How much are we spending on education? Actually, far more than we know—because as it turns out, states are hiding some of the teachers’ benefits. In a new paper, Heritage expert Jason Richwine reveals that “Proper accounting would reveal tens of billions of dollars in extra teacher pension costs, equivalent …
The Lone Star State is considering significantly expanding educational choice options for children. Under consideration: an elimination of the cap on charter schools (only 215 are currently allowed to operate), creation of special needs scholarships to allow children with disabilities to attend private schools of choice, and a tuition tax …
What pain has sequester wrought at the federal Department of Education? Apparently, not much. The 4,200-person agency has just hired a new “executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.” Fox News reports that the position apparently commands a six-figure salary, as the new director—a …
Very few government programs can claim a positive return on taxpayer investment. The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (DCOSP) is one of them. Launched in 2004, the DCOSP provides scholarships of approximately $8,500 for K–8 students or $12,000 for high school students from low-income families to attend private schools of their …
[uds-billboard name="harlem-childrens-zone"] Nearly 100 blocks in New York City are known as the Harlem Children’s Zone — a place that serves more than 10,000 children and 13,000 adults with a unique set of educational and support services. The community has transformed the heart of Harlem by creating a positive “tipping …
President Obama recently unveiled his plan for expanding early education, which includes expanding federal funding for public preschool and boosting Head Start funding. According to the President, government-funded preschool is the way for students to achieve academic success. Sadly, Obama’s claims are founded on weak evidence. Government-funded preschool programs show …
The U.S. public education system has seen an enormous increase in staff over the past few decades. But unlike private companies, which base staffing decisions on product demand, the number of school staff positions has increased rapidly without a commensurate increase in the number of students served by the system. …
In a surprising and historic move, the Alabama state legislature passed the state’s first private-school choice plan Thursday evening. Governor Robert Bentley (R), who is expected to sign the bill next week, called it “the most significant piece of legislation that’s been passed in this Legislature in years,” and Senate …
States are reconsidering their support for the Common Core standards. In recent weeks, legislators in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, and South Dakota have attempted to pedal back their state’s involvement with the standards. Noted The Washington Post: “[T]he [Common Core] standards are meeting with growing resistance for reasons including questions about …
