School Debt: The Great Unequalizer

As Schirmer writes: “School districts with the fewest resources pay the most to borrow.” Given the underfunding of schools, debt amplifies existing inequalities.

From the Race to the Top to the Plunge to the Bottom

Horror movie sequels are notoriously bad. This one may be the worst. In 2009, federal intervention during the last financial crisis gave rise to the Obama administration’s signature education initiative: […]

Challenging Corporate Ed Reform

The failures of the corporate education “reform” movement leave it vulnerable to genuine grassroots school transformation.

Prophet Motives

Any discussion of charter schools must ask not only whether charters promote a worthwhile vision of public education

Teaching in Dystopia

The problem is this: Testing is killing education. Not only is it narrowing the curriculum generally

‘Hurricane Vicki’

Portland’s former superintendent gets a big stage with Gates Foundation assignment.

Pressuring the Gap

Ohio attempts to close achievement gap by focusing on 9th-grade males

Wish You Were Here

A University of Nebraska professor takes a satirical look at Education Week’s Quality Counts report, where the Cornhusker state ranked at the bottom.

Elephants in the Room

When mainstream media report on urban schools, the real story is often what goes unsaid.