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Opinions

Charter Schools Don’t Need Blood Money

This time the sour reminder hit close to home, however, when the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) announced that charters’ arch enemy, teachers union leader Randi Weingarten, would be joining them for a folksy little fireside chat in their annual conference (virtual this year) in an effort to find ‘common ground.’

Why The Supreme Court Ruling Against An Obscure 19th Century Act Of Bigotry Will Improve Education For Millions

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue is a victory for education opportunity and excellence. Issuing one of its final decisions for the 2019-2020 session, the Court on June 30 ruled that a provision in Montana’s Constitution which had the effect of denying parents the choice of attending religious schools…

The Bigotry of Blaine No More

Prayers of thanks, huzzahs and hoorays are being heard across the country since the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court June 30 that it is unconstitutional to discriminate against parents simply because they choose to send their children to a religious school. Wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the 5-4 majority opinion in Espinoza v.…

In New Mexico, A High Quality Charter School Gets Punished by State Regulators

It’s hard to believe, but an A rated school in Albuquerque, New Mexico for over four years - only one of 13% of schools in the state with that distinction - has been denied an expansion to serve the 1,000 students on the waiting list. Even in a time of Covid, and uncertainty over schooling,…

NY TImes: DeVos Funnels Coronavirus Relief Funds to Favored Private and Religious Schools

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, using discretion written into the coronavirus stabilization law, is using millions of dollars to pursue long-sought policy goals that Congress has blocked.New York Times | May 15, 2020By Erica Green, correspondent in Washington who covers the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary Betsy DeVos, focusing on higher education policy, educational equity and…

The Solution to Educating Every Child Going Forward? A Virtual Backpack

Forbes | May 12, 2020By Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO of CERAmid the shutdown, public school students now limited to their homes have become entirely dependent on the decisions of their districts to enable education to be delivered “where” they currently sit. Many districts did indeed begin full-service education for students. Not surprisingly, most were…

For Success In Schools Post-Coronavirus, Education Must Transcend Location

Forbes | May 5, 2020By Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO of CERWith the doors to most of K12 and higher education shut for the rest of the academic year and beyond, it’s time to implement a dramatically different way of educating our nation’s youth, and make it stick. We can’t allow our kids to stop…

Though Many Doubt Their Capacity, Parents Are Still Their Child’s First And Best Teachers

Forbes | April 9, 2020By Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO of CERIt was a simple statement I made on Twitter after seeing some less-than-nice comments about a parents’ ability to do education at home.“Every family has the capacity to educate their children.”It elicited many responses, some in agreement; others, not so sure:“I think all families…

Amidst COVID-19, America’s Schools Don’t Need A Hall Pass

Forbes | April 2, 2020By Jeanne AllenWhile the impact of the pandemic on education doesn’t have an official start date in the United States, by March 11th, many of Washington state’s schools, including in Seattle, were closed for business. Meanwhile in neighboring Northshore, Washington, whose schools had closed a week earlier out of precaution, 23,000…

Teaching Students with Disabilities During Coronavirus School Closures : NPR

With Schools Closed, Kids With Disabilities Are More Vulnerable Than Ever NPR | March 27, 2020With school closed, Marla Murasko begins her morning getting her 14-year-old son, Jacob, dressed and ready for the day. They have a daily check-in: How are you doing? How are you feeling? Next, they consult the colorful, hourly schedule she…