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 [...]

Governor Appeals Lobato Ruling; State Board May Need Some Holiday Cheer First

by Eddie | 11:40 am, December 22, 2011

Talk about making an important decision before Christmas AND the big snowstorm that hit the Denver area and the foothills. Yesterday morning Governor John Hickenlooper announced that he will appeal the outrageous school finance ruling in Lobato v State:
“…a final resolution of the constitutional and legal issues involved in the case require an appeal to [...]

Seven Things Eddie Can Be Thankful For, 2011 Colorado Education Edition

by Eddie | 12:12 pm, November 23, 2011

Pretty much nobody is in school today, as we all gear up for the big turkey feast tomorrow. As my parents constantly remind me, the fourth Thursday in November is about more than food and football. Yes, Thanksgiving is about giving thanks. While I could gratefully mention the standard fare — family, friends (like those [...]

Plan Early for Important Digital Learning Day: February 1, 2012, is Coming

by Eddie | 11:31 am, November 10, 2011

Twelve weeks seems like a long time to someone my age, and I know it can be really hard for almost anyone to plan beyond the Christmas holiday and into the New Year. But I wanted to let you know about a great opportunity so you can mark your calendar right away for Wednesday, February [...]

In Two Major Studies on Academic Standards, Colorado is Statistical Oddball

by Eddie | 11:21 am, August 23, 2011

How did Colorado get to be the oddball? It’s got to be more than just so I would have something to tell you about. Oddball at what? you ask. Okay, let me back up and give you a little context.
Yesterday Harvard professor Paul Peterson wrote yesterday on Education Next about a new U.S. Department [...]

School Districts “Eager” to Help in Educator Effectiveness Pilot, Questions Linger

by Eddie | 4:35 pm, July 13, 2011

Ed News Colorado reports today that school districts are eager to participate in the pilot for the state’s new educator effectiveness law:

Nearly a quarter of Colorado school districts have applied to participate in field-testing of new principal and teacher evaluation methods.
It was “a surprise and an encouraging message” that the Department of Education received 41 [...]

Colorado Education Association Sues to Stop Telling Parents of Teacher Arrests

by Eddie | 10:56 am, July 8, 2011

This hasn’t been one of the big issues on my education transformer radar, nor is it one I’ve covered before. But it does bring out an interesting point of clarity for those who are interested in our K-12 schools and the politics that surround them. The Coloradoan in Fort Collins reported yesterday that the state’s [...]

Legal Complaint against DougCo Vouchers Rooted in Irony, Anti-Catholic Bigotry

by Eddie | 2:12 pm, June 21, 2011

It’s the first day of summer, “longest day of the year” — which may have something to do with trying to get as much attention as possible for a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and friends to try to stop Douglas County’s choice scholarship (voucher) program. Ed News Colorado was among the first to report [...]

Tennessee One to Watch as Colorado Moves Forward on Educator Effectiveness

by Eddie | 10:15 am, June 6, 2011

Happy Monday! The debate over implementing Colorado’s educator effectiveness law (aka SB 191) continues to grow. This week the State Board of Education is scheduled to hear a staff presentation concerning the first draft of rules for creating a statewide evaluation system for teachers and principals, to set the parameters for the 2012-13 pilot program, [...]

Life Skills Center of Denver Continues to Fill Important Niche for At-Risk Students

by Eddie | 12:31 pm, June 3, 2011

This week one of my Education Policy Center friends was privileged with the opportunity to visit a Denver charter school that fills a niche for 16- to 21-year olds who have dropped out and/or been neglected by the system. Life Skills Center of Denver is an alternative education campus that uses computer-assisted instruction in a [...]

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