August 30, 2012
Last Wednesday, annual ACT scores were released and the results were dismal. Only 25% of 2012 ACT test takers met college readiness benchmarks in all four areas tested- English, Reading, Math, and Science. The ACT defines college and career readiness as “the acquisition of the knowledge and skills a student needs to enroll and succeed in credit-bearing […] Read more »
July 30, 2012
Despite all the rhetoric that the unions are finally ready to embrace reform, AFT union prez Randi Weingarten took to the podium Friday at her group’s national convention in Detroit to lambast those who would dare challenge the status quo and to instill fear in her dwindling membership that there is a “new normal” that […] Read more »
July 13, 2012
Today at the Govs’ summer meeting — an annual event of all US Governors — Ed Secretary Arne Duncan shared new data indicating that America continues to lose ground internationally when it comes to producing college graduates. College attainment rates have risen nominally (1/2 percentage point), but America still lags far behind on the world […] Read more »
October 6, 2011
Economic Inequality Chicago Tribune, IL, October 6, 2011 America’s urban public schools are in trouble: Student test scores are low and dropout rates are high. Recent remedies proposed include everything from reducing the power of teachers unions and opening more charter schools to ending test-based accountability. But what if education critics are focused on the […] Read more »
October 5, 2011
NATIONAL Obama Right To Give Schools Flexibility Orlando Sentinel, FL, October 5, 2011 In addition to cutting through the confusion and frustration that has reigned in the decade since Bush signed No Child Left Behind into law, the new flexibility will give districts and teachers more breathing room to do what they must: teach. FROM […] Read more »
October 3, 2011
Does Signing a Petition Give Parents a Voice in Schools?Berkley Daily Planet, CA, October 3, 2011Many teachers believe parent trigger laws are a way for charter schools to gain a bigger share of the education system. For McGinity, that’s not a bad idea. The Broad Foundation promotes the proliferation of charter schools, which he says […] Read more »
September 29, 2011
Fighting the Feds: 2012 Candidates Want States to Control Education ABC News, September 29, 2011 So when it comes to education policy debates, whether it’s the Democratic incumbent or the array of Republican challengers, all eyes – and talking points – are on two things: the federal government’s role and the overall cost. Obama Tells […] Read more »
September 28, 2011
Promoting Jobs Bill In Denver, Obama Highlights $60 Billion For Schools Washington Post, DC, September 28, 2011 As he has barnstormed the country to promote the American Jobs Act, President Obama has made the case that spending money now will pay off later for the United States ’ global productivity and competitiveness. And one of […] Read more »
September 27, 2011
Better Way to Fix No Child Left Behind New York Times, NY, September 27, 2011 Last week President Obama, citing a failure by Congress to act, announced a procedure for handing out waivers for the federal mandates under the No Child Left Behind law. Unfortunately, these waivers come with a series of new federal rules, […] Read more »
September 26, 2011
Obama Presses Education Plan Wall Street Journal, September 24, 2011 President Barack Obama in his weekly radio address on Saturday said a strong education system is key to the nation’s economic future and touted his efforts to let schools replace key planks of the No Child Left Behind education law. Obama Turns Some Powers of […] Read more »
