A recent Bangor Daily News editorial incorrectly uses conclusions and data from CER's State of Charter Schools report. The quote below is about judging an individual charter school, yet is used as ammo for an argument about why lifting the charter cap in Maine shouldn't happen. “It remains the case that the single most effective…

"The day I got suspended was my best day because it helped me change. Now I stay away from trouble…It feels great to be a leader and not a follower.” Not many people would say getting suspended was their best day in school, but 2nd grader Vincent Smith Jr. of Urban Academy in Minnesota appreciated…

This Saturday, Tennessee charter school leaders, teachers, and advocates will be honored at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville during the Tennessee Charter School Association's 2nd annual gala. Teacher of the year awards, among others, will be given out during the celebration.  CER's very own VP of External Affairs, Kara Kerwin, was honored…

May 10, 2013 Our PALs in CA, in a lovely email about how much of a difference a great teacher can make in a child's life, shared John Legend's rendition of an 80s anthem celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week, calling on our students to celebrate their "true colors." Legend is among dozens of past CER EdReformie…

May 9, 2013 I should be curled up in the Fetal position… Diane Ravitch’s blog is full of comments about me and my family… apparently in an attempt to discredit my integrity. Weird. Apparently, I do not understand the constitution or the concept of federalism and need a civics lesson, too. Ugh. My head is…

May 8, 2013 Postcards from the Past  A new, occasional blog post by CER President Jeanne Allen in commemoration of CER’s 20th Anniversary in business and the historical events that have taken place during our history. It was January, 1997. It was Pennsylvania. The letter began: “I recently read with considerable interest your account of…

Founder and President of the Center for Education Reform reflects on the Boston tragedy in a Huffington Post piece: The events of recent months tell us we must all do that, no matter how incorrect the social scientists believe such behavior to be. Every mother must ask herself -- do I really know my child?…

April 22, 2013 Postcards from the Past  A new, occasional blog post by CER President Jeanne Allen in commemoration of CER’s 20th Anniversary in business and the historical events that have taken place during our history. Ohio, 1994 So many people start a sentence with “it seems like yesterday,” but you know, that phrase has…

April 17, 2013 Just hours ago, Governor Phil Bryant signed the Mississippi Charter Schools Act of 2013 into law.  When this legislation was first headed to the governor's desk, the Center for Education Reform acknowledged this as a step forward for Mississippi, but emphasized that this legislation is not as bold or aggressive as the…

As news of the Boston Marathon explosions dominate social media, television, and people's thoughts and concerns, children across the nation are likely to have questions and concerns of their own. These resources offer suggestions and tips for providing reassurance and guidance to children when talking to them about tragedy: -Talking with Kids about News from…