Breaking the Cycle of Mediocrity

See the full report here Compared to other university departments and to teacher preparation programs in higher-achieving countries, U.S. teacher-training programs are generally found to have lower admission standards; easier grading of teacher candidates’ work; and a lower bar for graduation and licensure. Other shortcomings include: Curricula that emphasize theory over practice, Weak coursework building

Per-Pupil Expenditures in Illinois’ Largest School Districts

Nicholas Munyan-Penney & Charles Barone The analysis was based on new per-pupil spending figures required under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) In the next brief in a series analyzing within-district, per-pupil spending reports required by federal law released today by Education Reform Now, in Illinois, the two biggest takeaways are variability in funding among

Per-Pupil Expenditures in Ohio’s Largest School Districts

The analysis was based on new per-pupil spending figures required under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Nicholas Munyan-Penney & Charles Barone In the latest of a series of briefs analyzing within-district, per-pupil spending reports required by federal law, in Ohio, random variability in funding of schools with similar demographics and under-funding of middle schools

Personalized Learning: An Interview with National Thought Leaders and Practitioners

In November of 2018, at Education Reform Now’s annual Camp Philos conference in Boulder, Colorado, a distinguished panel of national personalized learning experts and practitioners shared their views on a wide range of topics including the evolving definition of personalized learning (PL), common misconceptions of PL, best practices, and next generation assessments and accountability. A

Release: Report Finds High Costs, Low Grad Rates in CT Colleges

Release: Report Finds High Costs, Low Grad Rates in CT Colleges November 12, 2019—Education Reform Now CT—a non-profit policy organization focused on improving public education and protecting civil rights—has released a new report looking at the costs and outcomes in Connecticut’s four-year colleges. The report, titled Less for More: Low Rates of Completion and High

UPDATED: Florida Funding Formula Provides Additional Funding to Schools with Students in Poverty, Nonwhite Students

UPDATED: Florida Funding Formula Provides Additional Funding to Schools with Students in Poverty, Nonwhite Students Education Reform Now has released an updated analysis on per-pupil funding in the state of Florida after receiving new information from the state. Chief Policy Officer and report co-author Charles Barone issued the below statement: “After reviewing data provided by Miami-Dade

A Deep Dive Into Alternative Teacher Prep

A Deep Dive Into Alternative Teacher Prep New Series will Examine Best Practices, Lessons for the Future By Charles Barone For almost half a century, efforts to improve teacher preparation in the United States have succumbed to a repetitive and unproductive cycle of failed reforms. First, a report is issued identifying serious shortcomings in the

Education Reform Now Spotlights Alternative Teacher Prep Programs in New Series

Education Reform Now Spotlights Alternative Teacher Prep Programs in New Series Month-long Series Examines What’s Working WASHINGTON, D.C. – Education Reform Now is proud to rollout a new series of papers today that highlights trailblazing teacher preparation programs with promising results. The six different alternative teacher preparation programs showcased in the series operate largely outside

New Report on the University of Wisconsin Highlights Equity Gaps at UW-Madison vs. UW-Milwaukee

New Report on the University of Wisconsin Highlights Equity Gaps at UW-Madison vs. UW-Milwaukee Education Reform Now Proposes a No Cost “WIRE Initiative” to Redress Disparities Between the State’s Two Major Public Research Universities  WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new issue brief, released today by Education Reform Now, finds that the University of Wisconsin System (UW-System),

Per-Pupil Funding Inequities By Race/Ethnicity

Overview The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE) recently released some troubling analyses on inequities in per-pupil funding between high- and low-poverty schools in Boston and throughout the state. These results are based on new reporting required under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that reflects real budget and spending for each individual school, a