More on why school funding matters
In my last post, I argued that we should be spending more on our k-12 schools. And I argued we should do that in order to provide for all students what parents of means make sure are provided for their children: well-paid teachers, small class sizes, broad and engaging curriculum. But I also mentioned that […]
Money, schools, and what matters
For years there’s been a persistent myth that school funding is unrelated to student outcomes. Politicians on both sides of the aisle decry the rising spending and stagnant test scores. It’s not the money, these politicians say, but how the money is spent. In a certain sense, they’re right. School funding in the aggregate certainly […]
Solving the mystery of childhood poverty
Child poverty rates in the United States are often treated as a mystery. How can so many children be poor in a nation this wealthy? But as it turns out, reducing child poverty is no great mystery at all – just ask the United Kingdom. Historically the U.S. and the U.K held the dubious distinction of […]
Helping students beat the odds
These days, it seems nearly every high school serving low-income students can boast of a 100% college acceptance rate. Indeed, it’s a very low bar to clear. Because community colleges and some four-year schools are open-enrollment, achieving a 100% college acceptance rate simply means that you’re able to get everyone to fill out an application. […]
Michigan charter schools: Ensuring success or replicating failure?
A couple weeks ago, U.S. Secretary of Education John King paid a visit to Detroit, during which time he offered some advice to Michigan education leaders in an interview with Chalkbeat: stop shuttering failing schools, because the schools we’re replacing them with are no better. He went on to question the effectiveness of charter schools […]
Using choice to encourage integrated schools
Last week, my colleague Sarah Szurpicki wrote about how school choice policies in Michigan have led to further racial segregation in Michigan schools. This is obviously not good, as racially integrated classrooms produce all sorts of pro-social benefits. And to the extent that race correlates with socioeconomic status, the resulting economic segregation in our schools […]
Creative accounting and Michigan’s weak safety net
This year, as the welfare reforms instituted under President Clinton turned 20, NPR’s Marketplace started a podcast called the Uncertain Hour, which takes a deep look at the consequences of those reforms. And in the fourth episode, Michigan takes a starring role. First, some background. In 1996, the United States ended Aid to Families with […]
The need to invest in Michigan’s universities
As is often discussed on this blog, there is perhaps nothing more important to the health of Michigan’s economy than increasing the proportion of Michiganders with four-year college degrees. However, based on our state’s investment in higher education, you wouldn’t know it. For individuals, earning a bachelor’s degree is the best way to arm yourself […]