Independence Institute Report Highlights K-12 Bargaining Reform Opportunities
Yesterday was Labor Day. Which makes it a coincidence that my Education Policy Center friends decided to publish this report today, titled Nine Key Changes at the Bargaining Table:
Of Colorado’s 178 school districts, 41 have a formal bargaining relationship with one or more employee unions. Because Colorado has no defined public-sector labor law, the greatest […]
Nine Key Changes at the Bargaining Table: A Policy Handbook for Colorado School Board Reform Leaders
Of Colorado’s 178 school districts, 41 have a formal bargaining relationship with one or more employee unions. Because Colorado has no defined public-sector labor law, the greatest opportunity to reform restrictive policies and interest group privileges comes at the school board level. Opportunity awaits local education leaders to enhance flexibility, fairness and fiscal responsibility at the bargaining table.
New Figlio Study Shows Real Learning Gains for Florida Tax Credit Students
Little Eddie is busy beating the heat, so no long, clever and insightful entries for today. In the meantime, chalk another one up for the positive effects of school choice. Matt Ladner points us to a new study on one of the nation’s major education tax credit programs:
A careful analysis of test score gains by […]
Ben DeGrow Advocates for Innovation, More Productive Education Spending on 9News Your Show
Senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow appeared on Denver’s 9News Your Show with State Senator Rollie Heath to discuss the state of education funding and Senator Heath’s Proposition 103, a ballot initiative designed to increase state income and sales tax rates. A link is provided to the video on the 9 News site.
Michigan Legislator Attacks Choice, Wants Public Schools to Control Who Attends
From the files of “I’m glad s/he’s not my state legislator,” we turn to the state of Michigan — where lawmakers are considering a plan to give families greater choice through mandatory public school open enrollment. A recent Associated Press story highlights some of the outrageous rhetoric from the opposition:
State Rep. Timothy Bledsoe, a Democrat […]
Kudos to Indiana Families, Reformers for Early Choice Scholarship Success
Was it really less than three weeks ago I wondered aloud about the pending school choice rulings here in Colorado and in Indiana? While a Denver District Court judge put a (temporary) halt to the Douglas County Choice Scholarship Program, a few days later Hoosier families celebrated a better result. Today Associated Press writer Tom […]
You're Invited to Waiting for Superman Movie Night
Please join us for a showing of Waiting for Superman Tuesday, September 13, 2011 6:30 PM Doors Open 7:00 PM Movie begins Popcorn, Candy and Soft Drinks will be served. Please RSVP to Mary at 303-279-6536 X102 or Mary@i2i.org
Hanushek Connection: Lobato Testimony, Funding Research, Waiting for “Superman”
National education expert Dr. Eric Hanushek was in Denver this week to testify in Colorado’s Lobato court hearing about the lack of correlation between increased K-12 funding and academic results. His appearance brings to mind two timely connections: Our own Ben DeGrow cited Hanushek’s school funding research (though not by name) on air for this Sunday’s episode of Your Show. And Hanushek is one of the experts featured in the acclaimed education film, Waiting for “Superman,” which will show at the Independence Institute on Tuesday, September 13.
Rick Hess: Why Don’t Unions Stand Up for Effective Principals, Ed School Reform?
Time is of the essence today, so one of my Education Policy Center friends will simply take a quick moment and point you to a very insightful blog passage about the dynamics of education reform. Take it away, Dr. Rick Hess:
…it strikes me as ludicrous for the unions to sit quietly by and share the […]
In Two Major Studies on Academic Standards, Colorado is Statistical Oddball
How did Colorado get to be the oddball? It’s got to be more than just so I would have something to tell you about. Oddball at what? you ask. Okay, let me back up and give you a little context.
Yesterday Harvard professor Paul Peterson wrote yesterday on Education Next about a new U.S. Department […]
When Education and Politics Collide: Chicago Messes with Texas Edition
I’m not sure what it is with big people’s fascination with politics, and how discussions about education seem to cross over into the absurd the closer big elections get. Case in point: the Republican governor of Texas announces he is a candidate for President. Less than a week later, the Democratic U.S. Secretary of Education […]
Outside the Education Box: Blended Learning Opportunities for At-Risk Teenss
A new piece for Education Next by June Kronholz profiles Virginia’s four Performance Learning Centers (PLCs) — blended learning environments that use online technology to help get struggling at-risk students to graduate high school (H/T Joanne Jacobs). The story is chocked full of interesting anecdotes and insights. This one caught my attention:
Students graduate when they […]
