The Education Gadfly Show

With both Mike and Rick at the PIE-Network annual summit, the podcast got a little crazy (in a good way). Co-hosts Chris, Janie, and Daniela talk NCLB waivers, the efficacy of the MCAS, and the truth about delaying Kindergarten. Amber shows that high property taxes don’t buy you an internationally competitive education and Chris trains a service animal.

Mike and Rick raise the bar this week, discussing high achievers, Duncan’s digital promise, and the textbook-company oligarchy. (Oh, and Rick confesses he has a reform-crush on L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa). Amber tackles minority-teacher retention and Chris dives head first into an NCAA lawsuit.

It’s all business on the Education Gadfly Show Podcast this week. Mike and Rick discuss the potential of digital learning, A.J. Duffy’s change of heart, and Houston’s Apollo 20 program—and Chris taps his X-rated alter-ego.

Mike chats with John Bailey of Whiteboard Advisors about teacher evaluations in the Empire State, a new sheriff for the “reform” district in the Wolverine State, and how boring bullying is to policy wonks, no matter the state. Amber finds a CCSS validation study lacking and Chris tells the government not to tread on his lemonade stand.

Mike and Rick get punchy this week, asking Arne Duncan what he was thinking going after Rick Perry, why the cheating scandals are snowballing (and why people thought it would be otherwise), and if four-day weeks are as bad as they seem. Amber goes back to ed school to pad her GPA and Chris reminds a Florida teacher of his first-amendment rights.

With Mike and Rick sipping Cuba Libres on the beach, Janie and Daniela speculate on what Montana’s “NCLB do-over” might mean for ESEA reauthorization, the potential of “reform unionism,” and the merits of “exam schools.” Amber makes a dry report on IDEA seem fascinating and Chri$ pitches districts a crazy idea: Turn off the lights when you aren’t in the room.

Mike and Rick get down to brass tacks on Duncan’s waivers and Wisconsin’s recall elections before making wagers on Education Reform Idol 2011. Amber maps state proficiency cut scores (again) and Chris calls out a principal who wishes he was on “Breaking Bad.”

Mike and Rick are in the zone this week analyzing the Save Our Schools March, how states can improve ed schools, and the merits of Missouri’s anti-Facebook-friending legislation. Amber gives Teach For America a high-five and Chri$ gives NC charter schools the flat-out deny.

After his podcast sabbatical, Rick Hess is back—and he doesn’t disappoint. After explaining his new Fordham paper on digital learning, he and Mike discuss the charter-voucher rivalry and what the debt ceiling means for education. (They share a few special moments, too.) Amber dissects philanthropic giving to teachers and teaching and Chri$ scolds Connecticut for its inequitable pension structure.

Education Sector’s Bill Tucker joins Mike in discussions on D.C.’s IMPACT system, charter schools in affluent communities, and a little something we like to call “Education Reform Idol.” Daniela goes Dutch and Chris reminds us that, when it comes to grades, colleges make it rain As.

Janie and Daniela hold down the podcast fort in style, discussing “no excuses” school cultures, teaching to the test, and the ancient art of handwriting. Amber goes ga-ga for an NYU study about the “opportunity gap,” and Fordham’s other Chris (Tessone) shakes his head at California’s latest budget in a new segment, “Dollars and Sense.”

Mike volleys with special guest Checker Finn in this week’s podcast. The topics they serve up? Education governance, cheating on standardized tests, and the NEA’s “reform” efforts. Amber slams an ace with a new NBER study. And Chris calls a fault on one school’s no-pix policy.

Mike tries to censor Rick’s free speech as the two discuss pension reform in New Jersey, Common Core conservatism, and violent video games. Amber fills in for Bob Barker and Chris Tessone makes sense of education finance in a new segment called “Dollars and Sense.”

Mike sits down with guest host Richard (Lee) Colvin of Ed Sector to hash out what Michigan’s new reform efforts may mean for Detroit, what the CCSSO accountability blueprint may mean for the feds, and what NAEP history scores may mean for the country. Amber puts a magnifying glass on teacher pensions in charter schools and Chris crosses the pond to play Cowboys and Indians.

Mike and Rick are el fuego this week, blasting Duncan’s new reform proposal, districts’ cost-cutting concerns, and over-hyped edu-entrepreneurs. Amber breaks down NAEP history results and Chris dares to question D.A.R.E.