The Answer Sheet: Why It Matters


Posted at 04:02 AM ET, 04/16/2013

Teacher: Yes, the testing culture does contribute to cheating
By Valerie Strauss
An award-winning elementary school teacher writes the third part in something of a debate on the Atlanta test cheating scandal and what/who is to blame when educators cheat on student standardized tests.

By Valerie Strauss  |  04:02 AM ET, 04/16/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Environment Matters, Standardized Tests, Test Cheating

Posted at 02:47 PM ET, 04/10/2013

Universal preschool: Important but no panacea
By Valerie Strauss
Increasing the number of youngsters in preschool is a good thing. But improving quality in programs is another, and the content and direction of preschools will be influenced by ideological fervor.

By Valerie Strauss  |  02:47 PM ET, 04/10/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Early Childhood Education, Preschool, Quality of Program Matters

Posted at 05:20 PM ET, 03/20/2013

How big is the school counselor shortage? Big
By Valerie Strauss
As a national debate continues about how to make schools safer, the student-counselor ratio in some states remains shockingly high.

By Valerie Strauss  |  05:20 PM ET, 03/20/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  School Counselors, Why It Matters

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 10/27/2010

7 Class size myths -- and the truth
By Valerie Strauss
Across the country, class sizes are increasing at unprecedented rates. Budget pressures are weighing on school districts, but there has also been a fierce attack on the value of class size reduction. Here are the most common myths about class size (No 1: It is an unproven, ineffective reform) along with the facts.

By Valerie Strauss  |  06:00 AM ET, 10/27/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Class size, Class size | Tags:  class size, class size matters, class size reduction, education department, florida class size, leonie haimson, school reform, texas class size

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 09/13/2010

Class size DOES matter after all
By Valerie Strauss
A veteran teacher says that class size affects student performance as he takes issue with a post last week on The Answer Sheet which argued otherwise.

By Valerie Strauss  |  06:00 AM ET, 09/13/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Guest Bloggers, Guest Bloggers, Guest Bloggers | Tags:  STAR and class size, class size, class size and tennessee, class size matters, justin snider, larry ferlazzo

Posted at 06:05 AM ET, 05/07/2010

Naval Academy prof wins Maryland parent involvement award
By Valerie Strauss
A U.S. Naval Academic history professor who helped lead an effort to reform two Anne Arundel County middle schools--even though his five children are too young to be middle schoolers--won Maryland’s statewide award for parent involvement. And a Montgomery County parent is one of the finalists.

By Valerie Strauss  |  06:05 AM ET, 05/07/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Parents | Tags:  Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards, Comcast parent involvement, Maryland and contest and parents, Maryland contest for parents, Naval professor wins award, parent involvement, parent involvement award

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 04/29/2010

College choice: Not a one-size-fits-family deal
By Valerie Strauss
Education counselor Eileen Wilkinson writes about why families should view a college choice as an individual consideration and not as a one-size-fits-the-family deal.

By Valerie Strauss  |  11:00 AM ET, 04/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  College Admissions, College Admissions | Tags:  college admissions, prep matters, prepmatters, sibling rivalry, siblings and college