What would you tell the president about education in America?
What if you got a chance to sit down with President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan over lunch. What would you tell them about what’s happening…
New Year Brings Only Uncertainty For ESEA
As the new Congress settles in after the so-called wave election sent a strong message to Washington, it remains to be seen just what the message was. For public education…
Signs of A Truce in the War on Teachers?
Last week NEA, AFT, and Secretary Duncan announced plans for a joint labor-management summit early next year to talk about collaboration in pursuit of education reform. Certainly not a tipping…
EduJobs Effort Stalls in Congress
Memorial Day weekend invariably signals the denouement of the school year. In good years the feeling is good for both students and teachers. This year has been, by most accounts,…
School Finance in the Obama Era
Having spent four decades in education, there is a tendency to feel like I’ve seen it all – and trust me, I have seen a lot. In spite of that,…
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…
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…
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…
Let the Race Begin
On November 18th the Final guidelines and invitation for applications to the so-called Race to the Top competition were published in the Federal Register. The 102 page application for Phase…
The Bully Pulpit: The Master and His Apprentice
bully pulpit (a public office of sufficiently high rank that it provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter) Last night President…