What Makes A Strategic Plan Strategic? College Costs And College Plans, ESSA Plans, ESAs In AZ, Rhames & DeVos, Congrats Houston Chon , More!

Here’s Bellwether’s take on what makes a strategic plan actually strategic and not just a bunch of flashy slides with pretty graphics. Details and debate on the NY free-tuition plan. And here’s a really interesting analysis of who pays what for college (pdf). Marilyn Rhames talks with Betsy DeVos.  Arizona is going big on ESAs. Hope and concern …

Five Strikes And You’re Out! Plus, Houston We Have A Problem…

A lot of back and forth in Rhode Island over Race To The Top.   The teachers’ union there is not down with the Obama Administration’s requirements around teacher effectiveness.   But they apparently also can’t live with the idea that after three years of an unacceptable evaluation a teacher would lose their license.   The standard they …

Edison In Philly, Dropouts in Houston, And History Repeating Itself

Wash. Post’s Jay Mathews takes an interesting and fair look at the experience of Edison Schools in Philadelphia. Robert Kimball is still beating the dropout drum in Houston, but this will likely have less traction now that the election is over. Karl Rove wants to think we are relieving the Mark Hanna days, and he …

Houston We Have A Problem

Two good reads from the Houston Chronicle. On the op-ed page Glenn W. Smith challenges the Texas Legislature to do right by kids there instead of setting ridiculously low standards that hamstring poor and minority youngsters. Meanwhile, the editorial board pleads for better quality teaching and less rote memorization but does not indict standards and …