About Eduwonk.com
Eduwonk is a blog written by Andrew J. Rotherham, Co-founder and Partner at Bellwether Education Partners. Occasional guest bloggers will also contribute, and the author(s) of these posts will be clearly identified.
The blog focuses mostly on education policy and politics. Obviously, that’s a field I work in as well as write about so a couple of things for readers to bear in mind. First, the views expressed here should be considered to be those of the writer(s) rather than organizational viewpoints of Bellwether or any organizations or individuals Bellwether works with or that I work with. Likewise, outgoing links do not constitute any type of endorsement of other websites or organizations.
In addition, readers can expect the highest commitment to transparency and disclosure on the blog. I will never write about something I have a formal stake in without disclosing that and will never mislead readers by withholding information substantially germane to something I’m writing about. On the other hand my work in the education field is complicated and varied. Here’s how I balance it with respect to the blog and other writing I do: To keep confidences with entities that Bellwether works with, that I’m affiliated with in some capacity, or just around various work I am involved with professionally there are subjects that I elect not to write about and plenty of things I’m aware of that you won’t see discussed on the blog. However, although some tin foil hat types try, thinking you can divine anything from what I don’t write about is a waste of your time. Sometimes I’m just too busy and sometimes I’m just not interested in something or have nothing to add to the conversation.
You can also expect that any correspondence, written or oral, with me will remain private. I never publish anything on the blog without your permission to do so. For more about all this than you probably care to know, this post has more discussion.
To the apparent delight of Russian spammers I added a comment feature to Eduwonk in October 2007 and readers are encouraged to post comments about items. The Eduwonk comment policy can be found here. If that’s somehow still not enough Eduwonk for you, you can also join Eduwonk’s online community at the Eduwonk Facebook page and post content there as well. And I use Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/arotherham. There is also a feed that tweets just Eduwonk posts http://twitter.com/eduwonk. Many readers choose to use various newsreaders and feeds to get content from Eduwonk. You can also get a daily compilation of posts by signing up for a free email here.
I’m always grateful for articles, tips, and other information that readers pass along, as well as for reader feedback about items. Again, all correspondence is private. You can reach me through my email at Bellwether or eduwonk [insert the at sign here] eduwonk.com.
By way of history, from its inception in 2004 until the creation of Education Sector in 2005 this blog was hosted by the Progressive Policy Institute. From 2005 until March 2010 it was hosted by Education Sector. Now it’s a part of Bellwether Education. A complete archive of all posts since the blog’s launch is located on the upper right side of the Eduwonk site and there is a search function on the right side as well.
So welcome and enjoy Eduwonk! To return to the front page of the site click here.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Our educational system is in crisis and it requires urgent attention. This educational crisis is challenging our economic competitiveness on the global stage and limiting the opportunities of our young people, particularly poor and minority students. Our economic health, national security, and democratic institutions depend on well-educated citizens. Our future prosperity and leadership in the world will be determined by our response to this educational crisis and our steadfast commitment to implementing solutions. American public education MUST meet the needs of ALL our children and respond to our nation…s growing diversity.
Though the consequences of poor educational performance may seem remote to many, with little recognizable impact on their daily lives, our national health and prosperity depends on a skilled workforce, vigorous civic institutions and engaged citizens. We believe it is time for a broader mobilization of local, state and national leaders to raise public awareness of the educational challenges we face and how failure to meet them will likely affect our standard of living in the future. We must take seriously our shared responsibility to ensure that all students 좻 regardless of race, income level or zip code 좻 have access to an excellent education.
The Aspen Institute will convene national leaders for a series of frank conversations about the state of American education to underscore the implications of poor to mediocre performance on other areas of our national life cited by voters as most important including: the economy, jobs, security and healthcare. Our National Education Summit will also highlight the importance of working across party lines, and with all sectors of our society, to develop a superior educational system that serves all children well and prepares them for lives of opportunity and productive citizenship.
Confirmed speakers & panelists include (in order of appearance):
Walter Isaacson, President and CEO, The Aspen Institute 〈 Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Education 〈 Roy Romer, Former Governor of Colorado 〈 Juan Williams, Fox News and National Public Radio 〈 Michael Lomax, President, United Negro College Fund 〈 Joel Klein, Chancellor, New York City Public Schools 〈 Tom Donohue, President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce 〈 Tommy Thompson, Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services 〈 John Podesta, President & CEO, Center for American Progress 〈 Wade Henderson, President, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 〈 John Engler, President & CEO, National Association of Manufacturers 〈 Byron Auguste, Chairman, Hope Street Group 〈 Ronald Brownstein, Atlantic Monthly 〈 Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers 〈 Kati Haycock , President, The Education Trust 〈 John Deasy , Superintendent, Prince George…s County Public Schools 〈 Beverly Hall, Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools 〈 Janet Murguia, President & CEO, National Council of La Raza 〈 Sir Michael Barber, Partner, McKinsey & Company and Former Chief Advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair 〈 David Bradley, Owner, Atlantic Media Company 〈 Vicki Phillips, Director, College Ready Initiative, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 〈 Gene Wilhoit, President, Council of Chief State School Officers 〈 Michael Ortiz, President, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 〈 William Green, Chairman & CEO, Accenture and Chairman, Business Roundtable’s Education, Innovation & Workforce Initiative 〈 Katherine Bradley, President, CityBridge Foundation 〈 Ted Mitchell, CEO, NewSchools Venture Fund & President, California State Board of Education 〈 Michelle Rhee, Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools 〈 Michael Feinberg, Co-Founder, Kipp Academy 〈 Jon Schnur, President, New Leaders for New Schools 〈 John Chubb, Managing Director, Edison Learning Institute 〈 Condoleeza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State
Join these national education, business, healthcare, national security, and political leaders for a series of candid conversations about sobering realities, challenges and opportunities including:
• A frank assessment of the condition of American education and prospects for improved performance
• The implications of poor educational performance on other areas of our national life cited by voters as most important including: the economy, jobs, security and healthcare
• Moving beyond conflicting visions to sustain a national will for effective reform
More than talk: Throughout the day, Summit participants will also be challenged to work together to solidify a national commitment to key principles of education reform 좻 accountability for results, transparency on performance and high and measurable expectations for all students. In a special interactive working session, participants will engage in an effort to mobilize the broad and growing consensus behind the important elements that constitute an academic bottom line on behalf of all students.
The event will begin at 8:30am on Monday, September 15 and end with a special dinner program (speakers TBA). You can tune in to the live web cast at http://www.aspeninstitute.org/urgentcallor email us for information at NationalEducationSummit@aspeninstitute.org. You can also add your voice and perspective to this important and timely conversation through the Summit blog (www.aspenedsummit.blogspot.com) which will be providing live “play-by-play” coverage the day of the Summit posting perspectives leading up and following to the Summit. The Summit schedule of speakers and panel discussions can be viewed on the Summit blog at http://www.aspenedsummit.blogspot.com
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 am
I want to submit a name to replace “No Child Left Behind” which Education Secretary Arne Duncan requested today in the New York Times. My idea is “Achieving Childrens’ Act.” I think it is simple and has a positive connotation. Please submit this as an idea. Thank you kindly, Betty Jo Bell, a Texas teacher.
March 13th, 2009 at 6:50 am
[...] “About Eduwonk,” http://www.eduwonk.com/2004/04/about-eduwonk.html [...]
October 31st, 2009 at 3:08 am
The problem with our Education system is not that we are lying to our children (as Arne Duncan put it), but lying to ourselves that we actually care about our own future or our children’s future. We don’t. We choose to leave our fate to our G_D, our financial futures to Wall St, and the care of the planet to those that care about it. Education stopped being important the day we got our first job.
We are lazy. All we do care about is having a decent job and a home in which to live. That is it. We really don’t care how we get that job or that home (thus the foreclosure crisis). Product means more to us than our children’s education. We buy anything and save nothing.
As a California educator, if we actually cared about our school system, the great people of my state would have kept the system as it was 30 years ago and not have let Prop 13 pass (for California) in ’78. It was great for the people described in the 2nd graph above. Its consequence was a college system 2nd to none then and laughable now.
It really is that simple.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:14 pm
[...] 22, 2010 About Eduwonk.com Eduwonk is a blog written by Andrew Rotherham, Co-founder and Partner at Bellwether Education [...]
July 21st, 2010 at 3:40 pm
[...] a quick phone call with Andy Rotherham, the blogger behind Eduwonk. Here’s what he says are the hot ticket items to follow in education [...]
July 30th, 2010 at 2:24 am
Here the tutors and the students can meet each other in person. As an online local tutor, you need to sign up with the tutoring company, create a profile and wait for the parents or students to reach you. You are selected on the basis of your location and educational background that needs to be in accordance to a child’s requirement. The company then charges some amount of finder’s fee or assists in online payment options for a small continual percentage
September 7th, 2010 at 1:56 am
It is good that Eduwonk blog is about education. It is because few people are thinking of blogs about education. Because in here, we could learn something valuable about education.
September 20th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
I’m thingking about going to school… Any thoughts?
January 27th, 2012 at 6:17 am
Hello,
I must acknowledge your efforts to spread education and overall awareness worldwide. Recently, with online education getting more popular and of course that I have been part of the revolution since I recently earned my online Master’s degree. My MBA thesis was a comparison between traditional and online education system’s impact on an individual’s overall development of the brain. The umbrella topic for my research was Higher Education. Some of the findings were interesting and I was wondering if I could share my research through a guest blog post for your blog.
Let me know.
Have a good one.
May 28th, 2012 at 4:27 am
With the presence Eduwonk blog will really help those who need information about current educational developments, especially for parents about education because knowledge is required. Given this blog Eduwonk it will provide a major change in the system and information about education .. I am personally very grateful to the admin who continue to perform updates on this blog so that we as readers and visitors of this blog will continue to get the latest information on education. The basis of the formation of a good attitude to ourselves, especially our children is the knowledge of education, so that they can be packed as they mature and can be useful to him, to the nation. once again thanks to the Eduwonk blog that always share information about the education.
June 26th, 2012 at 6:34 am
Right ! In present scenario education became like a business in which we compare the short term and long term return on investment. A well organized college and university definitely charge is definitely higher than a new educational organization. Generally the family background matter when you are going for higher education and if you are from a low income family you are moving to get finance for education. But ever you thought that taking a loan is really a good decision even you are not families with your future scope.
August 28th, 2012 at 5:58 am
Hi,
I love keeping up with your blog and wanted to get in touch to talk more about historical business magnates. I actually just published an article called “7 Historical Business Figures Who Shunned Higher Ed”: http://www.onlinemba.com/blog/7-historical-business-figures-who-shunned-higher-ed/ and thought you might interested in reading it, and possibly passing it on to your other readers. Let me know if you’d like to consider it.
Thanks for your time!
Becky Celestine
November 30th, 2012 at 5:10 am
Ammount of links and resources here is impressive. Let me recommend it on my website. For sure my students will benefit from your site.
I haven’t found any rights policy. Can I used some exerpts of your articles during classes? Of course with all the credits to the authors!
February 6th, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Dear Mr. Rotherham:
In many years as a Reading Specialist, I discovered that there are 3 built-in reading TRAPS that actually cause reading problems. When these 3 built-in reading TRAPs are removed, even those children diagnosed with “reading disability” or “dyslexia” are able to progress in reading as are average-achievement students. My book, “At Last! A Reading Method for EVERY Child! was included in the U.S. Dept. of Ed. Research Project: “Becoming a Nation of Readers” and was the Main Selection of 3 of Macmillan Book Clubs. I would like to share this information with those students who are caught in the reading trap and would appreciate your advice. I would be happy to list these 3 built-in reading TRAPS and their solutions on your site at your request. You will note on my web site that “At Last!” has been acclaimed by all major professional and lay sources. It would be a boon especially to low-income students who make up our largest segment of the reading disabled. I look forward to your response.
March 2nd, 2013 at 11:17 am
Mr. Rotherham,
My media team and I are working on a story that I think you and your audience will find interesting. We’re taking an in-depth look into the Confucius Institute.
As you may know, the Confucius Institute is a Chinese government-funded program that sends teachers around the world. The Chinese government pays these teachers and gives extra money to the schools that house them. These teachers then instruct their students in the Chinese language and culture.
There are over 420 Confucius Institutes around the world. The majority of these institutes are in the United States. Poorer states tend to have more of these programs (Georgia has the most, followed closely by Kentucky).
Some schools (like Stanford University) have refused to accept Confucius Institutes. They fear that these institutes might be a soft power ploy by the Chinese government. The Confucius Institutes have also been in the news lately because they are suspected of having discriminatory hiring practices for the teachers they send abroad.
Much of this story revolves around the education system here in America, as well as education systems around the world. My team and I would be eternally grateful if you would check out our Facebook site and share your opinion of the materials that we have posted there. It would be great if your readers could contribute as well.
We want to make sure that we do justice to this story. We would be grateful for your input. http://www.facebook.com/InsideConfucius
Stephanie Bronner
Fusion Journalist at Western iMedia