Newly Reported Test Scores Bring (Mostly) Disappointing News
The good news from yesterday is summed up in two words: Sine Die. Near as I can tell, that’s Latin for “The legislature gets out of town, productive everyday citizens breathe a sigh of relief.” (But maybe I need to enroll in one of Colorado’s fine classical schools to find out for sure.) The not-so-good […]
Student-Based Budgeting: Part of Colorado K-12 Future that Can Work
Many years ago, someone famously said: “I have seen the future, and it works.” Ironically, Lincoln Steffens said that about the Soviet Union, and he ended up being grossly incorrect. What I see included in the future of Colorado K-12 education is considerably more modest and considerably less likely to backfire. When it comes to […]
Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! Let’s All Cheer for Performance Pay!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! Note that I say “Teacher,” not “Teachers” — and not just because it sounds much less awkward that way. Many, many teachers no doubt are worthy of appreciation. But they should be appreciated, and treated, as the diverse and skilled individuals they are. They bring different backgrounds to the profession, serve […]
North Carolina to Follow Colorado’s K-12 Open Enrollment Policy Standard?
Update, 4:30 PM: The Friedman Foundation blog notes the “Friday Freakout” reaction against the proposed North Carolina program is largely based on fears that open enrollment would lead to administrative chaos. That hardly seems like a compelling argument to me. Giving parents more say and students more options in K-12 education should be a no-brainer, […]
Adams 14 Troubles Revealed; Jeffco, Colorado Can Work to Overcome
Yesterday I got to share some good education news. Today it’s something different. I probably should have done it the other way around, because it’s better to end the week on a high note (why is it that lately when I use the term “high note,” some big people start laughing and telling jokes about […]
Outperforming International Peers: A Delicious Piece of Dougco PISA News
Nearly a year ago I pointed readers to an enlightening report from a group called America Achieves. The report showed how, based on international tests, even our nation’s middle-class students were falling behind their socioeconomic peers in many other countries. The findings reminded us why the bold innovators in Douglas County have been working to […]
Forget HB 1292 Transparency Soap Opera: Make it an Old Gangster Film
Update, 5/1: Looks like no knees had to be broken after all…. Did you see that post I did a little over a week ago: “HB 1292 Transparency Headed for Happy Ending? Good Solution Still Needed”? Given last night’s events, I thought about just publishing that all over again today and hoping nobody would notice. […]
Teachers vs. the Public on K-12 Education: Scratching the Surface
Earlier today one of my Education Policy Center friends got to watch most of an online telecast of a panel discussion titled Teachers versus the Public: What Americans Think about Schools and How to Fix Them. One of the co-authors of a recently released book by the same name, Dr. Paul Peterson, led the discussion. […]
Amy Oliver Show: Moms Lead Effort to Protect Student Privacy
Jefferson County mom Sunny Flynn talks about the important effort she’s helping lead to keep student data safe and secure, including the recent demise of inBloom and two important bills at the state legislature.
Denver Post: “Fundamental Fairness” in Jeffco Charter Student Funding Plan
In Colorado, school boards have the opportunity to improve charter funding equity locally. In a positive development, the Denver Post expressed support for the Jefferson County board’s decision to set aside an extra $3.7 million to bring their charter schools somewhat closer to parity with their district-run counterparts.
Is It Time to Rethink the Colorado Department of Education’s Role?
A Friday is as good a time as any to step back, survey the education reform landscape, and question some underlying assumptions. The new Fordham Institute report The State Education Agency: At the Helm, Not the Oar summons us to rethink the role of a major player in the K-12 policy world. Here’s the question: […]
Hooray! Kansas Becomes 14th State to Adopt K-12 Scholarship Tax Credits
Before I begin, let me agree with you: Yes, this blog is definitely spending an inordinate amount of attention on the state of Kansas recently. But trust me, it’s for a good reason this time. Two weeks ago I told you that the Sunflower State was on the verge of creating the newest private school […]
