Education
Commentary
New Study Finds State Definition of Dangerous Schools is a Flawed Measure of School Safety
Note: The 2007-08 data used for the appendix tables was based on data supplied directly by the California Department of Education in early 2009. The authors are currently reviewing the appendices against publicly reported school level data. San Francisco — The Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a free-market think tank based ...
Commentary
How to Improve National Math Scores
The New York Times – Room for Debate Blog, October 15, 2009 Only 39 percent of fourth graders and 34 percent of eighth graders scored at or above the proficient level on the nationwide math test given this spring. With little improvement over the past six years, it’s seems unlikely ...
Commentary
Education Reform is Everyone’s Problem
The National Education Association wants to reform hiring practices to help move highly qualified teachers into the classrooms of troubled schools. This is a laudable effort, but the problems in America’s public schools extend far beyond poor areas. Indeed, many middle-class schools are failing to educate their students. The NEA ...
Commentary
Against the odds
Principal’s success at poor school captures national attention VICTORVILLE • When Linda Mikels took the helm as principal of Sixth Street Prep eight years ago, the elementary school near Old Town had seen its test scores sink three straight years. It’d be easy to blame poor performance on the demographics ...
Commentary
Duncan Wrong Again on School Choice
Freedom Politics, October 6, 2009 As grassroots momentum builds to save the Washington, DC school-choice voucher program from the congressional chopping block, U.S. education secretary Arne Duncan continues to dig in his heels in opposition. His comments betray a fundamental misunderstanding of how the education market works and what parents ...
Commentary
The Moment of Truth for Secretary Duncan
Scheduled speakers at the “Save School Choice” rally organized by the “Put Kids First” coalition included U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), former U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, D.C. Councilman Marion Barry, former D.C. Councilman Kevin P. Chavous, Pennsylvania State Senator Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia), ...
Charter Schools
Louisiana Lifts Limit on Charter Schools
Just in time to be considered for federal Race to the Top funds, Louisiana legislators removed the state’s cap on charter schools. State Rep. Walt Leger III (D-New Orleans) introduced the bill and added an amendment to remove the charter cap, previously set at 70 schools statewide. “We applaud the ...
Commentary
Senator Proposes Vouchers for Military Kids
This summer the Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 included an amendment mandating a study of the effectiveness of a school voucher program for children of military personnel and veterans living in or near the nation’s capital. S 1390 was introduced by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) ...
Commentary
Nebraska Embroiled in Teacher Salary Debate
Over the next two years, Nebraska will receive $234 million in federal stimulus money to bolster state aid to schools. That represents a one-time funding source, but Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman (R) wants to use it to boost teacher salaries, a recurring expense. Heineman sent a letter to the Nebraska ...
Commentary
No Ed Reform Cred for the Obama Administration
Granted, in some cases like California, anything seems better than the status quo; however, consider the Obama administration’s own track record when it comes to “reform.” According to the Post, the real test of this administration’s ed reform creds will be “whether the administration takes on the task of overhauling ...
New Study Finds State Definition of Dangerous Schools is a Flawed Measure of School Safety
Note: The 2007-08 data used for the appendix tables was based on data supplied directly by the California Department of Education in early 2009. The authors are currently reviewing the appendices against publicly reported school level data. San Francisco — The Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a free-market think tank based ...
How to Improve National Math Scores
The New York Times – Room for Debate Blog, October 15, 2009 Only 39 percent of fourth graders and 34 percent of eighth graders scored at or above the proficient level on the nationwide math test given this spring. With little improvement over the past six years, it’s seems unlikely ...
Education Reform is Everyone’s Problem
The National Education Association wants to reform hiring practices to help move highly qualified teachers into the classrooms of troubled schools. This is a laudable effort, but the problems in America’s public schools extend far beyond poor areas. Indeed, many middle-class schools are failing to educate their students. The NEA ...
Against the odds
Principal’s success at poor school captures national attention VICTORVILLE • When Linda Mikels took the helm as principal of Sixth Street Prep eight years ago, the elementary school near Old Town had seen its test scores sink three straight years. It’d be easy to blame poor performance on the demographics ...
Duncan Wrong Again on School Choice
Freedom Politics, October 6, 2009 As grassroots momentum builds to save the Washington, DC school-choice voucher program from the congressional chopping block, U.S. education secretary Arne Duncan continues to dig in his heels in opposition. His comments betray a fundamental misunderstanding of how the education market works and what parents ...
The Moment of Truth for Secretary Duncan
Scheduled speakers at the “Save School Choice” rally organized by the “Put Kids First” coalition included U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), former U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, D.C. Councilman Marion Barry, former D.C. Councilman Kevin P. Chavous, Pennsylvania State Senator Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia), ...
Louisiana Lifts Limit on Charter Schools
Just in time to be considered for federal Race to the Top funds, Louisiana legislators removed the state’s cap on charter schools. State Rep. Walt Leger III (D-New Orleans) introduced the bill and added an amendment to remove the charter cap, previously set at 70 schools statewide. “We applaud the ...
Senator Proposes Vouchers for Military Kids
This summer the Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 included an amendment mandating a study of the effectiveness of a school voucher program for children of military personnel and veterans living in or near the nation’s capital. S 1390 was introduced by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) ...
Nebraska Embroiled in Teacher Salary Debate
Over the next two years, Nebraska will receive $234 million in federal stimulus money to bolster state aid to schools. That represents a one-time funding source, but Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman (R) wants to use it to boost teacher salaries, a recurring expense. Heineman sent a letter to the Nebraska ...
No Ed Reform Cred for the Obama Administration
Granted, in some cases like California, anything seems better than the status quo; however, consider the Obama administration’s own track record when it comes to “reform.” According to the Post, the real test of this administration’s ed reform creds will be “whether the administration takes on the task of overhauling ...
