Is poverty destiny? Ideology vs. evidence in school reform - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Is poverty destiny? Ideology vs. evidence in school reform - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

Is poverty destiny? Ideology vs. evidence in school reform

By Valerie Strauss

At the center of the school reform debate is the role that poverty playsin student achievement, as explained well in the following post. It was written by Paul Thomas, an associate professor of education at Furman University in South Carolina. His newest book, “Ignoring Poverty in the U.S. — The Corporate Takeover of Public Education,” was recently published. A version of this post appeared on dailykos.com. This is long but worth the time.

By Paul Thomas

Science educator and activist Anthony Cody had a five-part exchange with the Gates Foundation about education reform on his Education Week blog, Living in Dialogue

These point-counterpoint posts serve well to illustrate the essential difference between Social Context Reformers, represented by Cody, and “No Excuses” Reformers, represented by the Gates Foundation

Tennessee punishing Nashville for refusing to open charter school

by Valerie Strauss

Tennessee officials, led by Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman, are withholding $3.4 million from the Nashville public schools because the state told the system to open a controversial charter school and the local school board refused.
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Who won the Chicago teachers strike?

by Valerie Strauss

The Chicago teachers have called off their strike after seven days as members of the union vote on a proposed contract hammered out in tough negotiations. Who won? Was it Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel or the union?
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