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A drop out program that's working at Charlestown H.S. in Boston. Good teaching. Motivated students. Academic and non academic standards. A beatiful story.(Drop out program focused on learning that's working)

Interesting piece by Jay Mathews... Yes, virtual schools may be growing because they are cost effective, but I think there's lots more to it. Are people going to virtual schools also because the public schools often do not provide for their children? Consider the NCLB's focus on closing gaps for those without basic skills-- to a rather mediocre middle. Well, what about the top half? What focus is there for them? Maybe that is part of the reason.Also, consider the student discipline issues [...]

See earlier blog on the fact that special education received some $12 billion in the stimulus packaged (compared to the $4+ billions in Race to the Top funds). Is that good or bad? Well, Education Week writes that this special ed money was used by many school districts to plug in holes. The article's title says it all: "Short term choices could haunt district...."(Short term choices)When the funds end, the holes will still be there--maybe larger than before--and the system will still be [...]

('learning styles' debunked)As a public schools attorney in matters of special education, I, too, have questioned 'learning styles.' I included these concerens in my new book, Fixing Special Education--12 Steps to Transform a Broken System.But I'm just a lawyer--not an expert in these matters. Now more psychologists have jumped in. That's great! It's hard enough to educate kids these days. Saddling teachers and parents with bad science and ideology is not helpful.

If you missed the NY Times editorial on February 5, here it is.(Improving No Child Left Behind Act).My two cents?I agree with those who say that the NCLB has done more good than harm. Its focus on academics, results, and the outcomes for specific groups has been a positive and should continue. However, the gnawing concern I have is that we get smarter about which gaps to close. For now, our efforts and huge funding are designed to bring students who do not yet have basic skills to a rather [...]

I assume you saw this new study, on the heals of last week's UCLA study, reporting on a 'lack of diversity' in charter schools. (lack of diversity in charter schools) HMMM. What is this about? My view is that diversity in schools should serve education --better teaching and learning for all students--not a civil rights notion that is not teaching/methodology driven. This is the same issue that permeates special education's push for 'inclusion'--far too often implemented because it meets [...]

If Michelle Obama can start a sweeping initiative to deal with childhood obsesity--as the New York Times reported yesterday, then surely we can start a Let's Learn Together initiative--to help parents and teachers work together on behalf of student learning, not at odds, and not by relying on our legal system, as happens far too often in special education. The lack of trust in our schools impedes learning as surely as the amount of fats creates obesity.(Obesity initiative by our First [...]

Sad. Another program that may be compromised, it looks like. (More students fail AP courses). Are we compromising standards to 'democratize' the test? My father used to say, If something is too good to be true, it's probably not. What may be going on here?We need to go back to basics: First the WHAT, then the WHO. WHAT is AP level? WHAT is the curriculum? WHAT is the purpose of AP? Then, WHO has the necessary skills to participate? WHO will benefit from AP? WHO can participate [...]

I woke up this morning to this refreshing discussion. Check it out.(Urban parents don't care what Gary Orfield thinks)What do I think? Well, when I was a teacher in the Berkeley schools back in the late 1960's, we had tracking at the junior high. The highest level course and the lowest level course. I taught both and will never forget the parents of my lowest level students (you can imagine who they might have been in this urban setting). They exhorted me to NOT lower standards, NOT go [...]

The Boston Globe reports that educators and advocates like Pres. Obama's changes for the No Child Left Behind Act. Maybe they are good. Let's hope. My concern is that Massachusetts continues to allow nonstandard accommodations (NSAs) on its state testing program, the MCAS. Thus, some students have the test read to them--and they 'pass' reading. Some use computers, and they 'pass' math. So long as tests continue to allow invalidating NSAs, it hardly matters what the policy is. Check it [...]