The 2012 Election: The Education ImpactThe votes are in and the people have spoken. President Obama's re-election means four more years of unprecedented federal education spending and education reform-minded competitive grants. As the dust settles on the 2012 election, experts are predicting a continuation of an active Department of Education and changes to some controversial state education laws.   Continue Reading...

The votes are in and the people have spoken. President Obama's re-election means four more years of unprecedented federal education spending and education reform-minded competitive grants. As the dust settles on the 2012 election, experts are predicting a continuation of an active Department of Education and changes to some controversial state education laws.   Continue Reading...

In the new age of education and labor reform across the country, many teachers have expressed concern over their rights without lengthy union contracts and collective bargaining agreements in place. While teacher unions warn of the "dangers" without these cumbersome union negotiated tools, they fail to mention that the majority of the states in the country have a thriving teacher workforce protected by state and federal laws free from collectively bargained contracts.   Continue Reading...

AAE is pleased to announce the launch of our charter-focused website: www.AAECharters.org just in time for National Charter Schools Week. The new site is geared toward charter school administrators, leaders, teachers, and associations searching for timely updates and research on issues affecting the public charter school community.   Continue Reading...

Yesterday, Indiana made history as Governor Mitch Daniels signed Right-to-Work legislation into law, making the Hoosier State 23rd in the nation with the provision—the first new Right-to-Work state in over a decade. Interestingly, Indiana is also the first state in the "Rust Belt" of the Midwest and Northeast to adopt the measure that protects workers' freedom of association when it comes to union membership, in the public and private sector.   Continue Reading...

This week is National School Choice Week – a national movement of grassroots organizations calling for more educational options. AAE supports National School Choice Week because we support educators in all settings and applauds their individual choices about where they practice their profession.   Continue Reading...

With the overhaul of No Child Left Behind taking longer than expected, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and the Obama administration introduced an NCLB waiver plan back in September that would allow states to apply for regulatory relief in exchange for key reforms. In the months following, while 11 states applied for the waivers, over half of the proposals did not outline specific teacher evaluation components.   Continue Reading...

In the wake of the cheating scandals in high profile school districts like Atlanta, education experts are calling for a shift from paper and pencil testing, toward online and electronic assessments for students across all grade levels. In an effort to incorporate more technology into classrooms, the move is designed to combat cheating, increase efficiency, and phase out bubble testing for all standardized state assessments.   Continue Reading...

Last week, the "Chiefs for Change" education advocacy coalition released their roadmap for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, commonly known as No Child Left Behind. In their proposal, the chiefs advocate for student-centered reforms that they claim are necessary changes to the heavily debated law.   Continue Reading...

President Obama Gives High School Commencement Address

President Obama stopped in Memphis, Tennessee yesterday to deliver Booker T. Washington High School's key note graduation address as part of the Department of Education's Commencement Challenge for 2011. Washington High secured the historic address from the President by illustrating how it overcame a history of disciplinary problems and high dropout rates by implementing reforms and turning the school into a sanctuary for troubled kids in inner city Memphis.

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When the dust settles on 2011 legislative session, states across the country will be dealing with some of the most sweeping changes in education and labor policy in generations. For months, tough-talking governors and state legislatures have been in the process of pushing through legislation that seeks to curb union power and implement sweeping education reforms. While each state is experiencing reform on different levels, it is impossible to ignore that this year will have an impact on the entire country's education outlook for years to come.   Continue Reading...

StudentsFirst, the new national organization behind education reform efforts across the country, announced this week that they are expanding to include fellowships for teachers. The Michelle Rhee fronted advocacy organization is offering opportunities for current teachers and education reformers to become leaders in the education reform movement via her new senior-level fellowship program.   Continue Reading...

As the 2011 legislative session continues, states across the country are proceeding with legislation that seeks to curb union power and implement sweeping education reform. While the developments in Wisconsin and Ohio have seen the most media attention, there are a total of 729 bills currently pending in 48 states dealing with unions and union power, according to a database compiled by the non-partisan National Conference of State Legislatures. While not every state is making national headlines, the enormous amount of legislation is a sign of what will undoubtedly be the largest shift in union power in generations.   Continue Reading...

U.S. Supreme Courts Rules in Favor of Tax Credits   Continue Reading...

As the legislative session moves full steam ahead, states across the country are proceeding with legislation that seeks to curb union power and implement broad education reform. While the developments in Wisconsin and Ohio have seen the most heated debate, there are a total of 729 bills currently pending in 48 states dealing with unions and collective bargaining, according to a database compiled by the non-partisan National Conference of State Legislatures. While not every state is making national headlines, the sheer volume proves that we are witnessing a monumental shift in union power that we haven't seen in generations.   Continue Reading...

Beginning in Wisconsin, legislation aimed at curbing union power, advancing education reform policy, and ending forced unionism has spread across the country. Currently states in every part of the country are in various stages of passing their own laws as the protests and debates rage on. The national unions and their state counterparts are on the defensive, organizing large ballot initiative campaigns and considering increasing their dues to pay for their efforts to preserve their monopolies. Make sure to follow the news in your state by reading AAE's daily blog posts.   Continue Reading...

My decision to travel outside of the United States as a twenty-year old quickly became a time to observe what education looked like throughout the world. On every trip or study abroad experience I did my best to experience education in the country being visited. And upon my return from every trip I realized just how much the experience broadened my horizons (pardon the cliche) and helped me develop many content-rich lesson plans that intrigued my students.   Continue Reading...

Listen Live to AAEMarch 28- April 1, 2011

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After a month of union led protests, national media attention, walk-outs, and closed schools, Republicans in the Wisconsin state Senate and Assembly have finally approved Governor Scott Walker’s budget repair bill. The Governor is expected to sign it imminently.

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The battle over state budgets and union power rages on as Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana lawmakers are in various stages of passing landmark legislation. Despite lingering protests, weeks of media coverage, attempted filibusters and walk-outs, experts are speculating that we could see concessions from both sides beginning this week.   Continue Reading...