Keeping Up, and Down, with the Joneses � The Quick and the Ed

Keeping Up, and Down, with the Joneses � The Quick and the Ed

Keeping Up, and Down, with the Joneses

by Chad Aldeman

Public- and private-sector workers’ retirements used to be structured similarly. Not that long ago, both groups were likely to have access to defined benefit pension plans that guaranteed monthly payments until death. Both sets of workers retired at about the same ages.
These things have changed over the last 25 years as private-sector employers have abandoned DB plans, private-sector workers have been retiring at older ages, and public-sector workers, including teachers, have been retiring younger. By 2009, only one in five private-sector workers had access to a DB plan, compared to 89 percent of teachers and 84 percent of all state and local government employees who are still

QUICK Hits

by Forrest Hinton

Quick Hits is a short compilation of question-raising news stories, blog posts, and video clips that Education Sector team members are reading and viewing each day.

• A community college funding formula based on student outcomes? (Community College Spotlight)
• Charter school leaders are very often optimistic and academically-focused. But do these qualities make them expert budget managers? (Charter School Insights)
• Budget cuts are forcing public colleges and universities to re-think the ways they educate students. Is online education the solution for much-needed revenue and increased student achievement? (Inside Higher Ed)
• How do you Spot the TFA? (Not much, just chillin’)
• Do competitive grants hurt equal opportunity? Should all Federal money be spread around like peanut butter? (National Journal)