The Massachusetts Department of Education is using a flawed performance accountability formula that falsely places healthy schools into underperforming turnaround status, costing millions of taxpayer dollars and cruelly disrupting the lives … [Read more...]
On The Extended School Day
The other day, I wrote about lifting the charter school cap. Today I'd like to address the other education "reform" being pressed in the Boston mayoral race: extending the school day. It's worth noting that after twenty years of … [Read more...]
No One Cares About Poor Kids: Parker School Edition
We let our children grow up in communities with high unemployment, low-paying jobs and high crime rates, then when they don't do well on tests, we declare the school, principal & teachers "failing." Here in Massachusetts, our "failing" … [Read more...]
EDUCATION conference, that is
Got to go back to headline writing school... … [Read more...]
Conference Oct. 16 of interest to BMG-ers (and others) concerned about public education
CITIZENS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ISSUES CONFERENCE: "Taking Back Our Schools: Promoting Equity and Excellence in Public Education." Rep. Carl Sciortino, Melissa Colon, (Gaston Institute), Jose Lopez (co-chair Boston Coalition for Quality … [Read more...]
Is there *any* evidence that Duncan’s “Race to the Top” will improve education?
Have similar programs been tried and succeeded (or failed)? I'd like to write a little article about this, and am wondering if there's any evidence to support our dropping a program that's been so successful. Is Duncan's program an … [Read more...]
Don’t shoot the messenger
We had a very active debate a few weeks ago regarding the dropping of MCAS as a graduation requirement. WELL, don't shoot the messenger BUT the Commonwealth of Mass is working on "scrapping" the MCAS testing. YES THAT's RIGHT "scrapping" … [Read more...]
‘ROUNDING THE GLOBE’-19: Getting personal with Larry Harmon
'ROUNDING THE GLOBE'-19: Critical analysis of Boston Globe education coverage Getting personal with Larry Harmon Last week, the Globe finally printed two good letters on ed reform and yesterday Vaznis wrote news article on impending … [Read more...]
Ending MCAS as a Graduation Requirement
On the campaign trail in the 2nd Franklin District, as a Democratic candidate for State Rep, I have met many voters who have asked me about the MCAS Program and what I feel about the process being looked at and revamped. I am a strong … [Read more...]
Remarks Delivered at a Pioneer Institute Discussion (featuring E.D. Hirsch)
REMARKS AT PIONEER INSTITUTE EVENT, FEATURING PROF. E.D. HIRSCH, MARCH 31, 2010 I'd like to first thank the Pioneer Institute for inviting me to participate on this panel. It's highly unusual for a teacher (or, in my case, a former teacher) … [Read more...]