Blog
Achievement Gap Persists Between Hispanic and White Students
A new federal report out today shows white and Hispanic students have made gains in reading and math. The bad news, however, is that the achievement gap between these two groups of children persists. That's despite efforts in recent years to narrow the gap. Read More»
Excellent Leaders Build Excellent Schools
Guest blogger Jill Whitescarver has taught in a number of schools in several states. She says you can’t underestimate the powerful role the principal plays in improving our schools. Read More»
Creating A Differentiated Classroom to Help All Students Learn
A common concern among educators today involves having to teach a diverse set of students who come to class with a wide range of learning styles and abilities. To meet the needs of all kids, teachers must be skilled in differentiated instruction. Courter Shimeall and Angela Evans offer their views on why this approach to teaching is critical and how to go about putting differentiated instruction in place. Read More»
Mayors: Schools Should Take Steps to Boost Effective Teaching
The bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution this week calling for an end to last in, first out teacher layoff policies and the creation of fair and rigorous evaluation systems for educators. To read more, click here: Read More»
Student: Young Voters Look at the Issues, Not the Party or the Politician
StudentsFirst Intern Justin Schulze says he and his friends look carefully at issues when they go to the polls. He says they are less likely to vote along party lines and are more willing to agree with politicians on some policies and disagree with them on others. Justin says that’s the position he finds himself in when it comes to Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Justin says he opposes Kasich’s stance on several issues, including the death penalty, but avidly supports the governor’s push for education reform. Read More»
Understanding Public Charter Schools
Charter schools are public schools that operate with more flexibility than traditional district schools. Yet, many people mistakenly refer to them as 'private,' or say they simply don't understand what category they fall into. We wanted to answer some of the common questions we have received about charter schools. So, we turned to James Merriman, chief executive officer of the New York City Charter School Center for some answers. Read More»
Maine says Yes to Public Charter Schools
The Maine legislature has passed a measure lifting the state’s ban on public charter schools. StudentsFirst members came out in force to call for the change, and their efforts paid off. Read More»
The Role Business Can Play in Improving our Schools
The business community should play a stronger role in boosting the quality of education U.S. children receive, according to American Enterprise Institute director of education policy studies Frederick M. Hess and researcher Whitney Downs. Together, they have written a new U.S. Chamber of Commerce report outlining the role businesses can play in building a 21st century workforce. The authors answer some StudentsFirst questions about the report. Read More»
Creating a School Environment that Welcomes Parents
Writer and educator Dr. James L. Casale offers insight into how schools can boost parental involvement. A school where parents are engaged is more likely to be successful than one in which parents are less involved. Since that connection is clear, schools should do their part to create a welcoming environment for parents. Dr. Casale has some tips. Read More»
Teachers speak out: Dispelling fears and myths about teacher evaluations
As Ohio and other states around the country consider comprehensive teacher evaluation systems focused on student achievement growth, teachers who have been evaluated under similar systems talk about their experiences. Hear what they have to say. Read More»
