years the education establishment, including school boards and teachers unions, have thrown roadblocks in the way of education innovation, and have tried annually to abolish life-saving programs and policies for kids, families and teachers who don’t walk in lock step with them. They failed again to make the case that educational failure is acceptable. #RedforEd is, well, pretty dead.

“The state leaders Class of 2018 is on the leading edge of innovation and opportunity in education and preparing a road to the future for all of America’s students. CER congratulates all the winners and will continue our 25-year tradition of working with all office holders who seek new and better ways to prepare our students for success from their earliest days in school to their careers and higher ed pathways.”

Filed Under: Newswire Weekly, Newswire

Newswire – October 30, 2018

October 30, 2018 By Ted Allen

WELCOME TO A SPECIAL, PICTORIAL, EDITION OF NEWSWIRE, COVERING THE CER SILVER ANNIVERSARY GALA & SUMMIT. Held in Miami, Florida last Thursday and Friday, the leaders of innovation across all sectors gathered to build the new Road to Innovation. Read and view just a snippet of the extraordinary conversation and celebrations that occurred. We’ll be back to you will a full report soon.

We think of our work as being engines for social movement. Everything we do is around this principle. If what we are producing is not moving the needle, we are not doing our work. – Brian Jones @BriWeJo @StrayerU

The New University is Also Career-Connected & Data-Driven… @AndyRosenEdu @KaplanNews explains why it is important that we speak to students in the language that they speak or resonate with.

We need to bring the energy and verve that we’ve bought to K-12 system, as they do in charter schools, and bring it to the higher education system. – Daniel Pianko @danielpianko @UniVenturesFund

Governor Tommy Thompson talks about the next frontier of education opportunity: building schools in prisonsto ensure even those disenfranchised have a chance to reengage in life someday.

Innovation in education is taking the best learning tools and working effectively with teachers to meet the needs of students. It is shifting the role of teacher from content master to mentor. – @GEMSEducation America’sDenise Gallucci

In order for great educators to come forward to teach, we had to liberate the system to allow that to happen. – Lisa Graham Keegan

25 years later, I’m still in a room full of white people talking about how to save black and brown kids… There’s been a lot of innovation but not a lot of change. – Howard Fuller @HowardLFuller

Universities are not going away, but they are adapting and responding to the changes of the future, says McKinsey’s Sacha Litman, moderating the first of two panels discussing “The New University” with Anant Agarwal (EdX), Julia Rosen (ASU), David Vise (Modern States), and James Wiley (Ellucian). “Careers and jobs are changing, as technology continues to transform.”

How much more money does education need? And how much more time? The reality is there will never be enough money & never enough time, but telling us you need more of either, doesn’t tell me how you’re going to solve certain critical issues.– @usedgov Asst. Sec of Ed Frank Broganwith the rest of the Mount Rushmore of EdReform, Kevin Chavous, Gerard Robinson, Rod Paige and Tommy Thompson.

We have been using a model of school created in the 19th century, so my question is: How are children going to be able to make decisions & succeed in the current environment? – Gisele Huff, “Reimagining Education,”with Governor Jeb Bush @JebBush, Bill Hansen @stradaeducation, & @gsvedu‘s Michael Moe @michaelmoe.

There aren’t a lot of women in composition of music or in tech, esp. African American women. It is really important to reach out to those that don’t know there is a world of opportunity they can take advantage of. – @MissAmerica Nia Franklin

Kevin Chavous @kevinpchavous recognizing Lisa Keegan @LisaGK for her decades of commitment to making Arizona a national success story for education.

The promise of America is that the circumstances of your birth should not limit your horizon. Truer words have never been said. Thank you Brian Jones, receiving the #CER25 Innovator Award.

I want to thank Jeanne & CER – you have been an inspiration. She is a force of nature and someone I admire; a wonderful leader. I am honored to be here today. – Fernando Zulueta, accepting the American Dream Award.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló passionately addresses Gala attendees:

Con la Reforma Educativa aspiramos a que todos los estudiantes tengan su facultad completa en cada escuela, con los materiales adecuados y un ambiente óptimo para aprender.

Participando de la Gala de 2018 de @edreform. Presentamos lo que estamos haciendo en #PuertoRico para transformar el sistema educativo en uno eficiente y que responda a las necesidades de los estudiantes.

Jon Hage receives the #CER25Founder’s Award from Friendship Public Charter Schools founder & Chair and CER Director Donald Hense.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. The summit was capped off with a Gala celebration honoring special leaders in education innovation, shown above. Nia Franklin brought the crowd to tears and its feet with her rendition of “America the Beautiful”, accompanied by the CER Silver Student Orchestra, formed by area charter students for this special occasion. They had never performed publicly or together. We are gratified to have given them the opportunity to do both! Listen for yourself!

The Board congratulates CER’s Silver Honorees!

THANK YOU. Our thanks to all who have helped in so many ways over our first 25 years. We eagerly enter our next 25, knowing that the best is yet to come for all Americans who know that quality education is the key to building a new Road to Impactful Innovation & Excellence for ONE America.

~ Stay Tuned for OFFICIAL 25th Highlights ~

Filed Under: Newswire Weekly, Newswire

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