EdSource | Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades: Why Some Schools Do Better

EdSource | Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades: Why Some Schools Do Better

First-Class State Standards Are Better than Third-Class National Standards?

First-Class State Standards Are Better than Third-Class National Standards?

The irony of this paper is one of its co-author, Sandra Stotsky, is a member of the common core validation committee but she is arguing against the common core.  Stotsky has also testified in NJ against our NJ math standards.  

She is from Massachusetts and believes that her state and California should be the model to follow.  Also note her chilling alternative to the common core, adopt the Achieve Algebra II assessment.  

Maybe the common core is not so bad after all!!

The Ties That Bind Common Standards to Title I Aid

The Ties That Bind Common Standards to Title I Aid

Education Week: Experts Lay Out Vision for Future Assessments

Education Week: Experts Lay Out Vision for Future Assessments

ESEA Plan Could Tether Title I to College-and-Career Standards

ESEA Plan Could Tether Title I to College-and-Career Standards

Education Week: Next-Generation Assessment Systems

Education Week: Next-Generation Assessment Systems

Beware of Myths About Common Standards, Organizers Say

Beware of Myths About Common Standards, Organizers Say

Group Proposes New Approach to High School Mastery

Group Proposes New Approach to High School Mastery

Education Week: Gates Awards 15 Grants for Common-Standards Work

Education Week: Gates Awards 15 Grants for Common-Standards Work

Bunkum Awards

The Bunkum Awards highlight nonsensical, confusing, and disingenuous education reports produced by think tanks. They are given each year by the Think Tank Review Project to think tank reports judged to have most egregiously undermined informed discussion and sound policy making.

Once again the Fordham Foundation (has won several years) and Chester Finn are winners of this dubious award.

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Behind the Curtain: Assessing the Case for National Curriculum Standards | Neal McCluskey | Cato Institute: Policy Analysis

Behind the Curtain: Assessing the Case for National Curriculum Standards | Neal McCluskey | Cato Institute: Policy Analysis

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Behind the Curtain: Assessing the Case for National Curriculum Standards | Neal McCluskey | Cato Institute: Policy Analysis

Behind the Curtain: Assessing the Case for National Curriculum Standards | Neal McCluskey | Cato Institute: Policy Analysis

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Effects of the California High School Exit Exam on Student Persistence, Achievement, and Graduation

Effects of the California High School Exit Exam on Student Persistence, Achievement, and Graduation by Sean F. Reardon, Allison Atteberry, Nicole Arshan, and Michal Kurlaender

This study, released April 21, 2009, provides the most detailed analysis of the effects of the California High School Exit Exam to date. The study finds that the policy has lowered the graduation rates of low-achieving students of color and of girls by 15-20 percentage points. Moreover, the policy has had no positive effect on students' academic achievement.

In new study, high school exit exam gets a failing grade

In new study, high school exit exam gets a failing grade

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In new study, high school exit exam gets a failing grade

In new study, high school exit exam gets a failing grade

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Houston Approves Use of Test Scores in Teacher Dismissals

Houston Approves Use of Test Scores in Teacher Dismissals

Kentucky Becomes the First State to Adopt Common Standards

Kentucky Becomes the First State to Adopt Common Standards

Will NJ be second?

Education Week: 'Algebra-for-All' Push Found to Yield Poor Results

Education Week: 'Algebra-for-All' Push Found to Yield Poor Results

Playing to Learn

Great op-ed piece in the NY Times on Feb 1st.

The Obama administration is planning some big changes to how we measure the success or failure of schools and how we apportion federal money based on those assessments. It’s great that the administration is trying to undertake reforms, but if we want to make sure all children learn, we will need to overhaul the curriculum itself. Our current educational approach — and the testing that is driving it — is completely at odds with what scientists understand about how children develop during the elementary school years and has led to a curriculum that is strangling children and teachers alike.

Read more here

States Can't Pick and Choose Among Common Standards

States Can't Pick and Choose Among Common Standards

States Rush to Join Testing Consortia

States Rush to Join Testing Consortia