When shopping for a car, dishwasher, or cell phone, a prospective buyer will often go to the Consumer Reports to learn about important aspects of the possible purchase. How does the product’s performance compare to that of its competitors–and why? What are an item’s best and worse features? What should
In March the Harvard Education Press released a new book by Jack Jennings. Presidents, Congress, and the Public Schools analyzes a half century of national school improvement efforts, such as Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act. In lieu of those
By 2014, every child should be proficient in reading/English language arts and mathematics. In so many words, this noble purpose was established in 2002 by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as the Nation’s guiding principle for improving public education. But, within a few days, 2014, the year for
The Horace Mann League presents its Outstanding Friend of Public Education Award to Jack Jennings, founder and CEO of the Washington-based Center for Education Policy, at its annual awards luncheon and officer installation on Friday in Houston. The league, one of the oldest pro-public education advocacy organizations in the United
It’s late August, and thoughts are turning toward getting the kids ready for school. It seems hardly a few weeks ago that school was over for the summer, and here it is time for them to go back. Kids will be in a higher grade than last year, and they
When something goes right for the country, we should first thank those who made it possible. And then, enjoy the moment before being overwhelmed again by reports of wars, mud slides, and unemployment. In April, the U.S. Department of Education announced that the United States recorded its highest ever graduation
A blizzard of education reports and studies appears every year. This swirl of information, analysis, and commentary — some of which is contradictory — makes it difficult to understand the condition of America’s public schools. In short, are the schools getting better or worse? In December of 2013, two major
Ideas matter. In education, an under-appreciated but powerful example of the impact of ideas can be found in the influence of Ayn Rand, a Russian-American novelist and polemicist who died in 1982. In Rand’s case, her ideas have helped to shape an environment where the well-being of the few is
Many states have reformed their teacher evaluation systems to hold public school teachers accountable for the academic achievement of their students. The hope is that if teachers are measured by the improvement — or lack thereof — in their students’ achievement, they will work harder to ensure their students learn
“To prepare all citizens to become responsible members of a democratic society” “To develop socialization and citizenship skills in children” “Preparing students for responsible, productive citizenship and imbuing them with values common to one democratic society” These similar phrases were developed by diverse groups of citizens in three communities
