The Education Gadfly Show

Andy and Stafford co-host, debating the Hawaii furlough debacle as they discuss Diane Ravitch's use of NAEP data to raise doubts about charters, Rick and Checker's piece on stimulus funding, and new charter changes in Massachusetts. Then Amber tells us about a new National Bureau of Economic Research evaluation of the Harlem Children's Zone and Rate that Reform bans texting while driving.

Rick and Mike snuggle around the microphone ("Can you not touch my leg?") as they discuss Arne Duncan's recent ed school speeches, Deborah Gist's working within the system in Rhode Island, and the relationship between New York State's charter cap and charter quality. Then Amber tells us about a new Public Agenda survey of teachers and Rate that Reform gets serious (about New Haven).

This week, Mike and Stafford discuss the fate of Catholic schools (again), Russ Whitehurst's call to the Obama Administration to stop ignoring curriculum, and the future of school boards. Then Amber tells us about a new RAND study on social promotion and Rate that Reform gets S.A.D.

This week, Mike and Andy discuss giving more aid to states, including think tanks and philanthropies in Department of Education forums, and Jeb Bush's praise of President Obama and Secretary Duncan. Then Amber presents a study on portfolio school districts and Rate that Reform takes on Arnold Schwarzenegger.

This week, Mike and Rick discuss a school in Massachusetts that wants to rise above test scores, the death of "No Child Left Behind" (as a name, not a law!), and out-of-work ed-school grads. Then Amber presents Fordham's latest report on national standards and Rate that Reform wishes Texas really would secede.

This week, we welcome guest co-host Checker, as he and Andy (now a regular!) discuss the passing of Don Fisher, Arne Duncan's eight-month-late comments on No Child Left Behind, and Andy's recent reportage of D.C.'s Catholic to charter conversions. Then Amber tells us about a Brookings study that calculates the cost of moderate-swine-flu-pandemic-caused school closures and Rate that Reform closes the case of the double dipping New York principal.

This week, Mike and Rick discuss the new Common Core standards, the low-bar graduation exam in Maryland, and South Africa's post-Apartheid inequalities. Then Amber tells us about Caroline Hoxby's new New York City charter study and Rate that Reform grades a double-dealer

Rick is out of retirement! He and Mike discuss the ascension of Senator Harkin to chair of the HELP committee, Philly's proposed changes for charter-school expansion, and the exodus of books from a prep school library. Then Amber tells us about the effects of Katrina evacuee students on the achievement of receiving schools and Rate that Reform disses MTV.

This week, Andy and Stafford discuss good grades in the Big Apple, school violence in Chi-town, and young principals in Beantown. Then Amber gives us the lowdown on the PDK/Gallup poll of American opinion on education and Rate that Reform grades Obama's (speech) lesson plans.

This week Mike, and not-really-a-guest-but-semi-regular-co-host Andy Smarick discuss the English teacher practice of letting students pick their own reading material, the new Boston Parent University, and performance pay for Los Angeles top school officials. Then Amber tells us about a new Ed Next study on the Obama Effect and Rate the Reform gets swine flu (figuratively).

This week, Petrilli and guest co-host Palmieri ponder DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's new teaching and learning standards, Los Angeles's school outsourcing plan, and Detroit's attempt to solve bankruptcy by spending more money. Then Amber tells us about a new EEPA study on curriculum similarity and Mickey sits in on Rate that Reform with a mass dress code fiasco.

Mike and Rick discuss the education angle to the healthcare debate, school district PR campaigns to win back students and Race to the Top's influence on education policy. Then Amber tells us about the relationship between school voucher programs and diagnosing students as disabled. Finally, Rate that Reform tackles teaching the Bible in schools.

It's a Mike and Rick reunion, during which, amid much catching up, they discuss the tweaking of mayoral control in New York City, the slashing of school busing in some districts (figuratively, not literally), and the changes to Rhode Island's teacher evaluation systems. Then Amber explains Marguerite Roza's latest rapid response paper and Rate that Reform travels to Asia (just like many members of Congress).

This week, Andy is back as guest co-host, joined by our Rick. They discuss the New York Times debate on standardized tests, whether Race to the Top needs a lesson in humility, and the chutzpah of teacher unions recruiting members at successful charter schools. Amber talks Master's degrees and compensation in her Research Minute and Rate that Reform grades the "pay-off-the-teacher-so-you-don’t-have-to-participate" tactic.

Mike declares the podcast coup over as he returns from his travels. He and Andy Smarick, now officially a routine guest host, discuss Duncan's Race to the Top criteria, Fordham's new graduation-rate primer, and Florida's template "poof" phrases on the state test. Then Amber, much tanner and rested but still bringing a research punch, discusses CEP's latest report on the test score "plateau effect." Stafford finishes up with a teacher party gone wild--and paid for with public dollars--on Rate that Reform.