Public Policy

In late January, the Southern region Analyst Fellowship cohort convened in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss issues surrounding change management and innovative ideas in education. Several distinguished education professionals from the Nashville area met with the Fellows to discuss the space for innovation and change in education organizations nationwide. Among these guests was Ravi Gupta, the founding director of Nashville Prep Charter School and an up-and-coming leader on the national scene, recently named one of Forbes' Magazine's "30 Under 30" in Law and Policy. The Fellows had a chance to...

“Changing California’s education system will require more money, but the absence of resources does not preclude policy changes that can make a difference for kids. This is the way forward.” So begins David Plank, Executive Director of Policy Analysis for California Education ( PACE ), when asked to explain the impetus behind PACE’s most recent report. The report, released in April and titled “Reforming Education in California: A Guide for Candidates and Citizens,” makes clear policy recommendations in anticipation of California’s state-wide political races. “This report points the way for...

Teacher evaluation is nothing new or radical. In fact, schools and districts have a long history of evaluating teachers. However, in practice teacher evaluation plays out as one big irony. While the majority of teachers receive “satisfactory” evaluation ratings, an increasing number of schools are labeled “failures.” There is something wrong with this reality. Education Pioneers Alumni Brian Pick (’07 DC Metro Area), Tim O’Brien (’08 DC Metro Area), and others at District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) are addressing this incongruity and working to improve teacher effectiveness through...

Teachers have the most significant influence on student learning – especially for minority and low-income students. The evidence here is clear. And recently a paradigm shift in the way the education industry evaluates teachers has been taking place. This change aims to measure teachers by the success of their students, rather than predictors of quality such as credentials. Many believe –and hope– this change means teachers will soon be accepted as individual professionals rather than interchangeable pieces in the educational puzzle. According to a recent study, part of the problem is systemic...