10/10/12
Education Policy Center Newsletter October 10, 2012
— DPS Removes Social Activism Language from Teacher Evaluations
— DeGrow Contributes Facts to School Tax Hike Debate
— Adams 12 Union Makes Noise, Parents Get Security Escort
— Won’t Back Down Movie Brings Education Reform into Mainstream
— Center Staff Sound Off as Radio Hosts
— Eddie Rounds Up the K-12 Scene
Will Modern Skyview Campus, Choice Set Stage for Mapleton Academic Success?
Yesterday I shared some thoughts about how a growing Brighton district with some crowded schools might find some creative solutions to its problem. While securing safe, functional and adequate facilities is a high priority for some school districts, others can bask gratefully in their new quarters and hopefully focus even more on the mission of […]
Raaki Garcia Show Debuts on Colorado Spanish-Language Radio
Today the Education Policy Center’s Raaki Garcia-Ulam debuts her own weekly free market talk show on Colorado Spanish-language radio station AM 1150 KNRV. Education will be one among a many relevant and timely topics discussed on the program. Read the Independence Institute press release for details.
Washington Times Quotes Benigno on DPS Teacher Evaluation Controversy
In an October 8 story for the Washington Times, reporter Valerie Richardson quoted Education Policy Center director Pam Benigno on a recent Denver Public Schools controversy over teacher evaluation language promoting social activism: “Let’s face it, in DPS, roughly 50 percent of the children across the board can’t even read at grade level. In math […]
Could Crowded Brighton Schools (More Comfortably) Think Outside the Box?
A Denver Post Your Hub story from last week by Joey Kirchmer chronicles some growing pains in Brighton School District:
Brighton High School and Prairie View High School are at or over capacity this school year, which has forced administrators to turn to outdoor modular classrooms, roaming teachers and possibly start looking at a split-schedule system.
Around […]
Citizen Link Includes Comment on Growing Democratic Support for School Reform
In a 45-second nationally syndicated audio news clip for Citizen Link, senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow offered his insights on Democrats’ views regarding education reform and the declining power of teachers unions. “In some elements of the Democratic Party, especially in urban areas, there is definitely an awakening to the need of school choice,” DeGrow […]
Where Exactly Can Denver Public Schools Save Money in Its Budget?
Last week my Education Policy Center friend Ben DeGrow came out with a short, fun, and kid-friendly paper called “Colorado K-12 Tax Hikes Challenged.” The paper looked at five large school districts asking voters for more tax funds on this fall’s ballot: Jefferson County, Denver, Cherry Creek, Aurora, and St. Vrain Valley.
DeGrow acknowledged that these […]
AFT’s Randi Weingarten Steps Forward as Face of Opposition to Bold Dougco Reforms
Lucky Colorado. Yesterday the president of the nation’s second-largest teachers union paid a visit. Ed News Colorado reports that while AFT’s Randi Weingarten stopped in to tout an innovative school nutrition program at Denver’s Cole Arts and Science Academy, she also used her big political stick to bash the Douglas County school board:
“This is what’s […]
Won’t Back Down: New Movie Pushes School Reform into Mainstream
Education News Colorado editor Julie Poppen discusses the release of the new Hollywood feature film Won’t Back Down, particularly how it addresses parent power and pushes growing education reform themes and issues into the mainstream.
Want to Improve K-12 Productivity? Avoid Baumol’s Disease Like Plague
It’s not uncommon for me to tell you about the great need for public schools to spend dollars more productively. A recent brief, colorful paper written by my Education Policy Center friend Ben DeGrow makes the point with some great local significance for school districts asking voters for tax increases this fall.
But, you may ask, […]
Won’t Back Down Movie Makes Cool Kids of Education Reformers Like Me
The premiere of the education reform feature film Won’t Back Down has stirred protests from teachers union protests. But in his review for Ed News Colorado, senior education policy analyst Ben DeGrow hails the movie’s powerful message: “We will not wait.” On a fun note, the film — starring past Oscar nominees Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis and former Oscar winner Holly Hunter — demonstrates that education reform themes and issues have entered the mainstream.
DeGrow: Look at School vs. Household Budgets Calls for Productive Reforms
A new Education Policy Center issue backgrounder shedding light on Colorado’s major local school tax elections has garnered media attention. In a new an American Family Radio News (One News Now) report, senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow told reporter Bob Kellogg that local budgets in major school districts seeking tax hikes have done better than […]
