Underfunding Public Schools Undermines Excellence Says State Supreme Court
The Connecticut Supreme Court has breathed new life into one of the most important school finance cases in the history of our state. The case, CCJEF v. Rell, asserts that…
ESEA Blueprint Proposal Disappointing
On Saturday the Obama administration announced the release of its blueprint for reforming the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Read the blueprint and find more information from the Department…
Education Reform in the News: Are Teachers Ignored?
Race to the Top finalists were announced last week and, probably not coincidentally, teachers and education have been in the news recently. Newsweek and the New York Times Magazine, mainstream…
Ravitch Reversal: A Turnaround That Could Make A Difference
Well known conservative NYU education historian Diane Ravitch has done a slow, but complete 180º turn in her views on education reform. In her recently published book, The Death and…
Crossing the Rubicon: Central Falls High School
We were all shocked by the decision made in Central Falls, RI last week to fire the entire staff of its high school. For many of us who are “long…
Stakeholders Come Together to Discuss Next Steps for RTTT
It’s expected to be over a month before Connecticut policymakers can separate fact from fiction regarding why the state was not named a finalist in the Race to the Top…
House Makes First Move Toward Reauthorization
Last week the House Education Labor and Pension Committee issued an announcement that it would begin a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). They issued…
Sanctions v. Incentives: False Choice for Teachers?
It is great that CEA has asked teachers why they chose to teach. It is an important question to ask, particularly given the shroud of cynicism surrounding the profession going…
10 Good News Facts About Connecticut Public Education
The media often concentrates on what’s wrong with Connecticut’s public schools – but there is also plenty of positive news. Below is a small sampling of positive facts about public…
President Wants ESEA Reauthorized This Year
I’ve been “offline” for over a month enjoying a bit of the freedom that comes with retirement. On the national education policy front January was a relatively quiet month as…