On California
This blog was written by Charles Taylor Kerchner, a professor and research scholar at Claremont Graduate University. He’s a veteran policy researcher and has written extensively about education reform and teacher unions. His writing of this blog was supported by a grant to CGU from the Stuart Foundation, which did not exert editorial control or approval. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: California.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Single-Number School Rankings Miss Tasty Ingredients
Single measure accountability systems make 'soup' out of school achievement by putting all its ingredients into a mathematical blender, writes David Plank. The soup conceals more ingredients than it reveals.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Building on Minecraft's Educational Potential
I am starting to get the hang of Minecraft's basic controls and gaining a glimpse of why kids and some adults are excited about it. But what to do with the dead pigs?
Education
Opinion
Adventures in Minecraft: They Say It's Easy for Kids
I decide to try Minecraft. Kids are crazy for it; the building block game motivates them. After an afternoon of learning curve, I need to call my 9-year old tutor.
School & District Management
Opinion
Former Calif. School Chief Pushes Back Against Test-and-Punish Reforms
Former California State Superintendent Bill Honig has created a web site to buoy the 'build-and-support' approach to reform and to oppose test-driven sanctions and charter school expansion.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
Counting 'Proficient' Students Creates Bad Accountability
Accountability targets based on the percentage of 'proficient' students obscure real differences between schools, encourage bad instructional practices, and encourage the wrong kind of intervention, writes Morgan Polikoff.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Pre-K Policymakers Need to Wake From Nap Time
We're asking young students to wake up from nap time and start meeting state standards. As Daisy Gonzales writes, state policy makers need to wake up, too.
School & District Management
Opinion
What If Failing Schools Were Supposed to Heal Themselves?
The California Commission on Education Excellence is building a non-bureaucracy that's uses continuous improvement rather than mandates to heal ailing schools. It's head, Carl Cohn, explains in this annotated interview.
Special Education
Opinion
An Hour With a Presidential Scholar and Her Teacher
Just in case you think public education doesn't work, spend an hour with Presidential Scholar Diana Chao and her teacher Molly Arboleda. You'll learn about exceptional people and what they think about schooling.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
California Data Show Flaws in Federal Regulations
An analysis of data from the California CORE districts shows that pending federal regulations might not target the right assistance for struggling schools and would stigmatize far too many with the 'failing schools' label.
School & District Management
Opinion
Have Education Politics Gotten Out of Control?
A half-century ago no one talked about schools as political. Now everyone does. But is it 'good' politics?
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
The PACE Perspective on the 'The California Way'
Policy Analysis for California Education has been a premier ed policy organization for three decades. As Daisy Gonzales writes, it is in the forefront of shaping current reforms and interpreting them for audiences such as 'On California.'
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Between Hope and Hate, There's Charleston
A year ago Charleston, South Carolina, suffered the shooting deaths of church pastor and eight participants in Bible study. We found Amazing Grace in the midst of a memorial pushing back against hate.
Education Funding
Opinion
How School Leaders Can See Through Ed-Tech Hype and Make Smart Choices
Schools make bad edtech choices, writes EdSurge CEO Betsy Corcoran but they don't have to...with a little thought, reflection, and help from their friends.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Is Philanthropy Plan for L.A. 'Great' or Just Grating?
The 'Great Public Schools Now' announced Thursday by charter-friendly philanthropists isn't great. It's not even much of a plan, but it has our attention.