Brookings: Topics - K-12 Education

Brown Center on Education Policy

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:10:49 GMT

Faith in Common Standards Not Enough

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Russ Whitehurst and Michelle Croft find no association between state scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and ratings of the quality of state standards. Moreover, their analyses suggest that the creation of common standards will have little impact on our future in and of itself.

Don’t Forget Curriculum

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama has committed himself to “reform America’s public schools,” and his administration is focused on making early childhood programs, common standards, charter schools and teachers more effective. However, writes Russ Whitehurst, the administration should also undertake actions to better integrate curriculum innovation and reform into its policy framework. "Don't Forget Curriculum” compares the size of the effects on student achievement brought about by curriculum with the size of the effects of popular reform strategies favored by the Obama administration.

The Scouting Report: Education Policy Challenges in America

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

September 02, 2009, 12:30 PM to 1:30

On Wednesday, September 2, Brookings expert Russ Whitehurst, who directs the Brown Center for Education at Brookings, and Fred Barbash, senior editor of Politico, took questions on American education policy.

Smart Child Left Behind

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

According to a recent study, No Child Left Behind is having its intended effect—bettering the performance of low-achieving students—and also raising test scores for top students. However, Tom Loveless and Michael Petrilli find this latter conclusion flawed because state tests are poor measurements for high achieving students; the study’s depicted state trends create a misleading national picture; and the analysis does not compare today’s students with those of earlier eras.

The "Golden Age" of American Education

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Education reformers are grappling with difficult, ideologically charged questions on how to improve the United States education system. But these debates have deep historical roots. Tom Loveless joins the Kojo Nnamdi Show to examine the great historical debates in American education and the myths about the golden era of American education.

A Brookings Roundtable on Education Reform Featuring the Honorable Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 19, 2009, 10:30 AM to 12:00:00 PM

In a roundtable discussion on education reform, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard outlined the similarities between the reform agendas in the United States and Australia. Highlighting a commitment to transparency and a promise to create a high-quality national curriculum, Minister Gillard notes that Australia would keep pace with its Asia-Pacific neighbors and create a plan to increase secondary school graduation rates.

The Role of High Schools in Preparing Disadvantaged Students for College

Thu, 14 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

May 14, 2009, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

On May 14, The Future of Children, a joint project between Princeton University and the Brookings Institution, will release a policy brief discussing the steps high schools should take to help low-income students prepare for postsecondary education. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), the former superintendent of the Denver schools, will deliver the keynote address.

A New Goal for America’s High Schools: College Preparation for All

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In this policy brief, a companion to the volume of The Future of Children devoted to high school reforms, Ron Haskins and James Kemple examine the steps high schools should take to help low-income students prepare for and succeed in college. Specifically, they argue, high schools should boost students’ subject matter knowledge and study skills and counsel students on how to select colleges and obtain financial aid.

Promoting Economic Mobility by Increasing Postsecondary Education

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many low-income students miss out on college because they don’t know how much it actually costs or how to get access to billions of dollars in financial aid, says Ron Haskins. That’s why improving the equality of educational opportunity—a traditional American value—is one key to promoting economic mobility for disadvantaged students.

Secretary Arne Duncan and the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Following Congress's vote to eliminate funding for the the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, many have criticized Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for not informing Congress of the program’s success. However, given the established procedures of the Institute of Education Sciences, it is extremely unlikely that Secretary Duncan would have known the results of the study until recently, writes Russ Whitehurst.

The Impact of Milwaukee Charter Schools on Student Achievement

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In this Issues in Governance Studies paper, John Witte and Stéphane Lavertu analyze the impact of charter school attendance on student gain scores on mathematics and reading achievement tests in the Milwaukee Public School district.

Innovation in Education: Invest in What Works

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 authorized the Secretary of Education to establish a $650 million Innovation Fund to expand the work of schools that have made gains in closing achievement gaps. With growing discussion and considerable money heading in the direction of innovation, Russ Whitehurst provides recommendations on how the Department of Education should evaluate successful programs.

Obama's Education Policy

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama spoke about implementing the merit pay system for teachers as well as expanding charter schools in a effort to reform the education system in the United States. Brown Center Director Russ Whitehurst joined Politico's Jonathan Martin and CBS News’ Bob Schieffer on Washington Unplugged to talk about the politics behind Obama's education policy and how it would affect our education system.

The President’s Education Agenda

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Russ Whitehurst assesses President Obama's education speech and applauds his commitment to regaining our international lead in education by addressing the "crazy quilt of state standards and assessments." But, he argues, "the proposal to provide incentives to states that improve their standards is a far weaker prescription than is desirable or politically possible."

The 2008 Brown Center Report on American Education: How Well Are American Students Learning?

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the 2008 Brown Center Report on American Education, Tom Loveless closely examines the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), student achievement in the nation's largest urban school districts, and the trend of placing unprepared eighth-graders into algebra and other advanced math classes.

Reading Second

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Former President George W. Bush finished his tenure without having won congressional renewal of his No Child Left Behind (NCLB) policy. With President Barack Obama now at the helm, NCLB is up for debate. Brown Center Director Russ Whitehurst examines Reading First, a key component of NCLB, that aims to ensure that all children learn to read well by the end of third grade.

Facing the Future: Financing Public Schools

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 01, 2008, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

An extensive six-year study concludes that K-12 school finance systems are burdened by rules and narrow policies that hold local officials accountable for compliance but not results. On December 1, the Metropolitan Policy Program and the Brown Center on Education Policy co-hosted a discussion on a new report, “Facing the Future: Financing Productive Schools,” with two of its authors, Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Paul Hill and University of Washington Research Associate Professor Marguerite Roza.

Russ Whitehurst Named Director of the Brown Center on Education

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:26:45 GMT

Grover J. “Russ” Whitehurst, director of the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education, is joining the Brookings Institution as senior fellow in Governance Studies and director of the Brown Center on Education, Brookings President Strobe Talbott announced.

Policy Implications of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel Final Report

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As a member of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, Tom Loveless discusses the policy implications of the Panel's findings at the federal, state, district, and school levels, including recommendations related to state standards, curriculum frameworks, and assessments.

The Misplaced Math Student: Lost in Eighth-Grade Algebra

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

More U.S. eighth grade students take algebra today than any other math course. However, universal eighth grade algebra is creating more problems than it solves, writes Tom Loveless, as some 120,000 middle-schoolers are now struggling in advanced classes for which they are woefully unprepared.

Mobilizing the Community to Help Students Succeed

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hugh B. Price shares the lessons learned during his tenure as president of the National Urban League and explains how educators can collaborate with others to reverse poor motivation, reward student success, and realize higher achievement in even the most challenged school districts.

High-Achieving Students in the Era of No Child Left Behind

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Tom Loveless offers an analysis on the achievement trends for high-achieving students (defined, like low-achieving students, by their performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP) since the early 1990s and, in more detail, since 2000.

About-Face! A Case for Quasi-military Public High Schools

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hugh B. Price offers a new approach to educating young people who are faring miserably in public schools. He makes a case for quasi-military public high schools because they offer a safe environment, academic excellence and a surprising focus on the whole child.

Planning for Quality Schools: Meeting the Needs of District Families

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The District of Columbia is struggling to attract and retain families with children. Most newcomers are singles and childless couples. The total number of school-age children has declined slightly. Many of the city’s schools suffer from long-standing physical, management and academic problems. The availability of quality public schools, near affordable family-friendly housing, will help determine the city’s success.

Children and Electronic Media

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 23, 2008, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

On April 23, a slate of panelists, including researchers, media representatives, and advocates discussed the role of government and the private sector in making media a positive force in the lives of young people. Video clips from several positive media campaigns designed to improve the health and well-being of the nation’s youth were presented.

Investing in Early Education: Paths to Improving Children's Success

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

While the nation has been struggling to eliminate the education gap, Ron Haskins testifies on ways to improve all preschool education received by poor children.

The 2007 Brown Center Report on American Education: How Well Are American Students Learning?

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The 2007 Brown Center Report on American Education examines how well American students are learning in math and reading, the enrollment patterns in private and public schools, and whether more time spent learning math increases achievement. Tom Loveless, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy, authors this report.

The 2007 Brown Center Report on American Education

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Brown Center Report on American Education provides an accurate, nonpartisan, data-driven account of American elementary and secondary education. First published in 2000, the report continues to use the latest and best evidence available to evalua

Lessons Learned : What International Assessments Tell Us about Math Achievement

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Lessons Learned moves beyond the competition for international ranking to find strategies, both in and outside the classroom, to improve student achievement in mathematics.

Standards-Based Reform and the Poverty Gap: Lessons for No Child Left Behind

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

October 22, 2007, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

At an event hosted by the Brown Center on Education Policy, authors of a new volume examined whether No Child Left Behind is enhancing educational opportunities for our most disadvantaged students.

50-Year Anniversary of Little Rock Nine

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 16:28:08 GMT

Senior Fellow Hugh B. Price discusses the legacy of the Little Rock Nine for desegregation today.

Tom Loveless Joins Brookings as Senior Fellow and Director of the Brown Center on Education Policy

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:10:44 GMT

Tom Loveless--who has taught at both the university and grade school level--will join Brookings on July 1, 1999 as director of the Brown Center on Education Policy and senior fellow in Governmental Studies, Brookings President Michael H. Armacost ann

New Study Finds That Math Items on the Nation's Benchmark Exam Are Too Easy, Don't Adequately Assess Skills; Eighth Graders Asked to Solve Problems Using First Grade Arithmetic

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:08:23 GMT

A new report from the Brown Center on Education Policy

Hugh B. Price, Former National Urban League President, Joins Brookings

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:08:02 GMT

Brookings News Release (1/19/06)

Get Congress Out of the Classroom

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the rosy claims of the Bush administration, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 is fundamentally flawed, says Diane Ravitch. The main goal of the law — that all children in the United States will be proficient in reading and mathematics by 2014 — is simply unattainable.

The State of Math Standards

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Tom Loveless; Education Week (7/25/07)

First, Get the Knowledge

Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Diane Ravitch, The New York Sun (5/25/07)

Brookings Papers on Education Policy: 2006-2007

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Papers on Education Policy provides the latest thinking from nationally recognized experts on policy issues affecting grades K-12.

The Role of Education in Promoting Opportunity and Economic Growth

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

March 29, 2007, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

The 2006 Brown Center Report on American Education: How Well Are Our Students Learning?

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

October 18, 2006, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

The Brown Center released its 2006 Report on American Education at an event. The report examines whether states are artificially inflating the number of students meeting proficiency standards mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act.

The 2006 Brown Center Report on American Education: How Well Are American Students Learning?

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The 2006 Brown Center Report on American Education evaluates the role that student happiness and confidence play in achievement, and examines whether states are artificially inflating the number of students meeting proficiency standards mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act.

Opportunity in America: Does Education Promote Social Mobility?

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

September 19, 2006, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

The Peculiar Politics of No Child Left Behind

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In this Brookings paper, Tom Loveless reviews national polling data on NCLB, examines how states have responded, and assesses whether state and local opposition to NCLB has weakened the foundation of its political support.

No Child Left Behind: How To Give It a Passing Grade

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

The No Child Left Behind Act has the potential to improve many of America’s schools, but this potential is currently undermined by serious flaws in how the program evaluates school performance, writes Martin West. He proposes that the Department of Education allow states sufficient flexibility in devising alternative accountability schemes.

The Role of Randomized Evaluations in Making Progress Towards Universal Basic and Secondary Education

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Although there has been tremendous progress in expanding school enrollments and increasing years of schooling in recent decades, 113 million children of primary-school age are still not enrolled in school (UNDP, 2003).

Ethnomathematics

Mon, 20 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Diane Ravitch; The Wall Street Journal (6/20/05)

How Program Officers at Education Philanthropies View Education

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Tom Loveless; AEI Conference With the Best of Intentions: Lessons Learned in K-12 Education Philanthropy(4/25/05)

Brookings Papers on Education Policy: 2005

Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Subscribe to Brookings Papers on Education Policy

American education is undergoing significant shifts in the way education is deliv

The 2004 Brown Center Report on American Education: How Well Are American Students Learning?

Mon, 01 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT

The 2004 Brown Center Report analyzes the difficulty of items on the math portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), examines the content training of middle school math teachers, and evaluates the Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Making School Reform Work : New Partnerships for Real Change

Fri, 01 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Bringing change to our public school system is hard, and the current system of education governance creates barriers that can make that reform even harder. In Making School Reform Work six authorities in public education discuss how local phil

Common Sense School Reform

Thu, 10 Jun 2004 13:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 10, 2004, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Computation Skills, Calculators, and Achievement Gaps: An Analysis of NAEP Items

Thu, 15 Apr 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Tom Loveless (4/15/04)

School Choice : Doing It the Right Way Makes a Difference: A Report from the National Working Commission on Choice in K-12 Education

Sun, 01 Feb 2004 00:00:00 GMT

This report explores choice in terms of four key issues: benefits to children whose parents choose new schools; benefits to children whose families do not exercise choice; effects on the national commitment to equal opportunity and school desegregati

No Child Left Behind? The Politics and Practice of Accountability

Thu, 11 Dec 2003 12:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 11, 2003, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

A discussion of a new book from the Brookings Institution, No Child Left Behind? The Politics and Practice of Accountability.

School Choice: Doing It the Right Way Makes a Difference

Sat, 01 Nov 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Report from the National Working Commission on Choice in K-12 Education (11/17/03)

2003 Brown Center Report on American Education

Wed, 01 Oct 2003 00:00:00 GMT

The 2003 Brown Center Report addresses how students are performing in reading and mathematics, the amount of homework that students receive, and presents a follow-up to the 2002 study on charter schools.

The 2003 Brown Center Annual Report on American Education

Wed, 01 Oct 2003 00:00:00 GMT

The 2003 Brown Center Report on American Education is the fourth edition of the annual publication. It will be released October 22, 2003. The first section uses NAEP test data and test scores from the states to evaluate student achievement. The secon

Chancellor's New Reading Program is Unproven

Mon, 10 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Diane Ravitch on Chancellor Joel Klein's decision to mandate ""Month by Month Phonics"" for most New York City schools. She argues the city should endorse a menu of recognized, validated, evidence-based reading programs, not just one whose effectivenes

The 2002 Brown Center Report on American Education: How Well Are American Students Learning?

Sun, 01 Sep 2002 00:00:00 GMT

The 2002 Brown Center Report addresses how students are performing in arithmetic, the academic achievement of high schools with dominant sports teams, and charter school achievement on state tests.

Whole School Reform: Is installing a ""whole school"" reform model the best way to turn around a struggling school?

Wed, 23 Jan 2002 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

January 23, 2002, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

The Great Curriculum Debate : How Should We Teach Reading and Math?

Fri, 02 Nov 2001 00:00:00 GMT

In the 1990s, progressives and traditionalists among American educators squared off in a dispute over reading and mathematics. Arguments over how best to teach these two subjects is detailed in The Great Curriculum Debate: How Should We Teach Reading

Draft 2004 Mathematics Framework for NAEP

Mon, 24 Sep 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by Tom Loveless, Senior Fellow and Director of Brown Center on Education Policy, The Brookings Institution, Testimony Before the National Assessment Governing Board, September 24, 2001

Brown Center Report on American Education 2001

Sat, 01 Sep 2001 00:00:00 GMT

The 2001 Brown Center Report investigates the enormous gap between the U.S. and other nations in mathematics achievement, analyzes the gap between the nation's best and worst readers in fourth grade, surveys the culture of the American high school, and looks at achievement in urban schools.

Searching for a Way to Close the Achievement Gap

Sun, 22 Oct 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Tom Loveless, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, in the Washington Post, October 22, 2000

The 2000 Brown Center Report on American Education: How Well Are American Students Learning?

Fri, 01 Sep 2000 00:00:00 GMT

The 2000 Brown Center Report studies the use of calculators in math instruction and state and federal programs that single out exemplary schools for special recognition.

Brown Center Report on American Education : 2000

Fri, 01 Sep 2000 00:00:00 GMT

This annual report card analyzes the state of American education using the latest measures of student learning, uncovers and explains important trends in achievement test scores, and identifies promising and disappointing educational reforms. Unlike

Teachers Unions: Do They Help or Hurt Education Reform?

Tue, 11 Apr 2000 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 11, 2000 at 10:00 AM

Broken Promises: What the Federal Government Can Do To Improve American Education

Wed, 01 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Tom Loveless and Diane Ravitch (Spring 2000)

Uncle Sam's Math Books

Tue, 18 Jan 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Tom Loveless, Director, Brown Center on Education Policy, the Brookings Institution, in the Christitan Science Monitor, January 18, 2000

Uncle Sam's Math Books

Tue, 18 Jan 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Tom Loveless, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, in The Christian Science Monitor, January 18, 2000

Can We Make Education Policy on the Basis of Evidence?

Wed, 08 Dec 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 08, 1999 at 12:00 AM

Kids Need an Early Start: Universal preschool education may be the best investment Americans can make in our children's education - and our nation's future.

Wed, 01 Sep 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Article By Isabel V. Sawhill, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies Program

The Tracking Wars : State Reform Meets School Policy

Mon, 12 Jul 1999 00:00:00 GMT

In this book, Tom Loveless describes how schools in California and Massachusetts reacted to de-tracking recommendations and discusses why some schools went along with detracking while others bitterly resisted the reform.

50 States, 50 Standards: The Continuing Need for National Voluntary Standards in Education

Sat, 01 Jun 1996 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review, Summer 1996