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Grading Schools

The strength of America’s education system hinges on high expectations for all students and meaningful accountability for all schools. Parents and communities need to know how well their children are – or are not – achieving. And schools that are not serving students well need to face the consequences of their failure.  

Standards & Accountability 

• The Big Picture: Check out for CER's State-by-State Scorecard rating states' education efforts and achievement across the board, as well as the Nation's Report Card on reading and math proficiency, state-by-state. (2009 Math Scores Here)
• Grading Your Schools: Links to state-by-state school performance profiles.
• The American Education Diet: Can U.S. Students Survive on Junk Food? A nuts-and-bolts rundown on the state of American education and it's impact on our economy and global standing.
• For Parents: Evaluating your child's school and the role of No Child Left Behind.

Race to the Top

Analysis and updates on the $4.35 billion federal fund targeting education reform & innovation.

Recent Developments

Students Aren't Learning Math. Can NCLB Help?
By Seward Darby, The New Republic, October 16, 2009
"School boards and the unions lobbied heavily in the debate over NCLB that states and communities be allowed to make their own standards," explains Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform, "so NCLB lost some teeth."

Lack of Math Proficiency Underscores the Need for School Options
CER Press Release, Washington, DC, October 14, 2009
American students are not being properly prepared to succeed in the global workforce and demonstrate slower progress than ever before in math proficiency, according to an evaluation of test scores under the Nation’s Report Card (NAEP) released today.

2,500 Rally at Michigan State Capitol for Education Reform
"Each and every American citizen is entitled to have equal access to a high quality education," said leading education reform activist Kevin Chavous. Students released balloons to represent the thousands of minority and at-risk students stuck in failing schools.
America's Race to the Top is a marathon, but you can help win it.

Fixing America's Schools
CNN, September 8, 2009
In the wake of President Obama's address to the nation's school children, CER president Jeanne Allen discusses the state of the nation's education system: "We know that parents need options. While we're figuring out how to fix our schools, they should have real choices."

Making Sense of President Obama's School Speech
Ten Things Parents Should Share with their Kids. Use this opportunity to educate your own kids about education - how it works, what we all can do to make it better, and how we can influence our elected officials to do the right thing for our kids.

Check This Out:

BLOB Watch Get Connected: Find education reform organizations and websites that offer resources and support for your state or nationwide. Grading Schools