Connect for Kids / Child Advocacy 360 / Youth Policy Action Center - School Reform

Making a Difference? The Effects of Teach for America in High School

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:53:06 -0500

This study examined whether having a Teach For America (TFA) teacher instead of a
non-TFA teacher affects the academic performance of high school students. The study
analyzed data from 23 North Carolina school districts that hired at least one TFA

NEA on Why the No Child Left Behind Act Must Be Overhauled

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:03:52 -0500

The National Education Association (NEA) says the federal education law faces "many policy flaws, false assumptions, unintended consequences, and botched implementation" and offers specific recommendations for fundamental changes to improve it.

Education Wanes as Campaign Issue, Poll Finds

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:52:19 -0500

A new Public Education Network poll finds that voters' "concerns about rising gas prices and the sagging economy trump education as a campaign issue, even as more Americans believe the nation's schools are getting worse," Education Week reports. (Free registration required.)

Extending Learning: Will We Ever Get it Right?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:10:25 -0500

I had a few hours to read, so I pulled out the folder into which I cram all of the things that catch my eye and might make good material for a column. Here’s what I read recently:

Public School Insights

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:11:09 -0500

This site from Learning First Alliance provides examples of what is working in various public schools and districts and provides educators an opportunity to post success stories from their schools and

Youth Conference on High School Dropout Rate - What do Teens Think?

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:49:28 -0500

In February 2008, about 200 teens gathered to discuss the school dropout rate in New York City, covering such factors as peer pressure, lack of support from parents, schools and the community, barriers for immigrants and gender inequities.

No Child Left Behind: Advocates for Educational Justice Disagree about How to Change It

Wed, 02 May 2007 18:56:46 -0500

As Congress considers how to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act—set to expire in September—many organizations and agencies are weighing in on its successes and shortcomings. This article, by Children’s Advocate writer Kelly Virella, lays out the differing arguments in several areas.

Keeping Our Edge: Americans Speak on Education and Competitiveness

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:41:04 -0500

CFK Reports From: Keeping Our Edge: Americans Speak on Education and Competitiveness
Event: Briefing
Organized By: Educational Testing Service
Where/When: Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill; June 21, 2006

In this briefing, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) presented the results of its sixth annual nationwide poll of the public's views on the role of education reform in supporting American competitiveness.

Promising Practices in Secondary Education: No Secret to Success

Thu, 27 Apr 2006 11:06:44 -0500

Start: Sep 14 2006 - 8:30am

End: Sep 14 2006 - 10:30am

Timezone: Etc/GMT+5

The Alliance for Excellent Education hosts its 2006 Breakfast Forums on Promising Practices in Secondary Education in Washington, DC.

Teaching at Risk: Progress and Potholes

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:33:32 -0500

"If teaching remains a second-rate profession, America's economy will be driven by second-rate skills." These were the words of Lou Gerstner, former head of IBM and founder of the Teaching Commission, at the release of the Commission's final report, which calls on state and local leaders to do much more to reform the way American teachers are trained, licensed, supported, and paid.

Whatever it Takes: How Twelve Communities Are Reconnecting Out-of-School Youth

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:49:03 -0500

America is in the midst of a "drop-out" crisis. Nationally, only about two-thirds of all students who enter 9th grade graduate with regular high school diplomas four years later. Rates vary widely across states, but on average, 72 percent of female students and 64 percent of male students graduated in 2001; the numbers for African American students is as low as 50 percent.

Beating the Odds 2005

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 09:48:35 -0600

According to the Council of the Great City Schools' annual Beating the Odds report, fourth and eighth graders are doing better in reading and math, both on state standardized tests and the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP).

An Overview of Alternative Education: Helping Disconnect Youth Succeed

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:15:42 -0600

2006 estimates put the number of youth who are not in school, do not have a diploma, and not working at 3.8 million. For these young people, labor market prospects are often gloomy. This Urban Institu

Keys to Learning: Using Pre-K-12 Standards for Better Schools

Thu, 02 Mar 2006 07:25:39 -0600

How can we decide what is essential to teach when we have too many standards? How can we be sure our standards really define what kids should know? How can we keep kids engaged? These are three of the six major questions this Web site answers in order to make standards-based schools effective. The site, from Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), offers case studies and strategies to help align curriculum and teaching with standards.

D.C.'s School Voucher Program: Lessons Learned & Continued Questions

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:53:50 -0500

With the nation's only federally-funded school voucher program well into its second year, those involved in getting this controversial experiment up and running say they've learned a lot. But it's still too early to answer the really big question: is the program helping low-income students achieve? Susan Phillips takes a look.