Colorado Families, ‘Tis Almost the Season for Public School Open Enrollment!
Update, 11/23: Ed News Colorado reports some more good news about the new DPS enrollment system: “Until recently it was uncertain whether all of the 35 charter schools in the DPS system would take part in SchoolChoice. The district now has a commitment from every charter to participate.”
The holiday season is upon us. I can […]
Talking Teacher Pay without Breaking Up a Party or Getting Soap in the Mouth
When I happened to mention to my mom and dad that I might blog about this issue, one of them said: “That’s the kind of topic you bring up when you want to break up a party.” Well, there isn’t any party going on here right now, so why not just throw the provocative question […]
Paul Hill Points Way Toward Colorado’s New Digital-Friendly K-12 Funding System
As a nation and a state, we’re on the brink of a digital learning explosion. I’m talking about a system of education characterized by flexibility, freedom and personalization — one where online courses and opportunities are embraced wholeheartedly in a family or community context, or blended in various ways with traditional classrooms and school functions. […]
Independence Institute Report Helps Build K-12 Financial Transparency Momentum
Not long ago my Education Policy Center friends released a report analyzing how well Colorado’s 195 local education agencies (i.e., school districts and BOCES) are complying with the 2010 Public School Financial Transparency Act. As you might imagine, this kind of work presented the challenge of capturing a perfect static picture in a dynamic online […]
Wall St. Journal, Larry Sand Shine Light on Digital Learning’s Growth & Potential
Last week I told you that the first-ever Digital Learning Day is less than three months away. Someone out there must have been paying attention! Today the Wall Street Journal has a big — no, make that a huge! — article by Stephanie Banchero and Stephanie Simon about online education cleverly called “My Teacher Is […]
Don’t Bet Against Nevada, Gov. Sandoval Breaking Through on School Choice
Occasionally I like to take a peek around at other states and see if there’s anything Colorado can glean from them, or vice versa, or just to get a bigger picture of the education reform debate. Today let’s look west at Nevada. Why? Because of the new School Reform News story penned — er, keyboarded? […]
Coulson Daily Caller Column References Center Research Data in Post-103 Diagnosis
On Thursday, November 10, the Daily Caller published a column by Andrew Coulson, director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom, in which he calls for the dramatic cost-saving reform of tuition tax credits in the wake of the defeat of Colorado’s tax-hiking Proposition 103. The commentary includes a gracious hat tip to the […]
11/10/11
Newsletter November 10 2011
Plan Early for Important Digital Learning Day: February 1, 2012, is Coming
Today is a great opportunity to mark your calendar for Wednesday, February 1, 2012, the first-ever Digital Learning Day, “a year-long campaign to celebrate bold, creative innovative teachers in classrooms across this nation.” Digital learning has real power to help transform our state’s and nation’s education system into a more nimble, productive, effective, and student-centered enterprise. Progress requires changing policies designed for the 20th century factory age, which also means less regulation and more parental choice.
Colorado Election Upholds Fiscal Responsibility, Boosts K-12 Reform
Host Amy Oliver talks with senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow about the resounding defeat of the Proposition 103 state tax hike, the record loss of numerous school district tax and debt measures, and some key local board of education electoral victories for reformers. Special attention is given to Douglas County, where the winning sweep of pro-voucher board candidates coincides with the release of an excellent 8-minute Choice Media TV feature video on the groundbreaking local program.
“Audits for Thee, Not for Me,” But More Attacks on Online Ed. Option to Come
Despite what you may hear, legislative “gridlock” isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it quite often can be a good thing. Case in point comes from this story yesterday in Ed News Colorado:
Colorado’s top senator says he’ll introduce legislation to “rein in” online schools after his request for an online education audit was rejected […]
New Report Shows Great Need for Improved School District Financial Transparency
Host Amy Oliver and senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow discuss the findings of a new Education Policy Center report that tracks how well Colorado local K-12 agencies are complying with a 2010 state law requiring greater online financial transparency. DeGrow, who co-authored the report with research associate Devan Crean, highlights both the large number of school districts that fall short of the standard as well as a few large and small districts that are setting the standard above and beyond the law’s requirements.
