Eva Only Makes Life Harder
Seeing Success Academy students “kill” New York’s tough tests will only embolden its critics, I argue in the New York Daily News.
Author Archives: Richard Whitmire
Rhee stepping down?
Huffpo reports Rhee about to depart StudentsFirst. The fierce criticism of Rhee has always fascinated me — criticism I endured after publishing a book arguing that D.C.’s public schools needed the kind of stiff reforms that Rhee brought. (Was I right? Maybe., maybe not. I’ll let the federal NAEP scores … Continue reading
Once again, Eva’s right…
Testifying before Congress yesterday Eva Moscowitz laid out the case for making her schools a national model for reducing the learning gaps correlated with race and poverty. Writes Moskowitz: “Success Academy schools are at the top of all public schools in the state. For the past five years, our scholars … Continue reading
Toxic ed politics leaking into press
This profile of Campbell Brown in today’s Washington Post serves as an unfortunate reminder of how toxic education politics have bled over into the press. And no, the issue isn’t about Diane Ravitch complaining that Brown gets attention only because she’s a pretty face. I wrote these kinds of pieces … Continue reading
How DC got to be an education hot spot
Creative competition between charter and district schools, in Washington Post.
Choosing Adults over Students
A true test of the system in Massachusetts, in USA Today.
Why Schools are Bad Innovators
Thoughtful Michael Horn piece here. What stands out is the comment on “risk aversion.” There’s little appetite for it, which is understandable. Look at the thumping Rocketship is taking for launching an innovation that didn’t turn out well, resulting in test score dips at all their schools. It’s understandable that Rocketship … Continue reading
Fordham Panel with Preston Smith and Shantelle Wright
A book discussion and panel at the Fordham Institute.
Ed Next Book Club on Rocketship
Mike Petrilli interviews me about On the Rocketship. To promote the interview, he asks whether my new book is a “puff piece” on charter schools — a complaint I heard often about The Bee Eater, a book about Michelle Rhee’s time here in D.C. Rhee’s strong reforms generated many enemies, … Continue reading
Choices for San Antonio
From the Rivard Report: San Antonio has some clear choices: Welcome new high performing charters and get them to work for all students, or turn it into an ugly fight.