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Public Education

Ability Grouping – Is It Back?

Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, indicates a resurgence of ability grouping, from 28% in 1998 to 71% in 2009. This may be cheating the lower-grouped students.

2013/04/16

Failure Is Not An Option

Despite budget problems, poverty, and little parent participation, Public Agenda reports on what makes for success at Ohio’s nine high poverty, high-achieving schools.

2012/12/10

Part 1: The EITC — What Is It?

The Educational Improvement Tax Credit is promoted as a way to provide a better education for poor children, but public education advocates say it actually takes away tax money that could be used to improve schools.

2012/11/08

Susan Gobreski, of Education Voters of Pennsylvania. Her organization says the EITC undermines public education. Credit: Pat Loeb)

Part 2: Who’s Hurt by the EITC?

Expanding the program at a time when the state has slashed public school funding is infuriating public education advocates.

2012/11/08

(Construction is underway on a new building on the campus of the Agnes Irwin School, in Rosemont, Pa. Credit: Pat Loeb)

Part 3: Who Benefits From It?

“BLOCS provides scholarships from your business taxes to students who not only want to attend a Catholic school but are most in need,” says one advertisement.

2012/11/08

(Pa. state senator Anthony Williams visits the Patterson Elementary School in Southwest Philadelphia. Credit: Pat Loeb)

Part 4: Ongoing Controversies

State senator Tony Williams defends the program as similar to the GI Bill, but some of his Harrisburg colleagues see it as improperly favoring closed groups.

2012/11/08

Responsive Classroom Strategies Show Learning Gains

A new study indicates that when teachers consistently use the Responsive Classroom learning approach, 5th grade students performed better on statewide assessment of math and reading skills than their peers who did not use the same learning strategies.

2012/10/09