More Paths for Quality Teachers to Enter Colorado Classrooms
Should college graduates have more options to enter the teaching profession without going through traditional certification programs? Can Colorado expect to make more such options available in the near future? David Saba, president of the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, offers some insights into these questions and others as Colorado continues its search for more high-quality instructors to fill the state’s learning gaps.
Who’s More Satisfied: Public School or Private School Teachers?
What do public school teachers think about their jobs compared to private school teachers, and how does that affect education policy? Does school choice benefit teachers, too? Christian D’Andrea from the Friedman Foundation discusses a new report he co-authored by analyzing teacher survey data from the U.S. Department of Education. Some of the results may surprise you.
Important New Translation of Homer's Iliad
Homer’s seminal work has been around since 800 BC, and adored ever since. Professor Christian Kopff of CU-Boulder recently wrote the introduction to the new translation of the Iliad, and provides us with insights into why this new version is important.
“Sick-Out” and Impasses Highlight Need to Reform Teacher Pay
Hundreds of teachers in the Boulder Valley School District called in sick to work in recent days, leaving students in a lurch. District and union negotiators in Jefferson County and Greeley have declared impasses. The disagreements are all about proposed pay increases to teachers in difficult economic times. Education Policy Center director Pam Benigno and policy analyst Ben DeGrow discuss the problems of “sick-out” tactics and public employee strikes, as well as the need to pay teachers for excellence rather than seniority.
2009 Charter School Legislative Wrap-Up
Sean Bradley, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Colorado League of Charter Schools, joins Pam Benigno for a 2009 charter school legislative wrap-up. Pam and Sean also discuss the selection of Michael Johnston to fill the seat Senate President Peter Groff left behind for an Obama appointment.
Colorado Charter School Champion
Once again, charter schools survived Colorado’s legislative session. There are many legislators from both political parties that deserve to be praised for their support of charter schools. However, Sean Bradley, the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Colorado League of Charter Schools, deserves a loud “shout out” from all those who support charter schools. He […]
Typology of Colorado Charter Schools
Senior Fellow Krista Kafer joins Pam Benigno to discuss a Colorado Department of Education study titled A Typology of Colorado Charter Schools 2009 https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/download/typologyreport_012709.pdf and the updated version of an Independence Institute paper titled A Chronology of School Choice in the U.S. https://i2i.org/files/pdf/IP_3_2007_revised_April_2009.pdf
5/11/09
Newsletter May 11 2009
The Current State of Vouchers and School Choice
The Milwaukee voucher program is under attack, two Arizona voucher programs were recently struck down by the Arizona Supreme Court, and poor children participating in the Washington D.C. voucher program may be left behind. National school choice expert Scott Jensen, from the Alliance for School Choice, joins Pam Benigno in a discussion about the current state of four voucher programs. Also discussed is the growing support among Democrats for private school choice programs.
A New Outlet for School Choice Information
Charter school mother Donnell Rosenberg joins Pam Benigno to discuss her new website for Colorado parents called A Parent’s Voice (www.ParentalChoiceinEducation.com). Donnell explains why parents need to become better educated about charter school laws and policies. She believes parents need to become advocates of school choice and should make their voices heard.
4/8/09
Newsletter April 8 2009
Setting the Standard for Pro-Worker Transparency
As the influence of organized labor grows in Colorado’s public sector, so does the need for greater accountability and transparency. Through stricter enforcement of a federal law designed to ferret out union corruption, the U.S. Department of Labor in recent years has set the highest standard for disclosure of union finances. This enforcement has yielded real but limited gains in bringing restitution to members and fee-payers wronged by the malfeasance of certain union officials.
