Ideas to Make College “Fairer”

By Michael Dannenberg  In wake of the on-going national college admissions scandal, every candidate for state or national office should be asked a simple question: “How do you plan to make college cheaper, fairer, and better?” Not just cheaper, but fairer and better because we’ve got serious equity and quality challenges in higher education. A

Ideas to Make College “Cheaper”

by Michael Dannenberg Over the next several weeks, we’re regularly going to identify an education goal and put forth in brief at least one new idea and a short, pro-con analysis. Most of the time, we’ll put forth a series of ideas to consider. Batter up. Make College “Cheaper” for Families, Debtors, and Taxpayers. Almost

Top 5 Things to Listen for in the Primary Debates

This week, 20 of the 2020 Democratic Candidates will converge for two nights of debate as they work to differentiate themselves among a crowded primary pool. While there will be many important issues discussed, one way the candidates can stand out is through strong education policy that will help move educational equity forward across our

Locked Out of the Future

Locked Out of the Future By Michael Dannenberg Education policy and equity folks nationally and almost everyone in New Jersey are aware of the state’s storied school finance litigation history. But in all likelihood, comparably few know just how inequitable and inadequate education opportunity and success are at the higher education level as well. K-12

Take 5 Minutes Today to Speak Up on Public Charge

Deadline for comments on proposed regulation is today: Monday, December 10, 2018 at 11:59pm EST Educators understand that when a student’s basic needs aren’t being met, that student experiences additional barriers to learning in the classroom. Educators know how food-insecurity, lack of stable housing, and lack of healthcare (including dental and vision care) impede a

A Real College Promise for Maryland

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan will soon be taking a victory lap for signing into law a half-measure on college affordability: free tuition to any Maryland community college for state residents who enroll within two years of high school graduation or obtaining a GED. In all likelihood, Hogan also will pump his expansion proposal to provide an additional two years of

Barone and Martinez: 3 Ways Governor Phil Murphy Could Clean Up PARCC High School Testing Mess

Governor Phil Murphy announcing yet another PARCC testing proposal at the Golden Nugget Casino “New Jersey’s testing and high school graduation policies are proving increasingly confusing. Over the years, the state has repeatedly changed the role of PARCC and other assessments in awarding high school diplomas. Current high school testing requirements are so complicated that the state

Lessons For All From DC’s Bold Improvement Schools

by Mira Taichman, Education Reform Now and Josh Boots, EmpowerK12 Over the last decade, the District of Columbia invested in a set of education reforms designed to accelerate school improvement. These reforms include expansion of quality public charter schools, closure of low-performing charter schools, and new teacher evaluation, curriculum, and professional development systems in traditional

A Deeper Look into Massachusetts’ Struggling Community College System

By: Konrad Mugglestone   To me, one finding from our recent deep dive into Massachusetts public higher education has been particularly shocking. Bay State students of color are much more likely to attend a community college than the national average and much less likely to complete their degrees. Massachusetts Black high school graduates are 50 percent more likely,

The Current State of Immigration Play

by Janette Martinez Earlier today, the House defeated a bill purported to address DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and other immigration issues. The vote was 121 to 301. All Democrats and 112 Republicans voted no. What follows is a brief explainer of how we got here and what happens next, in both political and