Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), proposed a “bar exam” for public-school teachers in a Wall Street Journal op-ed last week. Modeled after the bar exam for aspiring lawyers, the new test would be intended to produce highly effective teachers. But it would do nothing of …
No more King Arthur stories, kids—you’re going to start reading some information-packed government documents instead! Adding to a number of problems with the Obama Administration-backed Common Core education standards, beginning with the fact that the federal government should not be involved in the business of curriculum standards, is the questionable …
Lost in the fiscal cliff discussion has been any hint of whether Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) will be permitted to continue in their current form. As it stands, beginning January 1, parents will no longer be able to use these accounts for expenses for kindergarten through high school without …
Freetoteach.org, a new website created by the Pennsylvania-based Commonwealth Foundation, helps Pennsylvania teachers understand education unions and their rights when it comes to joining a union. It also provides a forum for teachers to share their experiences and opinions. Although Freetoteach.org is geared toward Pennsylvania teachers, it provides valuable information …
Friday was a sad day for Louisiana students. In response to a suit brought by education unions, a district court ruled that the Louisiana school choice program’s funding mechanism is unconstitutional. The program allows low-income children from underperforming Louisiana public schools to attend private schools of their choice. Sadly, now …
Last Tuesday, Oklahoma’s special-needs students received a pre-Thanksgiving win. The state’s Supreme Court ruled that two school districts that had challenged the legality of the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program—a voucher program for special-needs students—were out of line in bringing the lawsuit. The school districts had challenged the scholarship program …
The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (DCOSP) has helped hundreds of D.C. schoolchildren leave underperforming public schools to attend schools of their parents’ choice. As The Washington Post reported Sunday about the school voucher program: In the District, it’s clear that vouchers have provided many children with an education at well-established …
Last week’s election brought both good news and bad news for America’s schoolchildren. A variety of states voted on several education issues, including charter schools, collective bargaining, and education spending. First, the Good News Washington State passed a law to allow charter schools. As one of only nine states without …
What can we expect for education policy during President Obama’s second term? From No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waivers to school choice, education policy will surely heat up in the coming months. No Child Left Behind Waivers. NCLB’s blunt attempt to drive accountability from Washington has resulted in many schools …
Indiana Superintendent of Schools Tony Bennett is one of the country’s great education reformers. As superintendent, he worked to create one of the most expansive voucher programs in the country, implemented merit pay for teachers, and increased transparency of outcomes in Indiana schools. Bennett lost his re-election bid last night …
