DeGrow Weighs In On Dougco, Race to the Top for Choice Media’s Reform School
Senior education policy analyst Ben DeGrow was the featured guest (via Skype) on the March 20 edition of Choice Media’s Reform School, with host Bob Bowdon. The 22-minute video of brisk conversation focused on newsworthy K-12 education stories.
Student Success Act Soap Opera Gears Up for Shift to Wilder Ride in Senate
Colorado education’s political soap opera continues. But the latest episode is more about building suspense than revealing any dastardly motives or other clever plot twists. This time it’s the so-called Student Success Act (aka House Bill 1292), which cleared a key hurdle yesterday with an 11-1 vote in the House Education Committee. The protests against […]
Amy Oliver Show: Are We Licensing Teachers Correctly?
Tim Farmer from the Professional Association of Colorado Educators talks about how the state and schools can help ensure having the best teachers in classrooms through an effective licensure process.
New York City Mayor’s Attack on Charter Schools Enough to Give Me Nightmares
As a rule, my parents aren’t too keen on letting little me watch any horror movies. Too much violence, gore, and just plain scary stuff. But they haven’t been able to shield my eyes from the horror that is the new mayor of New York City’s attack on successful public charter schools and the students […]
Colorado Supreme Court Will Hear Dougco School Choice Case, More Waiting Ahead
The Colorado Supreme Court has announced it will hear the case of Taxpayers for Public Education v. Douglas County School District — yes, the case of the groundbreaking Choice Scholarship Program. One phase of waiting is over. With briefings to be exchanged into June and oral arguments expected for the fall, we just need to stay patient.
Not Pretty: Colorado Is Getting Caught in Other States’ Digital Learning Dust
A year ago I was just trying to figure out how to send Colorado home with its own digital learning report card. A year ago I was 5. Nearly 52 weeks later, and no progress on either front. But our state did move up a small tick on the 2013 Digital Learning Now national report […]
Whoa… Are the Wheels Starting to Come Off Common Core in Colorado?
The more the pro-Common Core crowd doubles down, the more traction the opposition gains. And I can’t say I’m terribly disappointed. Snarky online quizzes that studiously avoid the term “Common Core” aren’t helpful for making the case to back national standards. On the other hand, Rick Hess’ clever and insightful satire (I hope that debating […]
Amy Oliver Show: Education Reform Under the Gold Dome
Luke Ragland from Colorado Succeeds unpacks two big bills in the current legislative session: the teachers union’s push to save tenure protections, and the fight over how to spend extra education dollars (aka the Student Success Act).
Virtual Learning Success Story Inspires
Some days you get tongue-tied (or finger-tied?), there’s a lot of background noise, and you can’t decide what in the world of K-12 education to share with people. There’s plenty going on, but nothing just seems… quite… right. Then while perusing the great Choice Media website, you stumble across the kind of story that just […]
Colorado Education’s Political Soap Opera Almost Makes Me Want to Change Channels
I’m much too young for soap operas (hopefully, for the rest of my life). But the politics at the Capitol around SB 191, educator effectiveness, teacher tenure, and K-12 education accountability at large… well, it seems kind of like a soap opera these days. Call it General Assembly, or The Young and the Tested, or […]
Two Michigan Teachers Set Free of Union; Thousands More in Limbo
Jillian Kay Melchior at National Review adds some great insights to this story, as well. Freedom for two teachers is better than freedom for none. It’s a good start. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports that “kindergarten teacher Miriam Chanski and hall of fame wrestling coach William ‘Ray’ Arthur” were finally able to get their wish and […]
Amy Oliver Show: Dougco Starts Student Testing Conversation
Kevin Larsen, president of the Douglas County school board, discusses the rationale behind his district’s push for more flexibility around state testing requirements. House Bill 1202 was proposed to give the state authority to waive certain student assessments for high-performing school districts, though the bill since has been changed to call for a study of the situation.
