Amy Oliver Show: Where is Colorado GOP on Education Reform?
Denver Post education reporter Eric Gorski shares where he sees Colorado Republicans coming down on K-12 education issues such as testing, accountability, and teacher evaluations.
Reading New ETS Report on Millennials Not Likely to Cheer You Up
A few weeks ago I raised the question: Should I get my hopes up about Colorado course choice again? Today, it seems more appropriate to ask whether I should get my hopes up at all. Yeah, you might think that sounds kind of depressing. But dare I say you haven’t yet had the chance to […]
The State of K-12 Union Contract Transparency
More than a decade before Proposition 104 shone a light on the negotiation process, the General Assembly required that the negotiation product should be made available using online technology. Lacking any sort of enforcement mechanism, a significant minority of bargaining school districts have fallen short of the basic expectation, though persistent reminders helped in many cases. Given the experience with union contract transparency, citizens should not take for granted full compliance with the letter and spirit of the new open negotiations law.
Exciting Stuff: Jeffco’s Jefferson Area Plan Moves Closer to a Vote
Some positive efforts for change are underway in the Jefferson Articulation Area, one of Jeffco’s most challenging regions. An important improvement plan faces a March 5 board vote. The plan is the culmination of a huge process that pulled together district officials, school leaders, community members, and parents. Education collaboration is a beautiful thing. Let’s hope it leads to better results for students!
In K-12 “Education Reform” Debates, Blind Spots, Blind Spots Everywhere
Welcome to a new week. With all the snow and cold outside, it seems like a good time to pause and reflect on the big picture of improving K-12 education. Which takes me straight to a Thursday thought piece by Andy Rotherham, titled “Education Reformers Have a Big Blind Spot.” What is the big blind […]
State Board Gets Even Weirder On Testing Issue
Last month, we kicked off the 2015 legislative party together. I promised it would be an exciting year, and that has certainly been the case. But I may have been wrong about where that excitement would be coming from. The legislature has its hands full when it comes to education-related issues, but the real party […]
Education Reform Policy Online Boot Camp Just Might Want You!
If you’re anything like me (and for your sake, be thankful if you’re not), the idea of a free and open online course on the inner workings of education reform is kind of like Christmas and birthday all rolled into one. I didn’t even ask Santa for such a thing, but lo and behold, the […]
Amy Oliver Show: Veteran Educators Take On K-12 Sacred Elephants
Veteran educators and Sacred Elephants co-authors Karen Harvey and Donna Nicholson share their diagnosis of what’s ailing our schools and offer solutions to get us back on the right path.
Report Card Skirmish: Falcon High School’s Standards-Based Grading
What’s in a grade? Strange question, I know. From my perspective, a good report card means praise and, if I’m lucky, a cookie or a new toy. Bad grades mean I get a “talkin’ to” from my parents. Those aren’t all that fun. For my parents, report cards are an important way to track how […]
Harrison: More About Real Performance Pay than Former Presidents
What kind of a holiday is Presidents Day anyway? For many kids, it’s just a great excuse to stay home from school. Speaking of which, yours truly decided to dig up eight little factoids about Colorado public schools named after former U.S. presidents: Hardly a shock, “Lincoln” is the most popular presidential school name with […]
Amy Oliver Show: Successful Windsor Charter to Open High School
Windsor Charter Academy principal Rebecca Teeples talks about what brings families to her K-8 Core Knowledge school, and shares the news that a high school campus will be opening this fall.
Keeping the Conversation Going: Independence Institute’s New National School Choice Week Video
I’ve spent a lot of time at the Colorado State Capitol over the last month or so. Committee hearings, meetings, awkward hallway loitering—you name it, this little guy has done it. But by far the most fun I’ve had under the golden dome was the National School Choice Week rally last month. I hope you […]
