Sign Up For Our Newsletter

FOX & FRIENDS 6.27.2019 SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN INTRODUCES A PLAN FOR GOVERNMENT-RUN AND REGULATED CHILD CARE…HERE’S WHY IT WON’T WORK   Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO of CER, appeared on Fox & Friends, June 27, 2019 to discuss Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Universal Child Care and Early Learning Act, which would establish a network of federally […] Read more »

October 2017 Education, Workforce and Apprenticeship Tax Credit Act Proposed Bill Summary As the President and the U.S. Congress focus on tax reforms to help stimulate private sector job creation, there is an urgent need to ensure the preparation of current and future workers for the changing demands of the U.S. economy. Read more »

In one budget request after another, President Obama continues to underfund the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) so that only basic administrative costs are covered. This year’s FY 2016 budget was no different. The underfunding remains a mystery in the face of the OSP’s incredible success: 89 percent of twelfth grade OSP students graduated high […] Read more »

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), incoming chairman of the Senate committee on education, says his top priority is fixing the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law that has been in limbo since it came up for renewal in 2007. Since that time, the Obama administration has been issuing waivers to states from some of the law’s requirements, […] Read more »

MEMORANDUM May 7, 2014 TO:  U.S. Charter School Leaders CC: Parents, Advocates, and Friends FROM: Kara Kerwin, President RE:  URGENT ACTION NEEDED  – Federal Charter School Program Tomorrow, the United States House of Representatives is slated to vote on the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act, which reauthorizes both the federal Charter School […] Read more »

The Federal Department of Education is pulling Washington State’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waiver because the state has not fulfilled the department’s requirements for reform, mainly linking teacher evaluations to student performance. Washington State Superintendent Randy Dorn blames the teacher’s unions because they “felt it was more important to protect their members than agree […] Read more »

Tuesday, the U.S. House Education Committee held a hearing on H.R. 10, the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act, and while some are praising the legislation, the Center for Education Reform cautions that it is nothing more than a natural progression of the federal government becoming too involved in charter school policy. Read more »

Testimony before the House Education and the Workforce Committee of the United States Congress. Read more »

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), along with the chairs of the black, Asian, and Hispanic caucuses, expressed concern that the Education Secretary Arne Duncan isn’t holding states that have been given waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) accountable. These lawmakers are concerned the academic progress and improvement strategies required by the waivers aren’t […] Read more »

Legislation introduced by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) would distribute $2,100 in Opportunity Scholarships for up to 11 million low-income children across the United States. Called the “Scholarships for Kids” Act, the bill would divert $24 billion in federal education dollars to provide these Opportunity Scholarships. A central intention of this bill is to encourage choice […] Read more »

A Policy Perspective: Defining the Needs of Substantive Education Reform in Federal Program Read more »

Yesterday, the US House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce moved their version of ESEA reauthorization to the House floor on party lines, signaling a showdown with the US Senate. Read more »

News outlets and the blogosphere have been abuzz lately about the impact that President Obama's 2014 Budget plan will have on education. Of particular note is funding, or lack thereof, to the highly successful and popular D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP). Read more »

While accountability for traditional public schools is discussed in terms of school improvement grants and turn around models, proposals for charter school accountability are much more highly regulated, taking a movement born to welcome entrepreneurial enterprise and demonstrate performance-based accountability, and turning it into a new “system” that requires a heavy hand from federal policymakers. Read more »

Record spending on School Improvement Grants does not produce record results. Read more »

The federal Race to the Top competition is making school districts dole out far more money than they're receiving from the program, according to school officials and experts. Read more »

Reports of local teachers unions refusing to sign on to district Race to the Top plans are starting to gain media attention, but the real question is whether or not these federal grants are a truly a game changer when it comes to bringing about real reforms. Read more »

Unfortunately, jobs and the economy have overpowered the presidential campaign and debates, leaving little room for President Obama and Governor Romney to discuss education. But the opportunity to discuss this topic was created at an event where representatives from the Obama and Romney campaigns discussed differences between the candidates. Read more »

Federal regulation requires the development of student programming to celebrate U.S. Constitution Day on September 17th of each year. Check out and pass along these great resources. Read more »

The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed 2 bills, the Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act, part of a package intended to overhaul No Child Left Behind. Read more »

We hate to say we told you so, but without strong on-the-ground work of parents, advocates and strong legislative leaders in each state who see that special interests have blocked educational opportunities and work to change that, these federal grants won’t bring about reform, just frustration. Read more »

Twenty-nine civil rights groups, business associations, statewide education officials, and education advocates announce withholding of support for Senate HELP Committee's ESEA reauthorization plans due to historic retreat on accountability measures. Read more »

President Obama declared that states who were willing to set higher standards, revamp teacher evaluations, and overhaul their lowest performing schools can apply for waivers from certain parts of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), including the 2014 100% proficiency deadline. Read more »

Gene Hickok, former Deputy Secretary of Education, weighs in on President Obama’s plan to grant waivers for NCLB requirements to states that agree to certain education reforms. Read more »

Download or print your PDF copy of Race to the Top Racing Form Read more »

Education Legacy: . . . And Charter Schools Are the Way to Start by Jeanne Allen, Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA, November 17, 2009 Race to the Top Heats Up, by Akilah Johnson, Sun Sentinel, Florida,  November 15, 2009 Obama Gets Inflated Grade on Education Reform, Commentary by Neal McCluskey, Detroit News, November 14, 2009 Racing to […] Read more »

Status Quo Strongholds Share Same Stage as Education Reform Leaders Jeanne Allen on ‘Race to the Top’ Phase 2 Finalists CER Press Release July 27, 2010 The fact that status quo strongholds are sharing the same stage as truly groundbreaking education reform leaders such as Florida, New York and the District of Columbia in a […] Read more »