Civics

Larry Cuban reports on the Democracy Prep charter chain which is emphasizing civic education. https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2018/05/20/democracy-prep-no-excuses-schools-that-build-citizens/

Public School Support

Democrats unveil plan to support teachers. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/05/22/chuck-schumer-nancy-pelosi-democrats-better-deal-teachers-america-column/629509002/

Eunice Han finds that teacher unions result in higher teacher quality. https://dianeravitch.net/2018/05/25/eunice-han-teachers-unions-improve-teacher-quality/

What it’s like to teach in an underfunded school. https://dianeravitch.net/2018/05/30/oklahoma-what-it-is-like-to-teach-in-an-underfunded-school/

Marc Tucker on comprehensive school improvement. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/top_performers/2018/05/most_students_arent_on_grade_level_heres_what_to_do_about_it.html?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=top_performers

Perils of Reforms

Low or negative results for students of closed schools while large increases in community damage. https://consortium.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/publications/School%20Closings%20in%20Chicago-May2018-Consortium.pdf

It’s time to revamp teacher evaluation. https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/05/16/teacher-evaluation-is-stuck-in-the-past.html

The result of closing 50 schools in Chicago in one day: No measurable outcome improvements but widespread sorrow. http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-public-fools/2018/05/in-the-wake-of-the-mass-school-closings-one-measurable-result/

Larry Cuban on reforms and technology: skeptic or cynic. https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2018/05/31/skeptic-or-cynic-an-interview/

Curriculum and Instruction

England finds organized phonics instruction to be crucial for disadvantaged children. https://edexcellence.net/articles/how-phonics-instruction-affects-disadvantaged-children?utm_source=National+Education+Gadfly+Weekly&utm_campaign=78badad173-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_05_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ef00e8f50e-78badad173-71635837&mc_cid=78badad173&mc_eid=ebbe04a807

Charter and Voucher Problems

Peter Greene on the differences between charter schools and traditional pubic schools. http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2018/05/public.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FORjvzd+%28CURMUDGUCATION%29

Jeff Bryant on why a proposed NC charter school plan should alarm the nation. http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/new-charter-school-plan-should-alarm-the-nation/?link_id=2&can_id=cea050dcef20333abf235c3ba9bc6d51&source=email-new-charter-school-plan-should-alarm-the-nation&email_referrer=email_362293&email_subject=new-charter-school-plan-should-alarm-the-nation

A new federal evaluation of the DC voucher program finds that students who used vouchers lost ground in math. https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/us/2018/05/29/dcs-private-school-voucher-program-hurt-low-income-students-math-test-scores-according-to-federal-study/

Marc Tucker finds no evidence that charter management organizations are a laboratory for more effective school systems. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/top_performers/2018/05/are_charter_management_companies_a_laboratory_for_effective_school_systems.html?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=top_performers

Who is to blame for Ohio’s 1 billion dollar ECOT virtual school boondoggle? https://dianeravitch.net/2018/05/25/stephen-dyer-who-is-to-blame-for-ohios-1-billion-ecot-boondoggle/

A parent education advocate on what is wrong with charter schools. https://dianeravitch.net/2018/05/29/whats-wrong-with-charter-schools-a-short-explanation-for-the-uninitiated/