Fordham in the News
Thomas B. Fordham Institute book, Sweating the Small Stuff: Inner-City Schools and the New Paternalism, wins prestigious award June 17, 2009
Like other struggling states, many of Ohio's best and brightest young people are leaving the area after graduation. How many? Why is this happening and what can be done to make them stay? Our Ohio team investigated this problem in Fordham's newest report, Losing Ohio's Future, which surveyed more than 800 college students in the state. It has created quite a buzz and has people talking!
Get out of town! More college grads leaving Ohio than ever
Fox 8 Columbus, Ohio
Ohio grads take diplomas and run
Columbus Dispatch, June 16, 2009
Survey: Most of Ohio's college grads plan to leave state for jobs
Dayton Daily News, June 16, 2009
Survey: Most college students plan to leave Ohio
The Associated Press, June 16, 2009
Survey: Most Ohio college students plan to leave
Columbus Business First, June 15, 2009
Survey: 6 of 10 college grads to leave Ohio
Cincinnati Enquirer, June 15, 2009
Mike shares some insight on charter schools in an article that discusses a recent report on the topic.
Charter schools hit, miss in new report
The Washington Times, June 16, 2009
In his new book, Reroute the Preschool Juggernaut, Checker argues that universal preschool is not the best idea. The book is being released June 6, but already has people talking. Below are op-eds that Checker wrote for the New York Post and Washington Post.
Say No to Universal Preschool
The New York Post, May 31, 2009
Slow the Preschool Bandwagon
The Washington Post, May 15, 2009
In this Dayton Daily News opinion piece, Terry Ryan, our Ohio expert, argues that troubled, ineffective charter schools -- which he terms 'zombie' schools -- should be shut down.
We must shut doors on zombie charter schools
Dayton Daily News, May 23, 2009
Checker wrote an op-ed for the Columbus Dispatch in which he analyzed Goveror Strickland's education plan.
Education plan is more trendy than substantive
Columbus Dispatch, May 21, 2009
Here Mike commented on national standards and Checker shared his thoughts about Obama's education plans.
Illinois joins school march toward national standards, test
Chicago Tribune, May 19, 2009
Schoolyard Scuffle Awaits Obama, Democrats
National Journal, May 16, 2009
We've seen some high-profile praise recently for David Whitman's book, Sweating the Small Stuff, which tells the compelling stories of several inner-city "no excuses" schools that have been extremely successful. David Brooks and Joel Klein both cite the book in their columns, below.
The Harlem Miracle
David Brooks, The New York Times, May 8, 2009
Urban Schools Need Better Teachers, Not Excuses, To Close the Education Gap
Joel I. Klein, U.S. News and World Report, opinion, May 4, 2009
Our recent daylong conference -- "International Lessons about National Standards" -- got people talking. Here's what some of them had to say:
Bill Schmidt's 'Tale of Two Countries'
Inside School Research, Education Week, May 5, 2009
Touching the Third Rail
inservice, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, May 5, 2009
Truth, Consequences and National Standards
Teacher in a Strange Land, May 5, 2009
The Best Defense against National Standards? Hearing about National Standards
CATO @ Liberty, May 6, 2009
Fordham recently released a poll of Ohioans views on education. It received noteworthy attention across the state.
New Report: Ohioans Know Little about Education Reform Plans
WCPN, May 5, 2009
Ohioans uniformed on schools, poll finds
Dispatch Politics, May 5, 2009
Poll says Ohioans need to go to school on education policy and funding
The Columbus Dispatch, May 4, 2009
Poll: Ohioans reject more taxes for education
Dayton Daily News, May 4, 2009
Survey shows Ohioans want fairness in school funding, but don't want higher taxes to pay for it
The Plain Dealer, May 4, 2009
Our new report -- Growing Pains in the Advanced Placement Program: Do Tough Trade-Offs Lie Ahead? -- is garnering a good deal of attention, including stories in the New York Times and Education Week, and a column in the Washington Post.
An Interview with Michael Petrilli: AP Classes on the Rise?
EducationNews.org, May 18, 2009
AP More Open, But Not Dumbed Down
The Washington Post, May 1, 2009
Teachers Offer Conflicting Views on AP Program's Rapid Growth
U.S. News and World Report, On Education blog, April 30, 2009
Many Teachers in Advanced Placement Voice Concern at Its Rapid Growth
The New York Times, April 29, 2009
Poll Finds AP Teachers Torn Over Expansion
Education Week, April 29, 2009
Teachers question effectiveness of AP classes
WTOP.com, April 29, 2009
Over the past several months, reporters have repeatedly sought out Fordham's Terry Ryan to get his take on education-related developments in Ohio.
Ohio House Democrats unveil their education budget
Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 17, 2009
House edits Strickland's funding formula
The Associated Press, April 16, 2009
For-profit charters a target
The Cincinnati Enquirer, March 7, 2007
Strickland's education plan is questionable
The Columbus Dispatch, February 18, 2009
Below is a FoxNews.com piece that describes how some schools are doing away with the traditional "F" grade in favor of a softer approach. Mike gives quite a few thoughts on the matter. Among other things, he complains about "dumbing down" the expectations for students.
Are 'No Fail' Grading Systems Hurting or Helping Students?
FoxNews.com, April 27, 2009
Here's a thoughtful op-ed penned by Checker and Andy (Smarick, our distinguished visiting fellow) that ran in the Washington Post. They write about disappearing urban Catholic schools and how the Obama administration can step up and help stop this trend.
Our Endangered Catholic Schools
The Washington Post, April 21, 2009
Checker was quoted in a Bloomberg piece about the Obama administration's education plans. And he and the Fordham Institute were cited in a recent TIME article about raising education standards.
Duncan to Spend Billions to 'Transform' U.S. Schools
Bloomberg, April 16, 2009
How to Raise the Standard in America's Schools
TIME, April 15, 2009
On Minnesota Public Radio recently, Mike (along with Andy Rotherham) discussed the Obama administration's education plans -- innovative schools, merit pay, stimulus dollars and reform.
Education and the Obama Administration
Minnesota Public Radio, April 13, 2009
Education Secretary Arne Duncan favors a longer school year and Mike recently discussed it on FOX. Find out if he thinks it's a good idea or not.
School Daze
FOXNews, April 9, 2009
Some schools have begun weaving lessons on empathy into their school days. Teaching children to be nice is a laudable goal, but Mike points out the potential downside in this New York Times article.
Gossip Girls and Boys Get Lessons in Empathy
New York Times, April 5, 2009
And here, President Chester E. Finn, Jr., talks to National Journal about standards.
Bringing States Into Line on Education
National Journal, March 14, 2009
There's more stimulus talk from Mike here -- on NBC Nightly News.
Refinancing Education
NBC Nightly News, March 13, 2009
Obama's recent education speech spurred much discussion. Here, Andy Smarick, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at TBFI, gives his take in an NRO piece.
Off the Fence on Education?
National Review Online, March 12, 2009
Our new study, The Accountability Illusion, has been discussed all over the country, from South Carolina to Texas to Wisconsin. Here are a few highlights:
The teacher-in-chief speaks
The Economist, March 12, 2009
Stimulating a Race to the Top
Education Week, March 11, 2009 (in print)
Hold education standards high
Boston Herald, March 1, 2009
Study: No Child Standards Vary Widely From State To State
The Associated Press, February 19, 2009
Study: No Child Left Behind rules looser in Minnesota
Minneapolis Star Tribune, February 18, 2009
Study: Texas sets bar low for students on TAKS
Austin-American Statesman, February 19, 2009
Achievement bar illusory, school study concludes
The Greenville News, February 19, 2009
Does state ask less of schools?
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 20, 2009
Our Ohio expert Terry Ryan tells the Associated Press what he thinks of Gov. Strickland's new budget proposal.
Budget cuts would cost Ohio charter schools $120 million
The Associated Press, February 6, 2009
Chicago recently chose a new public schools chief (who formerly ran the city's transit authority) to replace Arne Duncan (who became U.S. Education Secretary). Here, Mike talks to the Washington Times about choosing school superintendents with no education background.
Chicago snubs educators, hires outsider to head public schools
The Washington Times, February 3, 2009
The Weekly Standard reviews David Whitman's book, Sweating the Small Stuff: Inner-City Schools and the New Paternalism.
Pater Knows Best; The quest for success in inner-city schools.
The Weekly Standard, February 2, 2009
Washington has been abuzz, debating the hefty economic stimulus package, and Mike shares his thoughts on the matter with both USA Today and The Associated Press.
Education Chief: Stimulus aid could give schools needed jolt
USA Today, January 30, 2009
Skeptics fear stimulus fixes won't be temporary
USA Today, January 29, 2009
Stimulus school money could be hard to cut later
The Associated Press, January 26, 2009
Here, Mike is interviewed by EducationNews.org. He is asked about President Obama's inauguration speech and education.
An Interview with Michael J. Petrilli: Comments on the New President's Speech
Education News, January 27, 2009
Mike was called on to dissect the Bush legacy on education in this Christian Science Monitor piece.
Bush was hands-on for education, healthcare; hands-off for planet
Christian Science Monitor, January 13, 2009
Checker appeared on NBC Nightly News Jan. 9 to share his thoughts on education reform and President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus package.
Obama vows to help schools make the grade
NBC Nightly News, January 9, 2009
Checker Finn discussing Fordham's open letter to President-elect Obama
Bill Bennett's Morning in America radio show, December 30, 2008
Turns out our name-the-next-education-secretary daily tracking poll was right--President-elect Obama named Arne Duncan his secretary of education. The press came knocking on Fordham's door for comments.
B+ for the new boy
The Economist, December 18, 2008
Obama praises his education-secretary choice for relying on data to improve schools
The Chronicle of Higher Education, December 17, 2008
Duncan appointment examined
NPR, December 16, 2008
Obama taps Chicago schools chief for education post
PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, December 16, 2008
Education nominee appeals to reformers, unions
Washington Post, December 16, 2008
Education designee's priority: Tackling No Child Left Behind
Minneapolis Star-Tribune, December 16, 2008
Education Week's Debra Viadero wrote a piece that did a tremendous job of summing up Fordham's newest book, A Byte at the Apple: Rethinking Education Data for the Post-NCLB Era, released on November 17, 2008. Among the article's highlights, Viadero wondered about the research possibilities "if every student in the country carried a ‘virtual backpack' stuffed with statistics on his or her entire educational history." This idea is explored in Byte by Margaret Raymond of Stanford University, one of many scholars and leaders who helped write the book.
Better data seen as vital to improving nation's schools
Education Week, online December 5, 2008 and print December 10, 2008
Fordham's daily pick-the-next-education-secretary tracking poll (brainchild of Mike Petrilli) - which asked several education "insiders" each day to predict the next education secretary, has been a smashing hit! (though we have yet to hear who the new education secretary actually is!) The Fordham poll has been mentioned in several blogs and newspapers, including The Denver Post, The Baltimore Sun and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Bennet mum about talk of cabinet post
Denver Post, December 10, 2008
Chicago's public-school chief is seen as favorite to head U.S. Education Department
San Francisco Chronicle, online November 19, 2008
The next U.S. secretary of education
Baltimore Sun, online November 10, 2008