For years, parents, teachers, and state and local leaders across the country have expressed the urgent need to replace No Child Left Behind, a well-intended but flawed law that has not delivered on its promise to improve K-12 education. Yesterday, the House answered their call to action when members passed the Student Success Act, commonsense legislation that will help ensure students have access ... Read more »
Last month, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan extended the administration’s intrusion into K-12 classrooms when he renewed a controversial temporary, conditional waiver scheme in several states. This is not the first time the secretary has issued waivers – bypassing Congress to dictate education policy is a common theme of this administration. It is, however, the first time the secretary has issu... Read more »
Fifty years ago, one of the most significant early childhood education programs was signed into law: Head Start. Fast forward to 2015 and the program has helped prepare millions of children for success in school. This week's anniversary presents an opportunity to reflect on the importance of Head Start and strengthen the program for future generations. As House Education and the Workforce Committe... Read more »
Two years ago, Washington was embroiled in a classic self-made crisis. Thanks to the political gimmicks of Washington Democrats, interest rates on most federal student loans were set to double. The president called on Congress to pass a long-term, market-based solution that would get Washington out of the business of arbitrarily setting student loan interest rates. Under the leadership of Educatio... Read more »
When it comes to K-12 education, Washington bureaucrats have woven a very tangled web of programs, mandates, and pet projects. Under No Child Left Behind, the Department of Education is a vast bureaucracy that: Operates more than 80 programs tied to the nation’s classrooms – the majority of which are ineffective, duplicative, and unnecessary; Dictates how states and school districts gauge school p... Read more »
There is more to celebrate this week than quality charter schools. With Teacher Appreciation Week upon us, men and women from across the country are also taking time to #ThankATeacher for their dedication to improving the lives of children through education. Research shows an effective teacher can dramatically boost a child’s academic achievement and opportunities for success in life. According to... Read more »
This week marks National Charter Schools Week, when parents, students, educators, advocates, and policymakers recognize the successes of the charter school movement. Twenty-three years ago, parents, teachers, and state and local leaders joined together to launch a new kind of public school – a charter school – that would promote parental choice, foster innovation, and ensure a high level of accoun... Read more »
After decades of federal intrusion into the nation’s classrooms, it’s time for Congress to pass a law that restores parental, local, and state control over education. Will Estrada with the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) describes the urgent need to replace the current education law, No Child Left Behind, with conservative education reforms embodied in the Student Success Act. In a b... Read more »
For too long, Washington has insisted more programs, mandates, and spending would fix a broken K-12 education system. While well intended, No Child Left Behind doubled-down on this flawed approach, leaving countless students trapped in failing schools. A one-size-fits-all accountability system has ushered in an era of ineffective high-stakes testing that has done little – if anything – to improve ... Read more »
The Obama administration’s temporary, conditional waiver scheme has masked the harsh reality of America’s current K-12 education landscape: No Child Left Behind remains the law of the land. In other words: Virtually all schools are considered failing under the law’s one-size-fits-all, high-stakes accountability system, known as ‘Adequate Yearly Progress,’ and are required to adopt federally prescr... Read more »
