Bad Choices bring Bad Times: Analyzing the NCEE's 2006 Report
This paper discusses the National Center on Education and the Economy’s (NCEE) report Tough Choices or Tough Times and its vision for changing our education system. The paper examines many aspects of the proposed redesign to question how likely the NCEE is to meet its objectives. The paper also questions the objectives of the NCEE’s proposed model and its underlying educational philosophy. Akin to the German educational model, the Commission’s proposal begins with the belief that government is better equipped to develop an educational system from the top down than are teachers, parents, and other professionals working from the bottom up.
Open Enrollment and the Internet
Over the course of one year, an evaluation of Colorado’s 20 largest school district Web sites was conducted to determine if districts made available, via the Internet, essential open enrollment procedural information in an easy-to-access manner.
Low Expectations Won’t Help Anybody
Grades, professional careers, and academic excellence are in the news thanks to the President of the National Urban League. In an interview that made national news, Marc Morial talked about law firms and diversity. It turns out that lawyers at the best firms want to hire only applicants who got good grades in law school. This, apparently, is bad.
Education Reform Conversation Comes to I.I. Offices
The Governor and other elected officials are seeking the input of citizens to decide what education reform should look like in Colorado.
Pueblo School Districts: union teaches that “no” doesn’t really mean “no”
Public school boards should not give a private organization privileged access to employee earnings. Yet both Pueblo school districts rank among the state’s worst offenders.
Denver’s ProComp and Teacher Compensation Reform in Colorado
This report provides an in-depth look at Denver’s new results-based system for teacher pay in the larger context of compensation reform. It identifies areas where the plan could be improved and expanded to be used in other Colorado schools.
An honest education in 'professional pay'
The Colorado Education Association recently unveiled a campaign under the alliterative slogan “Professional Pay.” The plan calls for a $40,000 salary for every new Colorado teacher by 2011. School districts in Aspen and Westminster already have acceded to the demand.
Defenders of Fuzzy Math Do Students a Disservice
It’s déjà vu all over again. Is Colorado public education in the Twilight Zone? Is Bill Murray going to show up at the Capitol, reliving a mathematical “Groundhog Day”? That’s how I feel after reviewing this year’s CSAP math scores.
Public shouldn't fund teachers' union activities
Recent revelations surrounding the alleged misuse of public school funds by a union leader shed light on a deeper problem. School officials should not release control of taxpayer funds to a private organization.
Iowa Expands Tax Credit Program
Iowa’s existing tax credit program for donations to Scholarship Tuition Organizations (STOs) has been expanded with Governor Chet Culver’s signature.
Hanky-Panky in Colorado Springs Union
Jon Caldara interviews education analysts Ben DeGrow regarding the Colorado Springs Education Association dipping into taxpayers’ wallets.
Georgia Enacts Special Needs Scholarships
Today Governor Sonny Perdue signed into law the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship program. The law gives current Georgia public school students with disabilities the option of attending an out-of-district public school or non-public (private) school, beginning in fall 2007.
