Previewing the Debate Wednesday

This Wednesday marks another opportunity for the Democratic candidates for president to use a nationally televised debate to share their education reform initiatives with questions regarding the education crisis we're currently facing. If these issues were to come up, Philadelphia, the site of the debate, is the perfect place to do so. According to the latest Education Research Center report, Philadelphia has a 49.6 percent graduation rate. That means more than 50 percent of high school seniors in the Philadelphia school system are facing a life with extremely limited economic prospects.

As I've mentioned many times before, these statistics have a negative impact on our economic competitiveness here at home and around the world. It's going to take real presidential leadership to solve this crisis and reform our education system. It’s imperative that this conversation begin in earnest Wednesday night.

Math and Money in the Wall Street Journal

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal caught my attention while I was traveling this past weekend. A presidential panel on math education is cautioning that a "broken" system of mathematics education threatens U.S. competitiveness, and that what is needed is a "renewed focus on the essentials."

Two Policy Panels, Two Takes

It's only Tuesday, and already this has been a week filled with policy discussion. Yesterday, ED in �08's executive director Marc Lampkin was part of a panel at the American Enterprise Institute called "Education as a Presidential Issue: Historically and in 2008," talking about some of the particular challenges that we've seen in this election around the issue of education. He touched on some of the factors that we at ED in '08 have been facing, including a cynical national media, the dominance of the Iraq war early in the primary season, and the shadow that NCLB casts over the education debate and ongoing governance issues.

On the Ground at the Ohio Debate

Last night we saw the final debate among the Democratic candidates before voters head to the polls for the key primary contests next week in Texas and Ohio. The candidates met at Cleveland State University, while Brian Williams and Tim Russert moderated what was at times a feisty debate.

ED in '08 was one of the debate's sponsors, which is why you may have seen some of our signs and logos around the spin room following the broadcast.

TIME Magazine on Teachers and the Candidates

The cover story of this week's TIME Magazine is a must-read piece, "How to Make Great Teachers," which takes a long hard look at some of the challenges facing the teaching profession, and features a guide about the election and education, detailing where the presidential candidates stand on issues such as teacher pay, and a longer school day or year.
TIME also promotes the efforts of ED in '08 in the sidebar, "A Voter's Guide to Education," referring to us a "nonpartisan group [that] is a clearinghouse for potential solutions to persistent problems in U.S. education."

Narrowing the Field

And then there were five…

In the past two weeks, we’ve seen a handful of competitive candidates and a few relatively minor ones hang up their spurs and call it quits. Last night, overt the course of an evening of “too close to call” primary races, the five remaining presidential hopefuls made it clear that it may still be some time yet until we have a definitive nominee in each party.

Vote for ED Questions in the LA Debates

Later this week, as the presidential campaigns shift focus to new territory in anticipation of Super Tuesday, both parties will debate in Los Angeles, the Republicans on Wednesday, January 30, and the Democrats on Thursday, January 31.

For those of us who have been calling for more media and candidate attention to education in the primary debates, Politico, a sponsor of this week's debates, is giving voters a chance to choose the questions that will be asked of the candidates. You can also submit your own questions. Just go to the debate website, and vote on the questions you most want to hear asked.

CNN Says 89 Percent Want More Talk on ED

Yesterday morning, my colleague Marc Lampkin was watching CNN and caught the results of a poll showing that 89 percent of respondents don't think the candidates are doing enough to address problems in education.

89 percent!

Taking Hold of Change

There is a wave of excitement working in New Hampshire and across America. The desire for substantial change is being echoed by voices in both parties. We've seen it on the campaign trail, and the candidates are talking about it at almost every turn.

Teaming up with Ken Melhman to talk education in Iowa

I want to welcome my readers back from a holiday break, and hope everyone's ready for the political side of the campaign. I won't be talking much about specific policies or new research this next week or so. It's not that the specifics aren't important, it's just that right now our campaign, like everyone interested in who becomes the next president, is focused on Iowa and New Hampshire.

A New Year's Resolution from the Candidates

At the debates in Iowa last week, the presidential candidates were asked about the New Year's resolutions they had for each other. While for the most part they recited thoughtful responses, it was clear that the candidates just wanted to take the time to talk about themselves. None of them really offered what I was hoping to hear - a New Year's resolution to become a leader for America's schools.