Big money and its influence on K-12 education: An interview with Sarah Reckhow

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (8) ◽  
pp. 41-45
Author(s):  
Rafael Heller
Keyword(s):  
School Board ◽  
Charter School ◽  
Federal Policy ◽  
Academic Standards ◽  
Local School ◽  
Reform Strategies ◽  
School Sector ◽  
K 12

Kappan’s editor talks with Michigan State University’s Sarah Reckhow about her research into the ways wealthy private philanthropies have influenced K-12 education in recent years. As Reckhow explains, not only have Gates, Broad, Walton, and other big foundations spent unprecedented amounts of money to support their favored reform strategies — such as expanding the charter school sector, raising academic standards, and evaluating teachers’ effectiveness — but they’ve maximized their influence by coordinating their messages, funneling their money to specific states and districts, pushing for changes in state and federal policy, and (most recently) contributing to local school board candidates.

Implementing Asynchronous Instructional Materials for Students With Learning Disabilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 105345122110018
Author(s):  
Matthew L. Love ◽  
Kathy B. Ewoldt
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Instructional Materials ◽  
Academic Standards ◽  
Asynchronous Learning ◽  
Student Needs ◽  
Students With Learning Disabilities ◽  
Learning Materials ◽  
Instructional Environments ◽  
Students With Ld ◽  
K 12

Online learning continues to be an increasingly popular option in K–12 and postsecondary settings As this trend continues, it is important that the developers of online instructional environments and materials proactively consider the needs of all students. This includes determining how special education and specially designed instruction can be provided in online environments. For students with learning disabilities (LD), a systematic process for determining whether available learning materials address academic standards and specific student needs is key. To support practitioner lesson planning, this column provides guidance for aligning asynchronous learning materials to academic standards and the needs of students with LD. Guidance for supplementing and augmenting available materials is also provided.

To Charter or Not to Charter: What Questions Should We Ask, and What Will the Answers Tell Us?

2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Brighouse ◽  
Gina Schouten
Keyword(s):  
Charter Schools ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
School Board ◽  
Decision Maker ◽  
Charter School ◽  
School Performance ◽  
Board Member ◽  
New School ◽  
School Board Member

In this essay, Harry Brighouse and Gina Schouten outline four standards for judging whether to support the chartering of a new school within a given jurisdiction. The authors pose the following questions to a hypothetical school board member: Will the school increase equality of opportunity? Will it benefit the least-advantaged students in the jurisdiction? Will it improve the preparation of democratically competent citizens? Will it improve the quality of the daily, lived experience of the students? Brighouse and Schouten suggest that most of the evidence concerning charter school performance focuses on just the students within the schools, without addressing a charter school's effect on students who do not attend. They argue that a full evaluation requires both kinds of evidence and that these questions are the four standards that should guide both the decision maker and researchers gathering evidence on the effects of charter schools.

scholarly journals The Charter School Law in Massachusetts: Analysis, Commentary, Wish

2014 ◽  
Vol 100 ◽  
pp. 97-104
Author(s):  
David I. Rubin
Keyword(s):  
Public Education ◽  
Charter School ◽  
School Law ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
Testing Ground ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Charter School Law ◽  
The U.S

Nowhere is the link between the right's national political agenda and the privatization of public education clearer than in Massachusetts.  In November 1995, just weeks before announcing that he would run for the U.S. Senate against the liberal Democratic incumbent John Kerry, Governor William Weld unveiled a truly radical plan for reshaping K-12 education that could make Massachusetts the testing ground for every weapon in the privatization arsenal.

Cyber Schools and Special Needs

2008 ◽  
pp. 168-179
Author(s):  
Shellie Hipsky ◽  
Lindsay Adams
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Charter School ◽  
Students With Special Needs ◽  
Cyber School ◽  
Cyber Schools ◽  
Cyber Charter School ◽  
Cyber Learning ◽  
K 12

Cyber schools for K-12 students are growing in number. It is vital that appropriate strategies are devised to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities. The PA Cyber Charter School serves 468 students who have Individualized Education Plans. Parent surveys were thematically analyzed and revealed six predominant themes including: communication, interests, focus, less-stigma from the special education label, education differences in comparison to other methods, and cyber school shortcomings. The study also utilized the action research model to determine and present the techniques and strategies that are working in the PA Cyber Charter School for their students with special needs. Teacher-tested documents included in the appendix were based on the study, and a model for special needs strategies in the cyber learning environment has been established through this article.

Creating an Electronic Student Teaching Portfolio

2011 ◽  
pp. 510-516
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Shaw ◽  
Susan Slick
Keyword(s):  
Educational Reform ◽  
School Board ◽  
Student Teaching ◽  
Educational Experiences ◽  
Teacher Assessment ◽  
Local School ◽  
Teaching Portfolio ◽  
Course Work ◽  
Teacher Portfolios ◽  
Over Time

Over time, student and teacher portfolios have taken several forms for a variety of purposes. Initially, portfolios were created in many educational settings to document learning. Portfolios were used as one means of assessment in course work or for senior graduation exhibitions. As calls for educational reform continued to be heard in forums ranging from local school board offices to the Oval Office, teacher accountability has become an issue of paramount importance. Parents and politicians alike want assurance that the most competent teachers are providing quality educational experiences for students. Thus, teacher assessment has become a “hot” political topic throughout our country.

Leadership

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 72-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua P. Starr
Keyword(s):  
School Board ◽  
School Governance ◽  
Board Members ◽  
School Board Members ◽  
Local School

Changing how we select school board members and how we approve district budgets could address long-standing challenges of local school governance.

Simulation Game: Planning a Gifted Center

1986 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
Dona P. Key
Keyword(s):  
School Board ◽  
Simulation Game ◽  
Local School ◽  
Student Input

Since our local school board had recently voted to give our program its own building, the idea of student input on what they want a gifted center to encompass had real appeal. The seed was sown.

“The Research Says”: Definitions and Uses of a Key Policy Term in Federal Law and Local School Board Deliberations

2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Asen ◽  
Deb Gurke ◽  
Ryan Solomon ◽  
Pamela Conners ◽  
Elsa Gumm
Keyword(s):  
School Board ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
Local School ◽  
Key Policy

scholarly journals The Editor’s Note

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
Joan Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Public Education ◽  
School Board ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Board Members ◽  
School Board Members ◽  
Local School ◽  
News Sources ◽  
Speaking Out ◽  
State Representatives

In the wake of the recent election, countless Americans have become determined to play a more active role in political life. For those interested in speaking out on issues related to public education, key strategies include identifying credible news sources, finding allies, reaching out to state representatives and local school board members, and holding officials accountable for their decisions.

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