Colorado Has Made Some Progress, But a C for Teacher Policy Isn’t Good Enough

by Eddie | 5:30 pm, January 30, 2012

Now that School Choice Week is over, and I’m able to relax a bit after my manic phase of hyperactivity, it’s back to the (fun) edublogging grind. Right out of the gate, it’s time to tackle an important education reform item that emerged last week but falls a little bit outside the school choice arena. [...]

A+ Denver Report Gives More Evidence that Charter Franchises Are Getting It Done

by Eddie | 5:10 pm, January 12, 2012

Just a quick post today. More good news emerging from DPS today. Ed News Colorado highlights an intriguing new report from A+ Denver that breaks down some key performance data from the state’s second-largest school district:
This report shows that Charter Management Organizations (charter organizations that manage more than one school, currently DSST, West Denver Prep [...]

Bob Schaffer Looks Back at 10 Years of NCLB Federal Education Failure

by Eddie | 3:56 pm, January 10, 2012

Yesterday I peered ahead at the upcoming legislative session. Today I take a look back at a landmark piece of national education legislation. Yes, I sometimes get confused like that. Anyway, it was 10 years ago this week that then-President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). A whole [...]

Rick Hess’ Edu-Scholar Public Presence Rankings Point to My Indirect Influence

by Eddie | 4:45 pm, January 5, 2012

From time to time you’ll see me write about or reference the work of scholars who research the nitty gritty of education policy. These are the high falutin’ number-crunchers with big degrees who work at universities. Well, the venerable Rick Hess has revealed his 2012 Edu-Scholar Public Presence Rankings to measure more than 100 American [...]

Teachers Matter: New Book Highlights 2012 Importance of Educator Effectiveness

by Eddie | 10:28 am, January 3, 2012

I’m back. Yes, they almost had to pry me away from my new Legos and video games that have consumed much of my past 9 days. But really that’s OK. This new year brings a lot to get excited about, and get busy about. My Independence Institute friends are moving into their new offices, but [...]

Winding Down 2011 by Looking Ahead to Colorado Digital Learning Gains in 2012

by Eddie | 8:44 am, December 23, 2011

I don’t think you’ll see me writing much more for the blog this year. Can you believe it’s almost 2012? Well, just in case this is the last post of the calendar year, I wanted to make sure it’s an important one. Looking at the growing world of digital learning certainly qualifies. Basically, I’m past [...]

New Center for Ed Reform Research Compiles Charter School Closure Data

by Eddie | 11:18 am, December 21, 2011

Not long ago I told you how the number of Colorado students enrolling in charter schools was rising quickly. This followed closely on the heels of a national study debunking anti-charter mythology and showing where the real strengths of this public education option tend to stand.
One of the oft-cited advantages of charters is the greater [...]

Denver Innovation Schools Report Does Little to Resolve Policy Debate

by Eddie | 1:03 pm, December 15, 2011

Back in the warm summertime, which seems so long ago, I brought attention to a thoughtful essay that called into question the success of the Innovation Schools Act. My thoughts on the matter really haven’t changed since then — I still believe despite the clear limitations there is a place for innovation schools, though not [...]

More Families Flocking to Public Charter Schools, as Successful Models Improve

by Eddie | 10:36 am, December 7, 2011

Today’s Denver Post features a story by Yesenia Robles that notes significant growth in public charter school enrollment. Here in Colorado, 13 new charter schools opened and 8,500 students were added to the rolls, marking an increase of nearly 12 percent. Nationally, charter school enrollment surpassed 2 million as 500 new charter schools opened and [...]

Talking Teacher Pay without Breaking Up a Party or Getting Soap in the Mouth

by Eddie | 1:05 pm, November 18, 2011

When I happened to mention to my mom and dad that I might blog about this issue, one of them said: “That’s the kind of topic you bring up when you want to break up a party.” Well, there isn’t any party going on here right now, so why not just throw the provocative question [...]

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