7/9/10
Newsletter July 9 2010
Mathematica Study: KIPP Charter Middle Schools Show “Impressive” Results
It’s almost too obvious to say, but worth repeating to those who don’t want to listen: Not all public charter schools are good. But nearly all are offering families a viable education alternative, and many are outperforming their traditional counterparts — some by a significant amount. Like KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program).
A new study conducted […]
ObamaCare’s high-risk pools may deny coverage
This week the Denver Business Journal and the Denver Post reported on Colorado’s new federally subsidizes high-risk pools (”GettingUSCovered”). But there’s a good reason to be concerned about quality and access. The Hill reports:
The Obama administration has not ruled out turning sick people away from an insurance program created by the new healthcare law [HR […]
California High-Speed Rail in Trouble
New reports have raised questions about and spurred opposition to California’s grandiose high-speed rail plans. First, last April, the California state auditor reported that the state’s high-speed rail authority suffered from “inadequate planning, weak oversight, and lax contract management,” which is not exactly what you want to hear about an agency that is about to […]
Denver Post Follows My Lead, Notices Colorado’s Common Core Standards Debate
I may be young, but I didn’t fall off the apple cart yesterday (or however that expression goes). In fact, your little Eddie sometimes is way ahead of the curve on local education issues. Take Colorado’s emerging debate over Common Core Standards: Been there, done that.
Six weeks after I first brought your attention to […]
Obama appoints Donald Berwick: Health Care Rationer-in-Chief
From Grace-Marie Turner at National Review (July 7):
President Obama is making a huge end-run around the American people with his recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick.
“This recess appointment is an insult to the American people,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.), a physician and leading Berwick opponent. “Dr. Berwick is a […]
New York Rediscovers the Bus
Tongues are wagging in New York City about a new transportation technology that doesn’t require you to descend into a dank tunnel smelling of urine, sweat, and lysol. The new technology is called a bus, and New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority used one to introduce a new bus-rapid transit line two years ago. Not only […]
Rick Hess Went Down to Georgia…
From time to time, it’s worthwhile to look outside the borders of our United States to glean some valuable lessons about school reform. Rick Hess — one of the more thoughtful education policy gurus out there — recently returned from a two-week trip to Georgia and shared his thoughts.
So some of you are thinking… Georgia? […]
Kagan: Constitution may authorize feds to mandate what you eat
From Michael Tanner at Cato:
Suppose that the federal government, in its infinite wisdom, decided that it would deal with the obesity crisis and improve the health and welfare of the American people — by mandating that every American eat three helpings of vegetables and three helpings of fruit every day. Anyone […]
Charlotte Light Rail a Big Flop
Let’s see: 100 percent cost overrun? Check. Anemic ridership? Check. Requires tax breaks, tax-increment financing, and other “public investments” to stimulate transit-oriented development? Check. Declared a great success by the transit agency desperate for tax increases to fund further rail projects? Check. Must be light rail. As Wikipedia points out, when planned in 2000, Charlotte’s […]
Summertime Good for Celebrating Victory for Louisiana Special-Needs Students
I’ve had a great time lately with the cool (and here in Colorado, I mean “cool”) fireworks shows and water fights. Still, it’s good to be back sharing some more good news about school choice. Yes, I’m behind the curve in letting you know about what Louisiana has done, but better late than never — […]
Sen. Michael Johnston Leads Teacher Discussion on SB 191 Reform
On June 23 the Education Policy Center was honored to host state senator Michael Johnston leading a discussion with Colorado teachers about the new teacher tenure reform law: Senate Bill 191. His presentation was the main focus of our sixth annual Independent Teachers Fellowship. For more on SB 191, see policy analyst Ben DeGrow’s May […]
