The DeVos Hearings: School Choice is Here to Stay

Prepare to hear “school choice” a lot. Here’s what it actually means. EMILY DERUY JAN 12, 2017 The Trump administration could bring to the fore some education terms that have been largely overlooked in recent years as it moves to dramatically change the way students learn in the United States. And officials and advocacy groups…

Public Opinion Shifts in Favor of School Choice

In a new survey, a majority of respondents support the expansion of families’ education options. But specific programs such as vouchers remain polarizing. ALIA WONG AUG 21, 2018 The results of a new poll suggest that a majority of Americans now support the expansion of school choice for all families. With 54 percent of respondents saying they…

Low scores for Arkansas on commitment to public schools

Max Brantley Mon, Aug 6, 2018 The Network for Public Education has published a national survey gradingstates on public education as measured by their support for privatization efforts, to the detriment of conventional public schools. Arkansas scores poorly. The group is fighting the “choice” movement promoted by, among others, the hugely wealthy Walton Family Foundation. It explains: While most will not…

As public education stumbles, democracy falls

By Wendy Lecker Sunday, August 5, 2018 There is a disturbing trend in American policy where a powerful few use government to benefit themselves at the expense of the many. The most recent example is Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s proposal to implement a $100 billion tax cut that would primarily benefit the 0.1 percent of…

2018’s States with the Best & Worst School Systems

Jul 30, 2018  |  Adam McCann ecuring a child’s academic success begins with choosing the right schools. But how can parents decide where to enroll their kids? Because children develop and learn at different rates, the ideal answer to that question varies based on each student’s needs. Unfortunately, most parents can’t afford to place their children in exclusive, private…

Best Schools: Virginia Public Education Ranks In Top 10, DC Fails

The value placed on the teaching profession can have a big effect on the quality of public education in Virginia and Washington, DC By Deb Belt,  Aug 6, 2018 WASHINGTON, DC — Students will be going back to school in a few weeks, but where they live often determines the quality of their education, according to…

Time to reinforce the building blocks of the American dream

BY MIKE TAMOR, 07/30/18 02:30 PM  Successful nations, just like successful businesses, are built on three things: people, education and ideas. By opening our nation’s doors to people ready to build new lives and abide by the Constitution, the U.S. has become a stronger, more vibrant nation. By investing heavily in public education, the nation…

This effort is Utah’s chance to improve public education

Less than 50 percent of Utah students are currently proficient in key subjects. That’s not good enough to prepare the workforce of the future. Especially at risk are students who don’t have strong family support or are otherwise disadvantaged. By A. Scott Anderson July 25, 2018 I’ve long been convinced that improving public schools is the…

Report slams Texas’ underfunding of public schools

By John Austin   Jul 29, 2018 AUSTIN — Texas’ school-age population is the nation’s fastest-growing, with about 850,000 new pupils in the past decade, but over the same period, the state cut public-education spending by $2.5 billion. The cuts are second only to Florida’s, according to a new report from the American Federation of Teachers,…