Wisconsin’s still stuck: The Associated Press has learned that President Barack Obama on Thursday will free 10 states from the strict requirements of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law. The move gives long-sought leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students. A White House official says the states are…
Education
Education, Federal Government, Government Spending
No Child Left Behind: A Decade of Failure
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Neal McCluskey contends — accurately — that No Child Left Behind legislation has been a failure. He makes arguments against the decade-old federal law in a brief video, embedded below. It’s a summary only, but a good summary of a bad law. (For an earlier post on NCLB, see Whitewater Has No Reason to Worry…
Education
Disability rights advocates warn of special education cuts
by JOHN ADAMS •
Balancing the budget on the backs of the vulnerable: The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Group sent a letter this week to federal education officials and members of the states congressional delegation, urging them to stick with federal rules requiring school districts not to reduce the amount of money they spend on special education. Via Milwaukee…
Economy, Education, Government Spending, Planning, Wisconsin
Additional State Budget Cuts, Lapse Provisions, and the Failure of State Planning
by JOHN ADAMS •
A reader kindly passed along an email from UW President Kevin Reilly to the entire UW System about additional budget cuts proposed for Wisconsin’s public universities. I’ve included the content of Reilly’s message below. Readers may have different opinions about all this, but even staunch supporters of the Walker Administration should see this as (at…
Education
Conan O’Brien Delivers Dartmouth’s Commencement Address
by JOHN ADAMS •
Education, School District
Whitewater Has No Reason to Worry About ‘No Child Left Behind’ Results
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a story at the Gazette, that nicely summarizes area schools’ performance on the federal government’s ‘No Child Left Behind’ (NCLB) standards. Although one school in Whitewater appears on the list, there’s no reason for concern: the challenge is so limited that it holds no overall meaning or statistical significance for our schools. Whitewater shows…
Education, Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Planning
Bloomberg Television: Veronique de Rugy Explains Fannie and Freddie’s Role in the Housing Crisis
by JOHN ADAMS •
City, Education, Government Spending, Politics, School District
State Aid to Cites, Schools Sure to Dry Up
by JOHN ADAMS •
Walker did offer a fuller rationale for his insistence on stripping public employees of their collective bargaining rights. “You’re going to see major cuts in local government,” he said of his upcoming budget, now set to be unveiled March 1. He argued that the only way he can ensure these cuts do not lead to…
Education, Laws/Regulations
Pierce County Herald: Rep. Nass seeks to repeal Indian nickname law
by JOHN ADAMS •
State Representative Steve Nass, part of the Wisconsin Assembly’s Republican majority, wants to repeal the law that allows the state superintendent to decide whether local public districts may use a tribal name, or other ‘race-based’ name. (Wis. Stat. 118.134, et seq). Although I’m not a proponent of tribal names, I’m surely an opponent of Wisconsin’s…
Education
Wheels to Whitewater program brings Latinos to university campus — Walworth County Today
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s a great idea, described in a press release of the Delavan-Darien School District, to give prospective college students a chance to learn about university life: Delavan-Darien High School Latino students had a chance to visit UW-Whitewater recently as part of the University’s Wheels to Whitewater program, according to the Delavan-Darien School District blog. The…
Education, School District
Charter Schools Naturally Depend on Sound Charters
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve been asked about a charter school for my small town. Whitewater, Wisconsin may have a public charter school next year. The Whitewater Unified School District received a grant for planning, and may receive additional funding for a school. See, Whitewater charter school on track for 2011. Charter schools typically have support across politics, and…