School choice is popular in some circles, but problematic for economically disadvantaged students, special needs students, their parents, and (as it turns out) entire states. A lawsuit in Ohio and a legislative hearing in Texas offer glimpses into two critical issues. In Ohio, nearly a third of the state’s public school districts have joined a […]
In the last post, I talked about several things that are in danger of being eliminated in the push to get rid of balanced literacy programs. One of those things — Miscue Analysis — has already been more or less banned in Texas. I have been told, but can’t confirm independently, that this was the […]
There’s been a movement over the last several years to replace “balanced literacy” reading programs* with the “science of reading.” As of now, the science of reading is winning. More than 30 state legislatures now require reading programs to utilize the science of reading and more are poised to require it. Proponents for both types […]
Can you think of a classroom activity that is firmly rooted in the real world, extremely relevant to the kids, and off-the-charts engaging as a result? This story, reported by NPR, is a fantastic example. A national non-profit, Trust for the Public Land, is working to make parks and outdoor spaces accessible to everyone. For […]
For a long time — since 1999 — Gallup polling has been asking parents and the American public in general whether they are satisfied with their oldest child’s education. Given the divisive and tumultuous state of education in the last 3 years, you might assume that parents are extremely unhappy with the schools and districts […]
Several news outlets have reported recently that school districts across the country are turning to a shortened school week to cope with shrinking budgets and to recruit and retain staff. Since the pandemic and the resulting teacher shortage its use has increased rapidly, especially in rural areas. Some states, like Missouri, now have 25% of […]
The NWEA just published a study detailing student progress in 2022-23, creatively titled Education’s Long Covid. Why the report earned that title is clear from page 1: the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still reverberating throughout the U.S. educational system, even though the pandemic itself is no longer a national emergency. The report details […]
In the last post, I discussed Mississippi’s “miracle” of improved literacy and one of the tent poles of that program: grade level retention. Mississippi isn’t alone in this type of policy: at least 25 states either allow or require retention when a child fails to pass a reading test at the end of 3rd grade. […]
I love a good data dive. Even more, I love a data dive with some complexity. But a spate of recent stories on the Mississippi literacy “miracle” has me torn. My inner data nerd is fascinated by the data puzzle, but my teacher heart hurts for all the kids caught up in the messy reality […]
A new survey of teachers by EdWeek and Merrimack College revealed some trends among educators in 2023. This, combined with a survey conducted by the NEA in 2022, offers some illuminating insights into how teachers perceive the state of their profession. The overall assessment was mixed, with morale appearing to be heading up but issues […]