Education
Charter Schools
CTA Attacking Charter Schools Again
If its spring then it must be time for the California Teachers Association (CTA) to make another one of its frontal assaults on charter schools, the independent public schools that promise better results in exchange for greater freedom to operate. The CTAs chosen vehicle this time around is Democratic Assembly ...
Business & Economics
The Fallacies of Government-Run Broadband
There is no doubt that an effective broadband infrastructure is essential for the 21st century U.S. economy. This is why the misinterpretations of a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report are so problematic. The policy recommendations that are being derived from these incorrect interpretations, if followed, would significantly inhibit the ...
Charter Schools
The War on Charter Schools
Newly installed New York mayor Bill de Blasio ignited a nationwide firestorm of protest by his decision to close down three charter schools, which are independent, mostly nonunionized, deregulated public schools run by parents, nonprofits, and others. Yet there has been very little national notice of a similar recent action ...
California
Common Core: Little evidence to back its big changes
Despite its huge impact on the future of education in California, most Californians are only now learning about the Common Core national education standards that the state adopted several years ago. The reason for this inexcusable lag is because the Common Core creation, adoption and implementation process has lacked transparency. ...
California
Teachers Union Cheers Victory Over Poor Latino Childern
During a 1954 congressional hearing, U.S. Army counsel Joseph Welch famously asked Senator Joseph McCarthy, Have you no sense of decency? The same question may be asked of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), which featured a splashy cover photo and story on its February/March magazine that celebrated the defeat ...
California
Digital Learning Conference 2014
On December 4th, 2013, in San Diego, the Paci?c Research Institute convened school board members from around California to learn more about the digital-education revolution that is sweeping the country.The conference was developed by Lance Izumi, senior director of PRIs Education Center. The four workshops were led by prominent computer ...
Commentary
Against The Evidence Obama And Liberal Media Push For More Government Preschool
In his State of the Union speech, Barack Obama made a renewed push for his Preschool for All plan, which would increase federal funding for government preschool programs. With congressional Democrats pushing legislation to implement the plan, the liberal media has dubbed universal government preschool as the new in thing ...
Commentary
Obama the populist?
From his State of the Union to follow-up speeches in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, Barack Obama is playing the populist on issues ranging from the minimum wage to unemployment benefits to retirement savings. He sides rhetorically with the little guy, victimized by big forces and big institutions. Yet, when ...
Commentary
Powerful testimony in trial on tenure
When the California Teachers Association flexed its muscles in 2012 and killed legislation to keep teacher-sexual predators out of the classroom, it looked like it would be impossible to reform the worst aspects of the state’s teacher employment practices. Now, however, a lawsuit brought on behalf of nine children could ...
CTA Attacking Charter Schools Again
If its spring then it must be time for the California Teachers Association (CTA) to make another one of its frontal assaults on charter schools, the independent public schools that promise better results in exchange for greater freedom to operate. The CTAs chosen vehicle this time around is Democratic Assembly ...
The Fallacies of Government-Run Broadband
There is no doubt that an effective broadband infrastructure is essential for the 21st century U.S. economy. This is why the misinterpretations of a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report are so problematic. The policy recommendations that are being derived from these incorrect interpretations, if followed, would significantly inhibit the ...
The War on Charter Schools
Newly installed New York mayor Bill de Blasio ignited a nationwide firestorm of protest by his decision to close down three charter schools, which are independent, mostly nonunionized, deregulated public schools run by parents, nonprofits, and others. Yet there has been very little national notice of a similar recent action ...
Common Core: Little evidence to back its big changes
Despite its huge impact on the future of education in California, most Californians are only now learning about the Common Core national education standards that the state adopted several years ago. The reason for this inexcusable lag is because the Common Core creation, adoption and implementation process has lacked transparency. ...
Teachers Union Cheers Victory Over Poor Latino Childern
During a 1954 congressional hearing, U.S. Army counsel Joseph Welch famously asked Senator Joseph McCarthy, Have you no sense of decency? The same question may be asked of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), which featured a splashy cover photo and story on its February/March magazine that celebrated the defeat ...
Digital Learning Conference 2014
On December 4th, 2013, in San Diego, the Paci?c Research Institute convened school board members from around California to learn more about the digital-education revolution that is sweeping the country.The conference was developed by Lance Izumi, senior director of PRIs Education Center. The four workshops were led by prominent computer ...
Against The Evidence Obama And Liberal Media Push For More Government Preschool
In his State of the Union speech, Barack Obama made a renewed push for his Preschool for All plan, which would increase federal funding for government preschool programs. With congressional Democrats pushing legislation to implement the plan, the liberal media has dubbed universal government preschool as the new in thing ...
Obama the populist?
From his State of the Union to follow-up speeches in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, Barack Obama is playing the populist on issues ranging from the minimum wage to unemployment benefits to retirement savings. He sides rhetorically with the little guy, victimized by big forces and big institutions. Yet, when ...
Powerful testimony in trial on tenure
When the California Teachers Association flexed its muscles in 2012 and killed legislation to keep teacher-sexual predators out of the classroom, it looked like it would be impossible to reform the worst aspects of the state’s teacher employment practices. Now, however, a lawsuit brought on behalf of nine children could ...
