In 2014, The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., launched an investigation into the state of special education in Mississippi. They uncovered a range of abuses and troubling trends, most notably that, on average, only 23 percent of Mississippi's students with special needs were graduating from high school. In many districts, that number was in the low single digits.
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n “Lost opportunity for charter schools,” Robert Pondiscio says education reformers should blame themselves for the failure of a ballot initiative last month to establish more charter schools in Massachusetts. The vote on “Question 2” wasn’t even close: 62% of voters were against it. That’s embarrassing. Only one other ballot question was answered more decisively: 77% of voters were against “extreme farm animal confinement.” No more eggs from cramped chickens.
But that’s another story.
Pondiscio explains that education reformers have been “too enamored of our own civil-rights-issue-of-our-time rhetoric to worry much about building a constituency among the middle class.” In other words, we’re out of touch.
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The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty Inc. is trying to add momentum to the push for Milwaukee charter schools with a study released Thursday arguing they have a substantial positive economic impact.
The study argues students attending voucher schools or participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program generate a higher economic benefit than those attending Milwaukee Public Schools. William Flanders, research director for the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, or WILL, said the study lends weight to arguments for lifting income caps for students eligible for the choice schools program, or toward easing the process for private schools to buy vacant MPS buildings.
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What should be done when a beneficial service or product is in such demand that many who want or need it can’t get it?
In business, the answer is obvious: Increase supply to satisfy all of the demand.
Not so in government, in this case the New Jersey public education establishment. Its answer to more parents and students seeking to use the state’s school choice program is to limit statewide participation to about 5,000 students a year, maybe indefinitely.
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Noel Candelaria, president of the Texas State Teachers Association, criticized school choice reforms in a recent guest column.
As an advocate for school choice, I have to agree with his criticisms that some school choice programs in the past have been too small and have only benefitted some children. I believe that the best program for Texas would be education savings accounts that would allow every child in Texas, public or private, rich or poor, black, white or brown to take their share of their education funding to the school of the parents' choice, public or private.
ESAs would be a voluntary program, but in the best-case scenario, they would be available to every Texas child.
Keep reading this article here.
“I haven’t met many self-directed teenagers,” said a frustrated high school teacher during a recent presentation.
As we contemplate the vast problem of teenage disengagement and the apparent low level of self-direction, we have to ask, “Is it our kids or our schools?”
We’ve seen enough high engagement schools where most teens were self-directed to suggest that it may be the design of American secondary schools that’s the problem—not the kids.
For a century, the primary design meme of American schools has been compliant consumption. Students read, practice and regurgitate in small chunks in siloed classes in regimented environments. Low levels of self-direction shouldn’t be surprising—it is inherent in the traditional secondary school design.
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Laptops, tablets, and apps are just some of the latest tech tools that teachers are using to spark students’ interest in STEM disciplines, which include science, technology, engineering, and math. Other trends include moving away from traditional face-to-face instruction and toward more hybrid learning opportunities, including online instruction and hands-on projects. Instructional videos and coaching courses have become instrumental elements within education and the overall development of today’s youth. All of these new technologies and approaches will produce stronger fundamentals and increase interests within STEM education.
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Roseburg area students who are members of the online public charter school Oregon Connections Academy baked cookies Thursday morning and then delivered them to Roseburg Fire Department firefighters.
Several teachers and students worked together in the Westside Christian Church in Roseburg to bake more than four dozen sugar cookies.
Kris VanHouten believes this is not only a great curricular opportunity for students of the academy, but also a way to show appreciation for what firefighters do for the community.
“The firefighters are away from their families more than most would want to and they do that to protect us and keep us safe. I wanted them to know that we appreciate that,” VanHouten said.
VanHouten said she wants to show kids that firefighters are people who should be respected and not feared.
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NICOLLET — A blanket holds special meaning to 16-year-old Hailey Sherwood of Nicollet.
Her foster parents, now her adoptive parents, bought her a Winnie the Pooh blanket when she was first brought to their home at six months old. She's kept it ever since, holding it dear and sleeping with it every night.
"I use it as a security blanket," she told the Mankato Free Press. "It's something that makes me feel safe and comforted."
Entering a new foster home can be a scary experience for children. Knowing this, Sherwood came up with a project to help them feel the same comfort she felt growing up.
Read more about this great project here.
Modern technology connects us and allows communities to share resources in unprecedented ways. Virtual education leverages these connections to provide everyone, regardless of geographic location, access to experts and high quality learning experiences. As technology has improved, virtual education has evolved to become a tool that helps close gaps in high schools and colleges.
Quality online learning programs provide rigorous curriculum, meaningful teaching resources, and access to specialized programs, such as industry training for students, schools and teachers.
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