It’s an unfortunate truth for Kentucky: despite more than a quarter of a century of aggressive education reform, achievement gaps continue to be a major problem. The situation is so dramatic that even a most enthusiastic cheerleader for traditional public education, the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, now candidly admits: “…far too many Kentucky students…
Education Week reports that the US Department of Education has launched an investigation of high school graduation rate claims in both Alabama and California. At issue are large high school graduation rates that have grown dramatically over time and don’t seem to match other data like the proportion of students who are considered college ready…
I have written a number of times such as here, here, here, here and even way back when here in our old blog about what I think is the most important finding in an ever growing series of reports on charter schools from The Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University. This…
In their new report, “2016 Statewide Results: An Excellence with Equity Report,” the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence now recognizes the value of a high school performance metric we introduced over a year ago. The Bluegrass Institute’s “Effective High School Graduation Rate,” has real value for helping to determine the performance of education systems in…
Heather Huddleston knows an important story, and she knows it better than almost anyone else in Kentucky. As the executive director of School Choice Scholarships, Heather works with kids the traditional public school system in Louisville just doesn’t serve well. Heather helps these kids get needs-based scholarships to attend private schools where these students regularly…
One of the guest commentators at Senator Rand Paul’s recent roundtable on school choice was Kentucky Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton. Hear what the first Kentucky African-American to hold a statewide office has to say about her personal experiences and why she strongly favors school choice for Kentucky’s students.
Senator Rand Paul took time out of his busy fall schedule to host a School Choice Roundtable in Louisville on October 25, 2016. BIPPS was there to record the event, and we’ll be sharing some of the comments with you. To start, here is what the host, Senator Paul, thinks about school choice for Kentucky.
On October 18, 2016 the Kentucky Office of Education Accountability (OEA) presented an important report about achievement gaps in Kentucky’s schools. Normally, it takes the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission many months after a report is approved before it appears in final, edited version in their web site, and the next legislative session will likely be…
Former Shelby County Public Schools payroll manager gets 18 years for swiping $600,000 One of the complaints we hear from opponents of charter schools regards corrupt finances. There has been fiscal misbehavior in a few charter schools. However, the traditional public school system in Kentucky is far from trouble free in this area. Unfortunately, Kentucky’s…
Discussion shows how SBDM laws render parents and school boards powerless Parents in the Boone County Public School District are getting an interesting education these days. They are learning that their locally elected school board and their school superintendent have absolutely no authority regarding what may be some very bad curriculum choices recently made in…