Commentary

CER: After Wrongful Attack on Charter Schools, Elizabeth Warren Should Skip Teachers’ Strike

Presidential candidate condemned by advocates for student-centered education for joining reckless teachers’ strike, threatening future-saving schools WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Center for Education Reform (CER) issued the following statement today by CER president and founder Jeanne Allen regarding today’s scheduled visit by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, to the Chicago Teachers…

The District of Columbus Just Cancelled Columbus Day

How dumb is that move? Let us channel poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning and count the ways. First – who exactly are these “indigenous people” for whom we...

The Solution to the Teacher Shortage? Entrepreneurial Innovation

By Jeanne AllenAcross the country, states are implementing laws to address what has become reported as an international epidemic -- shortages of teachers not just in the US but in almost every country.  Not only are fewer people with state-required credentials not available to teach, but surveys suggest almost half are considering leaving the profession.To…

STRIKES AGAIN?

Dear Friends:The Chicago Teachers Union is getting ready - it would appear with glee - at the prospect of another teacher strike.  A series of deliberate attempts to disrupt education planned by the AFT, you’ll recall that they walked out on thousands of kids for days at Chicago International Charter School, where they’d taken over some…

Union Strikes Again

CER IN THE NEWSOctober 3, 2019Read what we think of the actions by the Chicago Teachers Union, which is preparing once again to pull teachers out of classrooms and put kids on the street. From today’s Chicago Tribune.

Expanding Education Opportunity in Rural America

PRESS ADVISORYFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 1, 2019CONTACT: PR [email protected](703) 966-0831Expanding Education Opportunity in Rural AmericaIngredients for revitalizing rural educationWashington, D.C. -- With increasing scrutiny of rural America and its lagging educational outcomes, it’s time to consider new, innovative approaches to improving and expanding education opportunity in rural communities. That is the conclusion of a new whitepaper issued…

TEN ESSENTIAL READS FOR #EDREFORM

  From the CER bookshelf, in honor of #NationalReadABookDay, here are Ten Essential Reads that illuminate the history, progress & character of the authentic #edreform movement. Present and past, the stories told, cases made and the theories behind them are at the heart of how this nation can succeed. No Struggle No Progress: A Warrior’s Life From Black Power to…

Summer 2019 | Occasional Letter to Friends

View full letter hereDear Friends,If you’re reading this Occasional Letter, thank you! While we inundate those tens of thousands of people who’ve joined our cause these many years with electronic notes, newswires, tweets, and more, we know it’s hard to keep up with all incoming stuff one gets. More importantly, we know paper still matters…

10 Must-Reads To Bring With You On That Last Beach Trip Before Summer Ends

While many kids across the U.S. finish up their summer reading as they gear up to go back to school, here's a list of recommended reading for understanding how we get our schools and learning opportunities to reflect a new opportunity agenda that allows for Innovation and Opportunity to thrive:

Innovation In Education Takes Many Forms

by Jeanne AllenForbesJuly 17, 2019   Dennis Littky is a radical, fascinating and successful education rebel. He’s a serial education entrepreneur who’s redefining the term “higher education.” The former principal of Thayer High School in Winchester, New Hampshire, cofounder of both  The Big Picture Company and The Met School has launched the best of his innovations…