The Answer Sheet: August 8, 2010 - August 14, 2010

Data, testing, accountability: The wrong words for reform

Language matters, and Sam Chaltain writes that we need to find new words to more accurately describe the changes we seek for children. Enough with data, testing and accountability.

By Valerie Strauss  | August 13, 2010; 6:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (30)
Categories:  Guest Bloggers, Sam Chaltain  | Tags:  accountability and data, hamlet, sam chaltain, school climate, school reform  
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Are education credit recovery programs really effective?

Credit recovery is an essential part of efforts to increase high school graduation rates in urban, suburban and rural schools nationwide. But are the programs really effective?

By Valerie Strauss  | August 12, 2010; 10:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (6)
Categories:  Guest Bloggers  | Tags:  credit recovery, educational programs and credit recovery, hechinger report  
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Dogs: An unusual guide to school reform

Marion Brady writes that if we want to look at how to reform schools, we should look at dogs.

By Valerie Strauss  | August 12, 2010; 6:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (36)
Categories:  Guest Bloggers, Marion Brady, No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top  | Tags:  marion brady, no child left behind, race to the top, school reform  
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The problem with ‘Race to the Top’ is the race

Diana Senechal writes that President Obama is correct when he says we need to shake things up to improve the schools. The problem is that we are shaking up the wrong things.

By Valerie Strauss  | August 11, 2010; 6:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (35)
Categories:  Guest Bloggers, National Standards, Race to the Top  | Tags:  common core standards, diana senechal, obama and race to the top, obama and school reform, race to the top  
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The truth behind the get-tough success stories in school reform

A teacher takes apart the myths surrounding Joe Clark and his baseball bat, Michelle Rhee and her broom, and the whole notion that bullying tactics can actually improve a school long-term.

By Valerie Strauss  | August 10, 2010; 6:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (85)
Categories:  Guest Bloggers, Urban reform  | Tags:  joe clark, joe clark and baseball bat, michelle rhee, rhee and broom, school leadership, urban school reform  
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Willingham: What’s missing from Common Core standards (Part 3)

Cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham writes about taking the educational equivalent of the moon shot.

By Valerie Strauss  | August 9, 2010; 11:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (13)
Categories:  Daniel Willingham, Guest Bloggers, National Standards  | Tags:  common core standards, daniel willingham  
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Education Reformers vs. “New Reformers”

A high school teacher looks at the trouble ahead this year for schools amid the budget crisis and education reforms he doesn't believe will help.

By Valerie Strauss  | August 9, 2010; 6:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (25)
Categories:  Guest Bloggers  | Tags:  esea, obama and blueprint, obama's reform blueprint, race to the top  
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