Fuller, Coulson and Ladner: Three Views on the Best Choice Policies to Pursue
Perhaps it’s just the school choice geek in me (ok, the school choice geek is me!), but I want to bring your attention to a worthwhile and important discussion. A couple weeks ago redefinED posted comments made by the longtime voucher supporter Dr. Howard Fuller at the recent American Federation for Children national summit. He […]
Colorado K-12 Funding for the 21st Century: Toward Mass Customized Learning?
I’m a little bit tired today, having Tweeted up a storm at the Donnell-Kay Foundation’s Colorado Summit on Blended Learning. I have neither the time nor the energy to recap the great presentations from the likes of iNACOL’s David Teeter, Utah Senator Howard Stephenson, New Hampshire Deputy Commissioner Paul Leather, Colorado Department of Education Assistant […]
5/16/12
Newsletter May 16 2012
Adams 12 Teachers Fired for Alleged Theft Resurrects Tenure Reform Debate
On Monday night, Denver CBS4 investigator Rick Sallinger broke a story about Adams 12 dismissing two teachers for allegedly bilking thousands of dollars in PTO funds that were supposed to go for student trips. I never like to see such a story as the one featured in the 3-minute video. Interviewed by Sallinger, school board […]
Online Course-Level Funding: Toward Colorado Secondary Self-Blended Learning Options
Many Colorado secondary students may benefit from greater opportunity to take a number of traditional face-to-face classes and digital courses simultaneously. Students’ ability to “self-blend” courses in this manner is hampered by school district control of per-pupil funding and course options. Following the national Digital Learning Council’s guidelines, Colorado should alter the K-12 education funding system to enable greater student access to effective online course options.
Nudge, Nudge: CEA’s “Non-Itemized” Math
While their hopes for widespread inattention may be dashed when it comes to this issue of teacher options, union officials maintain an advantage when it comes to incredible campaign finance reporting logic. Specifically, the union’s small donor committee (known as Public Education Committee) uses a clever fiction to report exactly $250,000.00 in “non-itemized” contributions on its most recent report. More than 99 percent of the committee’s revenues have been “non-itemized.” What other groups get the benefit of government systems to provide regular collections for their political activities? What other groups can report exactly $250,000.00 in “non-itemized” contributions with a straight face?
Tale of Two ‘A’s: Alabama Buries Charter Bill, Arizona Expands ESA Choice
I’ve been telling you a lot lately about education goings-on in Colorado, and with good reason. There has been plenty to comment on. Yet once in awhile it’s good to step back and take a look at some other states. Today, specifically, I wanted to share with you a few thoughts about new developments from […]
The Bright & Not-So-Bright Spots of Colorado’s Latest 3rd Grade Reading Scores
Can you believe it? Last week I didn’t write anything about the release of the CSAP TCAP results for 3rd grade reading. The state’s overall share of proficient 3rd grade readers (74 percent) is slightly better than the previous year. Colorado can still do better. To me, this is one of the most fundamental measures […]
Change the Blended Learning Categories, Just Don’t Call Me Late for Dinner!
Do I write enough here about blended learning? Probably not. The fascinating and significant topic has many different manifestations, and developments change so fast that it’s hard to get a really solid grasp of what it is. The respected gurus at the Innosight Institute define blended learning as:
a formal education program in which a student […]
Video: Time to Rethink How Colorado Finances Student Learning Success
“Before we can do anything to fix Colorado schools, we just need to give them more money. …Right?” A great new 2-minute video edited and produced by the Independence Institute highlights ideas presented in Denver by national school finance experts Dr. Eric Hanushek and Dr. Marguerite Roza. Colorado needs to think outside the box in designing a new system to fund learning success.
House Bill 1333: The Fight to Expand Teacher Options
Tim Farmer, membership director for the Professional Association of Colorado Educators (PACE), explains the case for House Bill 1333 and how it was killed by a Democratic-controlled state senate committee. In particular, he highlights the weakness of arguments used against allowing educators to make union or professional membership choices on a month-to-month basis and what can be done going forward to expand teacher options.
Teachers and Charter Schools: A Whole Lot of Appreciation Going On This Week
Today’s a good day for stepping back a bit. Yesterday it was exactly four years ago I started blogging as a 5-year-old. And here I am, still 5 years old. Hmmm….
While we’re in the spirit of commemoration, let’s be reminded that this week is both Teacher Appreciation Week and National Charter Schools Week. It’s a […]
