Archive for July 2010

Update to TFA and the Critics

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Study analysis, more issues to discuss, and more insights here, at eduwonk.

School Finance Litigation

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

School finance has worked its way through the courts before. It is back. It is worth monitoring, as California has one of the most inequitable school property tax mechanisms, where essentially the assessed value of the property is capped at the purchase price plus a max of 1% increase per year. The inequity emerges particularly when looking at the assessed values of properties purchased in boom years when compared to those that have been in the family for decades, or at the very least were purchased in a more reasonable housing market.  And in communities that have not seen increases in the housing market approaching anywhere near the hottest markets, there is even less of a tax levy with which to fund educational needs, creating great disparities in spending. While money doesn’t mean everything for educational achievement, it does reflect the types of resources that are available. In underperforming schools, the availability of such resources is meaningful.

TFA and the critics

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
A blogger’s recent criticism of Teach for America gave pause for reflection. Critics of the program are not new. Such dialogue is essential to the healthy development of public policy and programs that best meet the goals of serving all children equitably and in particular, closing the achievement gap that persists in racial and socioeconomic categories. Here are some points to consider in the discussion, which essentially boils down to a cost-benefit analysis about where and how we can most effectively invest in public education. (more…)

All supports

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

The classroom and school day are very important. Parents, role models and consistency are critical. After the school day ends, there are many opportunities - utilized or wasted - to ensure academic success, particularly with those whose socioeconomic experiences limit the ability to utilize the time. This program, Blue Engine, seeks to make that time count, in a comprehensive way, in the tradition of TFA.