Often we hear about children being “stuck” in poorly performing, unsafe, traditional public schools. Last week, The Center for Education Reform (CER) staff got a taste of something different during two charter school visits. “Stuck” is never a word that you would use to describe a student in a charter school. In fact, charter school…

Founded in 1999, Rise Academy in Lubbock, Texas has achieved a high level of success. For six years in a row, the school has been an “Exemplary School” in the eyes of the Texas Education Agency. But this success hasn’t been obstacle-free. The school “does more with less” to provide traditionally underserved populations of pre-K…

This is blog #1 in a weeklong series of blogs featuring charter schools during Charter Schools Week 2015. Sign the pledge to show your support for public charter schools! When people hear the word “decathlon,” images of the Olympics and athletic prowess in track and field come to mind. For the parents, students, and teachers…

You Shop. Amazon Gives! All you have to do to is go to smile.amazon.com and select The Center for Education Reform (CER) as your charitable organization of choice, and continue shopping as you would normally! Every effort helps when it comes to ensuring ALL of our children have access to learning opportunities that deliver the promise…

In the final minutes of the Maryland General Assembly’s 2015 legislative session, the State Senate received back from the House of Delegates Senate Bill 595, a charter school bill completely unrecognizable from its original form. “Has everyone recorded the vote? Anyone who wish to change their vote? Anyone who wishes to explain the vote? If not…

A quick glance at the @edreform Twitter feed in the last few weeks reveals a string of school choice programs that have successfully advanced through state legislatures, with little resistance expected from reform-minded governors. In Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law an expansion of the innovative Education Savings Account (ESA) program, granting eligibility to Native American…

by Jeanne Allen When governors win historic elections, one expects legislators to not only respect such a mandate but to try to work collaborate on changes that help those for whom adults should work the hardest, and that’s our kids. Such expectations for Maryland, however, seem sadly out of reach right now. This week, the…

Based on personal experience, education has always been more than merely an important and necessary aspect of my personal development; it’s been a crucial tool in helping me to understand who I am and what I can be.

Thousands of New Yorkers are calling on Governor Cuomo and legislators to pass the Education Tax Credit as part of his budget proposal. Education tax credits would help children access learning opportunities that better meet their individual unique learning needs. Already, over 1,500 rallied last week in Staten Island #ForOpportunity. The rallies will continue tomorrow…

On Thursday, February 26th, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) hosted a panel on Empowering Parents and Voters for K-12 Education Reform. Watch CER president Kara Kerwin, Andrew P. Kelly and Jon Valant discuss two new pieces of research on parent empowerment and K–12 education reform. They will emphasize that families must be able to comprehend…