Teachers Unions
Commentary
Washington-centric Education “Reforms” Destined for Failure
Last week the Obama administration released changes to No Child Left Behind, now known as Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The New York Times observed that, “This ambitious agenda presents striking challenges of its own, both political and in terms of implementation.” Indeed, the proposed alterations have elicited divided ...
Commentary
0ld-school ideas of Jaime Escalante stand and deliver as much as always
CLASS may soon be over for Jaime Escalante, the math teacher celebrated in the 1988 movie “Stand and Deliver.” According to news reports, Escalante, 79, is in poor health and unable to walk. But after all these years, his accomplishments in Los Angeles, and his teaching philosophy, can still stand ...
Commentary
Lessons from California’s Race to the Top Loss
SACRAMENTO California has failed to land a federal Race to the Top grant but the grant process proved enlightening on several key fronts. It is possible, after all, to pass legislation the California Teachers Association (CTA), the states biggest political spender, doesnt like. To compete for the Race to ...
Education
“Spirit of Central Falls” Trumps Special Interests
Last week Central Falls, Rhode Island, School Superintendent Frances Gallo fired her entire high-school teaching staff when they refused to implement essential reforms to turn around the failing school. Little did Dr. Gallo know that hers would be the pink slips shot round the world-beginning with a billboard in the ...
California
California Focus: ‘Race to the Top’ won’t get there
Orange County Register, January 26, 2010 As California and other states scramble for shares of Barack Obama’s $4 billion pot of “Race to the Top” education funds, it’s easy to overlook the recent dagger to the heart dealt by the president and the Democratic-controlled Congress to the successful and popular ...
Commentary
The Lessons of Race To The Top
Yesterday California submitted its application for Race To The Top funds to the U.S. Department of Education. The state recently passed two pieces of legislation to vie for the funds, and by some accounts the process has already been beneficial. Theres been more state [education reform] legislation in the last ...
Commentary
On the merits of teacher merit pay
Last week Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two education bills that will make California more competitive for federal Race to the Top grants. The bills endured months of wrangling in the Legislature, and reformers remain concerned that the measures will not translate into the sweeping changes needed to improve Californias broken ...
Commentary
On the Merits of Merit Pay
Last week California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two education bills that will make California more competitive for federal Race to the Top (RTTT) grants. The bills endured months of wrangling in the legislature and reformers remain concerned that the measures will not translate into the sweeping changes needed to improve ...
Commentary
Money before unions
Orange County Register, January 7, 2010 blog.abwre.com, January 10, 2010 Sacramento legislators and Gov. Schwarzenegger may have achieved one of the most elusive accomplishments in California politics: bucking the teachers unions. The Assembly passed a package of education bills Tuesday that give parents more authority to move their children out ...
Charter Schools
Massachusetts Works to Expand Charter Schools
On November 18 the Massachusetts State Senate passed a much-anticipated bill to expand charter schools. The bill, S. 2216, sent to the House in the late hours of November 17, lifted the many caps hindering charter school expansion in the Bay State. Essentially, Massachusetts has two types of charter schools: ...
Washington-centric Education “Reforms” Destined for Failure
Last week the Obama administration released changes to No Child Left Behind, now known as Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The New York Times observed that, “This ambitious agenda presents striking challenges of its own, both political and in terms of implementation.” Indeed, the proposed alterations have elicited divided ...
0ld-school ideas of Jaime Escalante stand and deliver as much as always
CLASS may soon be over for Jaime Escalante, the math teacher celebrated in the 1988 movie “Stand and Deliver.” According to news reports, Escalante, 79, is in poor health and unable to walk. But after all these years, his accomplishments in Los Angeles, and his teaching philosophy, can still stand ...
Lessons from California’s Race to the Top Loss
SACRAMENTO California has failed to land a federal Race to the Top grant but the grant process proved enlightening on several key fronts. It is possible, after all, to pass legislation the California Teachers Association (CTA), the states biggest political spender, doesnt like. To compete for the Race to ...
“Spirit of Central Falls” Trumps Special Interests
Last week Central Falls, Rhode Island, School Superintendent Frances Gallo fired her entire high-school teaching staff when they refused to implement essential reforms to turn around the failing school. Little did Dr. Gallo know that hers would be the pink slips shot round the world-beginning with a billboard in the ...
California Focus: ‘Race to the Top’ won’t get there
Orange County Register, January 26, 2010 As California and other states scramble for shares of Barack Obama’s $4 billion pot of “Race to the Top” education funds, it’s easy to overlook the recent dagger to the heart dealt by the president and the Democratic-controlled Congress to the successful and popular ...
The Lessons of Race To The Top
Yesterday California submitted its application for Race To The Top funds to the U.S. Department of Education. The state recently passed two pieces of legislation to vie for the funds, and by some accounts the process has already been beneficial. Theres been more state [education reform] legislation in the last ...
On the merits of teacher merit pay
Last week Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two education bills that will make California more competitive for federal Race to the Top grants. The bills endured months of wrangling in the Legislature, and reformers remain concerned that the measures will not translate into the sweeping changes needed to improve Californias broken ...
On the Merits of Merit Pay
Last week California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two education bills that will make California more competitive for federal Race to the Top (RTTT) grants. The bills endured months of wrangling in the legislature and reformers remain concerned that the measures will not translate into the sweeping changes needed to improve ...
Money before unions
Orange County Register, January 7, 2010 blog.abwre.com, January 10, 2010 Sacramento legislators and Gov. Schwarzenegger may have achieved one of the most elusive accomplishments in California politics: bucking the teachers unions. The Assembly passed a package of education bills Tuesday that give parents more authority to move their children out ...
Massachusetts Works to Expand Charter Schools
On November 18 the Massachusetts State Senate passed a much-anticipated bill to expand charter schools. The bill, S. 2216, sent to the House in the late hours of November 17, lifted the many caps hindering charter school expansion in the Bay State. Essentially, Massachusetts has two types of charter schools: ...
