How K–12 Public School Funding Works — And How New Changes May Help Close the Achievement Gap

Photo by Jacob Edward (https://flic.kr/p/oqcTnf) CC-BY-2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/)

Most Americans — including political and business leaders, and even people who work in schools — have a very limited understanding of how schools are funded. In fact, in the majority of state capitals, there are only a handful of individuals who truly understand the funding formulas. This is not because people are apathetic, but … Read more »

California Jolt: State Upends How It Funds and Runs Education

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert Stirrup, https://goo.gl/W0QRBR

  It’s hard to find stories of “upheaval” in the way states structure the machinery of public schooling. Wrangling interests tend to allow only a little tinkering under the hood. But California right now is rewriting that script. And the sweeping changes occurring in the state’s education system are so politically stunning that those inured … Read more »

Strengthening the College Pipeline

  Today there is a college for everybody irrespective of your academic ability. If you have the money or are eligible for financial aid, you can find a seat in a classroom or an on-line course with the promise of a bright and financially rewarding future. You don’t even have to finish high school. By … Read more »

An Open Letter to the New Congressional Leadership

  Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Boehner, As a result of the midterm elections, you and your colleagues are now in a position to pass bicameral legislation to address critical national issues, including those facing education. We all know that what happens in our schools affects our economy, our societal well-being and our global … Read more »