This week, an elementary school in Compton, California is receiving national attention after a group of parents banded together to force improvements at the failing institution. Yelling "yes we can!" and "si se puede!" a busload of parents on Tuesday became the first in California to try to force reforms at their children's school using a new law designed to help parents take back schools.   Continue Reading...

American Students are falling behind according to new international rankings released this week. The Programme for International Student Assessment or PISA is a system of international assessments that measures 15-year-olds' performance in reading literacy, math literacy, and science literacy every three years. In 2009, the U.S. and 64 other countries and education systems participated in PISA with a specific focus on reading literacy. The scores have illustrated some interesting and disturbing trends for student performance in key subjects compared to European and Asian students.   Continue Reading...

Since Michelle Rhee's recent resignation as Chancellor of Washington, D.C. public schools, a lot of coverage has been devoted to where she will go next. If you caught the Oprah Show yesterday Michelle Rhee has ended the speculation and rumors with a special announcement and accompanying essay in Newsweek. Rhee has decided not to take any one job with a state or individual school system, rather start a national group called Students First.   Continue Reading...

Teach for America, a non-profit organization that recruits recent college graduates and professionals to teach in high-need schools for two years, has been in the headlines recently as the school reform debate rages on. Both sides agree that finding highly effective teachers is the most critical component in improving student performance, Teach for America is seen as part of the solution.   Continue Reading...

On the heels of this week's Foundation for Excellence in Education conference in Washington D.C., the group has announced the formation of a new alliance of education reformers called the "Chiefs for Change". Comprised of education leaders throughout the country, they are committed to providing a strong voice for reforms on the federal, state, and local level.   Continue Reading...

In recent years, reformers and policy makers have stressed the need for incorporating technology in education. New technologies have revolutionized how we live our lives from shopping to business; why not incorporate them into the classroom? In November, the Department of Education released a technology plan through their Office of Educational Technology entitled, Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. In presenting the plan to the public, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has recognized one digital school in particular as a model for others to follow, Open High School in Utah.   Continue Reading...

A few years ago, class size seemed to be one of the most talked about classroom policies. Smaller class sizes would lessen the load on an educator and give students a more individualized classroom experience, right? Well, just as fast as class sizes went down, they are now creeping back up and gaining attention in certain states struggling with budget shortfalls.   Continue Reading...

What can we learn from some of the most innovative school systems around the world? This is the question a new McKinsey & Company report asks in their researched narrative, How the world's most improved school systems keep getting better. In the report released today, education experts from Canada, Hong Kong, and South Africa discussed on an interactive online panel their different successes and what makes their school systems competitive in the global market.   Continue Reading...

Last week some of the best-known names in education reform converged for a round-table discussion at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. The moderator, former Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush, Margaret Spellings told the crowd, "It's like we have Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, and Tina Turner together on the same stage," referring to the panel. Former Washington, D.C., chancellor of schools Michelle Rhee, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, and former Clinton White House chief of staff John Podesta called for teacher accountability and school reform in their discussion entitled, "Strange Bedfellows: The Politics of Education and the Future of Reform".   Continue Reading...

AAE Executive Director Gary Beckner op-ed on the 2010 member survey as featured on Townhall Magazine's website:   Continue Reading...

Recently experts have focused their attention on not only the need to reform the classroom, but the need for reform in educating our future teachers. Many colleges of education have done little to keep up with emerging technologies and teaching techniques. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan once said, "Our university-based teacher preparation programs need revolutionary change, not evolutionary tinkering." To that end, an emphasis on intense in-classroom training has been the focus of change for a new pilot program being introduced in eight states.   Continue Reading...

This week New Jersey is again making national headlines over Governor Christie's run-ins with the education establishment in the state. On Monday, Christie publically criticized a raise in salary approved for a local superintendent. Christie called Parsippany-Troy Hills Superintendent LeRoy Seitz "the new poster boy for all that is wrong with the public school system that's being dictated by greed."   Continue Reading...

The debate over teacher pay continues as education reformers and policy makers share ideas about performance pay and value-added compensation scales. One aspect that has remained largely constant is pay increases for teachers who earn additional course credits or hold advanced degrees. Sometimes known as "lane" increases or the "master's degree bump", these increases are some of the costliest to schools systems and are raising questions on whether or not these degrees are in fact helping student learning.   Continue Reading...

This week New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Joel Klein was stepping down as school chancellor after eight years. Often hailed a hero in education reform circles, Klein's resignation comes just a month after fellow reformer Michelle Rhee resigned her post as chancellor in Washington, D.C. Klein's replacement is Cathleen P. Black, a publishing executive who once led USA Today. This announcement is on par with the recent trend in mayor led schools systems choosing business leaders and executives instead of traditional teaching veterans.   Continue Reading...

For years, rigid union contracts have put teachers on very structured pay schedules that are predetermined based on years in service and level of education. On the heels of the recent trends in education reform, several districts around the country are experimenting with different methods of restructuring teacher pay.   Continue Reading...

In an unprecedented move for education leaders in New Jersey, Acting Education Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks rejected an invitation to speak at the New Jersey Education Association's two-day annual conference.   Continue Reading...

In the aftermath of a historic shift in power, pundits and citizens across the country are making predictions about which changes this new crop of lawmakers will have in store for K-12 education policy. Shockwaves will be felt nationally as well as at the state and local levels.   Continue Reading...

Last night was a historic night for America. Republicans seized control of the U.S. House of Representatives and made significant gains in the Senate, including President Obama's former Illinois Senate seat. These outcomes will certainly have an impact on education policy in the U.S. along with intriguing results in state and local elections.   Continue Reading...

K-12 education policy is usually not a deciding issue in national elections. Today's vote will be no different. The American people are frustrated with the down economy and are continually debating the size and scope of the government. Whatever your political leanings, today's elections are sure to have an impact on some upcoming federal education decisions regarding policy and spending.   Continue Reading...

During Education Nation on NBC last month, President Obama recommended lengthening the school day and year as a potential solution to our children falling behind. The suggestion inspired praise from some reformers and critique from others, citing more expenses and stringent union contracts. Are longer days and shorter summers the wave of the future for students and teachers?

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