A growing chorus of education policy advocates is urging the U.S. Department of Education to strengthen graduation-rate accountability in states that have earned waivers under the No Child Left Behind Act.
Three weeks ago, another education reformer was dismissed from his post by protectors of the status quo. This time, it happened in Wake County, North Carolina when a 5-4 vote of the Board of Education dismissed former Broad Academy graduate and Army General, Anthony “Tony” Tata as district superintendent. At a time when district scores are going up, dropouts are going down, and their accreditation status recently upgraded, why did the Board of Education let the superintendent of 20-months go?
When unionized teachers in Chicago took to the picket lines in September, leaving classrooms empty in the first weeks of the new school year, it caught America’s attention. Now that the debate over education has been reignited, let’s put the focus back where it belongs—on the students. Many Americans are deeply concerned about the state of public K–12 education—and others are downright mad. A new Hollywood film features the fight of one mother and one teacher who are fed up with the low standards, union control, and bureaucratic bungling that contribute to chronically failing schools.
High-tech manufacturing companies like Boeing are concerned about the United States’ ability to sustain its leadership role in technology and innovation. The state of American education—and even the academic rigor required to earn an engineering degree—has become a frequent talking point at the national level. Some even mistakenly theorize that our students are not up to the challenge of studying engineering, math, and science because it’s just too hard. The answer to this national crisis lies not in changing the engineering, math, and science curriculum but in changing learning environments and how these subjects are taught.
MOOCs—or massive open online courses—have been getting quite a bit of attention lately, and rightfully so. At their core, MOOCs provide people from all walks of life the chance to learn something for nothing. All you need is an Internet connection, and you’re ready to go. Essentially, think Khan Academy on steroids and some kind of science-fiction genetic engineering that doesn’t yet exist, and you’ve got a MOOC. Most of the current offerings don’t lead to a credential, but some of them do offer pathways to apply what you’ve learned towards some sort of certification.
Memphis City Schools gets an "F" in most subjects on Tennessee's annual education report card for grades 3 through 8. Today, roughly a third of all Memphis City Schools have been identified among the lowest-performing "priority" schools in Tennessee. A dismal 73 percent of Memphis students graduate from high school, and a mere 5 percent leave high school "college ready." Tennessee recently received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education to adjust student achievement targets across the state.
When unionized teachers in Chicago took to the picket lines in September, leaving classrooms empty in the first weeks of the new school year, it caught America’s attention. Now that the debate over education has been reignited, let’s put the focus back where it belongs — on the students.
Education reform will be at the core of an interactive forum that will feature a panel discussion and a special screening of the film "Won't Back Down" on Wednesday (Oct. 10). The event unfolds from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Malco Paradiso at 584 South Mendenhall. It's part of Breaking the Monopoly of Mediocrity, a cross-country tour to discuss education reform in local communities, highlight the important role the business community must play, and encourage local leaders to become a catalyst for change.
Memphis needs passion and commitment to effect positive and lasting change in its public education system, members of a panel on education reform suggested Wednesday. Opportunities for job creation in the community are too often lost, said John Moore, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Memphis Chamber, when public education does not prepare students adequately for the postgraduate academic careers needed to fill local job openings.
Advocates who are pushing for laws to give parents more control over their children’s schools are raising money and building campaigns around a Hollywood movie that dramatizes the issue, says Reuters. Despite poor reviews for Won’t Back Down, which stars Maggie Gyllenhaal as a mother who takes on the teachers union to reform a failing public school, foundations and activist groups have spent more than $2-million on advocacy efforts tied to the film.
The Central Florida Education Summit will be hosted by the Central Florida Partnership and sponsored by the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association, in partnership with the National Chamber Foundation, the Institute for a Competitive Workforce, and the Central Florida Public School Board Coalition.
U.S. News STEM Solutions 2013 will bring together business, education and government leaders who have long recognized the need to connect the dots between STEM education and careers. Adding to last year’s successful conference format, the second edition will give more dedicated time for these leaders to interact and collaborate.
