Want a Glimpse of the Education Future? Time to Get to Know Khan Academy
A random Monday posting… First of all, let me clarify that this post has nothing to do with old Star Trek movies or even older Mongol hordes. If you are interested at all in the future of education but haven’t heard of Khan Academy yet, now is the time to start getting up to speed. […]
Staff, Parents Discuss Falcon Innovation: Ideas Emerging as Promise Remains Strong
I began the week by telling you about the series of “Innovation Conventions” going on in Falcon 49 — a school district serving about 15,000 students east of Colorado Springs. (Background: Check out District 49’s innovations page and the links it contains, especially the open letter from the Board, the iVoices podcast interview and the […]
Douglas County School Board Enacts Pilot Voucher Program
On March 15, 2011, the Douglas County Board of Education made history by voting 7-0 to enact a local pilot “choice scholarship” program. The Education Policy Center’s Pam Benigno and Ben DeGrow, who both served on Douglas County’s School Choice Task Force, discuss the significance of Colorado’s third-largest school district approving vouchers, as well as key program details concerning student eligibility, private school requirements, and funding.
Florida, Gov. Rick Scott Close to Raising Bar on Teacher Tenure, Evaluation Reform
You may have missed it because you were recovering from the New Year’s holiday, but I told you a couple months ago how Florida’s new governor Rick Scott was considering some pretty bold education reforms. The first two points of consideration I listed were:
Following Colorado’s lead by tying a significant portion of teacher evaluations to […]
Douglas County School Board Enacts Voucher Pilot Program, Makes History
You may have already heard about the recent BIG news from Douglas County: The Board of Education voted to adopt (quite possibly) the nation’s very first ever school board-initiated private school choice scholarship program. And the vote was unanimous! Learn more by reading the Education Policy Center’s press release and other key links as we celebrate this milestone development.
Getting Over the Past, Looking to the (School Choice and Innovation) Future
Today I’m trying not to think about the past and focusing instead on the future. By the past, I’m referring to yesterday’s vote in Colorado’s House Education Committee that killed the “Parent Trigger” bill (aka HB 1270). This blogger Victor from the Education Action Group says the “education establishment won their fight.” Disappointed only begins […]
Falcon 49 Parents, Teachers, District Leaders Convene Around Innovation
Has it really been a whole month since I wrote about the Falcon 49 innovation plan — not to mention the Cookie Monster? Time flies. Next thing you know, I’ll blink and turn 6.
Anyway, over the weekend, we saw one of the first promising signs that the district’s innovative reform is gaining traction. The Colorado […]
DeGrow Talks Local School Choice with Suburban Republicans
On March 12, 2011, senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow was privileged to address more than 50 members and guests at the North Suburban Republican Forum in Thornton, Colo. After introducing some of the Education Policy Center’s media products and sharing some background on the history of school choice and on research supporting school choice, Ben […]
Flattered by Matthew Tabor After a Great Edublogging Podcast: Check It Out!
It has been said that flattery will get you nowhere. I don’t know who said that, but it wasn’t a 5-year-old education blogger and his name wasn’t Eddie. My Education Policy Center friend Ben DeGrow hosted a podcast with prolific education blogger and new media entrepreneur Matthew Tabor from Education Debate at Online Schools. After […]
Debating Education Reform Online
Matthew Tabor of Education Debate at Online Schools discusses the importance of informed voices getting involved in the online education reform discussion. A prolific commentator and new media entrepreneur, Tabor explores the current terrain of the education blogosphere and highlights a current debate that exemplifies the effectiveness of the medium.
Kit Carson Becomes First Innovation District: Case of One Size Doesn’t Fit All
One of the great cliches in policy is that “one size doesn’t fit all.” Well, cliches get to be that way by having some truth behind them. Kind of like my dad’s spiffy loafers are a little big for my feet when I try them on, sometimes even the best state policies need to be tweaked to meet the needs of local communities. Such is the case for Kit Carson R-1, which became Colorado’s first school district to receive innovation status.
Head Start Hasn’t Lived Up To Its Promises: How About Just Getting Out of Debt?
Adults can be strange sometimes. Create a government program. Make it about helping little kids like me. Give it a catchy name like “Head Start.” Spend billions of dollars. And then when the evidence repeatedly shows it doesn’t work? Just ignore it.
Wait, huh?
Okay, not all adults have that mindset. But it’s funny to see […]
