Indiana and Arizona Boost My Spirits with Good School Choice News
These are the days when little Eddie is too busy soaking in the last rays of warm weather before the fall chill. So you have to forgive me if a post like today’s is a quick hit. I just wanted to make sure you saw two recent pieces of good news from two states that […]
Repeat: Federal Education Data Freeze Is No Reason for You (or Wonks) to Panic
I have some ideas of what to blog about. In fact, you can probably count on more fresh and insightful commentary tomorrow. But with the initial shock of the partial government shutdown, this young and sometimes naive edublogger is trying to keep composure and not panic. But I think the situation might even be worse […]
Successful Education Reform Much Harder Than Just Passing New Policies
Smart and successful education reform isn’t as easy as many would like it to be. Rick Hess’ thoughtful piece in National Affairs is chocked full of insights that many education policy advocates and insiders know, but few are willing to say. Taking into account these recommendations, it’s time to grow the network and expand the good results that come from not just passing good reform-minded laws, but also from doing the hard work that follows.
Douglas County: Building a Better Education Model
Effecting successful suburban school reform poses an authentic challenge. Many students do well compared to their peers in neighboring districts, but overall test scores conceal shortcomings. The U.S. spends more per person on education than any other country, yet even middle-class students academically lag their peers in other countries. The fast-growing Douglas County School District (DCSD) south of Denver, Colorado, has attempted a different approach to aim higher.
New Mexico’s State Financial Transparency, Education Leader Shine Brightly
For whatever reason, people in Colorado don’t often think of looking up at New Mexico. And that’s not just because they are below (south of) us on the map. When it comes to education outcomes, we hold the upper hand — spending about the same amount per student, but also having fewer students in poverty […]
Campaign “Silly Season” Starts to Emerge in Colorado’s Largest School Districts
For reasons I don’t even have time to get into, big people often call the weeks leading up to an election the “silly season.” Most think of that in terms of presidential or Congressional races. Not so much when school board elections come around, and here in Colorado that’s in the fall of odd-numbered years. […]
Union Leaders Want to Have Their Tax Hike Cake and Sue Education Reforms, Too
Colorado’s education-related scoop of the month goes to the Gazette‘s Megan Schrader for uncovering some crucial intrigue and doublespeak behind the Amendment 66 statewide tax hike campaign. Teachers union leaders want to have their cake and eat it, too: Five days before the deadline for legal challenges to be filed against one of Colorado’s key […]
Gazette Story Highlights Union Maneuver around Tax Hike Election
Independence Institute’s senior education policy analyst was quoted in a September 22 Colorado Springs Gazette story about union political maneuvers around Amendment 66, the statewide education tax increase proposal. The article by Megan Schrader highlights an August 26 State Board of Education decision extending the deadline to file suit against Colorado’s 2010 tenure and evaluation […]
Research Shows At Least Some Kinds of Field Trips Really Do Benefit Students
I’ve been delinquent from blogging so much lately, you may think little Eddie just has been on a long field trip. Well, before you get too critical, you might want to consider the great advantages this could have for me. The results of a first-of-its-kind study, outlined by Dr. Jay Greene for Education Next, are […]
Institute for Justice Attorney Touts Scholarship Tax Credit Legality
Institute for Justice senior attorney Dick Komer presented to private school leaders, scholarship organizations, and policymakers on the legal challenges and opportunities associated with establishing a K-12 scholarship tax credit program
The U.S. Needs a Different Path to Improve Our Unimpressive Math Scores
Sometimes it’s good to step back and take a look at the big picture. That’s as true in the discussions about education reform as it is anywhere. A brand-new, 6-minute video does just that, but in a clever and lighthearted manner: Don’t forget the number 32! And not because it was worn on the jerseys […]
I Want to Put a Great Big Asterisk on a Compelling Jay Greene Argument
This week one of my favorite researchers and thought leaders in the world of K-12 education, Dr. Jay Greene, produced an insightful blog essay titled “Fix Schools by Not Fixing Schools.” His argument isn’t as odd as the title makes it sound: I understand that urging reformers to focus on fixing traditional schools by not […]
