Freedom Minute: JeffCo Mom Thanks Dedicated Teachers
JeffCo Mom Patti Peters thanks the dedicated teachers at her kid’s high school who keep their focus on the classroom rather than participate in the distractions that have affected some schools in the district.
Binding Thread? Four-Day School Week Research & Denver’s Roots Elementary
Sometimes a little edublogger sees two small interesting stories to cover, and leaves it to insightful readers like you to figure out the connection. Today is one of those somewhat interesting occasions. Let’s start over at Education Week, where a recent post by Liana Heitin caught my attention. A newly published study of 15 rural […]
Student-Based Budgeting Event Draws Colorado District Leaders, Policy Experts
On September 3, 2015, the Independence Institute and the Reason Foundation co-sponsored an in-depth panel and speaker event titled “Student-Based Budgeting in Colorado” at the Denver DoubleTree Hilton. Featuring financial experts from three of Colorado’s student-based budgeting districts, as well as five national expert speakers, the event drew 60 people to attend, including administrative and […]
Independence Institute “Indoctrinates” CO School Board Candidates with Helpful Policy Information
It’s hard to believe it’s Friday again. I’ve been scurrying around the Independence Institute office helping my policy friends get ready for their first of five 2015 Colorado School Board Candidate Briefings. This one was held in Loveland, Colorado, last night. Attendees received a presentation on Colorado education policy, and had a chance to ask […]
Wait, What? Washington Supreme Court Finds Charter Schools Unconstitutional
I’ve got to admit, Little Eddie’s faith in judges’ ability to fairly decide education issues is beginning to fray. Or it would be accurate to say that I’ve moved past fraying, and that my confidence has fully fallen apart at the seams like the blanket I’ve been dragging around with me since infancy. Back in […]
Future of Education in Colorado Being Decided in Local School Districts
A war is raging for the very soul of education in Colorado. Local education reform’s fiery collision with powerful entrenched interests has turned Jefferson County and Thompson school districts into high-stakes battlefields.
Of Successful Turnarounds, Heavy Hands, and Union Bargaining Power
It’s much better to have a light touch, rather than a heavy hand, from the state to exert efforts to improve schools. Colorado has its share of schools and districts in need of turnaround, with some serious options on the table (but delayed one year by a 2015 state law). Whenever possible, I always like […]
Freedom Minute: JeffCo Mom Won’t Tolerate Bullying
JeffCo Mom Linda Pelon explains why she won’t stand for the bullying she’s witnessed at JeffCo school board meetings. Despite raising teacher’s salaries and funding a new school without debt, the reform majority has been on the receiving end of opponents’ bad behavior.
New Orleans Video Underscores the Power of Reform
What a week! My mom and dad moved me to a new house last weekend. This one is a long way from the Capitol, which they say is to keep me from sneaking in there and playing edu-politics when I should be doing my homework. On top of that, I attended an awesome student-based budgeting […]
Freedom Minute: Building Hope at Arrupe Jesuit
Education policy analyst Ross Izard tells the story of Arrupe Jesuit High School, where low-income kids excel and succeed.
Despite Union Statements, National Polls Show Public Support for Testing
About this time last year, I was puzzling over the presence of a strange phantom statistic quoted by NEA in the wake of the annual PDK/Gallup national education poll. The statistic was eventually released weeks after the rest of the poll, which means NEA didn’t lie about it. They did, however, get special access to […]
ACLU vs. Nevada Families: Another Big Anti-School Choice Case to Wait Out
The Pope is Catholic. The sun rises in the east, and sets in the west. The grass is green, the sky is blue. And certain parties will sue groundbreaking educational choice programs that promise to help give kids more opportunities. Two months ago, an ACLU-initiated case against the Dougco Choice Scholarship Program prevailed in the […]
