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An article in today's Boston Globe caught my attention.  While the best students in Massachusetts seem to do well when compared with other states, they fall behind when compared to other countries. http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2010/11/10/mass_losing_ground_in_advanced_math/?p1=Local_Links And see this in The Atlantic Monthly. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/12/your-child-left-behind/8310.  Thank you, Rick Hanushek and Paul Peterson for this necessary [...]

The New York Times ran a story yesterday about the fact that, for now,  higher college tuition rates seem to be paired with the current increases in student aid through Pell Grants (federal) and other moneys. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/education/28college.html?hpw My question--how many of the students who receive Pell Grants are students with intellectual disabilities who are now, under federal incentives, being encouraged to attend college and who are eligible for these grants. [...]

My loyal readers may have noticed that I've been AWOL--no posting since early October. In part, this was because I traveled to China, fulfilling my long-held dream. It was as fascinating and fun and fabulous as I had hoped. In part of the tour, we went up the mountain to Ping An, a small village surrounded by rice paddies. Totally beautiful and traditional--very very different from the cities like Beijing and Shanghai.  In Ping An, we visited a nursery school/kindergarten. And the scene [...]

(Interesting article from Great Britain on the matter). I've thought about this a lot, also. Another interesting read for a Saturday!

(bullying not only cause of suicides, experts warn) I've thought about this issue--as more states pass anti-bullying law. An important read.

(President Obama on his choice of schools for his daughters). Our president gave an honest answer. We understand that. But as long as people can walk away from the public schools, they will continue to be for other people's children. I wrote an essay many years ago that the only way to fix our public schools is to CLOSE all the private schools! Nutty? I don't think so. By doing that, we would force all players to the same table and I do believe that improvements would come fast. [...]

(The Responsibility Deficit). It's great to see our friend, Philip K. Howard, featured in David Brooks' column. Of course, he's right. Teachers need the freedom to teach and students need to know that it is their responsibility to learn. It's always amazing to me that when we make comparisons of student achievement with other countries (Finland, comes to mind) we ignore the student, parent, and teacher responsibility parts. There are key. Yet, not on the table usually. Instead [...]

(Should we rethink inclusion?? Yes, it's time to rethink inclusion. Inclusion grew out of the civil rights model. (student have a right to be in regular classrooms) not out of the education model (what works for students!). So sad. Instead, our schools should be driven by research or education-based practices--not legal mandates or concepts cooked up by legislators and judges. It is, indeed, time to rethink inclusion so we can do what actually works for kids in schools.

My mother always told me, "It's the tone that makes the music." Can that be the message from Washington D.C.'s vote? That it was a rejection of style, approach, tone--even as the schools were improving? Can it be that mother was right--again. (Children are the losers in D.C. vote)

( Discussion with Michael Best, NYC General Counsel and Jean Johnson of Public Agenda) (Fixing Special Education.). The book is available on Amazon.com, through (School Law Pro), and at (Fixing book) Check it out! Your thoughts and comments? We are into the 35th anniversary of this law. Time to celebrate and reform!