Kentucky Education Policy Blog

When the Kentucky Education Reform Act was passed in 1990 it was groundbreaking legislation that set the standard for the wave of education reform in the late 20th century.  This week the Maryland General Assembly's overrode Governor Larry Hogan's veto to pass an education reform and funding package that will likely set a new standard for education reform in the 21st century.  The Blueprint for Maryland's Future is based on the recommendations of the state’s Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, paves the way for Maryland to build a public education system benchmarked to the most globally competitive education systems around the world. The Blueprint legislation is the first in the U.S. explicitly designed to enable a state’s students to match the performance of students in the countries that lead the world in performance, equity, and efficiency. It provides Maryland with a fairer funding system and an accountability system that will assure that the policie...

I always read with great interest Marc Tucker's blogs from the National Center on Education and the Economy .  I have heard Marc speak numerous times, I have participated in the Superintendent Academy sponsored by the NCEE and agree with his and NCEE's advocacy for systemic change in the American education system.  Tucker's main point in his most recent entry addresses the false promise of charter schools as a "be-all, end-all" education reform effort.  Tucker and the NCEE are distinctive among education policy leaders with a strong emphasis on benchmarking the U.S. with the most successful education systems around the world.  Here Tucker's argument is right on the money.  Charter schools are a band-aid when a heart transplant is needed.   His metaphoric language caused me to think of deeper issues that plague our policy environment in education and elsewhere.  Many of those that we elect and even appoint to address the challenges of our system d...