» School ChoiceThe new documentary Waiting for Superman currently playing in theaters around the nation explores the failures of American public education: it serves adults instead of kids, teachers’ unions impede progress, and teachers need better training. However, the movie offers little in the way of solutions. Perhaps what’s needed is a sequel that offers solutions for fixing American [...] American spending on public education, adjusted for inflation, has more than doubled over the last three decades. What did taxpayers get for their money? The average math and reading scores of American 17-year-olds have not improved since the early 1970s according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Twice the money. Zero progress. Yet students in other countries have [...] President Obama’s $4.35 billion in Race to the Top funds already have states scrambling to reform education in order to receive grants. Why does it take the lure of money for states to do the right thing? It’s no secret that charter schools are effective. Yet some states don’t allow them and many states have not raised [...] Texas State Education Commissioner Robert Scott announced plans for expanding high-performing charter schools throughout the state. With 215 charters, Texas has reached the maximum number allowed by the State Board of Education. Scott intends to change the cap. Expect more states to follow suit as the federal government prepares to dangle the stimulus money carrot in front [...] Not only do charter schools help their own students, but they also help students at traditional public schools finds Marcus Winters, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Exposing traditional public schools to charter competition puts pressure on them to improve or risk losing students. Charter competition especially benefits low-income minorities: One of the most encouraging findings by [...] |
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