DeGrow Lauds Dougco Transparency, Bold Reforms and Declining Union Power
Senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow’s comments on unfolding events surrounding teacher union negotiations in Douglas County were featured in a story today on American Family Radio News (One News Now). Responding to reporter Bob Kellogg, DeGrow highlighted the practice of open negotiations and praised the district for its commitment to bold reforms: “The school board […]
The End of Teacher Collective Bargaining in Dougco?
Are we really nearing the end of a teachers union bargaining agreement in Douglas County? Senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow discusses the background, some of the key disputed issues, and the potential fallout as negotiations between school district and union officials wind down and the bargaining agreement expiration date approaches. Douglas County soon could become Colorado’s largest school district without a teacher collective bargaining agreement.
Parental Demand for Public Charter Schools Nationwide Growing Fast, Data Show
A quick Friday freebie to wrap your mind around, compliments of Education Week’s Sean Cavanagh:
An estimated 610,000 students are on waiting lists to attend charter schools—a jump of about 200,000 from just two years ago, a national organization says.
The National Alliance of Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) — with its brand new executive director Nina Rees […]
Six Falcon 49 Schools Win Innovation Status as Board Nears Important Crossroads
About six weeks ago I shared with readers that the Falcon School District 49 innovation plan was nearing a crossroads. That crucial time may now be upon us. As reported in the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Colorado State Board of Education yesterday unanimously approved requests to give six District 49 schools official innovation status:
“Innovation is […]
Dougco Union Power Not Worth Sticking Out a Neck?
Originally posted at Colorado Peak Politics. Re-posted here with permission. By Ben DeGrow In a superb column today, the Denver Post‘s Vincent Carroll raises a question that not long ago would have stretched the bounds of reason: Are these the final days for the Douglas County Federation of Teachers? With June 30 looming as the […]
Hey, Abbott!!! Colorado Really Doesn’t Rank 49th in K-12 Education Spending
Who appreciates a little creativity from education policy wonks more than I do? Exactly, which is why a big smile covered my face to see today’s posting from Jonathan Butcher at the Goldwater Institute, titled “An Abbott and Costello routine: Who’s on… 49th?” It’s hard to imagine the really old-time comic duo taking on misleading […]
Teachers Union Officials Get Sappy, Sentimental about Declining Power
After the landmark Wisconsin recall elections, American public education has crossed an important threshold of declining union power and a gradual shift away from the industrial collective bargaining model. While NEA officials wax sentimental (“the way they were”), I look forward to a new model of employee relations that respects both teacher voices and options, while focusing primarily on student learning needs.
School Choice News from Indiana and Tennessee Should Brighten Your Monday
Being a Monday and all, I thought you might appreciate a little good news on the school choice front. So let’s head quickly to our nation’s Heartland, first to see my Education Policy Center friend Ben DeGrow’s new offering for School Reform News on the state of Hoosier State’s Choice Scholarship Program:
Scarcely more than a […]
How Can School Choice Best Lead Us to the Greenfield of Effective Innovation?
Once in awhile you read something that makes you really step back and think. In that spirit I commend to you the new Friedman Foundation report The Greenfield School Revolution and School Choice by Greg Forster and James Woodworth. Want to know what I mean? Start off with a statement like this potent summary:
Existing choice […]
Welcome to Age 5, Democrats for Education Reform: At Least You’ll Grow Older
I saw an email this morning from Joe Williams, founder and executive director of Democrats for Education Reform. Receiving such a message is not a noteworthy event in and of itself. But the beginning of the message caught my eye:
Five years ago today a bunch of us set out to try to change our party. […]
Wisconsin Postmortem: More on Teachers, Unions, and Where It’s All Headed
Yesterday I shared some thoughts about the current and coming changes to public education labor relations and the teaching profession. And since Gov. Scott Walker did indeed pull out a convincing win last night in Wisconsin, interest in the topic remains strong.
State Budget Solutions has put together a great brief highlighting why current government […]
Blended Learning Funding Report Featured in School Reform News
A School Reform News story by Heritage Foundation education policy analyst highlighted the Education Policy Center’s new issue paper on modifying Colorado’s K-12 funding system to support more blended learning options. The report’s author was prominently quoted in the story: “Different students have different goals and motivations, and excel or need extra help in different […]
