Education reform

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Developing standardized tests: What’s $330 million among friends?

Michael McShane | April 29, 2013, 10:20 am

As part of President Obama’s hallmark education program, the Race to the Top competitive grant competition, the Department of Education allocated four-year grants totaling $330 million to two consortia of states to develop assessments aligned to the new Common Core … read more >

Society and Culture, Education

Analyzing the Rubio and Rokita plan to create a school-choice tax credit

Michael McShane | March 27, 2013, 4:31 pm

Congressman Todd Rokita has introduced the House version of Senator Marco Rubio’s Educational Opportunities Act. This bill would create a federal tax credit for contributions to non-profit organizations that grant scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools. Contributions would … read more >

Society and Culture, Education

Hitting the higher education gas pedal

Andrew P. Kelly and KC Deane | March 21, 2013, 4:52 pm

As readers of AEIdeas know, American higher education is at an inflection point. State appropriations are declining nationally, tuition keeps rising, and student loan debt is ballooning. Families are beginning to question whether college is still worth it. As traditional … read more >

A visit to the Luke C. Moore Alternative High School

Society and Culture, Education

Cage-busting leadership in DC education

Lauren Aronson and Chelsea Straus | February 27, 2013, 12:13 pm

One of the best parts about doing education policy in a place like Washington, DC is the host of excellent schools within a short metro ride from our office, giving us a chance to leave the ivory tower and see … read more >

Society and Culture, Education

When it comes to alternative accreditation, the ‘who’ matters just as much as the ‘how’

Andrew P. Kelly | February 22, 2013, 4:25 pm

As I discussed last week, the president left the intriguing higher education news to the SOTU fact sheet. He called on Congress to create a “new alternative system of accreditation that would provide pathways for higher education models and colleges … read more >

Pethokoukis

Obama misstated the evidence of the potential benefits from universal pre-K

James Pethokoukis | February 13, 2013, 3:31 pm

In his SOTU speech, President Obama highlighted some supposed real-world proof supporting his universal pre-K push: Every dollar we invest in high-quality early childhood education can save more than seven dollars later on, by boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, … read more >

Pethokoukis

Is Obama’s pre-K plan worth $100 billion?

James Pethokoukis | February 13, 2013, 1:28 pm

Conservatives shouldn’t dismiss out-of-hand President Obama’s universal pre- kindergarten plan. US education certainly needs all the help it can get. The White House plan will likely resemble a nearly $100 billion (over ten years) proposal fashioned by the Center for … read more >

Photo Credit: Secretary of Defense/Flickr

Society and Culture, Education

Obama on higher education: Déjà vu except in the notes

Andrew P. Kelly | February 13, 2013, 9:59 am

President Obama’s speech said nothing new about higher education. But like most law professors, he buried the real substance in the footnotes. In last year’s State of the Union, the president had his “Stephen Colbert” moment on higher education: He … read more >

Society and Culture, Education

What does the State of the Union hold for education?

Michael McShane | February 11, 2013, 1:51 pm

If past is prologue, President Obama’s previous State of the Union addresses can tell us something about what he will relay to Congress and the American people tomorrow night. All four addresses have featured a few words on education. So … 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 >

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