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    Jay Mathews is looking for schools that qualify for next spring's America's Best High Schools list. If your school has not been contacted by Jay, and if it gave at least as many Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests in 2010 as it had graduating seniors, please fill out this form and email it to Jay as soon as possible. Deadline is around March 1, but why wait?
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Class Struggle Archive: Jay on the Web

College prep credential scam

Jerry Heverly, a high school English teacher in the San Francisco Bay area, posted a comment last week that resonated with me and other readers. He suggested that the money his school and others pour getting more kids ready for college is a waste, and maybe also a money-making stunt.

By Jay Mathews  | March 1, 2011; 5:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (25)
Categories:  Jay on the Web  | Tags:  40 percent college drop-out rate, Jerry Heverly, college prep classes, students right to leave college  
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The dangers of expelling kids in trouble

My colleague Donna St. George wrote a deep and moving piece for Sunday's paper about a good high school student who got into a little trouble, was not allowed back in his own school, had an emotional crisis and committed suicide. I don't blame the suicide on the Fairfax County school system. I think efforts to blame suicides on anyone are usually a waste of time, since the person who knows the real reason can't tell us what it was. But St. George's piece does raise an issue about high school discipline that I think has much wider application.

By Jay Mathews  | February 23, 2011; 11:45 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (22)
Categories:  Jay on the Web  | Tags:  Fairfax County schools, Montgomery County schools, Nick Stuban, Wayne Whigham, forced transfers, student commits suicides after being told he cannot return to his high school  
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Why my great fellow blogger Strauss is wrong on D.C. vouchers

One of the many reasons I appreciate my colleague Valerie Strauss' The Answer Sheet blog, with excerpts each Monday in our Metro section, is that her work contrasts so nicely with mine. Anyone who checks out both blogs, or compares her views to mine on the Monday page, understands why so many astoundingly brilliant people like Strauss and me can still vehemently disagree about how to fix our schools.

By Jay Mathews  | February 21, 2011; 10:24 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (18)
Categories:  Jay on the Web  | Tags:  Congress forced D.C. to accept charter schools, Congress interfering with D.C. schools, D.C. school voucher program, Valerie Strass, a good thing  
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How Ed Harris and Jeff Steele got Rhee story

I promised to report back when Ed Harris, a frequent and thoughtful commenter to this blog, known here as edlharris, told me how he managed to unearth the University of Maryland-Baltimore County report that revealed the test score results at the Baltimore elementary school where former D. C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee taught in the early and mid 1990s.

By Jay Mathews  | February 15, 2011; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (127)
Categories:  Jay on the Web  | Tags:  Ed Harris, Guy Brandenburg, Jeff Steele, Michelle Rhee, UMBC report on Harlem Park Elementary School  
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The amazing Harriett Ball

Harriett Ball, a well-known teacher trainer who inspired the most successful charter school network in the country, died Feb. 2 at a Houston Northwest Medical Center after a heart attack. She was 64. A lively classroom performer with a rich sense of humor, the elementary school teacher stood 6 feet 1 inch tall and had a deep, vibrant alto voice. Most of her fame stemmed from the role she played in the creation of the Knowledge Is Power Program, now known as KIPP, which has grown to 99 schools in 20 states and the District.

By Jay Mathews  | February 10, 2011; 11:16 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (18)
Categories:  Jay on the Web  | Tags:  Dave Levin, Harriett Ball, KIPP, Mike Feinberg  
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Baltimore City test specialist recalls Rhee story

(Updated with a response from Michelle Rhee's group, StudentsFirst, at 6 p.m. Wednesday.) Here is an e-mail I received today. I think it is self-explanatory and relevant to our topic of the day, Michelle Rhee's years in Baltimore. The writer...

By Jay Mathews  | February 9, 2011; 2:25 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (23)
Categories:  Jay on the Web  
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Older Entries in This Category »

Michelle Rhee's early test scores challenged, Jay Mathews , February 8, 2011
Master KIPP teacher Harriett Ball dies, Jay Mathews , February 2, 2011
Does KIPP shed too many low-performers?, Jay Mathews , January 10, 2011
Unbelievable urban school safety statistics, Jay Mathews , December 15, 2010
Can city schools compete with the suburbs?, Jay Mathews , December 15, 2010
Dunbar leaders bounced, what next?, Jay Mathews , December 8, 2010
Bad old D.C. school politics threaten progress, Jay Mathews , December 7, 2010
Jay is NOT retiring, Jay Mathews , December 6, 2010
Buster Posey and the value-added teacher debate, Jay Mathews , November 17, 2010
'I was not allowed to take AP English', Jay Mathews , October 6, 2010
Baltimore teachers contract could be great, Jay Mathews , October 5, 2010
Teacher/blogger critiques highly ranked school, Jay Mathews , September 29, 2010
Signal on D.C. education reform from Gray's camp, Jay Mathews , September 28, 2010
Obama is wrong about D.C. schools, Jay Mathews , September 27, 2010
Good and not-so-good in new Obama science ed plan, Jay Mathews , September 16, 2010
Good-bye Rhee. Hello who?, Jay Mathews , September 15, 2010
Accuracy wanted on tuition costs, Jay Mathews , September 14, 2010
Clever way to reward teachers as teams, Jay Mathews , September 14, 2010
Savvy blogger suffers real-life school reform, Jay Mathews , September 8, 2010
Changes in America's worst-college list, Jay Mathews , September 1, 2010
Irrepressible ed blogger beats me up, again, Jay Mathews , September 1, 2010
America's best teacher and the L.A. Times, Jay Mathews , August 31, 2010
Why it's okay to be bored in school, Jay Mathews , August 24, 2010
On Obama, Bush, schools and Milbank's mistake, Washington Post editors , August 18, 2010
A's for public universities, F's for privates, Jay Mathews , August 16, 2010
Whiff of wisdom on new common standards, Jay Mathews , August 10, 2010
Best blog by far on D.C. test scores, Jay Mathews , August 3, 2010
Jay Mathews on the lam, Jay Mathews , July 22, 2010
Rare attack on Harlem Children's Zone, Jay Mathews , July 20, 2010
What Bill Gates is really up to, Jay Mathews , July 12, 2010
Does Sousa story prove Rhee is right?, Jay Mathews , July 6, 2010
Progress report from big study of KIPP, Jay Mathews , June 22, 2010
Does journalism's decline help education?, Jay Mathews , May 18, 2010
The Fixer: a principal who made a difference, Jay Mathews , April 20, 2010
Brian Betts--a great loss for D.C. schools, Jay Mathews , April 16, 2010
The best and worst campus tour questions, Jay Mathews , April 2, 2010
Jaime Escalante dies at 79, Jay Mathews , March 31, 2010
Should only top students get financial aid?, Jay Mathews , March 30, 2010
Delaware, Tennessee on hot seats, Jay Mathews , March 29, 2010
Admissions 101: The 2/2/2 rule, Jay Mathews , March 25, 2010
Reading scores a bore, but help Rhee, Jay Mathews , March 24, 2010
Could schools cure our uncivil discourse?, Jay Mathews , March 23, 2010
Overloaded high schools bring NCAA upsets, Jay Mathews , March 22, 2010
Grill Washpost's education team for free!, Jay Mathews , March 19, 2010
KIPP, union settle Baltimore dispute, Jay Mathews , March 18, 2010
New Admissions 101 topic, Jay Mathews , March 18, 2010
Star principal retires, Jay Mathews , March 17, 2010
Should we let students reject college prep?, Jay Mathews , March 17, 2010
LSAT: the devil's work?, Jay Mathews , March 16, 2010
Valerie Strauss v. me on tests, Jay Mathews , March 15, 2010
Obama plan flaw: achievement gap, Jay Mathews , March 14, 2010
Numbers hide a great high school, Jay Mathews , March 12, 2010
Student doesn't like being political tool, Jay Mathews , March 11, 2010
National standards need national tests, Jay Mathews , March 10, 2010
Protesting trumps learning in California, Jay Mathews , March 10, 2010
Schools like Churchill don't lose prestige , Jay Mathews , March 9, 2010
Who cares who gets the Race To Top dough?, Jay Mathews , March 8, 2010
Obama right, Mathews wrong, Jay Mathews , March 3, 2010
Double principals' pay, Jay Mathews , March 3, 2010
Jaime Escalante being treated for cancer, Jay Mathews , March 2, 2010
Obama wrong, Weingarten right, Jay Mathews , March 2, 2010
Why colleges hide mental illness, Jay Mathews , March 2, 2010
Mr. President: Be bold on dropouts, Jay Mathews , March 1, 2010
Let me pick my kid's teacher, Jay Mathews , February 24, 2010
Crawling toward national tests, Jay Mathews , February 23, 2010
Welcoming a new school rating, Jay Mathews , February 22, 2010
How old news people can help schools, Jay Mathews , February 16, 2010
College ratings to trust, Jay Mathews , February 16, 2010
Washington's best winter ever, Jay Mathews , February 11, 2010
Our knee-jerk tuition fears, Jay Mathews , February 10, 2010
More light needed on abuse allegations, Jay Mathews , February 9, 2010
Students should read non-fiction, Jay Mathews , February 9, 2010
AP failures up, successes too. , Jay Mathews , February 4, 2010
D.C. evaluation chief responds, Jay Mathews , February 3, 2010
Rhee: Uncompromising, Jay Mathews , February 2, 2010
Rhee's bad polls: should she go?, Jay Mathews , February 1, 2010
Where Duncan went wrong, Jay Mathews , January 29, 2010
The difference between editorial and news, Jay Mathews , January 28, 2010
Fix schools with ideas, not money, Jay Mathews , January 27, 2010
Ms. Rhee: apologize, don't leave, Jay Mathews , January 26, 2010
Read to expand school day, Jay Mathews , January 26, 2010
Strangling another charter school, Jay Mathews , January 25, 2010
Rhee vs. teacher-student sex, Jay Mathews , January 22, 2010
TV, games, iPods vs. school, Jay Mathews , January 21, 2010
Challenge Index delayed, a bit, Jay Mathews , January 20, 2010
Senate shock could affect schools, Jay Mathews , January 20, 2010
Weingarten serves two masters, Jay Mathews , January 20, 2010
Do federal education dollars work?, Jay Mathews , January 19, 2010
Charters raising less, Jay Mathews , January 15, 2010
Higher education's shame, Jay Mathews , January 15, 2010
Mr. Obama: Kill NCLB, Jay Mathews , January 13, 2010
Silly but useful Fairfax hysteria, Jay Mathews , January 12, 2010
New ideas from Weingarten, Jay Mathews , January 11, 2010
Getting an education--it's about power, Jay Mathews , December 29, 2009
U.S. in decline--where's the evidence?, Jay Mathews , December 22, 2009
Why I have no use for the achievement gap, Jay Mathews , December 15, 2009
Are women really overloading our colleges?, Jay Mathews , December 14, 2009
What's with the new U.S. News high school list?, Jay Mathews , December 11, 2009
We're tied for no. 14! We're tied for no. 14!, Jay Mathews , December 8, 2009
Do we need lunch periods, or even cafeterias?, Jay Mathews , December 8, 2009
Carjacking at a top D.C. charter school, Jay Mathews , December 4, 2009
The lost art of walking to school, Jay Mathews , November 18, 2009
Algebra and politics: A Marty Weil exclusive, Jay Mathews , November 18, 2009
Name the new education law, one word at a time, Jay Mathews , November 18, 2009
Don't save bad schools--terminate them, Jay Mathews , November 17, 2009
Charters good, bad and mediocre, Jay Mathews , November 16, 2009
Sidwell Friends School as Rorschach test, Jay Mathews , November 13, 2009
Arne answers your questions, Jay Mathews , November 12, 2009
What should I ask Arne?, Jay Mathews , November 11, 2009
Rating Md., Va. and D.C. schools--a puzzle, Jay Mathews , November 10, 2009
Bad eighth grade math placements--an update, Jay Mathews , November 9, 2009
AP debate: Jay rejects Valerie's forgiveness, Jay Mathews , November 5, 2009
Help pick the best education blogs of 2009, Jay Mathews , November 4, 2009
Secrets of private schools revealed, Jay Mathews , November 2, 2009
Are Post authors biased? Give us your solutions., Jay Mathews , October 31, 2009
Rhee is right--summer learning is vital, Jay Mathews , October 30, 2009
Rhee vs. teachers--is that clash important?, Jay Mathews , October 29, 2009
Minimum school leaving age nonsense, Jay Mathews , October 27, 2009
Is homework necessary?, Jay Mathews , October 27, 2009
School improvement in the real world, Jay Mathews , October 27, 2009
Latest from Chancellor Rhee, Jay Mathews , October 26, 2009
How many times were you suspended?, Jay Mathews , October 26, 2009
My obit for Jerry Bracey, Jay Mathews , October 23, 2009
Is cutting college to three years a good idea?, Jay Mathews , October 21, 2009
Making the grade not about race, but culture, Jay Mathews , October 20, 2009
Solve These International Test Math Problems, Jay Mathews , October 19, 2009
Don't Get Too Excited About Jump in D.C. Scores, Jay Mathews , October 15, 2009
Washington Post Raises Money for Students, Jay Mathews , October 13, 2009
What Are the Best Moves Your Schools Ever Made?, Jay Mathews , October 12, 2009
Educators Already Make No. Va. Schools Some of the Best , Washington Post editors , October 12, 2009
D.C. School Protestors--What's Your Plan?, Jay Mathews , October 11, 2009
How to Fight for Special Education, Washington Post editors , October 9, 2009
10 Ways to Pick the Right School, Jay Mathews , September 28, 2009
Despite Test Scores, Shaw Is on the Right Track, Washington Post editors , September 28, 2009
Bad Title, Mind-Changing Book, Washington Post editors , September 25, 2009
Rhee's Latest Move: It's All About Principals, Jay Mathews , September 24, 2009
State Superintendent Supports Rhee Account, Jay Mathews , September 23, 2009
Seen Cheating? Tell Me About It. , Jay Mathews , September 23, 2009
Testing Vet Reveals How to Fix Standardized Tests, Jay Mathews , September 22, 2009
New Ammo For Charter Debate, Jay Mathews , September 22, 2009
Elite Schools Don't Make Elite People, Jay Mathews , September 21, 2009
Fixing the Teacher Certification Mess, Washington Post editors , September 18, 2009
Jay & Valerie Debate Cheating, Jay Mathews , September 16, 2009
Where Did the Least Admirable Go to College?, Jay Mathews , September 15, 2009
Egad! School Research Has Power, Jay Mathews , September 9, 2009
Jay on the Web: Will Advanced Placement Replace the SAT?, Washington Post Editors , August 28, 2009
Three Smart Rules for Home School Regulation, Washington Post Editors , August 21, 2009
Jay on the Web: Pitfalls for Poor Students, Pt. 2, Washington Post Editors , August 12, 2009
What the SAT-optional Colleges Don’t Tell You, Washington Post editors , July 31, 2009
They Messed With the Wrong Blogger, Washington Post editors , July 24, 2009
Jay on the Web: Will Technology Save Our Kids?, Washington Post Editors , July 17, 2009
Jay on the Web: Middle Class Children in KIPP, Washington Post Editors , July 10, 2009
Jay on the Web: What's the Best Model for School Reform?, Washington Post Editors , July 8, 2009
Jay on the Web: Can Unions and KIPP Schools Co-exist?, Washington Post Editors , July 1, 2009
Jay on the Web: Michelle Rhee's Report Card, Washington Post Editors , June 17, 2009
Jay on the Web: Mathews on KIPP Charter Schools, Washington Post Editors , May 27, 2009
How to Spend $100 Billion to Fix Schools (Cont.), Washington Post editors , May 19, 2009
Jay on the Web: "Bubble Kids" and High Stakes Tests , Washington Post Editors , April 29, 2009
A Debate Over Testing and Low Performing Students, Washington Post Editors , April 22, 2009
A Dissenting View on the Knowledge is Power Program, Washington Post Editors , April 15, 2009
On the Web: Readers on KIPP, Charter Schools, Washington Post Editors , March 25, 2009
On the Web: Response to the Economic Stimulus, AP, More, Washington Post Editors , March 18, 2009
On the Web: Reaction to Class Size Debate, Washington Post Editors , March 4, 2009
On the Web: Jay's Book, KIPP Thoughts, Washington Post Editors , February 25, 2009
On the Web: Shouts for Schools' Value, Washington Post Editors , February 18, 2009
On the Web: KIPP Conversations and Local Test Scores, Washington Post Editors , February 11, 2009
Jay on the Web?, Washington Post Editors , November 30, 2008
 
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