This Week In Education: Best of the Week Archives

Lost in the hubbub surrounding the release and interpretation of this year's NAEP scores (yawn) is a fascinating and powerful story in the Chicago Tribune about what happens when researchers analyze another kind of performance -- suspension rates -- by race and poverty groups.

The fact that black kids --especially boys -- are disproportionately affected is vivid but not surprising. (Even though the suspension rates are double and even triple what they should be.) The fact that black middle class kids are suspended at higher rates, too, is a little more eye-opening. (Black students are no more likely to misbehave than other students from the same SES background.) And the reactions of schools with these different outcomes is perhaps the most interesting of all. (Many defend the differences because they are applying a uniform discipline standard.)

Are discipline codes being applied uniformly in schools? Does it make sense to use them if their real-world results are so skewed? What about some "differentiated" discipline to go along with all the adjustments and tailoring that is being done on the instructional side? We know that kids don't all benefit from uniform instruction. Check it out here.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Week Ahead In DC

There's not much on the Secretary's public schedule, but tomorrow the NAEP reading and math scores come out -- so much fun -- and it's rumored that a Kennedy discussion draft might come out soon. Less likely for this week, but something to look for, is the next iteration of the Miller reauthorization proposal. I read that there were 3,000 comments submitted on the draft, most of them negative.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Big Labor Day Roundup

Away from it all for a few days or even more these past few weeks? Me, too. To get you caught up in no time, here's a brief and highly selective guide to what you missed (not that much, actually):

Back To School
It's that time of year.

NCLB Reauthorization
Wall to wall coverage of the Miller proposal.

Urban Education
Where the action's at -- or at least the kids.

Teachers & Teaching
Can't live with 'em, can't do much without 'em.

Books, Journalism, Blogs
Lots about Linda Perlstein's book, and good blogging tips.

School Life
Not just the news of the weird.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Labor Day Roundup: Back To School

Tips for starting the school year rightChristian Science Monitor
Veteran teacher and author Coleen Fitzpatrick has advice for teachers and parents.

Record Enrollment Is Projected, But Trend VariesEdWeek
Schools in the West and the South will receive more students, while schools in the Midwest and the Northeast will experience a decline. PIC

Trials and Tribulations of the New School YearCarnival Of Education
Mrs. Bluebird spent a chunk of her third full day of school outside the building. Fire drill? Nope, real emergency.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

NCLB Implementation Roundup

Hawaii Gets No Break on School Test Scores HonoluluAdvertiser.com
Hawaii wanted to join seven states that are now evaluated under the so-called "growth model," which measures how much progress individual students make, rather than whether they hit arbitrary score levels in the federal No Child Left Behind program.

Schools hit penalty phase of NCLB Herald Tribune (Fla.)
While many educators are quick to point out the shortcomings of the law, Wakeland Elementary School Principal Chuck Fradley credits it for forcing his school to make necessary changes, even though his school also faces penalties.

Where's the support for NCLB? Tucson Citizen (opinion)
You might think that the Democrats running for president, who rarely miss an ethnic celebration and who claim to have the best interests of African-Americans and Latinos at heart, would rush to defend No Child Left Behind - especially since the candidates who were in Congress in 2001 voted for the legislation. You know better.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cheating In The News

Fascinated or appalled at all the cheating that seems to be going on these days? Check out Caveon Security's email "Cheating In The News," which showed up in my inbox this morning, including all the latest cheating news:

Oakland charter school director resigns amid cheating scandal Inside Bay Area
Tougher catching cheating with online test takers, educators say Naples Daily News
Cheating on standardized tests isn't fleeting -- it's predictable SF Chronicle

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Week Ahead

Though it's starting off slowly, the week ahead could be busy:

EdWeek says that the Miller education bill could come out (see below).

AEI's got an event today: The Impact of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) . Participants: Derek Neal, University of Chicago; Katherine Haley, Office of Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI); Charles Murray, AEI; and Henry Olsen, AEI.. Time and Location: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Wohlstetter Conference Center, Twelfth Floor, AEI. Diana.steinmeyer@aei.org for more information.

New America has a thing tomorrow: "Child Well-Being in America and Abroad: How Do American Children Fare in Comparison to Children in Other Countries?" Time and Location: 10:30 a.m.; NAF, 1630 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 7th Floor, Washington. Liz Wu, 202.986.2700 ext. 315, wu@newamerica.net.

Michelle Rhee makes her Hill debut on Thursday: D.C. Public School System Reform (E&S). Subject: The Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia Subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on "Great Expectations: Assessments, Assurances, and Accountability in the Mayor's Proposal to Reform the District of Columbia's Public School System." Time and Location: 2:30 p.m.; 342 Dirksen SOB. Contact: 202.224.2627.

No word on what the EdSec is up to. She must be still recovering from all the Bastille Day celebrating over the weekend.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Week Ahead

If it's not about Iraq, health care, the campaign, or the environment, it doesn't seem like there's that much going on in DC these next few days. Fresh off her weekend in Aspen, the EdSec is going to Crystal City this afternoon to to talk about investing in children at the White House Conference on the Americas. Mysteriously, it's not open to the press. The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up the Labor-HHS-Education bill on Wednesday. That same day, Secty Spellings flies up to Albany to give a commencement speech for the A Brighter Choice charter schools (single sex, BTW). Next Monday, AEI has an event on NCLB.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Best Of The Week (June 25-July 2)

NCLB News
Over-Reaching On NCLB Predictions At The Washington Post
Reauthorization? We Don't Need No Stinking Reauthorization.

Urban Education
CCCR: Deseg Not Outlawed
Cristo Rey Schools Take Over The World

Teachers & Teaching
America's Most Wanted: Teachers
TAP For TIF: More On Merit Pay Models
"Help Wanted - Chinese Teachers Need to Meet New Craze"

Students
Students Explain Torture Letter Delivered To President Bush
High School Student Takes On Fiery Newscaster Over Sex Ed Talk

Media Watch
Two Good "Time-Lapse" Education Stories
Is Student Violence Necessarily School Violence?
Online Bullying Goes Big Time, Depending How You Define It

The Education Business
Here Come Consulting Firms (Again)
Gates Foundation Advocate Over-Involved In Texas Contracts, Report Says
Raking In The Online High School Sports Dollars

Foundation Follies
Fordham For, Then Against Muslim Charter Schools
Scandalous Mead Video Surfaces On The Internet

School Life
¡Ask a Mexican!
Roller Shoes: Lawn Darts Of The New Millennium
Worst Security Guard Ever

Site News
Blogging...On Facebook

Posted by Alexander Russo at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today & Later This Week

There's something on the EdSec's schedule today about "President Bush’s remarks on reauthorization of No Child Left Behind" at the White House. Then later this week on Wednesday there's the USDE's SES summit. And, on Thursday, NCTQ's Teacher Policy Handbook rollout.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Best Of The Week (June 19-26)

Campaign 2008
Bloomberg Candidacy Would Bring Education Up

The Education Business
High-Tech Paycheck & Report Card Problems In LA and Chicago
NCLB Tutoring: Not Working, Or Just Not Working Miracles?
PLUS: Sylvan Sued

Policy Watch
What Do People Really Think About NCLB?
Internal Differences: Preschool, Choice, and More
Jay Mathews On Michelle Rhee: Didn't I Just Say That?
PLUS: "What’s this Korean lady doing here?"

Foundations & Think Tanks
"Designated Survivors" At School Reform Confabs
Sara Mead: Out Of The Frying Pan And Into The Fire
Charter School Smarick Wins White House Fellows Spot
PEN NewsBlast Guru Rides Off Into The Sunset

Urban Education
Merit Pay Model Not Ready For Prime Time?
Franchising Magnets (Just Like Charters)
Boston Gets Memphis Chief; Balto Gets NYC #2
Severance Pay For Vallas Might Be $500K
PLUS: Vallas Ditches Own Going-Away Party

Media Watch
Colbert Loves NCLB -- Better Than Jon Stewart
"My Name's Emmet And I'm An Eduholic."
Mainstream Blogging's Perils & Pleasures
The Times Vs. The Post: Education's Weekly Showdown

School Life
High School Sophomore Marries Coach -- Parents Sign Off
When Celebrities Have Opinions (John Travolta Edition)
Top 10 Party High Schools In America
Parents, Kids, Librarians Get Ready (Potter Book Out 7/21)
The Worst Cheese Sandwich Ever

Posted by Alexander Russo at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Best Of The Week (June 4-11)

Campaign 2008
Santa Fe Reporter Challenges Richardson's Education Claims
Richardson "Wins" Nonexistent Education Portion Of Dem Debate

On The Hill
"Finding, Grinding, & Minding:" How Ocean Spray Gets In The Schoolhouse Door

Policy Watch
Extending The Day Without Breaking The Bank
Cheating, Charters, And More Cheating
Teachers Threatened With Job Loss For Supporting Charter
Everything I Needed To Know...I Learned From This Article

NCLB News
Achievement Up, Gaps Narrowed Since 2002
USA Today Overviews States' Testing Games
What To Make Of The IES Comparability Report
Lots Of New Details, Not So Many New Ideas

Foundation Follies
The Multiple Providers: The Sanjaya Of School Reform?
Somewhat Annoying Latecomers
John Bailey At SchoolNet Conference

Media Matters
Time To Update The Map Of Education Blogs
New Stats On Internet Dangers Dispell Many Myths
Chicago Paper Reinforces Depleted Education Team
Freedman Vs. Mathews, The College Admissions Showdown
15 Journos Get Hechinger Fellowships
Bad News, Good News

School Life
Kid Didn't Get Into Private School? We'll Help You
What's Wrong With This Picture?

Posted by Alexander Russo at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Best Of The Week (May 28-June4)

Best Of The Month
The Month In Review: Secrets, Missed Stories, & More
More "Rolling Water Jugs" In Education
Getting Ready For The Obama Switcheroo

USDE
EdSec Spellings Playing The "Girl" Card
See also: A Bush Brother Spreads His Vision NYT

NCLB News
Guest Commentary: Kevin Kosar On Muddled AYP Fixes
Kennedy Began Immigration Push At NCLB White House Meeting
Teacher Firings: Still A Myth

Urban Education
Breakaway LA Teachers Want To Go Charter
What People Mean When They Talk About Human Capital
See also: U.S. Data Show Rapid Minority Growth in School Rolls NYT
Charter Schools Look to Address Educational Woes NPR

Media Watch
When A "Congressional Report" Is Not A Congressional Report
Educating Journalists: The Best Of Both Worlds
Taking The Pulse Of The EduSphere

Foundation Follies
Who's Paid What In The Nonprofit World.

School Life
To Sir, With Sarcasm
Booze-Filled Flip-Flops

Posted by Alexander Russo at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Week In Review (May 21-28)

On The Hill/Campaign 2008
Early Childhood Proposals, Realistic and Otherwise
Why Are Miller & Kennedy Not Calling Beth Ann Bryan?

USDE
Spellings Is To Gonzales As "I Don't Recall" Is To Lunchables
Five Questions For Jon Stewart To Ask Spellings Tonight
The Secretary's Necklace: Too Bad It Wasn't Larimar
Spellings Suck-Up, Part 234

NCLB News
Growth Models For Everybody!
How NCLB Is Like A Russian Novel
Does More Reading Make For Better Social Studies?
The "Lost Teacher Jobs" Myth

Policy Trends
Check Registers: Do They Help?
I Find It, You Read It: The Failed Takeover Story In LA
Utah Puts Seven K12 Admins On HIgher Ed Boards

School Life
Now They're Outsourcing Your Kids' Fast Food Jobs, Too
Finding The Hidden Gems In The System

Media Watch
Snap Judgements In Education Reporting
Watch Out, Cambridge
Now I Know Your Home Phone Number

Site News
More Misogyny And Anger (And Irony, Too) At The HuffPo
Mother Jones Mention
The Worst Blog On EdWeek

Posted by Alexander Russo at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Utah Puts Seven K12 Admins On HIgher Ed Boards

Here's an interesting and apparently newfangled way to get your PK-16 system integrated: put lots of K-12 folks including your state supe on the state board of regents and the college board of trustees. That's what Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has done with seven state higher ed spots, according to this Deseret News article (School Chiefs To Join Regents, College Boards). "The idea is to make for a seamless education system for kindergartners through college graduation."

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Best Of The Week (May7-14)

Campaign '08
Dem. Candidates Pilgrimage To NOLA (Again)
EdCheck.Org -- Fact-Checking All The Spin

Site News
We're On NPR!
Russo Bullies Vallas
Latest Huffington Post: "Spellings Pulls A Gonzalez"

Foundation Follies
The Sundance Of School Reform
Can Education Entrepreneurs Crack Public Education?

Greeding First (& Student Lending, Too)
Miller Gets Worked Up At Spellings Explanations
Special Treatment For Spellings
Behind The Scenes: Spellings, Miller, & Kennedy
What About Beth Ann Bryan?

NCLB News
States Complain About NCLB

Urban Education
The Two Pauls In New Orleans
Kool-Aid Pickles, And Cute Drug Names Too

School Life
The Sound Of Cell Phones
One Killed Over A PlayStation At Fresno State
Carseats And School Buses -- A Parent's Confusion

Media Watch
EdWeek Reporter To New Leaders
Vivid Doesn't Mean Accurate
Colorado (Education Blog) Is In The House

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Best Of The Week (April 23-29)

Site News
Now Appearing On The Huffington Post, Too

Campaign 2008
Bill Clinton Reverses Himself On Annual Testing
Jerald Joins $60M "Stronger American Schools" Initiative
Saving American Schools, One Pint Of Ice Cream At A Time

NCLB News
The Fairfax Fandango: This Test Is Too Hard
Is "Proficient" Too Much To Ask For?
Looking Into VA Test Participation Rules

On The Hill
Exclusive: Spellings Called To Testify
Has Chairman Miller Been Protecting Secretary Spellings?
Reading First Quotes: Criminal Or Civil Investigation?

School Reform
Growing Pains For KIPP Schools
Teachers In NYC "Rubber Rooms"
The KIPP Breakups

Business Of Education
Gates Announces New Education Honcho
How To Read An Edu-Company Press Release
Who The Hell Is Whitney Tilson?

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Treating Academics Like Interns

Continuing its excellent AERA coverage, the EducationPR blog chronicles my absurd and irresponsible comments to education researchers on Thursday morning about what it's like to be an academic in the legislative arena (not much fun) and how to get research in front of legislators or their staff in ways that might have some positive impact (Come out of your academic cave �).

What I learned at the session was that the disturbing experience of learning the policy process is not that uncommon -- everyone had a vivid story to tell -- and that some academics think it's easier to influence practice than policy. I also heard that research has improved over the past few years, even if its reputation and ability to influence policy hasn't -- yet?

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 2007: The Month In Review (Updated)

NOW WITH NOISE REDUCTION

Blogs are usually all about the moment, and not so much about the long view.

To help address that, and to try something new, here's a roundtable that includes me and three All-Star journalists (Schemo, Banchero, and Toppo) talking about the biggest stories of the month, winners and losers, and other things. Download and listen here. Or, if you're feeling fancy and want to try an embedded audio player, here:

Get past the amateurish hosting and so-so sound quality and you'll hear about Bong Hits For Jesus, whether states can hold out if NCLB doesn't reauthorize until 2009, if and how Reading First is a big story, the big Gates gifts to KIPP and DC students, and even a little bit about the Nelnet giveaway. Who was the month's loser -- Gene Hickock, Reading First, or the Fordham folks?Listen and find out.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 8:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Week In Review (March 19-25)

SCHOOL LIFE
Who's On Your Hitlist?
Peppermint & Stinky Shoes
The Wisdom Of Children (In Three Parts)

TEACHERS & TEACHING
"Bloody Claws" -- Impressions Of NCLB's Logo
What Educators Can Learn From "American Idol"

WASHINGTON UPDATE
School Reform May Go Better Out Of The Limelight
Former USDE Deputy Sec. Turns Self In, Pays Up
Where's Maggie?
Think Tanks Battle For Candidates' Ears

NCLB NEWS
State Supe Says Testing Co. Threatened State
More Hearings Than You Can Shake A Stick At
GOP Hopefuls ore Supportive Of NCLB Than Others

MEDIA WATCH
Sex Predator Scare Tactics Not Just For Journalists Anymore
NCLB Is Falling Apart, Again. Not.
The Return Of The Hype Warning System
In Praise Of Education Journalism
Exit Exam Database, 1977-2007

Posted by Margaret Paynich at 3:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Best Of The Week (March 12-16)

Policy Watch
DonorsChoose: Micro-Donations Go Macro
The Coming Pre-K Quality Crunch

Teachers & Teaching
Reading First Defenders, Unite
Denigrating Teachers...Or Just Disagreeing?

NCLB News
Dissecting The NCLB Hearing
Views Of NCLB, Pro And (Mostly) Con
A Long, Boring Hearing?
The Perils Of Being Against NCLB

Business Of Education
Schmoozing The New Guy
What Can You Learn From SEC Filings For Education Companies?

Media Watch
What Makes A "Real" Education Story?
Sen. Alexander Reaches Out To Education Bloggers
The Weekly Magazines Take On Education Issues
American Educator Spring 2007

School Life
High School Student Council Passes Nonbinding Resolution
Black-Hispanic Tensions On Display In Chicago Local Control Crisis

Posted by Alexander Russo at 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hearings & Meetings Schedule -- Tomorrow & Beyond

Don't forget -- there are two reasonably big events tomorrow in DC.

The NCLB event, sponsored by the big four (Miller, Kennedy, McKeon, and Enzi) includes as witnesses mostly the usual suspects. The hearing, titled “Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization: Improving NCLB to Close the Achievement Gap,” will be held in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. Click at bottom to read the members' pull quotes.

It's interesting to note that while there is no one from the USDE that is on the scheduled witness list, Spellings herself is scheduled to show up at an event later the same day called "Higher Education after the Spellings Commission: An Assessment." At the Wohlstetter Conference Center, Twelfth Floor, AEI, 1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.

And yes, there's a decent list of upcoming events at the AACTE events page (AACTE), which I'm glad to know about. Now if it only had an RSS feed (hint, hint).

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

How To Tell All The Reports Apart

It's a new national report a week, it seems, but this handy-dandy explainer from the Center on Public Education (part of NSBA) helps begin to sort things out a little: Round-up of National Education Report Cards.

"The Center for Public Education has identified more than a dozen national "report cards" on various aspects of education from pre-kindergarten through college. While there is some overlap among many of them, they have different emphases and use different criteria for rating performance."

Posted by Alexander Russo at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Week In Review Feb 26 - March 4

Best Of The Week
A Third Way On National Standards
Education Lobbyist Ellin Nolan On The HotSeat

Foundation Follies
Think Tank "Truthiness"
How The Fordham Foundation Is Like Hillary Clinton
New America Takes Old View Of For-Profit Universities

NCLB Reauthorization
Vouchers & Characterization Proposals Not Necessarily "DOA"
Comparing Everyone's NCLB Reauthorization Proposals, Version 2.0
How Are These Reports Like All The Other Reports? Lotsa Ways

Education Policy
Which Is Worse - Test Scores, Or Class Grades?
School Restructuring How-To Manual From Chicago

Media Watch
Education Writers Association Award Winners Announced
Homework Game Show
Reporter Refutes Claims Of Junk Journalism
Meier & Ravitch Join The Online Fray
"PBS Teachers" Expanded Site Launches

School Life
"Tray Gazing" In The Cafeteria
Ali G (aka Borat) Panel On Sex Ed and Teen Drug Use
Girls Like Them

Posted by Margaret Paynich at 2:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PBS & NPR Roundup: Education News For Your Ears (& Eyes)

By this point of the week, maybe listening to an education story in the background would be easier than reading one. Here are a few interesting audio and video segments from the past week:

New Orleans Struggles to Revamp Public Education PBS
From last night's NewsHour.

Accused Teacher Denies Surfing for Porn at School NPR
The saga continues.

When a Story Tells Truths, Sources May Suffer NPR
Finding the news in a Baltimore school -- without costing anyone their job.

Opting Out of College for a Blue-Collar Life NPR
Are too many kids being pushed into college?

Writing Seminar Spawns Book Deals NPR
NYT columnist Sam Freedman shows the young'uns (and the rest of us) how to do it.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Insider's Insider: Education Lobbyist Ellin Nolan On The HotSeat

Education lobbyist Ellin Nolan is one of those folks who never gets much publicity in DC -- she doesn't want it. But that doesn't mean she's not well know or influential in her own right. President of Washington Partners LLC, Nolan has helped turn the firm into a powerhouse full-service education lobbying firm.

Staffers and members of Congress may come and go, but lobbyists like Nolan are always there. On the HotSeat, Nolan dispells everyone's notions about how lobbyists work (ie, in the dark of night), describes her favorite lobbying reform (attach lobbyists' names to projects), explains how education earmarks are different from other kinds (earmarks are harder to get), and dishes on which is more fun -- authorizing or appropriating (you can anticipate this one).

She won't tell what the most infamous education "bridge to nowhere" earmark is (there's gotta be one-tell me if you know) or how much she lost in the FY07 budget process, but it's still a fascinating peek into the world of folks who hang out outside committee rooms and seem to know everyone.

Continue reading "The Insider's Insider: Education Lobbyist Ellin Nolan On The HotSeat" »

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Third Way On National Standards & Assessments

There's lots of good stuff in Elizabeth Weiss Green's US News story on national standards -- including about the grassroots version of national tests that might be bubbling up from the states via Achieve. Check it out towards the end of the article here.

What's a national policymaker to do, then? Well, to get us out of the this stalled go/no debate on national standards that we've been in for a few months now, some enterprising member of Congress might propose new funds to help states implement these state-developed "national" standards, and encouraging more states to follow.

At the end of day, no one really cares how we get to comparable and rigorous) state-to-state comparisons.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Short, Slow Week

Even with the NAEP scores out, it doesn't seem like it's been much of a week. Maybe it was the holiday-shortened week, or the fact that many folks seem to be heading off on vacation (or wishing it were so). Still, there's always the PEN NewsBlast, including topics like high stakes testing, the relevance of progressive education, new ideas for education reform, and more. And the Fordham Gadfly, which includes bits on whole language, the podcast, private schools for the poor, and something from Checker I couldn't quite follow.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Week In Review February 12 - 18

Best Of The Week
Did The NYT Get It Wrong On The University Of Phoenix?
Would a Constitutional Amendment Do Any Good?
If SEIU and Wal-Mart Can Do It, Education Can, Too
Hot For Education 2007 (Sports Illustrated Edition)

On The Hill
Kennedy Head Start Reauthorization Quick Out Of The Gate
Live Blogging The Aspen Institute Report Release
The Papers Cover The Aspen Commission Report

People & Places
Obama Panders, Then Pushes, On NCLB
Who's Who: Edison Lobbyist Heather Podesta
Ed Trust's Amy Wilkins Is Back
Lawyers' Committee Honcho On The HotSeat
Aspen Report Leader Heads To The Hill

Education Policy
Resistance to Weighted Student Funding In Chicago
Now Here's A Big Education Idea
Learning More About Funders
Flip-Flopping Finn, Part 2

Media Watch
What The Other Blogs Didn't Tell You
Bloggers Coming Clean
Most Viewed" On EdWeek? Not Quite.

Posted by Margaret Paynich at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Coalition DVD Event In Providence

The Coalition of Essential Schools folks tell me that they are premiering a new film about their efforts developing small schools on February 28th in Providence, for anyone who's interested. Ted Sizer is going to be there, and the film has apparently won the Aegis Award for Best Educational DVD.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Weekend Catch-Up: Mainstream News

Here are some interesting pieces that I missed during the past week or so:

Did Help Get Left Behind? US News & World Report
Five years after No Child Left Behind was enacted, educators and lawmakers are asking whether the stomachaches caused by the legislation have been worth it.

Tutoring program in trouble Detroit Free Press
A tutoring program for low-income students attending under-performing schools is being criticized for not reaching enough eligible students in Michigan and for failing in many cases to provide proof that tutors are living up to expectations.

No Classroom Left AloneAmerican Spectator
Not even LBJ could have imagined No Child Left Behind.

True 'Spirit of America': Bush's Icon Teaches Tots to Tune In Washington Post (Al Kamen)
Seems nothing's ever simple these days. President Bush, in his State of the Union, praised special guest Julie Aigner-Clark, who he said "represents the great enterprising spirit of America," for founding Baby Einstein, makers of children's videos.

Posted by Alexander Russo at 5:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hot For Education 2007

One of the most popular -- and embarrassing -- posts that's ever run on this site has been Hot For Education, a highly arbitrary and much-commented on listing of some of the folks who might qualify as "hot...for education." And, in honor of this snowy Valentine's Day (and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, just out), I'm giving it another try.

With any luck, this year's winter edition will be just as controversial -- and fun. Or at least it'll embarass EdWeek. The rules are simple. To qualify, someone needs to work in education and to be thought to be hot by someone (an admiring co-worker, an anonymous nominator, "everyone," me). There has to be an easily available picture of you somewhere. Men and women are eligible (last time, the comments about some of the men were downright lascivious.)

Oh, and your pic can't have been posted last time around. (This leaves out the original 5: Ted Kennedy, Nina Rees, Jon Schnur, Wendy Kopp, & Tim Knowles (pictured), as well as Pedro Noguera. Casey Lartigue is also excluded, for ballot stuffing.)

And now, on to the hotties... [PLUS COMMENTS -- CHECK THEM OUT]

Continue reading "Hot For Education 2007" »

Posted by Alexander Russo at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

John Brittain: Lawyers' Committee Honcho On The HotSeat

As Chief Counsel and Senior Deputy to the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, John Brittain is in a tremendously interesting and influential position when it comes to school reform, which many describe as the civil rights issue of our era.

On the HotSeat, Brittain praises NCLB (for its focus on the achievement gap), but admits that it took time for civil rights groups "to wrap our arms around" NCLB provisions like AYP. He says that the feds can meddle in teacher assignment issues (if warranted) and that states shouldn't cap charters (but should monitor their performance).

He reminds us that integration is still an important issue (and that racial integration is still preferable to economic integration despite the legal challenges that the former currently faces). Last but not least, he explains the difference between the Lawyers' Committee and the Citizen's Commission (one's a committee, the other's a commission) and describes the benefits of wearing a bow-tie (no food stains).

Click below to read all about it.

Continue reading "John Brittain: Lawyers' Committee Honcho On The HotSeat" »

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If SEIU and Wal-Mart Can Do It, Education Can, Too

Once again, the ideas and movement on the health care front seem to be far outpacing whatever atrophied and occasional movement we see the education front.

Two weeks ago, it was the President proposing a new $100B health care tax credit in place of the current employer based two-tiered system (Health Care Big, Education Small).

Last week, longstanding opponents Wal-Mart and the unions proposed a joint health care initiative (Wal-Mart, Union Leaders Collaborate on Health Care PBS).

What would the rough equivalent of that be in education? An NEA-Alliance For School Choice deal on vouchers? I don't know of anyone thinking big ideas out there, much less making progress on them. Wish that it were so. Let me know if I'm missing anything.

UPDATE: The ever-helpful Sherman Dorn suggests that there are grand compromises possible in education: more charters and and more union recognition.

UPDATE 2: AFT Ed is much less optimistic, based on recent experiences where folks have tried to organize charter school teachers: "It's just this sort of practice that makes me doubtful that a compromise on charter expansion and union rights is within our reach... at least for the moment."

Posted by Alexander Russo at 3:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Week In Review February 5 -11

Best Of The Week
Carnival 105th: The Over-Scheduled Carnival Kid
Dropouts In Baghdad (Kerry Was Right)
Private Schools & The Poor

The USDE
Security Checks For USDE Researchers
Mesecar (& Others) On The Move
Keeping Talent At The USDE
"Scoundrels" At The USDE?

NCLB News
When NCLB Opponents Make You Wince
Few Mysteries At Thursday's Hearing NCLB Hearing

Teachers & Teaching
When Performance Pay Goes Public
What To Do About Teacher Quality?
Advanced Placement To The Rescue

Media Watch
Kopp Survives Colbert
The Gad-Blast: Best Of The Gadfly & The NewsBlast
Catching Up With NPR
More Newspapers With Education Blogs - Finally
EdWeek's Latest Blog

School Life
MySpace For Educators
Hooters Saves The Children
Friday News: Where's Teacher?

Site News
A One-Month Anniversary At My New "Home"

Posted by Margaret Paynich at 6:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Secrets Of The USDE: Insider Edelstein On The HotSeat

In honor of tonight's State Of The Union, this week's HotSeat honoree is longtime USDE insider Fritz Edlestein, who tells all under pressure, including among other things,

-- about his new endeavors (they are many)
-- on whether mayoral control is right for everyone (it's not)
-- on how to get a law changed after it's been passed (can it really be that easy?)
-- on his shameful involvement in Blue Ribbon Schools (now it can be told)
-- on whether it's a go for national standards ("the time is getting riper"), and
-- about some of his main accomplishments and favorite colleagues from 31 years at the Department.

Oh, and he schools us on how to pronounce his name correctly, too.

Continue reading "Secrets Of The USDE: Insider Edelstein On The HotSeat" »

Posted by Alexander Russo at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)