K-12 Finance Reform Video Stars Differ on Weighted Student Funding Views
Education Week last week ran with a story touting renewed local interest in the weighted student funding concept. Quoted in the story, the Center on Reinventing Public Education’s Dr. Marguerite Roza noted that while current budget pressures have sparked interest, the policy offers some real benefits:
Weighted student funding can also help promote nonstandard staffing models […]
Life Intrudes
Vivian Jones was born in eastern North Dakota in 1926. Known to her friends as Red for her brightly colored hair, she was the life of every party and a cheerleader in high school and at the University of North Dakota, where she received a degree in Social Work. She went on to the University […]
The dubious policy assumptions behind ObamaCare’s legal defense
ObamaCare’s legal defense relies as much on policy arguments—about the nature of uncompensated medical care, the role of Medicaid, and the interaction of the law’s various provisions—as it does on constitutional reasoning. But the policy case is just as dubious as the constitutional one. Continue reading
DeGrow Lauds Dougco Transparency, Bold Reforms and Declining Union Power
Senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow’s comments on unfolding events surrounding teacher union negotiations in Douglas County were featured in a story today on American Family Radio News (One News Now). Responding to reporter Bob Kellogg, DeGrow highlighted the practice of open negotiations and praised the district for its commitment to bold reforms: “The school board […]
The End of Teacher Collective Bargaining in Dougco?
Are we really nearing the end of a teachers union bargaining agreement in Douglas County? Senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow discusses the background, some of the key disputed issues, and the potential fallout as negotiations between school district and union officials wind down and the bargaining agreement expiration date approaches. Douglas County soon could become Colorado’s largest school district without a teacher collective bargaining agreement.
Parental Demand for Public Charter Schools Nationwide Growing Fast, Data Show
A quick Friday freebie to wrap your mind around, compliments of Education Week’s Sean Cavanagh:
An estimated 610,000 students are on waiting lists to attend charter schools—a jump of about 200,000 from just two years ago, a national organization says.
The National Alliance of Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) — with its brand new executive director Nina Rees […]
Six Falcon 49 Schools Win Innovation Status as Board Nears Important Crossroads
About six weeks ago I shared with readers that the Falcon School District 49 innovation plan was nearing a crossroads. That crucial time may now be upon us. As reported in the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Colorado State Board of Education yesterday unanimously approved requests to give six District 49 schools official innovation status:
“Innovation is […]
Dougco Union Power Not Worth Sticking Out a Neck?
Originally posted at Colorado Peak Politics. Re-posted here with permission. By Ben DeGrow In a superb column today, the Denver Post‘s Vincent Carroll raises a question that not long ago would have stretched the bounds of reason: Are these the final days for the Douglas County Federation of Teachers? With June 30 looming as the […]
Hey, Abbott!!! Colorado Really Doesn’t Rank 49th in K-12 Education Spending
Who appreciates a little creativity from education policy wonks more than I do? Exactly, which is why a big smile covered my face to see today’s posting from Jonathan Butcher at the Goldwater Institute, titled “An Abbott and Costello routine: Who’s on… 49th?” It’s hard to imagine the really old-time comic duo taking on misleading […]
High deductible health plans promote prudent spending but ObamaCare threatens them
Consumer-directed health plans — not federal government dictates — have helped bring down costs. Obamacare should be expanding them — not regulating them out of existence. Continue reading
Teachers Union Officials Get Sappy, Sentimental about Declining Power
After the landmark Wisconsin recall elections, American public education has crossed an important threshold of declining union power and a gradual shift away from the industrial collective bargaining model. While NEA officials wax sentimental (“the way they were”), I look forward to a new model of employee relations that respects both teacher voices and options, while focusing primarily on student learning needs.
Health Care Plan Rebates Have Hidden Costs : Roll Call Opinion
“Although health insurers will pay some rebates this year, the cash should be treated as a short-term benefit with a long-term cost.” Continue reading
