School Reform Models (K-12)

What Is the Goal of School Reform?

This essay by Michael B. Katz and Mike Rose looks at the current standardized test driven school reform model and questions whether the reforms themselves subvert the very goals of reform...

Though we hear a lot about test scores and proficiency levels, we hear hardly anything about intellectual engagement, curiosity, creativity, or aesthetics—or about taking a chance, pursuing an idea, being reflective. There's pitifully little about ethical deliberation or thinking things through with others. For that fact, we don't hear much about public education as the core of a free society.

As we consider what the reform initiatives might achieve, we should also ask the old, defining question: What is the purpose of education in a democracy?

Worth checking out.

Best Evidence Encyclopedia

The Best Evidence Encyclopedia is intended to give educators and researchers fair and useful information about the strength of the evidence supporting a variety of programs available for students in grades K-12. It provides summaries of scientific reviews produced by different authors and organizations, as well as links to the full texts of each review.

The site is produced by the Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University's School of Education.

Education Northwest Blog

Education Northwest conducts nearly 200 projects annually, working with schools, districts, and communities across the country on comprehensive, research-based solutions to the challenges they face. Their blog discusses ideas and innovations in education from a Northwest perspective.

Regional Educational Laboratories

Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs) work in partnership with school districts, state departments of education, and others to use data and research to improve academic outcomes for students.

Fundamentally, the mission of the RELs is to provide support for a more evidence-reliant education system. Their blog details recent results and news.

Center for School Turnaround & Improvement

Sponsored by WestED, CSTI provides a range of school improvement resources, and connects users with specialists and other educators to share school turnaround research and promising practices. Their Library and Insights sections are especially recommended.

Changing Schools - MCREL

McREL works with schools, school systems, governmental agencies, and others to improve education. They have a number of free resources on their website, including White Papers, a Blog and Success Stories.

In Newark school reform efforts, gains come at a price.

In 2010, Gov. Chris Christie, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and former Mayor Cory Booker launched an ambitious plan to remake Newark's schools by creating a network of charter schools that would operate almost like a business -- a model they hoped could be adopted nationally.

William Brangham interviewed Dale Russakoff about her book, "The Prize," which chronicles the reform efforts and the effects of the failure of the reformers to bring the community into the process.