Education in America

T he schools in the southern section of Sacramento City are generally among the district’s worst. The neighborhood is one of the city’s poorest and many of its students come from a burgeoning immigrant population that often does not speak English at home. But something surprising is happening at Bowling Green Elementary, the district’s only […]

Boston’s Renaissance Charter School initially foundered when it apparently attempted to discourage the enrollment of disabled children (although the school’s Edison Project sponsor has always insisted that these efforts violated its policies). This year Renaissance reformed its special education program in an attempt to bring it more in line with Edison’s own stated ideals and […]

In exchange for autonomy from school districts, charter schools promise to achieve measurable progress in children’s performance. But the movement is based on a dubious premise.

Vouchers have new political power derived from their potent appeal to minorities and the poor. Liberals and defenders of public education had better take notice.

It seemed like a conservative idea; then progressive educators got hold of it. Now a firestorm has erupted that could jeopardize the effort to raise national curriculum standards.

Public schools are actually performing remarkably well. What they need is not radical reform but more support.

Vouchers would auction off our future.