After spending “billions” to develop small enrollment high schools, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has abandoned that idea. The Gates organization found out that better teachers, not class size, are the key to better student learning. Here in Kentucky the dubious “small school” fad was pushed by members of the “KERA Amen Chorus” (as…
From a Gov. Steve Beshear statement: “We will do whatever we can as a state to ensure the viability and longevity of the (General Motors) Bowling Green Assembly Plant.” Really, Governor? Why not send the money to Toyota in Georgetown instead? They seem to have a better idea of what to do with it.
It looks like grade inflation on student tests isn’t the only issue where “Lake Woebegon” effects are alive and well in our education system. That name refers to humorist Garrison Keelor’s mythical town where all children are above average. The name has been associated for some time with inflated test score results, but up until…
What began with only about half the states participating has now expanded to become almost a 100 percent nationwide effort. The Washington Post reports that 46 states and several US territories have signed on to a program to develop common education standards. This effort was started by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council…
Jim Waters, Bluegrass Institute director of policy and communications, will appear tonight on KET’s “Kentucky Tonight” at 8 p.m. (EST) to address Gov. Steve Beshear’s call for a special legislative session. The program is hosted by Bill Goodman live on KET1 and will be replayed Wednesday at 2 a.m. (EST). During the live Monday broadcast,…
The Frankfort tax increase brigade is on the offensive this morning with an editorial repeating the silly claim that the state has a $1 billion revenue shortfall. This is nothing more than a marketing scheme for bigger government. If it were a real emergency, far more would be done to reduce wasteful spending. Indeed, the…
– Having no charter school law could amount to the same thing The US Secretary of Education is a big supporter of charter schools – public schools that operate under reduced rules – often including freedom from union restraints – because they are overseen by a chartering organization. In fact, the Secretary is putting our…
Wondering what’s behind all the noise about the supposed $996 million budget shortfall in Kentucky? It’s really not that complicated. The General Assembly wants to spend $9.296 billion in the year beginning July 1. Economists estimate they will only have $8.3 billion. So Gov. Beshear says there is a $996 million shortfall. The revised budget…
– Meanwhile, Kentucky’s reporting founders Oregon just announced improved high school graduation rate reporting next year. Once that starts, an Oregon Department of Education spokesperson admitted the state’s high school dropout rate will probably rise dramatically, but Oregon is clearly intent on joining other states like California that are getting honest about this important information.…
Gov. Steve Beshear has announced a special session of the General Assembly will convene June 15. Several Republican Senate members I spoke to this afternoon said no agreements about revenues, spending cuts, or hot-button issues like casino gambling have been reached. Cook up some popcorn for this one. Should be quite a show.