Eddie’s Top Posts of 2014: Part One
It’s hard to believe, but another long year of being age 5 is nearly past. January doesn’t seem that long ago, but here we are again, on the brink of new calendars and check-dating confusion. The year 2015 is just around the corner. But for now, it’s time for a little reflection on some of […]
Devil’s Advocate: The Power of K-12 Scholarships to Change Lives
Tune in to Devil’s Advocate with host Jon Caldara as he and Independence Institute Education Policy Center director Pam Benigno speak with Jamilla Dennis, a college student at Howard University whose life was forever changed by a scholarship from the Colorado-based Challenge Foundation. Jamilla offers a first-hand account of the powerful effect K-12 tuition scholarships can have on students’ […]
Little Eddie’s First Annual Loosely Connected Holiday Mashup
I’m starting to get pretty excited for the holidays. School’s out, the tree is decorated, the lights are up (dad only fell off the ladder once this year), and a healthy pile of presents has accumulated in the living room. Meanwhile, the holiday policy doldrums have officially arrived, which that means that yours truly will […]
Snow or Not, Let’s Keep Sharing School Choice Wishes for 2015 and Beyond
There’s no school right now, but plenty of holiday magic in the air. And so today I’m wishing for snow so my Dad can take me out on the sled. I guess if we went up into the mountains, there’d be plenty to come by. But around Eddie’s neighborhood, it’s just a little too warm […]
The Great Teachers Union-Republican Alliance of 2015?
Yesterday, I wrote about the latest developments in what I have begun to simply call “The Testing Mess.” It’s sticky, sticky stuff, and I find that it’s often difficult to decipher which piece of the puzzle I’m going to be talking about when someone brings up “testing” in conversation these days. But being the insatiable […]
Sticky Testing Issue Knot: Where’s the Education Policy Velcro?
I may be a precocious and talented young edublogger, but tying shoelaces still gives me fits. My mom insists on double-knotting the laces. Occasionally, in my dreams, I am stifled and frustrated by a tight pair of shoes that I can’t remove because they have been tied snugly so many times with knots that could […]
Taking a Look at This Year’s Colorado School Grades
December is an exciting month for me. For starters, I’ve got some cool presents coming my way next week. In the meantime, I’ve got plenty of fun education stuff to keep me busy. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of highlighting some standouts among CDE’s annual award winners. This week, I have the honor […]
Justice’s Slow-Turning Wheel: CEA’s Opening Tenure Appeal Argument
When I told you last week about the Colorado Supreme Court hearing in the Douglas County Choice Scholarship Program case, it came home just how slowly the wheels of justice turn. At least that’s how it seems from the perspective of a perpetual 5 year old. But I hadn’t given much thought to how redundant […]
Amy Oliver Show: Dougco Community Rallies Around School Choice
Great Choice Douglas County president Charcie Russell and local retired teacher Debbie Cohen talk about why they support the Douglas County School District’s Choice Scholarship Program.
CO Independent Cites DeGrow on Dougco Choice in Supreme Court
A December 12 Colorado Independent story by Lisa Greim on the Douglas County Choice Scholarship Program’s hearing before the Colorado Supreme Court included a comment from senior education policy analyst Ben DeGrow about what a favorable ruling might mean: “There’s a wait-and-see attitude” among districts, DeGrow said. A Supreme Court ruling favorable to school-choice proponents […]
NCTQ Slaps Down Colorado on Teacher Preparation: Will We Ever Learn?
There’s nothing to be proud about narrowly avoiding failure. It makes me nervous just to think about how Colorado still teeters on the edge when it comes to the quality of our teacher preparation. We know how important the role of the classroom instructor is for helping students learn, so the latest release of the […]
Important Scribbles: What Drawings May Say About Lives at Home
Unfortunately for you, faithful readers, I’m operating on a bit of a time crunch today. Because of that, we will forgo our usual lofty education discussion in favor of something a little different: Drawing. I can’t say I’m sad about the diversion; drawing happens to be one of my favorite pastimes. Besides, I’m sure you […]
