Correcting the Washington Post Account of What I Said in D.C.
As readers of the blog know, I visited members of Congress yesterday and attended a reception at the headquarters of the American Federation of Teachers at the end of the day. Here is an account that appeared in the Washington Post of what was said by me and others in the question-and-answer period. There is one statement that is somewhat misleading. This is the quote: “Asked about the latest ref
Andrew Cuomo: No More Money for Education!
Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to be known as the Democratic governor who didn’t raise taxes. He wants to be in the same league with the rightwing governors who boast that they created jobs by having a business-friendly climate with low corporate tax rates. The last thing he will do is equalize funding for education or–heaven forbid–actually spend more for education. Read this interview in Crain’s, a
Preschool: The Issue of the Day
Preschool education is one of the few issues on which there appears to be genuine bipartisan support, the Néw York Times reports. It was the centerpiece of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s landslide campaign, and red states like Grorgia and Oklahoma boast of their pre-K programs as models. The article cites the solid research as well as the critics who dispute the research. It would be useful for future r
KIPP Pulls Out of Two Campuses in Galveston
Schools in Texas have been forced to absorb huge budget cuts in recent years. One casualty was the two KIPP schools in Galveston, Texas, which could not afford to continue. They will close. “Galveston ISD paid KIPP $5.5 million this year – about $1.5 million more than it would have spent on those students in district-run schools…. KIPP, which operates 141 campuses that serve 50,000 students nati
Eclectablog: Michigan’s EAA Used Failed Technology for Neediest Kids
Eclectablog reports that the children in the so-called (and misnamed) Education Achievement Authority were used as guinea pigs for experimental technology. Eclectablog writes: “In the course of reporting on the tragic situation in Michigan’s Education Achievement Authority (read all of my posts HERE), one of the things that I have learned is that the computer platform that is used to administer t
A Connecticut Superintendent Speaks Out Against Failed “Reforms”
Tom Scarice, superintendent of schools in Madison, Connecticut, has already been named to the honor roll for his leadership and vision in bringing together his community to plan for the future of Madison public schools. Now, he steps up and speaks out again to take issue with those, like Governor Dannell Malloy, who call for a “pause” in the implementation of misguided reforms. In a letter to his
If Your School Fails, Open Another One, Preferably in Florida
Florida loves charter schools. It is not surprising since the charter industry has friends at the top of every key committee in the legislature. In Florida, charters open and close like the flow of waves on the lovely beaches that surround the state. Some make a huge profit, others disappear. There are now almost 600 charters in the state, so what’s another one, two, ten, or fifty? Many of the cha
NC Law Professor: Impossible to Improve Education While Ignoring Poverty
Gene Nichol, a law professor at the University of North Carolina, patiently explains that none of the “reforms” endorsed by the legislature, like charters and vouchers, will make a difference. The major obstacle causing low educational performance is poverty, not bad teachers or bad schools He writes: “The troubling correlation between education and poverty places North Carolina reform efforts i
North Carolina: the Hoax Bonus
In NorthCarolina, the top 25% of teachers are eligible to give up due process rights in return for an extra $500 a year. However, there is a catch, this reader says: “It is $500 a year for 4 years and then back to where you were in 2013-14. You don’t stay at the plus $2,000 in year 5. Also since only the first year is funded local funds will have to be found for years 2, 3 and 4. It’s just the ch
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-4-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Peter Greene: Common Core and Planned Obsolescence!Peter Greene, a teacher in Pennsylvania, sees the incredible marketing opportunities associated with Common Core. And he worries that the marketing department has missed some even more spectacular opportunities to sell CC-aligned products: True– “CCSS” has been stamped every printe