School Rankings
Classroom Technology
Opinion
The Cost Savings of Eliminating Classroom Management
What is this amazing low-tech strategy that's filling the gaps in cyber-learning? Answer: the teachers are sitting in the same office, as they're managing their on-line classes. So it's valuable for teachers to be physically present and connected to their peers, but not so important for kids? But--wouldn't students wouldn't also benefit from putting their heads together with peers and having in-depth conversations about literature or democracy or fractions?
College & Workforce Readiness
Index Indicates Most High Schools Are Not Challenging Students
A survey of schools that made The Washington Post's Most Challenging High School list shows many schools still have rules that keep students from signing up for AP, IB, and AICE courses.
School & District Management
Opinion
Garden-Variety Teacher Leadership
I worry that teacher leadership is being commodified--that teachers with exceptional talents in instruction, curriculum development, mentoring, analyzing district politics and influencing decision-making will not be seen as leaders unless they have a title or a stipend. I worry even more about how formal teacher leaders are "chosen"--just whose water they're expected to carry.
Accountability
Opinion
The American Workforce: Survey Delivers Bad News
New data on literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills show that U.S. millennials have fallen to the back of the pack internationally and continue to slip.
Student Well-Being
New High School Recognition Focuses on Closing Opportunity Gap
The University Colorado Boulder is launching a Schools of Opportunity project to honor schools working to level the learning playing field for all students.
Accountability
U.S. News Offers Latest List of 'Best' High Schools
Profiles of nearly 20,000 schools are included in this year's rankings, including information on test scores and success in meeting the needs of disadvantaged students.
College & Workforce Readiness
Just 9 Percent of Nation's High Schools Deemed Rigorous on 'Challenge Index'
The Washington Post released its annual Most Challenging High Schools, highlighting schools where the most students take college-level examinations.
Assessment
Opinion
Pasi Sahlberg on Finland's Recent PISA Results
Marc Tucker interviews Pasi Sahlberg about Finland's fall in the rankings on the 2012 PISA.
International
Opinion
Shanghai: Teacher Quality Strategies
A look at how Shanghai is able to both produce high quality beginning teachers at low cost and continuously improve the skills of teachers already in the workforce, leading not only to impressive performance on PISA but better student outcomes overall.
Assessment
Opinion
Tom Loveless on Hukou in China
Marc Tucker explains that while China's policies regarding migrant students are problematic, these are slowly being changed. In the meantime, Shanghai's education system still has much to teach the rest of the world.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
PISA Denial: Another Flavor
Marc Tucker refutes critics of PISA who claim that we can ignore the poor performance of US students because the test doesn't measure the things that really matter.
Student Achievement
Opinion
Response to the Brookings Institution Attack on PISA
Marc Tucker and Andreas Schleicher respond to charges from Tom Loveless that the PISA results for Shanghai are suspect.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
PISA On the Teacher as Professional
Marc Tucker explains how fundamental changes in the way schools are managed could both attract better teachers and enable them to do their best work.
Accountability
Opinion
The Meaning of PISA
Marc Tucker explains how the results of the latest PISA assessment ought to inform America's education policy reform agenda: we should be basing it on the strategies employed by the top performing education systems in the world.