Education

Softening the Takeover of Failing Schools

By Justin Katz | May 3, 2006 |

I don’t have time to research the ins and outs of Rhode Island’s laws dealing with the quality of public education, but it seems to me that the following addition to the section on “intervention and support for failing schools,” introduced in the Senate (PDF) by Senators Ruggerio, Badeau, Ciccone, Lanzi, and Tassoni, would arguably…

Another Example of How Educational Bureaucrats Will Avoid Accountability & Hurt Children

By | April 29, 2006 |

In the latest report (available for a fee) of dishonest manipulation of reporting performance results required under No Child Left Behind, we get this report: When the Associated Press reported last week that nearly two million mostly minority children “aren’t counted when it comes to meeting the law’s requirement that schools track how students of…

Is This Rhode Island’s Future? Educational Adequacy & Unsatiated Tax-Eaters

By | April 28, 2006 | Comments Off on Is This Rhode Island’s Future? Educational Adequacy & Unsatiated Tax-Eaters

Andrew has written about state education aid to Rhode Island towns. He has also written how Mayor Cicilline of Providence thinks $188 million or $6,772/student is not enough state aid, aid largely paid for by the rest of us in the state to fund the ongoing non-performance of his city’s schools. The Mayor’s brazen attitude…

Ruth Simmons Gets It Wrong

By Carroll Andrew Morse | April 22, 2006 |

Earlier this week, Brown University President Ruth Simmons discussed education in a lecture before the Urban League of Rhode Island. Here is a part of her remarks, as reported by Tom Mooney in the Projo…“How often do you talk to people who just can’t bear the thought that their tax dollars are going to help…

Mitt Romney on Reforming Education

By | April 19, 2006 | Comments Off on Mitt Romney on Reforming Education

In a Washington Times editorial, Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney writes about Reforming Education: I was in high school when Sputnik happened. Russia’s lead in space frightened us. It also woke us up… One could argue that there have been quite a few Sputniks lately, but that we haven’t noticed… It’s time we get moving, starting…

Rhode Island Statewide Education Aid, By Community, Per-Pupil

By Carroll Andrew Morse | April 18, 2006 |

Providence Mayor David Cicilline says the only way to fix Providence’s failing schools is for the rest of Rhode Island to give more money to the Providence school system. However, combining the Governor�s 2007 budget with the student population data from the Rhode Island Information Works website (results below) shows that Rhode Island is already…

The Urban and Political Arrogance of David Cicilline

By Carroll Andrew Morse | April 14, 2006 |

Yesterday, Providence Mayor David Cicilline walked out of meeting with Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri on the subject of improving education in Rhode Island’s urban core of Providence/Pawtucket/Central Falls. Both John Castellucci of the Providence Journal and Jim Baron of the Pawtucket Times have reports in their respective newspapers. Governor Carcieri wanted to discuss increased…

Education “Adequacy”

By Marc Comtois | April 10, 2006 |

In Sunday’s ProJo, education columnist Julia Steiny explained how Rhode Island has attempted to use a theory of “equity” education funding. In this model, money from higher income districts goes to the poorer districts in the hope that the academic levels of poor students would improve to that of the better-off kids in rich and…

US Census Bureau: Rhode Island 10th in Per-Pupil Spending

By Carroll Andrew Morse | April 4, 2006 |

The Associated Press is reporting on the release of United States Census Bureau report detailing the amounts spent on elementary and secondary education in each state. Here’s the AP summary of New England…Vermont spent an average of $11,128 on each of its public school students, which is the fourth highest per pupil spending in the…

Urban Arrogance & Fixing Education

By Carroll Andrew Morse | March 27, 2006 | Comments Off on Urban Arrogance & Fixing Education

Last week, the Providence Journal, Pawtucket Times, Westerly Sun, and Newport Daily News (story links) all reported on a recent evaluation of the quality of education in Rhode Island conducted in the form of the New England Common Assessment Program. Jennifer D. Jordan of the Projo summarizes the results… Statewide, about half of the 72,000…