Whose Schools Are Failing?

Education and Literacy;Poverty;Race and Ethnicity

Whose Schools Are Failing?

Persistent school segregation does not mean just that children of dierent racial and ethnic backgrounds attend dierent schools, but that their schools are also unequal in their students' performance. This study documents nationally the extent of disparities in student performance between schools attended by whites and Asians compared to blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans. The analysis shows that a focus solely on schools at the bottom of the distribution as in No Child Left Behind would only modestly reduce the wide disparities between groups.

August 1970

Geographic Focus: North America / United States

Louisiana Recovery School District: Lessons for the Buckeye State, The

Education and Literacy

Louisiana Recovery School District: Lessons for the Buckeye State, The

Is it time for Ohio to take bolder steps toward turning around its most troubled schools and districts? If so, what might the alternatives look like? Options for rebooting these troubled schools have come in the form of mayoral control, state takeovers, market competition through charter schools and other choice programs, as well as millions of federal dollars spent on "school turnaround", yet it seems that it might be time to try something new in Ohio. In looking for alternatives to simply doing more of the same, Ohio policymakers are looking to the experiences of other states. Among the boldest and most interesting of these is Louisiana's Recovery School District (RSD), which is accomplishing both significant gains in student achievement and consequential impacts on district-level standards. In this recent report by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute author Nelson Smith asks if and how the RSD concept might be a model for Ohio.

August 1970

Geographic Focus: North America-United States (Midwestern)-Ohio, North America-United States (Southern)-Louisiana

ESEA Briefing Book

Education and Literacy

ESEA Briefing Book

Political leaders hope to act soon to renew and fix the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, also known as No Child Left Behind). In this important paper, Thomas B. Fordham Institute President Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Executive Vice President Michael J. Petrilli identify 10 big issues that must be resolved in order to get a bill across the finish line, and explore the major options under consideration for each one. Should states be required to adopt academic standards tied to college and career readiness? Should the new law provide greater flexibility to states and districts? These are just a few of the areas discussed. Finn and Petrilli also present their own bold yet "reform realist" solutions for ESEA.

August 1970

Geographic Focus: North America / United States

School Improvement Grants: Take 2

Education and Literacy, Government Reform

School Improvement Grants: Take 2

Outlines lessons from the FY 2009 funding process and failed strategies to turn around failing schools, including the importance of accountability for student achievement and innovative partnerships. Offers advice on application design and implementation.

August 1970

Geographic Focus: North America-United States

Strong Leaders Strong Schools: 2008 State Laws

Education and Literacy

Strong Leaders Strong Schools: 2008 State Laws

Provides an overview of state laws enacted to support school leader initiatives in 2008, addressing issues including the roles, responsibilities, and authority of principals; professional development; assessing effectiveness; and governance structures.

August 1970

Geographic Focus: North America-United States

Strong Leaders Strong Schools: 2009 School Leadership Laws

Education and Literacy

Strong Leaders Strong Schools: 2009 School Leadership Laws

Provides an overview of state laws enacted to support school leader initiatives in 2009, addressing issues including the roles, responsibilities, and authority of principals; professional development; assessing effectiveness; and governance structures.

August 1970

Geographic Focus: North America-United States

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