Many Interesting Angles to Watch as Douglas County Voucher Pilot Rolls Out
Maybe it’s a little hometown Colorado bias at work here, but in my mind Douglas County vouchers is the education story of the year. I hope you didn’t think the story was essentially over once the Board adopted the program a few weeks ago. Because it’s not.
Now that the official policy for the pilot […]
Falcon 49 School Bus Capitol Photo-Op: Serious About Tough Decisions Ahead?
There are plenty of gag April’s Fools news stories floating out there this morning (my wishful-thinking favorite so far is Edspresso’s “Obama Administration Flips on School Vouchers”). But confusing as it may be, this story is legit: The same Falcon District 49 I lauded for taking a step towards more productive spending, the same district […]
Celebrate Opening Days for School Choice, Major League Baseball with Media Bullpen
Baseball season’s Opening Day means it’s not only time to start rooting for my Colorado Rockies. It’s also a great opportunity to introduce you to a relatively new baseball-themed website created by the Center for Education Reform, The Media Bullpen, and to celebrate two large school choice victories — in Washington, D.C., and Indiana.
Pioneering Teacher Compensation Reform: K-12 Educator Pay Innovation in Colorado
The transformation of teacher compensation is an integral piece of improving the overall quality of the K-12 instructional workforce. Research overwhelmingly shows the predominant single salary schedule, which pays teachers strictly according to seniority and academic credentials, to be ineffective and financially unsustainable. Numerous local innovations — led by Harrison School District Two, Eagle County Schools, and a number of public charter schools — place Colorado at the forefront of teacher compensation reform.
One Contract or Two, Making Employees Opt Out of Union Dues Each Year Isn’t Fair
As reported in the Pueblo Chieftain, today is the day a newly combined union of teachers and classified employees in School District 70 begins its master agreement negotiations. That’s fine as far as it goes. I guess one contract is easier to negotiate than two. At the risk of repeating myself from last June, the […]
Keep Hope Alive: D.C. School Choice SOAR Act Faces Key March 30 Vote
Tomorrow is a big day in Washington, D.C. I’m not talking about any big speeches by the President regarding overseas kinetic military actions or about Republicans and Democrats fighting it out over federal spending cuts.
On Wednesday the U.S. House of Representatives is slated to vote on the SOAR Act, which would restore and expand […]
National K-12 Online Teacher of the Year
National K-12 Online Teacher of the Year Kristin Kipp joins Pam Benigno in a discussion about her experience as an online teacher. Kristin is a teacher at the 21st Century Virtual Academy, an online school in Jefferson County. She shares her experience as an English online teacher and expresses the importance of well-trained teachers for student learning in online educational programs.
New Orleans Charters Latest to Show Positive Results, But Challenges Lie Ahead
A few weeks ago I pointed you to a study that showed Indiana charter schools outpacing their public school peers in making student academic improvements. Another place where charter schools are being done right — and on an unsurpassed scale — is New Orleans. Six of 10 public school students there is served by one […]
Colorado’s Neighbors to the East Look at Passing Some Choice-Friendly Reforms
It’s Friday morning. I’m ready to go out and play, so not a lot to blog about today. But I just wanted to bring a couple of developments to your attention. What about Colorado’s neighbors to the east? Their legislators seem to be giving serious consideration to a couple different good, commonsense reform ideas:
More than […]
Colorado School Leaders, Check Out Digital Learning Webinar: Wed., March 30
Hey there – YOU! I mean, hear ye, hear ye…. Colorado school and school district leaders, I wanted to share news of an upcoming online event that you may find very valuable as you seek to pursue academic excellence in these trying budget times. Education Week is hosting a webinar next Wednesday, March 30, from […]
Studies Show Vouchers Help Kids, Schools; What About Research of Douglas County?
Thanks to Greg Forster and the Foundation for Educational Choice, we now have the newly-released report A Win-Win Solution: The Empirical Evidence on School Vouchers, which brings together the 27 studies “using the best available scientific methods” to show “that vouchers improve outcomes for both participants and public schools.” My suggestion for the next object of study? Douglas County’s new pilot voucher program.
Newly-Adopted Idaho Laws Kind of Like the Yummy Tater Tots of Education Reform
Mashed. Baked. Au gratin. French fries. Hash browns. Tater tots…. Other than the fact it’s almost lunchtime, why am I talking about potatoes? In honor of my Education Policy Center friend Ben DeGrow’s newly-published School Reform News article “Idaho Gov. Signs Two Sweeping Reform Bills”:
Amid a rancorous atmosphere that included vandalism against Idaho’s top public […]
