Charter Schools
Maximizing Potential of All Students
Are KIPP Schools really "drill and kill" factories that drive students to exhaustion. Not really, despite contentions that this is what makes some of them so successful. Here is a column from Jay Matthews, via an email from Whitney Tilson, philanthropist and ed reformer.
Drafting Online Laws at the OK Corral
Legislators in Oklahoma are cobbling together language for a new bill on virtual schooling. They seem to be leaving out statewide virtual charter opportunities, and it looks like the bulk of the bill is meant to keep control, funding, and power in the hands of districts, keeping parents from seeking out great virtual education for their students from anywhere other than where they are physically located.
How to Fix Our Schools
Top urban educators publish improvement manifesto: performance-based employment, performance-based student progress, and a portfolio of options for families.
Denver Charters Receive Millions
The Broomfield-based Charter School Growth Fund on Wednesday announced a pledge of $4 million to West Denver Prep and Denver School of Science and Technology charter schools.
On the Brink, but Of What?
This has been a remarkable week: Waiting for Superman premier, Education Nation on NBC, and a giant grant to a struggling district. What does it all mean?
Education Nation: A Mostly Great First Effort for NBC
NBCs Education Nation highlighted the administration/edreformer alignment on teacher quality and charters and was a mostly great multi-channel first effort to wake up America.
Tired of Waiting
NBCs Education Nation kicked off with a screening of Waiting for Superman and town hall. Good Randi for showing up, but hard to take her seriously as reformer after squashing Fenty/Rhee in DC.
Zuckerberg Visits Newark KIPP School (Photos)
I found these pictures of Mark Zuckerberg's visit with 11th-grade math students at the KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy Saturday in Newark.
A Super Portfolio in Newark
Zuckerberg's breathtaking gift to Newark will require a super superintendent to build a portfolio of new schools
Viva! Blended Learning
Michele Robinson, superintendent, on Odyssey Charter Schools: "We knew there was a large population of parents who were looking for alternatives, but who didn't have the experience, knowledge or resources to [home school]. We wanted to reach that population."