The Answer Sheet - School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else).

Posted at 01:18 PM ET, 12/31/2012

Education stories that resonated in 2012 -- and will matter in 2013

By Valerie Strauss

Here's a baker's dozen of posts, in no particular order, that generated great interest among readers and help tell the story of public education in 2012. Many of the subjects are certain to take center stage in the education debate in 2013.

By Valerie Strauss | 01:18 PM ET, 12/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:45 AM ET, 12/25/2012

Smart people doing dumb things -- education edition

By Valerie Strauss

Why do smart people do dumb things? Examples are legion.

By Valerie Strauss | 09:45 AM ET, 12/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:16 AM ET, 12/24/2012

Nonsense about Superintendent Joshua Starr

By Valerie Strauss

Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr has been a thoughtful critic of the excesses of the modern reform movement, and for that, of course, he is now the object of gratuitous attack.

By Valerie Strauss | 10:16 AM ET, 12/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 12/23/2012

The fundamental flaws of 'value added' teacher evaluation

By Valerie Strauss

Evaluating teachers by the test scores of their students may seem to some like a common sense way to see if teachers are actually doing their jobs. It isn't. Here's why.

By Valerie Strauss | 02:00 PM ET, 12/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:45 AM ET, 12/23/2012

What we did -- and didn't -- learn from education research in 2012

By Valerie Strauss

This year was a busy one for market-based education reform... merit pay, charter schools, the use of value-added and other growth models in teacher evaluations. Is there solid research to back up any of these reforms?

By Valerie Strauss | 11:45 AM ET, 12/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:24 PM ET, 12/21/2012

'Let's arm the young-uns': tweets on NRA proposal

By Valerie Strauss

Here are some tweets responding to the National Rifle Association's proposal to put armed guards in every school in the country.

By Valerie Strauss | 05:24 PM ET, 12/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Guns in Schools, NRA Proposal, Reaction

Posted at 04:51 PM ET, 12/21/2012

Michelle Obama's advice on talking to young people about Newtown

By Valerie Strauss

Here is an open letter released today from First Lady Michelle Obama with ideas for discussing the tragedy in Newtown with children and young people.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:51 PM ET, 12/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: 'Looking for Answers', Advice on Talking to Children, Michelle Obama, Newtown Shootings, Open Letter

Posted at 01:11 PM ET, 12/21/2012

Virginia superintendents, principals reject guns in schools

By Valerie Strauss

Three educators' associations in Virginia just issued a release on school safety that says they are concerned about Gov. Bob McDonnell's suggestion that state residents have a discussion about allowing guns in schools

By Valerie Strauss | 01:11 PM ET, 12/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Guns in Schools, Keeping Schools Safe, School Safety

Posted at 09:02 AM ET, 12/21/2012

School reform news vs. 'Les Mis'

By Valerie Strauss

Which is more depressing? School reform news or Les Miserables?

By Valerie Strauss | 09:02 AM ET, 12/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Les Miserables, School Reform, Tweet, Tweet of The Day

Posted at 09:00 AM ET, 12/21/2012

Mass school closings: Why the numbers don't add up

By Valerie Strauss

A number of school systems around the country are looking to close big numbers of public schools, ostensibly to save money. But it doesn't always turn out that way. Here's a look at why these plans don't accomplish what they backers say they will.

By Valerie Strauss | 09:00 AM ET, 12/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:00 AM ET, 12/21/2012

'Hey, Mr. Russell, it's show and tell, can we see your Glock 9?'

By Valerie Strauss

Here's Bill Moyers on the issue of safety in school and community, urging people to reject the notion that there is nothing they can do in the wake of the deadly shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:00 AM ET, 12/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:42 PM ET, 12/20/2012

Dozens of Michigan schools close early because of rumors of violence

By Valerie Strauss

Dozens of Michigan schools started the holiday break two days early because of distractions caused by rumored threats of violence and issues with end-of-the-world prophecies. Following are statements from officials in the two counties explaining why.

By Valerie Strauss | 07:42 PM ET, 12/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: 'Our Communities Are Anxious', School Closings, School Shootings

Posted at 02:01 PM ET, 12/20/2012

Teachers unions reject arming educators in schools

By Valerie Strauss

The National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, with a total of some 4.5 million members, said in a joint statement that arming teachers won't make schools safer/. What will, they say, are mental health services, bullying prevention and gun safety legislation.

By Valerie Strauss | 02:01 PM ET, 12/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Mental Health Services Needed, Newtown, School Safety

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 12/20/2012

Top 10 education policy wishes

By Valerie Strauss

Here are the top 10 items on an education wish list for the holiday season and the new year.

By Valerie Strauss | 06:00 AM ET, 12/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:30 AM ET, 12/20/2012

Arne Duncan thanks Sandy Hook educators

By Valerie Strauss

Here is a newly released video of thanks to Sandy Hook Elementary School educators from Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who was reported to have visited Newtown, Conn., site of the fatal shootings of 20 young children and six teachers.

By Valerie Strauss | 12:30 AM ET, 12/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:12 PM ET, 12/19/2012

NASA's lesson on the end of the world

By Valerie Strauss

The chatter over the Internet and elsewhere about the world coming to an end on Dec. 21 has been so prevalent for so long that even the national space agency, NASA, has addressed the issue.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:12 PM ET, 12/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NASA, The End of the World, Video and Q &A

Posted at 04:01 AM ET, 12/19/2012

Michelle Rhee: 'Guns have no place in schools'

By Valerie Strauss

Here is a memo that Michelle Rhee wrote to the staff of her organization, StudentsFirst, in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:01 AM ET, 12/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:25 PM ET, 12/18/2012

Dear Gov. McDonnell: Allowing guns at school is 'a terrible idea'

By Valerie Strauss

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said on WTOP radio's "Ask the Governor" show that it is time to have a public discussion about allowing officials on school campuses to carry guns. Here is a letter from two Virginia residents -- University of Virginia cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham and his wife, teacher Trisha Willingham -- starting that very discussion by telling McDonnell he is wrong.

By Valerie Strauss | 09:25 PM ET, 12/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Guns on Campus, Two Teachers Take on Virginia governor: Reject

Posted at 04:26 PM ET, 12/18/2012

Lessons about first-graders

By Valerie Strauss

Michael Winerip of The New York Times has assembled 25 things about first graders in this piece, which notes that "among the many horrors associated with the killing of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., is that they were all first graders." Here are some of the lessons about first graders.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:26 PM ET, 12/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:17 PM ET, 12/18/2012

1947 video on school discipline

By Valerie Strauss

Here's a 1947 video on school discipline that you will find either illuminating or amusing, or both. It's one of the videos that educator Larry Ferlazzo has on his 2012 list of best videos for educators.

By Valerie Strauss | 03:17 PM ET, 12/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Best Videos for Educators, School Discipline

Posted at 09:00 AM ET, 12/18/2012

The best and worst in education and labor: 2012

By Valerie Strauss

The biggest news for education and labor watchers in 2012 was, of course, the reelection of a president far more supportive of investing in students and worker rights than his opponent. But 2012 also saw important setbacks for public school advocates in Louisiana and Indiana and for workers and labor unions in Wisconsin and Michigan. Here's the best and worst in education and labor in 2012.

By Valerie Strauss | 09:00 AM ET, 12/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 12/18/2012

Have teachers changed their minds about reform?

By Valerie Strauss

Where do teachers stand on the current wave of school reform? Education writer Jay Mathews says teachers are now leaning in favor of reform. Researcher Matthew Di Carlo takes a look at that claim.

By Valerie Strauss | 06:00 AM ET, 12/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Like It or Not?, School Reform, Teachers

Posted at 04:01 AM ET, 12/18/2012

Should students evaluate teachers?

By Valerie Strauss

Should students evaluate teachers for high-stakes purposes, such as for helping to determine pay or effectiveness? Larry Cuban looks into it.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:01 AM ET, 12/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:01 AM ET, 12/17/2012

Back to class: the tightrope teachers must walk

By Valerie Strauss

One teacher writes about the task she faces in the classroom on Monday, the first day back in school after the horrendous Newtown shootings that left 20 young children dead.

By Valerie Strauss | 05:01 AM ET, 12/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:22 AM ET, 12/17/2012

The real problem(s)

By Valerie Strauss

A school superintendent finds a reason to be glad about the fiscal cliff, annoyed at Apple chief Tim Cook, tired of paperwork and more.... What's on George Wood's mind.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:22 AM ET, 12/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:34 AM ET, 12/15/2012

U.S. school districts react to Newtown shootings

By Valerie Strauss

School districts in the greater Washington area and around the country respond to the deadly shootings at a Connecticut elementary school.

By Valerie Strauss | 11:34 AM ET, 12/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Safety Issues Addressed, School Shootings, School Violence

Posted at 03:59 AM ET, 12/15/2012

Sandy Hook Elementary principal's recent tweets

By Valerie Strauss

Here are some of the recent tweets and retweets by Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School and a victim of the mass shooting there.

By Valerie Strauss | 03:59 AM ET, 12/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: etc., On Common Core, Scho

Posted at 03:37 PM ET, 12/14/2012

How to talk to children about violence against children

By Valerie Strauss

ANSWER SHEET | From the National Association of School Psychologists is advice on how to talk to children about violence.

By Valerie Strauss | 03:37 PM ET, 12/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Dealing With Crisis, School Shootings, Violence Against Children

Posted at 01:16 PM ET, 12/14/2012

Proposed Loudoun charter gets initial 'no' vote

By Valerie Strauss

A three-member select committee of the Loudoun School Board have voted against recommending that the full panel approve what would be the first public charter school in the county because of questions involving curriculum and other operational issues.

By Valerie Strauss | 01:16 PM ET, 12/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Charter Schools, Full School Board to decide

Posted at 12:15 PM ET, 12/14/2012

Probe sought into private influence on public education policy

By Valerie Strauss

A coalition of parents and civil rights groups filed a complaint with Philadelphia's Ethics Board requesting an investigation into whether the Boston Consulting Group, private donors, and the William Penn Foundation acted as lobbyists and principals to influence policy in the School District of Philadelphia. Here's why the complaint was filed.

By Valerie Strauss | 12:15 PM ET, 12/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:00 AM ET, 12/14/2012

Grant to N.J. Ed Dept. contingent on Gov. Christie's tenure

By Valerie Strauss

The private Broad Foundation gave a grant of up to to $430,000 to the New Jersey Department of Education that includes this contingency: It can be withdrawn if Chris Christie is no longer governor of the state. If you have any doubt that wealthy private American citizens are helping to drive public education policy, this should dispel it.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:00 AM ET, 12/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:54 PM ET, 12/13/2012

The University of Virginia's big problem

By Valerie Strauss

An accrediting agency has put the University of Virginia on "warning" for violating rules during last summer's leadership crisis, and the school's provost says U-Va.'s governing body is working on the problem. The problem is: The board can't work out the problem because the board, or at least the leadership, IS the problem.

By Valerie Strauss | 02:54 PM ET, 12/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Gov. McDonnell?, Helen Dragas, University of Virginia, What say you

Posted at 11:19 AM ET, 12/13/2012

Arne Duncan attends Sandy relief concert

By Valerie Strauss

Lucky Arne. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is said to have watched from the VIP section the relief concert at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night for victims of Hurricane Sandy,

By Valerie Strauss | 11:19 AM ET, 12/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Arne Duncan, In VIP Section, Sandy Relief Concert

Posted at 09:00 AM ET, 12/13/2012

Are exhausted students learning in school?

By Valerie Strauss

Research bears out what teenagers complain about all the time: They can't fall asleep before 11 p.m. Early school start times beg the question about how much tired kids are actually learning. Cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham answers.

By Valerie Strauss | 09:00 AM ET, 12/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 12/13/2012

Fiscal cliff talks: One lousy civics lesson for students

By Valerie Strauss

The parties to the "fiscal cliff" negotiations -- namely Congress and the Obama administration -- have presented American's students with one lousy lesson in civics while violating the principles of cooperative learning and failing to follow good work/study habits.

By Valerie Strauss | 06:00 AM ET, 12/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:00 AM ET, 12/13/2012

Florida's real school reform record

By Valerie Strauss

Does the "Florida Miracle" in school reform hold up under scrutiny?

By Valerie Strauss | 04:00 AM ET, 12/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 12/12/2012

Yes, numbers (on international tests) can lie

By Valerie Strauss

What must be the best analysis so far of the newly released results of international reading, math and science exams comes from the University of Oregon's Yong Zhao, who tells us that numbers only tell the truth when people use them in a truthful way.

By Valerie Strauss | 02:30 PM ET, 12/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:17 PM ET, 12/12/2012

'Fifty Shades of Who Cares'

By Valerie Strauss

There's an avalanche of education tweets every day. Here's one of the more original ones.

By Valerie Strauss | 02:17 PM ET, 12/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Best Ed Tweet of 12/12/12?, Best Ed Tweet of Day?, Education Tweets

Posted at 11:38 AM ET, 12/12/2012

BCS football rankings if academics mattered

By Valerie Strauss

What would the BCS football rankings look like if academics were taken into account? The non-profit New America Foundation tells us in an analysis that looks at the 25 schools ranked in the Bowl Championship Series.

By Valerie Strauss | 11:38 AM ET, 12/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: BCS Football, Football Rankings, Who Is Really No. 1?

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 12/12/2012

Bobby Jindal's alternative education universe

By Valerie Strauss

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, architect of a statewide voucher program that sends public money to religious schools which teach that humans and dinosaurs co-existed, ventured to Washington D.C. to talk up vouchers -- without mentioning the word "vouchers."

By Valerie Strauss | 07:00 AM ET, 12/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:18 AM ET, 12/12/2012

Proposed Loudoun charter school loses supervisor's support

By Valerie Strauss

A member of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has withdrawn his support from a proposed charter school -- which would be the first in Loudoun -- because of "controversy" that has arisen over a number of key operational concerns.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:18 AM ET, 12/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:26 PM ET, 12/11/2012

Charter networks win Race to the Top-District

By Valerie Strauss

Charter school networks are now official “districts,” at least by the rules of the Department of Education's Race to the Top-District competition, which just announced that 16 applicants had won a share of nearly $400 million in the latest sweepstakes.

By Valerie Strauss | 02:26 PM ET, 12/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:57 PM ET, 12/11/2012

What international test scores really mean

By Valerie Strauss

Here we go again. New international test scores were released today and their meaning are in the eye of the interpreter. Here are some headlines from different new sites with some different takes on the results -- and one headline you didn't see but should.

By Valerie Strauss | 12:57 PM ET, 12/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: International Tests, Test Scores, The Headline You Didn't See

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 12/11/2012

'Is homework one of the bad guys?' -- The New Yorker

By Valerie Strauss

Here's a different take on the French president's proposal to ban homework.

By Valerie Strauss | 10:00 AM ET, 12/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:01 AM ET, 12/11/2012

Who Gates is funding -- the latest education grants

By Valerie Strauss

What has captured the interest of the powerful Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in education these days? MOOCs, for one thing. Here are the education-related grants the foundation awarded in November, at least according to the website.

By Valerie Strauss | 05:01 AM ET, 12/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:00 AM ET, 12/11/2012

Fiscal cliff: Schools would be affected inequitably

By Valerie Strauss

Budget cuts that would occur if the country goes over the "fiscal cliff" in January would be devastating to schools and students but they would not be shared equally. New data shows that sequestration would disproportionately impact disadvantaged youth.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:00 AM ET, 12/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:35 PM ET, 12/10/2012

Moco schools chief calls for three-year moratorium on standardized testing

By Valerie Strauss

Montgomery County Superintendent Joshua Starr, solidifying his role as a prominent critic of President Obama's education policies, says the country needs a three-year moratorium on standardized testing and needs to "stop the insanity" of evaluating teachers according to student test scores because it is based on "bad science."

By Valerie Strauss | 12:35 PM ET, 12/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Montgomery County Schools, Problems With Reform, School Reform

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 12/10/2012

Big questions about proposed Loudoun charter school

By Valerie Strauss

The Loudoun County School Board is close to deciding whether to approve its (and possibly Northern Virginia's) first charter school, a proposed math-science academy that critics allege has ties to an Turkish Islamic preacher and a network of like-minded charters across the United States. But, it turns out, questions about ties to the influential preacher, Fethullah Gulen, are not the most immediate issue facing the board with this application.

By Valerie Strauss | 06:00 AM ET, 12/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 12/10/2012

New Jersey charter schools: What's real and not real

By Valerie Strauss

A new report on charter schools in New Jersey was hailed as proof that charters in the state on average produce better standardized test scores than the traditional public schools. Which would be fine, if that's what the report really said.

By Valerie Strauss | 05:00 AM ET, 12/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:12 PM ET, 12/08/2012

Michelle Rhee wins over a critic

By Valerie Strauss

Short summary of story

By Valerie Strauss | 01:12 PM ET, 12/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 12/07/2012

America's next education 'crisis' -- and who benefits

By Valerie Strauss

Arguably no sector of American society has been cast with the narrative of crisis as much as public education. And the fever pitch is about to go higher. Here's why and how.

By Valerie Strauss | 01:00 PM ET, 12/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 12/07/2012

How one school 'turnaround' worked (without firing the teachers)

By Valerie Strauss

Here's the story of a school turnaround that worked without using any of the Obama administration's four corporate-based options for fixing failing schools.

By Valerie Strauss | 06:00 AM ET, 12/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:00 AM ET, 12/07/2012

The December dilemma: Santa in school

By Valerie Strauss

What is acceptable -- and not acceptable -- in terms of bringing religion into public schools at Christmas (or any other) time?

By Valerie Strauss | 04:00 AM ET, 12/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 12/06/2012

Why everyone shouldn't go to college

By Valerie Strauss

Should everyone go to college? A lot of K-12 school reform is predicated on that notion, but here's a counter view.

By Valerie Strauss | 03:00 PM ET, 12/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 12/06/2012

Florida bungles teacher evaluation results

By Valerie Strauss

In the you-can't-make-up-this-stuff category. Florida releases teacher evaluation results and then pulls them back, saying they are largely wrong.

By Valerie Strauss | 05:00 AM ET, 12/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:45 PM ET, 12/05/2012

Rhee's husband, Sacramento mayor, fined for ethics violations involving education initiatives

By Valerie Strauss

Short summary of story

By Valerie Strauss | 03:45 PM ET, 12/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:48 AM ET, 12/05/2012

Pearson blog starts heated debate about $1.7 billion for standardized testing

By Valerie Strauss

He writes: " Is it too much? I faced that question often in Maryland, especially from the State Board and legislators. Although it may seem self serving, given my position at Pearson, my answer then and now are the same: No."

By Valerie Strauss | 10:48 AM ET, 12/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Is $1.7 billion too little or too much?

Posted at 04:00 AM ET, 12/05/2012

List: What Common Core authors suggest high schoolers should read

By Valerie Strauss

What are high school students supposed to be reading under the new Common Core English Language Arts standards? Here is the full list of high school reading "exemplars" -- fiction and non-fiction -- which includes classics as well as pieces that are decidedly less well known.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:00 AM ET, 12/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:35 PM ET, 12/04/2012

A Florida charter school scandal gets worse

By Valerie Strauss

Remember the case of the charter school that gave its founding principal a $519,453 payout in taxpayer money when it was forced to close? It's gotten worse.

By Valerie Strauss | 01:35 PM ET, 12/04/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Charter Schools, Where Did the Money Go?

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 12/04/2012

Common Core reading pros and cons

By Valerie Strauss

A teacher writes what he likes about the Common Core standards in reading (the standards themselves are holistic, for example), and what he doesn't (not only are they written in language too technical but he fears a move away from a holistic concept of being literate).

By Valerie Strauss | 10:00 AM ET, 12/04/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:30 AM ET, 12/04/2012

A warning ed policymakers should heed

By Valerie Strauss

An award-winning high school principals writes about the kind of teacher evaluation that would help students, not hurt them.

By Valerie Strauss | 07:30 AM ET, 12/04/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:00 AM ET, 12/04/2012

A valid way to use value added' in teacher evaluation

By Valerie Strauss

Given that 'value-added' methods of assessing teachers are known to be unreliable, is there yet a way to use them in evaluation? Here's a case for it by an assessment expert from Tulane University.

By Valerie Strauss | 04:00 AM ET, 12/04/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:22 PM ET, 12/03/2012

A value-added' travesty for an award-winning teacher

By Valerie Strauss

Short summary of story

By Valerie Strauss | 12:22 PM ET, 12/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Value-Added Score

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 12/03/2012

How the first standardized tests helped start a war really

By Valerie Strauss

People who think standardized tests are wreaking havoc in education today may be interested to take a look back at a different kind of trouble they sparked many years ago.

By Valerie Strauss | 05:00 AM ET, 12/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 12/02/2012

How education data gets spun

By Valerie Strauss

Short summary of story

By Valerie Strauss | 01:15 PM ET, 12/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:15 PM ET, 10/21/2012

Former Marine turned teacher: 'Stop demonizing me and my profession'

By Valerie Strauss

A man who served as a Marine and a police officer before becoming a physics teacher writes about the assault on his profession. Stop it, he asks reformers.

By Valerie Strauss | 02:15 PM ET, 10/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Guest Voicers, School Reform, Teaching

Posted at 05:02 PM ET, 10/08/2012

Things educators could say but don't

By Valerie Strauss

Are teachers more humanely motivated than most of the rest of us?

By Valerie Strauss | 05:02 PM ET, 10/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Guest Voices

The Answer Sheet: December, 2012