News & Comment
Blogs and Opinion
Doing the Troops Wrong by Bob Herbert, The New York Times | May 7, 2008
Who wouldn't support an effort to pay for college for G.I.'s who have willingly suited up and put their lives on the line, who in many cases have served multiple tours in combat zones and in some cases have been wounded? Well, you might be surprised at who is opposing this effort. Or you might not. read more »Liberating the Schoolhouse by Wellford Wilms, truthdig.com | May 2, 2008
The dominant belief is that top-down control is the only way to hold principals and teachers accountable for measurable results. The less prevalent belief is that bottom-up collaboration between teachers and administrators is a source of innovation that builds commitment to and support for successful reforms. The conflict has become especially important in the face of the federal No Child Left Behind initiative, which requires administrators to produce high test scores or risk their jobs. read more »A Diploma in Debt by Shonu Gandhi, tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com | April 17, 2008
Significant policy changes — the systematic inclusion and a substantive financial literacy curriculum in every state's public high school education requirements — are needed in order to give young people a real chance at building solid financial futures. read more »Education: Losing Ground in Global Competitiveness by Alex Carter, OurFuture.org | March 28, 2008
Newly released data by the Department of Education illuminates the educational landscape of America. read more »The Degeneration of American Education by Gerald Bracey, Huffington Post | March 28, 2008
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities," said Voltaire. In a world that contains Clear Skies, Clean Waters, Healthy Forests, an Axis of Evil, Iraqi Freedom, Family Values, Patriot Act, and No Child Left Behind, it is a good reminder for our time. read more »Decoupling Education & Upward Mobility by Terrance Heath, OurFuture.org | March 26, 2008
If "making the grade" is no longer a path to "moving on up," then it looks like the decoupling of education from employment, upward mobility, and the American Dream is at least underway. Or maybe it's already happened. read more »Do Wall Street Dealers Ever Create Jobs? by Sam Pizzigati, cipa-apex.org | January 31, 2008
A landmark new study, released at the annual Davos high-finance summit, scrutinizes the high-flying private equity industry—and complicates life for our global greedy. read more »The Soldier and the Student by Aaron Glantz, <i>The Nation</i>, The Nation | November 28, 2007
Today's military education benefit is not your grandfather's GI Bill. read more »The GOP's School Daze by Robert L. Borosage, home.ourfuture.org | November 16, 2007
Ideas have consequences. Perhaps the most important advice for students as they enter college this fall is to take ideas seriously. For proof, they need only to look at their own pocketbooks as their families struggle to pay for their college costs. Ideas-specifically, conservative ideas-put into practice are pricing college out of the reach of more and more working families. read more »Unintelligent Design by Greg Anrig Jr., <i>TPM Cafe</i>, feeds.feedburner.com | November 15, 2007
The marketing of "intelligent design" reveals much about the conservative movement. read more »
The Latest
Education Gap Slows Mobility, The New York Times | February 20, 2008
Tighter Lending Squeezes Education , The New York Times | February 19, 2008
Schools Brace for Cuts, MSNBC News | February 12, 2008
School boards across the country are expecting leaner times as the nation's economic downturn leads to shortfalls in state budgets and local revenues. Declining housing markets have led to a drop in state sales tax revenues, job losses have led to a reduction in state income tax revenues, and declining property values have led to declining property tax revenues.
Bush Pushes Program Cuts, USA Today | February 12, 2008
House Curbs College Costs, Associated Press | February 8, 2008
The House approved legislation aimed at curtailing rising college costs and limiting student debt. read more »
Medicaid Cuts Hurt Schools, The Washington Post | February 4, 2008
President Bush's Medicaid cuts will strip schools of $635 million next year, and $3.5 billion over five years. read more »
Housing Crisis Hits Schools, The Washington Post | January 30, 2008
The housing crisis may hit school systems, and compel superintendents, teachers, bus drivers and custodians to do more with less. read more »
Bush Budget Won't Fund War, Politico | January 23, 2008
Sallie Mae Sued for Racial Bias, chronicle.com | January 18, 2008
Two student loan borrowers have filed a lawsuit against Sallie Mae, accusing the lender of charging higher interest rates and fees to minority students. read more »
Subprime Crisis Hits Student Loans, money.cnn.com | January 14, 2008
