Blog Profile / This Week In Education

Thompson: The Qualities Of A Great Teacher

"To become lifelong, self-directed learners. That's what great teaching should lead to." OK, it was a director of medical education, not a public school teacher evaluator, who made that affirmation. New Yorker's Every Disease on Earth,by Rivka Galchen, profiles Dr. Show More Summary

EdSchools: Will 2013 Be Teacher Prep's Big Year?

From the latest Scholastic Administrator Magazine (by me): For all those reasons, it’s very good and somewhat surprising news that there are now a handful of broad-based efforts and initiatives focused on teacher preparation in 2013 that might actually stand a chance of improving the quality and effectiveness of teachers... Show More Summary

Morning Video: Inspiring School Enthusiasm

From PBS NewsHour: "In India, an educational group called Pratham aims to change the perception of school as a solemn enterprise and to offer instead a love of learning to the youngest -- and poorest -- students."

AM News: Head Start Centers & National Social Studies Tests Feel 'Sequester' Pain

Head Start Centers Feeling 'Sequester' Pain EdWeek: "These are, by far, the most serious cuts I've experienced," said Ms. Molloy, who has been involved for 40 years with Head Start, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Show More Summary

Bruno: Raising Achievement Doesn't Close Gaps (Petrilli)

I'm glad to see Michael Petrilli doing a guest stint over at Bridging Differences and I'm especially glad he dedicates some of his first column inches to defending the importance of knowledge in schools, even for very young children....Show More Summary

Quotes: "He Makes A Number of Valid Statements"

He makes a number of valid statements about how classrooms across America need to change, and we view this as an opportunity to have more conversations about transforming our schools to better meet the needs of our students. - Duncanville Independent School District spokesperson

Morning Video: School's Over Early For One Bankrupt District

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

AM News: Michigan School District Closes Early for Year, to Offer "Skills Camp"

Buena Vista School District Officially Closes For Year, Offers 'Skills Camp' HuffPostEdu: It's official. For the 400 or so students in Buena Vista, Mich., school is over, even though the academic year isn't supposed to end until the middle of June. Show More Summary

Afternoon Video: More From That Kid Who Left Class

Reckhow: A Misleading Approach to Assessing Advocacy

This is a guest post from MSU professor Sarah Reckhow: A new article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review presents a quantitative framework to help philanthropists assess their advocacy grants. The authors all work with RedstoneShow More Summary

Weekend Reading: Rhode Island Supe Gets Real On Testing

Over the weekend, I check magazines and other long-form sites and sometimes there are good things that come through: Our schools and the truth about testing ow.ly/kULvD Deborah Gist Feds Want More Details from CA Waiver Application goo.gl/YpSVj [includeds CORE explainer re peer review comments] @PoliticsK12 From Jay Mathews: A powerful term in U.S. Show More Summary

Morning Video: In Arizona, Latino Students Kicking Some A

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy In Ariz., Latino students achieve success (NBC News) "In Ariz., Latino students achieve success The Hispanic population has the lowest college graduation rate of any other group, but that is not the case in Arizona."

AM News: Feds Want Education Funds Back

Obama administration seeks return of state education funds Hattiesburg American: Those funds served in lieu of the collection of local property taxes and subsidized schools, roads and first-responder services around the country — despite...Show More Summary

Afternoon Video: Top Ten Reasons To Become A Teacher

David Letterman, 10 TFA newbies, and Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher."

Advocacy: Costs Lots, But What About The Impact?

A few months ago contributor Sarah Reckhow wrote a post about philanthropy-funded education advocacy efforts that asked a good question: "How does the Gates Foundation plan to evaluate its large portfolio of “advocacy” grants?" Of course, this isn't just an issue for Gates or other reform-minded funders. Show More Summary

Morning Video: College Tuitions, Student Loans

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Here's a Chris Hayes segment on banks, loans, & college tuitions.

AM News: Obama Wants Education Focus

Obama renews focus on jobs, education with Texas trip MSNBC: In a speech to students at Manor New Tech High School, Obama acknowledged that economic growth has been insufficient in part because some of his proposals have been blocked for “political reasons,” but reiterated his optimism and commitment to “keep... Show More Summary

Afternoon Video: Lessons Of The Environmental Movement

A new documentary tracks the rise of the environmental movement, focusing on the Love Canal disaster and Greenpeace's "save the whales" campaign.

Media: Two Great Education Writers You May Not Know About

Two of my favorite education writers right now write a lot about education but you may not know their names because they don't usually have bylines. Karin Klein of the LA Times (right) and Kate Grossman (@kategrossman1) of the Chicago...Show More Summary

Diversity: "When The Melting Pot Boils Over"

If you're like me, GreatSchools has always been a bit of mystery. School profiles are great, but not much of a game-changer no matter how well-written or data-rich. But recently I've learned that the GreatSchools profiles are incredibly...Show More Summary