How to Make Exit Exams Mean Something

I want to end the week with something that can only amaze you.

One Candidate Connects the Dots between Schools and Economic Security

Win some, lose some.

Tim Russert didn't ask a question about education at the Dartmouth presidential debate last night, but one candidate brought it up on their own. Bravo.

ED in 08 Launches in Nevada

We added another state where ED in 08 has a physical presence.

Nevada joins Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

NAEP Results Good, but Good Enough?

America's elementary school students brought home their latest report card yesterday, and it shows some improvement.

As I have pointed out in the last week or so, the question is whether there is enough improvement to keep up with the kids in the countries next door (or farther away)?

First, let's look at the good news. These are the math and reading results among 4th and 8th graders from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as NAEP or the Nation's Report Card.

Yesterday the U.S. Department of Education reported:

Who Will Lead on Standards?

A few weeks ago the Casey Journalism Center asked if I would contribute my top three education issues that journalists should watch for in the 2008 presidential election. Readers of this blog won't be surprised at my choices - or that I listed America's deplorably low education standards as issue number one.

Taking ED in 08 on the Road in Nevada

I'm in Las Vegas today to launch the ED in 08 campaign in this early presidential primary state.

Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, State Senator Barbara Cegavske and Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid will join me in the Clark County Government Center in urging the presidential candidates to demonstrate real leadership and make our schools a top priority. This is a bipartisan group just like every other ED in 08 endeavor.

On Schools, Plenty of Room for Presidential Candidates to Lead

Education is going to be an issue in the 2008 election, and presidential candidates had better pay attention to that fact.

That's not just my take. It comes from the editors of Education Next, a journal of opinion and research from the Hoover Institution.

When Others Do Better

What's the difference between good and not good enough?

I think that's at the heart of our dilemma with our schools and our declining global competitiveness. How well are we doing if others are doing better?

Broad Prize Points to Achievers Among Large School Systems

A big congratulations to the New York City Department of Education and Eli Broad.

Eli is a funder of the ED in 08 campaign, and yesterday he awarded his Broad Prize for Urban Education for outstanding education achievement to the folks who make up the public school system in the Big Apple.

Texas School Systems Try New Ways to Keep Good Teachers

I talked about the impact a good teacher can have on students. That begs the question: How do we get more effective teachers in America's schools?

We are seeing more and more evidence that school districts all over the country are trying new and different approaches, a lot of them based on performance pay.

Good teachers ... good students

"... Who the teacher is might be the best predictor of how well students will do."

That sums up the results of a two-year study of math teachers and their students in Pittsburgh: Average test scores varied as much as 59 percent from the top teacher's classroom to the bottom.

That is what we call a significant difference.

Some Great Questions Got Asked ... and Answered

Half a loaf is better than none. That's what I was told as a boy.

Keep that in mind as you read on.

Good News, Bad News About Teachers

We have a good news-bad news report about teachers from the Department of Education and the American Institutes for Research.

Looking for Qualifications, Not Just Cheap Help

The New York Times ran an interesting editorial this morning about No Child Left Behind.

Eager to Learn, Denied the Opportunity. That's Wrong!

All of the things I have written about over the last five months have one thing in common: Giving our students the best preparation for life that we as a society can.

That's why we talk about getting effective teachers into every classroom and providing enough time and resources for every student to learn. And standards are not just to make life difficult for kids in school - it's to make sure that they leave school prepared.

A Great Opportunity - But Don't Squander It!

This week brings an important milestone in the increasing role the Internet is playing in presidential politics. The Huffington Post, Yahoo!, and Slate are co-sponsoring the first-ever online "candidate mashup." Those Web sites asked users to submit questions for the Democratic candidates on any issue, then counted up the topics to identify the top three issue areas that Charlie Rose will ask about this week. The videos will be shared on Friday, and users will be able to edit them to highlight differences among particular candidates on specific issues. [UPDATE: The Huffington Post now says the videos will be shared Thursday, Sept. 13. We'll keep you up to date.

Global Competitiveness and Our Schools - Part 2

Over the weekend, I had a chance to participate in several of the sessions of the Hechinger Institute's seminar for journalists on education for a global economy. In particular, I was to speak about political perspectives on what the U.S. must do to compete.

I'd say the very first thing we need to do is wake up to the fact that we've got competition all over the world and that giving our young people the skills they need to compete is the best way for our nation to meet the global competition.

Which Comes First -- Good Jobs or Good Schools?

It's no secret that good schools providing their students with a good education is the key to being prepared for college or a good career.

But having strong schools in your community can also help create jobs.

AFT Favors Shorter Summer, Longer School Year, Too

We started talking about changing the academic year in yesterday's post. I want to continue that today to point out another notable player in this exchange of ideas.

Edward McElroy, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the second largest teachers union in the U.S., proposed extending the school year into the summer for certain students in certain situations.

Is A Shorter Summer Vacation Less Time to Forget?

One of the three areas we think presidential candidates should address is how to give students the time and resources to learn.

And one of the things ED in 08 is trying to do is spark some discussion of this. There are a lot of different ways to look at this and depending on how you look at it, you will come up with a different solution.

Good Schools Key to Good Jobs

Republican presidential candidates are getting together in New Hampshire Wednesday night for another televised debate.

Once again, both the moderators and the candidates themselves can start asking - and answering - serious questions about America's students.

Civil Discourse on Teacher Pay is Possible

Teacher pay is one of the most involved and controversial issues around, and it seems just tailor-made for raised voices.

Last week, my colleague Marc Lampkin blogged on the Huffington Post after a question about performance pay finally got asked at the Democratic presidential debate on ABC.