Loud voice fighting tide of new trend in education
Diane Ravitch made her name in the 1970s as a historian chronicling the role of public schools in American social mobility, The New York Times reports.
Diane Ravitch
Nearly 900 districts to apply for Race to the Top funding
Nearly 900 school districts across the nation intend to apply for a slice of close to $400 million in grants that the U.S. Education Department will distribute in…
Ravitch: Pennsylvania’s cyber-school expansion ‘unbelievable’
Pennsylvania just approved four new cyber-charter schools, bringing the number of online charter schools in the state to 17, writes noted education historian Diane Ravitch on her blog—and…
Why the Gates Foundation is so puzzling
When one foundation has amassed over $30 billion, it has the financial power to shape the policies of government to its liking, says Diane Ravitch, a research professor…
University research will evaluate physical data to gauge teacher effectiveness
A student’s physical reaction to a classroom lesson soon could be used to judge how successful—or unsuccessful—an educator is in keeping students engaged.
School privatization on trial in Philadelphia
The City of Brotherly Love is boiling over with frustration. It's not just the $700 million in education cuts this past year. It's not just a loss of…
Top educational technology news: May 2012
In the May 2012 issue of eSchool News, we report on several significant ed-tech developments, including a speech by education historian Diane Ravitch about the promises—and perils—of school…
Diane Ravitch outlines ed tech’s promise, perils
Technology offers incredible potential for education, but it also presents certain perils that all education stakeholders must take care to avoid, said noted education historian and NYU professor…
A test for politicians on education (with cheat sheet)
Here are questions that education historian Diane Ravitch posed to politicans who make education policy, the Washington Post reports
Ravitch: Does Obama understand Race to the Top?
I don't know about you, but I am growing convinced that President Barack Obama doesn't know what Race to the Top is, says education historian Diane Ravitch for…
Ravitch: Why Finland’s schools are great (by doing what we don’t)
I recently returned from a trip to Europe. In Berlin, I spoke at an international education research conference. Researchers from Europe, Asia, and Latin America were very alarmed…
Readers: Here’s how we’d change ESEA
With Education Secretary Arne Duncan warning Congress that he'll take matters into his own hands if lawmakers this year fail to rewrite the Elementary and Secondary Education Act…
What schools can learn from charters about teaching English language learners
As charter schools become testing grounds for innovative approaches to education, many of these schools with high English language learner (ELL) and Latino enrollments are identifying best practices…
Critics say administration’s blueprint is too similar to NCLB
As the Obama administration seeks support for its plan to rewrite the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), many education policy analysts worry that the new blueprint's guidelines…