Speaking glibly against high-stakes testing is easy but their effects are like residual pesticides. They linger in systems long after their application. The ideas that prompted their widespread use persist even among those who might disavow over-testing. Sometimes detection of toxic testing residuals can be tricky. Standing in front […]
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The K-12 Education Speech We Need From Democrats
The K-12 Education Speech We Need From Democrats With the Elementary, Secondary Education Act (ESEA) once again up for reconsideration in Congress, it is time for the Democratic presidential hopefuls to take a stand. Candidates Sanders, O’Malley and Clinton have decided that to differentiate themselves from their Republican rivals, they must make a direct, unmistakable […]
Democrats: There Are Better Choices Than School Choice to Improve Education
Over the next year we can expect to hear a lot from Republican presidential candidates about school choice, the word of choice to marshal political support to expand the number charter schools and vouchers for private schools. Democrats, except maybe the governor of New York, have traditionally opposed public funding for vouchers. However, many have […]
We Can Be Better Than the Audacity of Small Hopes
We Can Be Better Than the Audacity of Small Hopes The United States is suffering through the audacity of small hopes. In the shadow of the Great Recession and after several decades of increasing wealth disparity in the United States, the politically and financially powerful have the audacity to call upon the nation to accept […]
Why Reports of Progress on No Child Left Behind Rewrite May Not Be a Good Sign
There are reports on Capitol Hill that some progress is being made on the rewrite of No Child Left Behind, at least between the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate education committee. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the Republican committee chairman, and Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, recently issued a statement saying: “During […]
The Better Way to Improve Education: Invest and Trust
Current debate about education policy is dominated by several zombie ideas. One idea that should have been dead, but keeps coming back to life is the “government is the problem“-inspired commitment to public disinvestment. The other better left for idea is to distrust educators, but trust tests and markets to improve education. There is a better, third way to […]
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