Sparking the evolution of education choice
Third Way promises fresh thinking, but that’s what seems to be missing in the centrist think tank’s recent rehash of familar talking points against school vouchers. Authors Tamara Hiler and Lanea Erikson Hatalsky argue against a federal policy supporting “taxpayer-funded scholarships that can be used by parents to send their children[Read More…]
Accountability in education has been a contentious issue for decades. Unfortunately, the word accountability is too often used to mean “sameness” rather than “to be held responsible for results.” The misuse of the term complicates school choice debates as both choice supporters and critics tend to forget the political and[Read More…]
Vouchers and testing. A new report from the Fordham Institute finds that mandated testing – and even public reporting of test results – isn’t that big a concern for private schools worried about government regs tied to vouchers and tax credit scholarships. Coverage from redefinED, Choice Words, the Cato Institute’s[Read More…]
The Fordham Institute may be the closest thing to an honest academic broker in the contentious private school choice arena these days, and its latest report will no doubt enhance that reputation. “Red Tape or Red Herring?”, released today, provides strong evidence that private schools are not averse to academic[Read More…]
The Friedman Foundation’s latest “ABCs of School Choice” guide is out, and the numbers go like this: 21 states, 39 programs, 255,000 kids. The guide offers a state-by-state rundown of the publicly funded, school choice options that are a vital piece of the overall school choice picture. It includes profiles[Read More…]
A bill filed in the Florida Legislature this week could give the families of disabled students quicker access to McKay Scholarships, state-funded vouchers for private schools, and likely result in an expansion of the $151 million program. Senate Bill 172, sponsored by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, nixes[Read More…]
Tony Bennett on testing voucher students. From Gradebook: “I do believe we have a responsibility, be it at a public school or whatever, when we are spending taxpayer dollars – and I go back to what I believe we should do, set expectations, set standards and hold people accountable –[Read More…]
Florida Catholic schools are embracing Common Core academic standards and seriously considering whether to take the coming state tests aligned to them. In the meantime, their leaders say, 30 to 40 Catholic schools want to administer the FCAT in 2014, in what would be a trial run for potential transition to Common Core[Read More…]