‘Education Nation’ First Before ‘Education President’
(Friday, August 7th, 2009)
“So many presidential aspirants are crowding our TV and movie screens as the 2010 elections draw near. Every one of them has some sort of promise to lead our nation out of the ethical morass that we’ve been wallowing in since martial law. They have all manner of solutions: some propose a return to basic [...]
How to Choose a Charter School
(Friday, August 7th, 2009)
Did you know that even top-notch, raved about schools lose some enrollment? Why? Because different kids learn different ways. What works super for one kid—or even thousands—may not be a good fit for someone else.
“That is why education variation and options are good for our kids. Before we ask ourselves if a charter school is [...]
Teachers Are Key to School Reforms
(Friday, August 7th, 2009)
“Of all the reform elements in the $4.3 billion federal Race to the Top program, which was formally rolled out last Friday, the one that has the potential to move tectonic plates in the education world is teacher accountability.
“Put simply, it asks states to link student test scores to decisions about a teacher’s effectiveness.”
To continue [...]
President Obama Delivers Remarks on Education
(Friday, August 7th, 2009)
“OBAMA: Thank you for the outstanding introduction from Matthew. And Matthew’s teacher, you’re doing obviously an outstanding job — although I understand Matthew’s mom is also a teacher who has also won awards for her outstanding work. So the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree. We are very proud of him.
“Obviously I want to [...]
Are Teachers the Key to Improving Our Education?
(Monday, June 29th, 2009)
“An affirmative answer to this question is becoming a cliché. And you probably expect a guy whose career is in teacher education to give an enthusiastic “Yes!” But it is not so simple. On one hand, current research has overcome simplistic assertions of past decades that teachers don’t matter. When we used crude proxies to [...]
States are Cautioned to Supplement Education Funds
(Monday, June 29th, 2009)
“The debate over whether Texas lawmakers can use federal stimulus money to boost education spending, including funding a raise for teachers, is heating up.
“The Obama administration warned states Thursday it may withhold millions of dollars if they use stimulus money to plug budget holes instead of boosting aid for schools. Education Secretary Arne Duncan made [...]
Standing Up for Education
(Monday, June 29th, 2009)
“About 70 teachers, parents and children wearing black and carrying signs stood up in opposition to teacher cuts on Thursday.
“The protesters gathered outside the offices of Desert Sands Unified School District in La Quinta and marched down Dune Palms Road to Highway 111.”
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Are Charter Schools a Dran on Tradition Public Schools?
(Monday, June 29th, 2009)
“Ralph, charter schools are the way to go. In a March speech on education policy, President Obama championed charter schools, praising their innovation and urging states to lift caps on their growth. Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have called for doubling the number of charter schools across the country. They want high-quality [...]
46 States, D.C. Plan to Draft Common Education Standards
(Monday, June 8th, 2009)
“Forty-six states and the District of Columbia today will announce an effort to craft a single vision for what children should learn each year from kindergarten through high school graduation, an unprecedented step toward a uniform definition of success in American schools.”
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Duncan Talks School Improvement, Stimulus, and Education Department Culture
(Monday, June 8th, 2009)
“Secretary of Education Arne Duncan got to use his favorite word again in a speech this morning when he said he wants states and districts to take “dramatic” steps to overhaul schools that are struggling to meet the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act.
“He talked about how, as superintendent in Chicago, he closed [...]