I’m Thankful Colorado Teachers At Least Can Request Political Refunds
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, which means I’ll take a little break from blogging. One of the things I’m thankful for are teachers — especially good teachers who work hard, know their stuff, and care about the success and well-being of kids like me. This time of year I also am thankful that teachers in Colorado are […]
Colorado Needs Standards for Tax-Funded Union Release Time
In many Colorado school districts, taxpayers are subsidizing union presidents and/or other officers to take release time from the classroom for union business. Back in 2003-04 the practice cost Colorado taxpayers at least $775,000 (PDF). Since nothing is known to have changed to crack down on the process, the figure must be considerably more these […]
Arizona Shows K-12 Tax Credit Program Saves State Millions of Dollars
Should Colorado enact a K-12 scholarship tax credit program that empowers families to choose private schools? It may sound crazy politically, yet the idea would make sense not only to expand choice for families but also to help the state save money during an especially tough budget year.
What, you say, you don’t believe that it […]
Accountability for Tax-Funded Teachers Union Release Time?
Utah state auditors have found that local union leaders in several school districts have not clearly accounted for their taxpayer-subsidized release time from the classroom, a practice which also takes place in Colorado. Judi Clark, executive director of Utah’s Parents for Choice in Education, explains how her organization has helped to expose the problem and why more accountability and transparency are needed to ensure education dollars are being used wisely to help students.
Glad to Have My Skepticism Validated about Denver’s “Boundary School” Idea
Last week I asked what Denver Public Schools was up to with a plan to change the enrollment policies for some of its charter schools, making them into “boundary schools.” What’s up with that?
When you’re 5 years old like I am, you can tend to be insecure about questioning authority so often. Thus I was […]
Un-”progressive” Boston Teachers Union Gives Important Policy Lesson
If there’s such a thing as being the opposite of “progressive” when it comes to education personnel practices, this example from the Boston Herald is it:
Grinchlike union bosses are blocking at least 200 of Boston’s best teachers from pocketing bonuses for their classroom heroics in a puzzling move that gets a failing grade from education […]
Political Refund for CEA Members Available
Members of the Colorado Education Association have until December 15 to request one or more Every Member Option (EMO) political refunds — worth as much as $63 altogether. Listen to Ben DeGrow explain the process, or visit IndependentTeachers.org for more information.
11/18/09
Newsletter November 18 2009
Real Alternative Certification May Actually Help Boost Student Learning
I’ve told you before about groups like ABCTE that are reaching out to top-notch professionals and making it easier for them to make an effective transition into classroom teaching. But where’s the proof this is a good idea for the bottom line of education?
In the new edition of Education Next, Daniel Nadler and Paul Peterson […]
Hoping Race to the Top Spurs Colorado Funding, Teacher, STEM Innovations
Katie Redding at the Colorado Independent reported yesterday on the official recommendations for Colorado’s application to receive Race to the Top federal reform dollars. One of my Education Policy Center friends got a chance to chime in:
Ben DeGrow, education policy analyst for the free-market Independence Institute, found much to like about the application, particularly the […]
Colorado Cyberschool Students Tell What It’s Like To Go To School Online
Colorado is a great place to be for families seeking a free online public education. There are 18 different multi-district cyberschools in the state, in addition to single-district and other supplemental online programs.
Over the past several months I’ve introduced you to insights on the transformative power of online education through a podcast interview with […]
The Cyberschool Experience
More than 14,000 Colorado K-12 students are enrolled in a public online school. Pam Benigno discusses the cyberschool experience with Colorado Virtual Academy students Sean, Shannon, Ashlyn Cooney.
