Class Struggle - Jay Mathews on education.

Posted at 04:56 PM ET, 07/28/2011

Education policy-making as farce

By Jay Mathews

I think state and national education politics are irrelevant compared to classrooms. Steven Brill, in his book “Class Warfare: Inside the Fight to Fix America’s Schools,” may prove me wrong.

By Jay Mathews | 04:56 PM ET, 07/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:13 PM ET, 07/27/2011

Expert vs. me on testing

By Jay Mathews

Bob Schaeffer, a top national expert on testing, didn’t like my column saying that eliminating high-stakes tests would not ease pressure in schools. So I challenged him to a debate. Here is the result. I won, right?

By Jay Mathews | 05:13 PM ET, 07/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:09 PM ET, 07/26/2011

Schools march won’t unite us, but so what?

By Jay Mathews

The big “Save Our Schools” march and rally this week will not bring the warring educational factions together, but maybe that’s a good thing.

By Jay Mathews | 12:09 PM ET, 07/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:52 PM ET, 07/22/2011

A math problem in Montgomery doesn’t add up

By Jay Mathews

One parent faces the same trouble with math class placement with two of her children.

By Jay Mathews | 06:52 PM ET, 07/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:37 AM ET, 07/21/2011

Missing that cap-and-gown moment

By Jay Mathews

Late parents at West Potomac High School were upset that they had to watch their child’s graduation on closed circuit TV.

By Jay Mathews | 01:37 AM ET, 07/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:25 PM ET, 07/19/2011

Report finds 2 of 4 tests in ACT poor predictors of college success

By Jay Mathews

Two of the ACT’s four subject tests — Reading and Science — should be ignored by admissions officers, report’s authors contend.

By Jay Mathews | 03:25 PM ET, 07/19/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Class Struggle

Posted at 08:13 PM ET, 07/17/2011

Easing test pressure won’t save kids

By Jay Mathews

Blogs, columns and official statements say cheating on standardized tests was caused by too much pressure on schools to raise achievement

By Jay Mathews | 08:13 PM ET, 07/17/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:54 AM ET, 07/15/2011

Why your school’s rank changed

By Jay Mathews

The Washington Post’s annual High School Challenge rankings (moved this year from Newsweek magazine) have been updated, as they are every year about a month after publication. We want to make sure all qualified schools make the list, even if we get their data late.

By Jay Mathews | 11:54 AM ET, 07/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:11 AM ET, 07/14/2011

The down side of school choice

By John Thompson

John Thompson, an Oklahoma City teacher and writer who comments frequently on this blog, has an unsettling take on the effects of school choice in his city.

By John Thompson | 11:11 AM ET, 07/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:11 PM ET, 07/13/2011

KIPP founders leaving regional duties to focus on bigger picture

By Jay Mathews

Dave Levin and Mike Feinberg will leave their day-to-day work as local superintendents and devote their time to broader KIPP and public education issues.

By Jay Mathews | 12:11 PM ET, 07/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Class Struggle

Posted at 06:00 PM ET, 07/10/2011

Why parents love a lower-rated school

By Jay Mathews

Some Fairfax County parents want their kids to stay in a high-poverty school.

By Jay Mathews | 06:00 PM ET, 07/10/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:48 PM ET, 07/08/2011

Limp D.C. cheating probe exposed

By Jay Mathews

My colleague Bill Turque, in his latest story on the D.C. test cheating probe, reveals how shockingly little attention and energy is being given to this investigation. Compared to what Georgia just did in a similar situation, D.C. looks pathetic, and our kids will suffer.

By Jay Mathews | 12:48 PM ET, 07/08/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:17 PM ET, 07/07/2011

Why urban schools miss great teachers

By Jay Mathews

Some people think that great teachers don’t apply to urban schools. It’s too much trouble. But that’s not true. Instead, delays force them to go elsewhere.

By Jay Mathews | 04:17 PM ET, 07/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 07/07/2011

How many high schools are there?

By Jay Mathews

By Jay Mathews | 05:00 AM ET, 07/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:03 PM ET, 07/06/2011

Atlanta cheating bust is warning to D.C.

By Jay Mathews

Take a look at the full Georgia state report on massive school test tampering in Atlanta, and then decide what we should do about signs of similar activities in D.C. schools.

By Jay Mathews | 02:03 PM ET, 07/06/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:50 PM ET, 07/03/2011

Baltimore fights cheating. D.C. punts.

By Jay Mathews

Nobody in the D.C. schools leadership has much to say about attacking hard and fast apparent test tampering. In Baltimore, by contrast, the schools chief is being tough.

By Jay Mathews | 04:50 PM ET, 07/03/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Class Struggle: July, 2011