Allison Kimmel

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Expectations and surprises at the ESEA waiver hearing

Allison Kimmel | February 8, 2013, 1:45 pm

A rather typical group convened on Capitol Hill yesterday to discuss lessons learned from the first years of the Obama administration’s ESEA waiver plan. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee was joined by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, … read more >

Society and Culture, Education

It’s time to end the blame game in education

Allison Kimmel | February 7, 2013, 8:30 am

2012 saw its fair share of blame go around in education. School reformers blamed teachers unions for preserving the status quo. Unions blamed district leaders for budget cuts and stagnant pay. Some school leaders blamed poverty for weak educational performance; … read more >

Society and Culture, Education

Uncle Sam learns his lessons

Allison Kimmel | January 31, 2013, 3:50 pm

Today, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that after two years of an impasse between the New York City teachers union and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the state would step in and impose its own teacher evaluation system. … read more >

Society and Culture, Education

Standards for success: Challenges and opportunities for the Common Core on the ground

Allison Kimmel | January 4, 2013, 8:30 am

If you or your child recently took a standardized test, you might have noticed that the essay portion of the exam often asks students to write about… themselves. But does this kind of writing prepare students for the real world? … read more >

Image Credit: www.audio-luci-store.it (Flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

Society and Culture, Education

Rethinking time, saving money

Allison Kimmel | December 4, 2012, 1:20 pm

Yesterday, a group of civic and political leaders including Education Secretary Duncan, Governor Malloy of Connecticut, and Governor Hickenlooper from Colorado came together to celebrate a new partnership between the National Center on Time and Learning and the Ford Foundation … read more >

Lean In… to Government?
Sheryl Sandberg's runaway best-selling book Lean In has managed to offend both the Left and the Right. Sandberg touts female hard-headedness, yet also calls for an elaborate government- and employer-supplied support system for women. […]
Are American Voters Racist?
Racial prejudice plays a very small role in American politics, but a highly disciplined sense of self-interest on the part of one group may play a very large role in the way the federal government functions. […]
The Perpetual Passion for Paper
Paper is becoming less important in some respects, but its strengths — prestige, utility, permanence, and security — are more essential than ever. […]
Could California Make a Comeback?
An unexpected glimmer of hope might cast a new light on the Golden State. […]