Can Colorado Make K-12 Dollars Clearer?
(H/T Ed News Colorado) Yesterday’s Washington Post posted a story under the headline “Colorado’s Hickenlooper wants to put school budgets online”: “So far, no state’s ever had total transparency on how their tax dollars are spent to every school,” Hickenlooper said in a recent interview. Looking ahead to 2014, it’s encouraging to read about bipartisan […]
If This Education Research Were Real, You Might Buy Me a Cool Christmas Gift
‘Tis the Christmas holiday season, and maybe (just maybe) my last posting of 2013. Nobody’s in school now, and education policy drifts even further from the brain as visions of sugarplums (or actually, new Lego sets) dance in small children’s heads. Nonetheless, the season provides a great opportunity to drive home an important point about […]
And Then There Were Three (Years of Colorado School Grades)
Three is a magic number… Yes it is! This week Colorado School Grades (CSG) issued their 3rd annual report cards of every public school in the state. If you don’t know what the website is about, I’m not going to rehash the basics except to say: In 2011 I let you all know about the […]
Big Testing (Why Not Funding?) Changes Coming Soon to Colorado K-12
A couple of stories this week in Ed News Colorado serve as a reminder that whether or not there are new laws or reforms to debate, some kind of change will keep coming to the state’s schools. First comes from the State Board of Education’s Wednesday meeting, where we learned that schools and districts will […]
12/13/13
Education Policy Center Newsletter December 13, 2013
— Two Days Left to Request Union Political Refund
— Scholarship Tax Credits Key Part of Reform
— Reform-Minded School Boards on the Rise
— Open Enrollment Season Heads into Full Swing
— Eddie Rounds Up School Reform for 2013
Amy Oliver Show: Jeffco Schools Taking Fresh Look at Reform
Sheila Atwell of Jeffco Students First talks about making local education reforms possible by giving voice to parents who are concerned about the direction of schools, and discusses the prospects for positive changes in Colorado’s largest school district.
EAGLE-Net Broadband Delays Test Patient Hopes for Digital Learning Policies
The power and potential of blended learning stand out in several ways. It can give students more control over their education — like having a customized playlist — and enable them to advance at their own pace. It can expand the reach of effective teachers and allow them to focus time more efficiently on what […]
Devil’s Advocate: Colorado Teachers Can Get Refunds
Senior education policy analyst Ben DeGrow highlights the upcoming December 15 deadline for Colorado Education Association members to request up to $63 in Every Member Option political refunds.
I’ve Got Better Ideas for a Real Day of Action: Help Colorado Kids Win
The national teachers unions have christened today a “National Day of Action.” So rather than spend too much time sitting here working on the blog, I am going to get busy and play ball outside. Then after awhile when I get cold, it will be time to go inside and take action with my Legos […]
Weighted Student Formula Yearbook Highlights Better K-12 Funding Approaches
When I hear “yearbook,” my thoughts turn to a page full of photos (including the goofy ones, you know who you are) of kids in the same class at school. But the Reason Foundation’s Weighted Student Formula Yearbook is somewhat different. This yearbook is a one-of-a-kind look at 14 different school districts that use “portable […]
Amy Oliver Show: Union Tells Teachers “Beware” of Political Refund Information
The Colorado Education Association sent a pre-emptive message this year to teachers, telling them to “beware” information from the Independence Institute on the Every Member Option political refund.
Warmed by the Thought of Another School Choice Whistle-Stop Tour
The bone-chilling cold has arrived, so I really needed something to fill me with warm thoughts. Even though it’s more than 7 weeks away, what about the official announcement that there’s soon going to be another National School Choice Week Whistle-Stop Tour? Planned by National School Choice Week, the tour will span 3,800 miles and […]
