FOR POLICY MAKERS
A Special Section from CER

TAKING IT TO THE TOP: The Center for Education Reform has joined an amicus brief submitted by the Institute for Justice to the US Supreme Court. The brief requests that the High Court consider a Washington State case that challenges the constitutionality of the so-called "Blaine Amendments," which for over a century have impeded school choice across the country. 

NEGATIVE CHARTER REPORT SERIOUSLY FLAWED: A new charter report released by Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) offers a distorted view of charter schools that focuses on inputs and completely ignores the documented charter achievement gains that render those inputs meaningless. Click here for more CER analysis. The Charter School Leadership Council also rebukes PACE 'analysis' as biased, politically motivated.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES: COLORADO: New School Choice Law Allows Poor Students in 11 Districts To Take Up To 85 Percent Of Their Education Funds To Choose a Better School. MARYLAND: Hopes are Slim that Weak Charter School Bill Can be Improved in Committee.

CER RELEASES ITS LATEST CHARTER SCHOOL LAWS SCORECARD: CER's much anticipated update analysis of the nation's 40 charter laws, both new and amended, provides a guidepost to what kind of charter activity is likely to occur under certain legislative conditions, and serves as a useful yardstick against which to measure and fashion forthcoming legislation and amendments.

FEDERAL POLICY: "A year ago landmark education legislation was signed making it possible for students in chronically failing schools to attend schools that work….For the first time in the history of federal education support, the issues of quality and accountability overcame Washington's previous fixation on resources only." Link here to the full statement by CER President Jeanne Allen on the one-year anniversary of the No Child Left Behind Act.

ELECTION WATCH 2002

EDUCATION REFORM 2002: A VOTER'S GUIDE: Americans in 36 states will head to the polls next month to cast their vote for governor, and in seven of these states they will also select the state schools chief. The Center for Education Reform has cut through the rhetoric and spin to bring you this important guide to evaluate candidates' education reform pedigree on key issues. UPDATE November 12, 2002: Election Results 2002: Education Reform Triumphs for School Choice and Charters -- Analysis of States' Governor and Education Superintendent Race Results

Education is heating up in state and local elections. Separate the spin from the substance with CER's Candidate Survey. And tune in regularly for highlights of education reform debates and issues that are making campaign season interesting.
* Governor races in Alabama & New Hampshire.
* Governor races in New York and Florida.

ON THE ISSUES

CERTIFIABLE NONSENSE: There is a long-standing tendency to equate teacher certification with teacher quality. Unfortunately, it simply doesn't hold up under scrutiny. Here's a look at some of the research and analysis that tell the tale.

U.S. SPENDS A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO BE JUST AVERAGE: If ever there is doubt about how troubled our education system is, international comparisons bring us back to reality. Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators 2002, a new report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) comparing educational systems in 32 industrialized nations, shows the U.S. spends more money per-pupil than almost any other nation, yet only produces “average” overall academic achievement. This sad fact, as well as a bevy of other educational comparisons between America and our international peers, are available at the OECD website. For more background on US student performance, check out The American Education Diet: Can U.S. Students Survive on Junk Food?

The New ESEA: A Primer for Policy Makers (.pdf format): The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires all public schools to show yearly academic progress and make achievement gains on tests approved by each state and benchmarked against national assessments. CER's paper addresses some basic questions and answers to help schools and districts put in place systems that meet these new Federal demands. And click here for more background and updates on the No Child Left Behind Act.

Debunking Six Common Criticisms of Charter Opponents: Critics of charter schools continually serve up arguments claiming charters are so bad as a way to divert attention from why traditional public schools aren't good enough. But the evidence shows that charters are serving students fairly and well, and are boon to parents and the education system.

HISTORIC VICTORY FOR SCHOOL CHOICE AND CHILDREN: There is no longer any Constitutional cloud over whether or not policymakers can establish educational programs that allow parents to choose the school that best fits their child's needs, be it public or private. On June 27 the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the state of Ohio was within its constitutional power to enact a program to help Cleveland's children gain access to schools that parents believe will serve them better than the schools that for more than twenty-five years have failed by every measure. This landmark decision will shore up nationwide reform efforts to transform U.S. education in to a system of schools that responds first and foremost to families and children. Get all the details and weblinks...

Pledge to Promote Civic Literacy: Calling civic literacy a pillar of freedom, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has launched a new project urging state and national leaders, civic leaders, teachers, and school board members to sign a "Pledge to Promote Civic Literacy" in our schools nationwide. Read about this and other efforts to bring the American ideal alive to school children across the country in CER's section, Mom, Apple Pie and the Schools.

Can Students Survive on Junk Food? Eighteen years ago, A Nation At Risk warned of a "rising tide of mediocrity" in American schools. This report examines how little progress has been made, and looks at recent and alarming trends in school standards, from local measurement to international standings. Here, you'll find both general and a subject-by-subject look at student achievement.

QUESTION AUTHORITY: 

  CURRICULUM UPDATE

EDUCATION REFORM LEGISLATION, LAWS and LEGAL ACTION ...

CHARTER SCHOOLS

CHARTER SCHOOL LAWS, STATE BY STATE

SCHOOL CHOICE

      AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS   

NOTEWORTHY STATE STANDARDS

Talking Points

Facts & Figures

CER Home Page E-Mail CER CER Publications