I am proud to say that my intern friends—Adiya Taylor, Mandy Leiter, Matt Beienburg, Tigran Avakyan—and I hosted a very successful event: “CER Interns Present: The Next Generation in Education Reform.” I would like to extend a thank-you to the Thomas B. Fordham Institute for letting us use their space as well as to the…

On Tuesday, interns from various public policy organizations piled onto a 7th floor conference room where CER’s interns organized a panel discussion titled, CER Interns Present: The Next Generation in Education Reform. Preceding the panel, interns from The Center for Education Reform, the U.S. Department of Education, The Fund for America Studies, The National Alliance…

Allegations of cheating on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) have surfaced at a St. Petersburg area elementary school, marking the first time in state history a school grade has been withheld to allow for an investigation. The state Department of Education ordered an internal probe into the matter after an unusual amount of students were…

On July 21st, I attended an event at the American Enterprise Institute called “Comprehending Comprehensive Universities.”

Meet Mose. Mose is a highly functional 8 1/2 year old kid with Asperger syndrome who plays an adventure game called IF... to help him understand and manage his emotions. Brendan, Mose's father, says, "Mose, like a lot of aspie kids, is smart enough to recognize that he doesn't totally fit in with everybody else,…

Advocates gathered on Wednesday for a Hill briefing in the Capitol Visitor Center to discuss a much-overlooked facet of education policy, rural education. The event was hosted by the Rural School and Community Trust, and focused on the release of the biennial report Why Rural Matters. Remarks were made by Congressman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA…

In March 2006, John Danner submitted a charter school application to the San Jose Unified School District, which was filed accordingly by school officials without much comment or fanfare, marking the first attempt to launch what would eventually become the Rocketship charter network. This seemingly nascent moment however, doesn’t take place until pg. 54 of…

In most cases, critical thinking and problem solving are effective if students think outside the box.  A traditional classroom often keeps students thinking narrowly, because they are not given the tools they need to think critically or develop problem-solving skills. Traditional schools offer limited opportunities for students to think outside of the box, and often…

Reflecting on the ensuing American Revolution, British political thinker Edmund Burke had this to say: “We also reason and feel as you do on the invasion of your charters. Because the charters comprehend the essential forms by which you enjoy your liberties, we regard them as most sacred, and by no means to be taken…

The Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, CO opened its doors in 1892, and is renowned by a wide range of travel publications for its luxurious suites and spa offerings. In its 120-year history, the Brown Palace has played host to famous figures such as U.S. Presidents and the Beatles, giving it a well-respected reputation within the…