Colorado Succeeds Report Makes Case for Following Florida’s Reform Success
An article in yesterday’s Denver Post brought attention to a new report by our friends at Colorado Succeeds that urges Colorado to follow Florida’s lead on education reforms. Where have I heard that before? Oh, yeah…
Jeb Bush’s Stellar Education Reform Record Worthy of Colorado Emulation (July 2008)
Bolstering the Case for Jeb Bush’s Education Reform Success […]
Fair and Balanced?: Union Dominates Local TV “Waiting for Superman” Panel
Look, I’m going to admit up front that little Eddie isn’t inherently balanced, not when it comes to discussions education issues anyway. I have a point of view. It’s no secret. I try to back up my arguments with evidence as much as I can, but in the end I have some pretty strong beliefs […]
9/22/10
Newsletter September 22 2010
School Leaders Unite in Washington Post: Teacher and Choice Reforms Needed Now
The Waiting for Superman debut (coming soon to a theater near you, my Colorado friends) really has super-charged the discussion about the American education system and the need for change. This weekend the Washington Post featured a column by 16 major school leaders — including Denver Public Schools superintendent Tom Boasberg, former Pueblo City School […]
Weld County Re-1 Dispute Raises Questions about Union, Bargaining Issues
Interesting new story out of northern Colorado… Sherrie Peif of the Greeley Tribune reported yesterday on some turmoil in the Weld County Re-1 School District as the local school board considers changing the process of addressing teacher policies:
On Friday, Jo Barbie, the district superintendent, sent an e-mail to teachers telling them that the board was […]
Isn’t It Time We Call Ourselves Education Transformers? How Cool Would That Be?
Maybe calling what I like to blog about and advocate for all the time “education reform” really isn’t bold enough. Maybe we need to think bigger, for the sake of many kids my age who face a bleak future of sub-par schooling. Instead of Education Reformers, shouldn’t we call ourselves Education Transformers? You’ve got to admit the name sounds a lot cooler.
The New Teacher Project Highlights Key Evaluation Principles: Can SB 191 Deliver?
It’s a dreary day outside. Maybe fall has finally fallen. Rather than pontificate and show off my brilliant vocabulary, I decided today just to point your attention to a new report by The New Teacher Project (PDF) on six key design principles for teacher evaluations (H/T Eduwonk):
Annual process
Clear, rigorous expectations
Multiple measures
Multiple ratings
Regular feedback
Significance
Some of these […]
The Ivory Tower May Be Cracking, But Education Professors Have a Ways to Go
I spend a lot of time on this blog talking about teachers and policies related to them. But what about those who teach teachers — at least those teachers who receive traditional certification from postsecondary schools of education?
Last week the Fordham Institute released the results of a survey of more than 700 education professors “to […]
Many Kids Are Waiting for Superman, But Some Have Found Their Rocketship
We’re getting closer to that Waiting for Superman Colorado premiere… less than two weeks! While we know that a school isn’t necessarily better because it’s a charter school, the coming of the movie reminds us there are some innovative charter operators attaining remarkable results.
One of the charter networks deserving positive attention is Rocketship Education, the […]
After K-12 Stimulus Funding, Are Colorado Schools Ready to Tighten Belts?
It’s been a long time since I’ve written about the federal government’s “magical money tree.” Funny how we forget so quickly about $100 billion of borrowed taxpayer funds shipped around the country to prop up the K-12 status quo. Or have we forgotten?
Rich Lowry at National Review writes a column today that takes a big-picture […]
Rick Hess Article Makes Case for Expanding Frontiers in School Reform
Today I don’t have a lot to say, but am hoping my school choice and market-reform supporting friends take a dive into Rick Hess’s new National Affairs piece titled “Does School Choice Work?” While Dr. Jay Greene is correct that we should be optimistic over the progress made thus far in building support for school […]
EdNews Parent: A New Resource
Are you a parent of school-aged kids and live in Colorado? Perhaps you already have been to our enormously helpful School Choice for Kids website to learn about all the education options available near you and great tips to navigate the school district open enrollment process. (If you haven’t, why not check it out now?)
But […]
