Education
Commentary
California School Days
Education: California Gov. Schwarzenegger is at odds with his school superintendent over how long the academic year should be. But is educational success, key to global competition, a matter of time, money or choice? The argument over what to do about America’s struggling schools is still raging. Programs such as ...
Pacific Research Institute
January 21, 2009
Commentary
Kids Need More School Choice
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes shortening the school year by five days to save $1.1 billion and help shrink the state’s $42-billion deficit. State superintendent Jack O’Connell opposes the idea, declaring that a longer school year is needed to prepare students for “the competitive global economy.” International evidence, however, overwhelmingly ...
Vicki E. Murray
January 21, 2009
Commentary
Reform Our Schools Mr. President Elect
Honorable President-elect Barack Obama: In nominating Arne Duncan to serve as Secretary of Education, you stressed the need for school reform. In accepting the nomination, Duncan said, “Whether it’s fighting poverty, strengthening our economy, or promoting opportunity, education is the common thread. It is the civil rights issue of our ...
Israel Teitelbaum
January 9, 2009
Commentary
Why Money Can’t Be the Answer for Obama’s New Education Secretary
For Secretary of Education, President-elect Barack Obama recently named Arne Duncan, whose seven-year record as head of Chicago schools includes some noteworthy improvements. Duncan now faces significant challenges that require deeper reforms than those he pursued in Chicago. Under Arne Duncan the graduation rate in Chicago schools rose from 47 ...
Rachel Chaney
January 7, 2009
Blackouts
How to Stamp Out Christmas
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On cue, California jumped into the yearly fray over why Christmas symbols and carols get banned from schools and other public places, when that well-known religious radical, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, ignited a controversy by pointedly calling the state’s official “holiday” tree its “Christmas” tree instead. Schwarzenegger is ...
Jill Stewart
January 3, 2009
Commentary
Teachers Have Options Outside of Forced Unionism
Charter School Business, January 1, 2009 | Print Version The Association of American Educators, along with the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, kicked off a back-to-school season campaign this fall to inform teachers and the public about the many organizations that give them insurance and benefits—all without the ...
Evelyn B. Stacey
January 1, 2009
Charter Schools
California Courts Rule for Charter Schools Again
A Los Angeles charter middle school is moving into new digs thanks to a court ruling on equal treatment that has national implications. One of the largest obstacles charters nationwide face is finding adequate facilities. Across the United States, only 26 of the 41 states with charter laws include procedures ...
Evelyn B. Stacey
January 1, 2009
Business & Economics
Impact – December 2008
PRI Ideas in Action – December 2008 Policy Update and Monthly Impact Report PRI continues to impact public policy in California, the nation, and abroad. Click below to view PRI’s recent contributions. Read PDF
Pacific Research Institute
December 31, 2008
Education
The Andy Caldwell Show: Peeking Behind the Blue Ribbon
IWF Visiting Fellow Vicki Murray discusses the NCLB Blue-Ribbon Award and how it fails its goal of raising school performances with Andy Caldwell.
Pacific Research Institute
December 17, 2008
Commentary
Follow the Foster-Care Leader
SACRAMENTO—With approximately 80,000 children, California has the nation’s largest foster-care population, according to the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care. Californians should keep a close watch on Arizona, where the fate of the country’s first K-12 scholarship program for foster-care students is now in the hands of ...
Vicki E. Murray
December 10, 2008
California School Days
Education: California Gov. Schwarzenegger is at odds with his school superintendent over how long the academic year should be. But is educational success, key to global competition, a matter of time, money or choice? The argument over what to do about America’s struggling schools is still raging. Programs such as ...
Kids Need More School Choice
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes shortening the school year by five days to save $1.1 billion and help shrink the state’s $42-billion deficit. State superintendent Jack O’Connell opposes the idea, declaring that a longer school year is needed to prepare students for “the competitive global economy.” International evidence, however, overwhelmingly ...
Reform Our Schools Mr. President Elect
Honorable President-elect Barack Obama: In nominating Arne Duncan to serve as Secretary of Education, you stressed the need for school reform. In accepting the nomination, Duncan said, “Whether it’s fighting poverty, strengthening our economy, or promoting opportunity, education is the common thread. It is the civil rights issue of our ...
Why Money Can’t Be the Answer for Obama’s New Education Secretary
For Secretary of Education, President-elect Barack Obama recently named Arne Duncan, whose seven-year record as head of Chicago schools includes some noteworthy improvements. Duncan now faces significant challenges that require deeper reforms than those he pursued in Chicago. Under Arne Duncan the graduation rate in Chicago schools rose from 47 ...
How to Stamp Out Christmas
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On cue, California jumped into the yearly fray over why Christmas symbols and carols get banned from schools and other public places, when that well-known religious radical, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, ignited a controversy by pointedly calling the state’s official “holiday” tree its “Christmas” tree instead. Schwarzenegger is ...
Teachers Have Options Outside of Forced Unionism
Charter School Business, January 1, 2009 | Print Version The Association of American Educators, along with the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, kicked off a back-to-school season campaign this fall to inform teachers and the public about the many organizations that give them insurance and benefits—all without the ...
California Courts Rule for Charter Schools Again
A Los Angeles charter middle school is moving into new digs thanks to a court ruling on equal treatment that has national implications. One of the largest obstacles charters nationwide face is finding adequate facilities. Across the United States, only 26 of the 41 states with charter laws include procedures ...
Impact – December 2008
PRI Ideas in Action – December 2008 Policy Update and Monthly Impact Report PRI continues to impact public policy in California, the nation, and abroad. Click below to view PRI’s recent contributions. Read PDF
The Andy Caldwell Show: Peeking Behind the Blue Ribbon
IWF Visiting Fellow Vicki Murray discusses the NCLB Blue-Ribbon Award and how it fails its goal of raising school performances with Andy Caldwell.
Follow the Foster-Care Leader
SACRAMENTO—With approximately 80,000 children, California has the nation’s largest foster-care population, according to the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care. Californians should keep a close watch on Arizona, where the fate of the country’s first K-12 scholarship program for foster-care students is now in the hands of ...