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School Reform News
December 2007
2007 NAEP Scores Show Spending Increases Haven't Produced Results
The 2007 edition of "The Nation's Report Card" wasn't straight A or straight F when it was released in late September. However, had it had been an individual ... (read more)
The 2007 edition of "The Nation's Report Card" wasn't straight A or straight F when it was released in late September. However, had it had been an individual ... (read more)
Alternative Certification Is Being Undermined by Schools of Education
A study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and national Council on Teacher Quality concludes alternative teacher certification programs are proving to be ... (read more)
A study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and national Council on Teacher Quality concludes alternative teacher certification programs are proving to be ... (read more)
California's Expensive ZIP Codes Deliver Cut-Rate Education Results
Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice By Lance T. Izumi, Vicki E. Murray, and Rachel S. Chaney, with Ruben Peterson and Rosemarie ... (read more)
Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice By Lance T. Izumi, Vicki E. Murray, and Rachel S. Chaney, with Ruben Peterson and Rosemarie ... (read more)
Choice Is Key to Cutting Florida Dropout Rate
Many people are stunned to learn that less than 50 percent of minority children graduate high school in Florida. According to the Harvard Civil Rights ... (read more)
Many people are stunned to learn that less than 50 percent of minority children graduate high school in Florida. According to the Harvard Civil Rights ... (read more)
Critics Raise Questions Over Textbook Accuracy in California
Is the Rio Grande California's southern border? Not likely, since the river never comes close to the Golden State. But according to the Textbook Trust, ... (read more)
Is the Rio Grande California's southern border? Not likely, since the river never comes close to the Golden State. But according to the Textbook Trust, ... (read more)
December 2007 School Reform News (PDF)
The December issue of School Reform News reports on the November 6 referendum on Utah's universal voucher program, which was defeated by a well-funded national ... (read more)
The December issue of School Reform News reports on the November 6 referendum on Utah's universal voucher program, which was defeated by a well-funded national ... (read more)
Distance Learning Is Advancing School Choice
As important as school vouchers are, the greatest progress toward choice probably isn't taking place in Utah right now. I say this not to minimize the ... (read more)
As important as school vouchers are, the greatest progress toward choice probably isn't taking place in Utah right now. I say this not to minimize the ... (read more)
Does Government Funding = Government Strings?
A common argument against public funding of parental choice of K-12 education is the claim it would result in government regulations harmful to nongovernment ... (read more)
A common argument against public funding of parental choice of K-12 education is the claim it would result in government regulations harmful to nongovernment ... (read more)
Evolution of a Big-Government Nightmare
Feds in the Classroom: How Big Government Corrupts, Cripples, and Compromises American Education By Neal P. McCluskey Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield ... (read more)
Feds in the Classroom: How Big Government Corrupts, Cripples, and Compromises American Education By Neal P. McCluskey Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield ... (read more)
Missouri Taxpayers Defeat Billion-Dollar School Lawsuit
Three members of the board of directors of the Show-Me Institute, a free-market think tank, helped make Missouri the latest state to strike down a lawsuit ... (read more)
Three members of the board of directors of the Show-Me Institute, a free-market think tank, helped make Missouri the latest state to strike down a lawsuit ... (read more)
NCLB Reauthorization Stalls on Capitol Hill
The Bush administration and Congressional Democrats continue to pledge their commitment to seeing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) reauthorized during ... (read more)
The Bush administration and Congressional Democrats continue to pledge their commitment to seeing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) reauthorized during ... (read more)
New Jersey Returns Some Control to Newark
Newark's public schools took their first steps back to local control in mid-October when the state Board of Education approved a resolution to return limited ... (read more)
Newark's public schools took their first steps back to local control in mid-October when the state Board of Education approved a resolution to return limited ... (read more)
North Carolina's Site-Based School Management Program Is Faulted
A site-based management program implemented in Wake County, North Carolina gives school principals too much power, according to a comprehensive investigation ... (read more)
A site-based management program implemented in Wake County, North Carolina gives school principals too much power, according to a comprehensive investigation ... (read more)
Ohio Attorney General Says Charters Violated Charitable Trust Laws
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann (D) has taken action against three underperforming charter schools in the Dayton area. The move, which coincided with ... (read more)
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann (D) has taken action against three underperforming charter schools in the Dayton area. The move, which coincided with ... (read more)
Report Asks: Should Super-Rich School Districts Receive State Aid?
An October report by a respected budgetary watchdog group in New York has shed light on enormous differences in local wealth available to support public ... (read more)
An October report by a respected budgetary watchdog group in New York has shed light on enormous differences in local wealth available to support public ... (read more)
Return of Control Does Not Mean Newark Public Schools Are Improving
While the state of New Jersey decided in October to return some control of schools to the Newark School District, one expert says the move doesn't necessarily ... (read more)
While the state of New Jersey decided in October to return some control of schools to the Newark School District, one expert says the move doesn't necessarily ... (read more)
Romney and the Utah Voucher Vote
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) had an opportunity to help deliver a victory at the ballot box in Utah in November, when voters decided whether to repeal ... (read more)
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) had an opportunity to help deliver a victory at the ballot box in Utah in November, when voters decided whether to repeal ... (read more)
Small Districts in Maine Outperform Larger Ones
A report released by The Maine Heritage Policy Center on October 23 finds bigger school systems may be cheaper to run but the state's smallest school districts ... (read more)
A report released by The Maine Heritage Policy Center on October 23 finds bigger school systems may be cheaper to run but the state's smallest school districts ... (read more)
Students Thrown Climate Life Preserver
Two new children's books on global warming are out. One is designed to reduce anxiety among children; the other is designed to heighten it. So which ... (read more)
Two new children's books on global warming are out. One is designed to reduce anxiety among children; the other is designed to heighten it. So which ... (read more)
Teacher Sexual Misconduct Runs Rampant in U.S. Public Schools
A seven-month investigation by The Associated Press revealed a disturbing amount of sexual misconduct by schoolteachers--usually toward students--in American ... (read more)
A seven-month investigation by The Associated Press revealed a disturbing amount of sexual misconduct by schoolteachers--usually toward students--in American ... (read more)
Tuscaloosa Parents Fight for School Choice
Tuscaloosa, Alabama parents are pressing for the right to take their child out of bad schools and put them in good ones. The No Child Left Behind Act ... (read more)
Tuscaloosa, Alabama parents are pressing for the right to take their child out of bad schools and put them in good ones. The No Child Left Behind Act ... (read more)
Utah Voucher Plan Succumbs to Misinformation Ad Campaign
On November 6, the nation’s first statewide universal voucher program was defeated in Utah when voters repealed, through referendum, the law that created ... (read more)
On November 6, the nation’s first statewide universal voucher program was defeated in Utah when voters repealed, through referendum, the law that created ... (read more)
Vertical Equity Funds Are Not Reaching States' Neediest Students
In response to lawsuits over inequities in school funding, state legislatures nationwide have adopted spending policies whereby disadvantaged students are ... (read more)
In response to lawsuits over inequities in school funding, state legislatures nationwide have adopted spending policies whereby disadvantaged students are ... (read more)
Wisconsin Covenant Lacks Needed Structure, Funding
A new Wisconsin program designed to raise college awareness and opportunity has prompted a partisan clash over funding and priorities. The first year's ... (read more)
A new Wisconsin program designed to raise college awareness and opportunity has prompted a partisan clash over funding and priorities. The first year's ... (read more)