Robert F. Kennedy – ESEA Author and Progressive Proponent of Assessments and Accountability

by Charles Barone I distinctly remember waking up for school the morning of June 6th, 1968 and finding out that Robert F. Kennedy had been shot in Los Angeles just after midnight. My father was a Republican and my mother a Democrat, but they were both shocked and saddened by the news. I don’t remember

Democratic Voices on ESSA Accountability

by Dana Laurens The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides a great deal of flexibility over the previous federal law when it comes to state design of their school accountability systems. It did, nonetheless, establish clear federal guardrails to help ensure those systems emphasize academic achievement and identify schools that are falling short in providing

Those Talking the ESSA Law Talk Are Not Walking the ESSA Law Walk

by Charles Barone   A high-decibel throng of advocates is trying to make the case that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has overstepped its role in its reviews of state plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act. But look closely and you’ll find that many of those talking the ESSA law talk are not

Doubling Down: The Black-White Graduation Gap in the Midwest

by Konrad Mugglestone The Midwest is home to some of the nation’s finest public institutions of higher education. However, for many black children growing up in these states, degrees from these respected institutions are shockingly out of reach relative to their white peers. Indeed, the graduation gaps between black and white students at both the

Every Student Succeeds Act Peer Review: Be More Consistent, Not Less Rigorous

by Charles Barone and Dana Laurens Feeling confused lately by the Every Student Succeeds Act peer review process? That’s perfectly understandable. Writers, in both the trade and mainstream press, vary greatly in what they think is going on at the US Department of Education (USDOE). The most widely held, or at least the most loudly voiced,

An IDEA in Need of a Better Answer

By Michael Dannenberg Outside of fights for fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), I’ve always shied away from policy work on special education.  My mom is disabled and one of the millions who prior to IDEA was kept out of public school – in her case until 6th grade. IDEA is a

Education Reform Now Celebrates Historic Week at DNC Convention & Camp Philos 2016

After an exhilarating week in Philadelphia, Education Reform Now is reinvigorated in our ability to influence the progressive direction of our Party and our nation’s education policies. We kicked off the week with our third-annual Camp Philos that featured some of the biggest names in politics and policy. Below is a recap of our speakers’ comments and

The Impact of NEA & AFT on Wages & Achievement

By Michael Dannenberg   DFER and the advocacy group associated with it, Education Reform Now (ERN), share many positions with the NEA & AFT teachers unions – on increased funding for K-12 education, on targeting of education aid, on college affordability, on cracking down on abusive for-profit firms in higher education, on etc, etc. Frankly,

Before Signing Morgan Polikoff’s Letter to the U.S. Department of Education, Read This

Part 1 By Charles Barone Morgan Polikoff, Associate Professor of Education at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education, has posted a sign-on letter to the U.S. Department of Education that has gotten increased visibility following coverage yesterday by NPREd. Some prominent education leaders and experts have already signed on. The letter, addressed

Teachers Unions, Do You Really Think It’s Okay to Spend Less on Poor Kids?

By Charles Barone A bizarre spectacle unfolded in the Senate HELP Committee last week. One day north of the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, heads of both major teachers unions argued that it’s ok to spend less on the education of children from low-income families than on their more advantaged peers.   What