EDUCATION - Issue Papers - Independence Institute

Bad Choices bring Bad Times: Analyzing the NCEE's 2006 Report 0
- November 1, 2007
This paper discusses the National Center on Education and the Economy’s (NCEE) report Tough Choices or Tough Times and its vision for changing our education system. The paper examines many aspects of the proposed redesign to question how likely the NCEE is to meet its objectives. The paper also questions the objectives of the NCEE’s proposed model and its underlying educational philosophy. Akin to the German educational model, the Commission’s proposal begins with the belief that government is better equipped to develop an educational system from the top down than are teachers, parents, and other professionals working from the bottom up.
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Open Enrollment and the Internet 0
- October 31, 2007
Over the course of one year, an evaluation of Colorado’s 20 largest school district Web sites was conducted to determine if districts made available, via the Internet, essential open enrollment procedural information in an easy-to-access manner.
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Denver’s ProComp and Teacher Compensation Reform in Colorado 0
- August 17, 2007
This report provides an in-depth look at Denver’s new results-based system for teacher pay in the larger context of compensation reform. It identifies areas where the plan could be improved and expanded to be used in other Colorado schools.
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Addressing Safety Reporting Deficiencies on Colorado’s School Accountability Report 0
- February 27, 2006
The Safety and Discipline table within Colorado’s School Accountability Reports (SAR) does not provide a realistic picture of the environment in many public schools. The narrow criteria for an incident to be reported in the table under Assaults/Fights do not include most assaults and fights that take place in schools. This Issue Paper examines several issues in regard to current safety reporting.
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Contract Schools Bring Innovative New Choices to Denver Public Schools 0
- June 7, 2005
In an effort to improve student achievement, Denver Public Schools is expanding its school options by contracting with non-public school providers — including Escuela de Tlatelolco, Connections Academy and the New America School.
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Delta County School District Has VISION for School Choice 0
- May 5, 2005
An innovative school district on Colorado’s Western Slope created a system of unique educational choices to satisfy the demands of families in its community. In fall 2000, Delta County 50 (J) School District unveiled the VISION Coalition. Built on the pillars of trust and autonomy, the program now serves nearly 15 percent of the district public school student population.
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