Category Archives: Education

End Federal Control of Our Schools, Close the U.S. Department of Education

While the U.S. Department of Education is only a small fraction of total education spending – accounting for less than 10 percent of education spending in the United States (9 percent in Virginia) – it has a huge impact on … Continue reading

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Education Funding Reform Needs to Build Accountability to Help Those Who Need It

When the Virginia State Board of Education approved a new state accountability system, it predictably drew attacks from the usual sources. The new system places greater emphasis on student mastery of subject information (50-65%) over student growth (20-25%).  But while growth is critical and should be recognized, … Continue reading

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Time to Give Charter Schools a Chance in Virginia

The Youngkin Administration is trying to jumpstart the creation of independent public charter schools in Virginia, in order to provide students additional high-quality options for their education. This effort is long overdue.  But the road to quality choices in Virginia … Continue reading

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Don’t Politicize Cell Phone-Free Education

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order for developing policies restricting or eliminating cell phones in schools – a concept garnering widespread support among parents, with 61 percent favoring requiring students to leave their phones in secured locations during the day – … Continue reading

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Bait and Switch: Reform Reverts to Mo’ Money

Some years back, I ran into a friend, a Virginia Education Association unit chair, outside the General Assembly building, there to lobby on behalf of a state-wide teacher salary increase. The real problem, I noted, was that across-the-board salary increases … Continue reading

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