Fact Check: A-F Ratings

CLAIM: The new A-F ratings are tougher than the old system.
FACT: The new A-F system changed nothing except the labels. "Star" became A, "High Performing" became B, "Successful" changed to C, "Academic Watch" changed to D, and "Low (more…)

We all want our public schools to succeed. But what, exactly, does "success" mean?

In a few days the Mississippi Department of Education will release the ratings for public schools and school districts in our state. For the first time ever, schools and districts will be graded A, B, C, D, or F.
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Mississippi 2012 ACT Scores Remain Flat

The ACT is a curriculum-based measure of college readiness. (more…)

This page previously linked to data provided by the Alliance for Excellent Education (AEE). The Alliance uses what it calls a "Promoting Power" indicator as a means of identifying the "lowest-performing high schools" in each state. These high schools are more popularly known as "dropout factories." According to AEE, a dropout factory is defined as follows: (more…)

Below is a list of high schools ranked by descending order of graduation rate. This data was released by the Mississippi Department of Education for the 2010-2011 school year. It is available online here. (more…)

Newsweek magazine did a cover series titled, "Why Public Schools Are Flunking." 

Listen to this:  The roll call of problems is almost as familiar as the ABCs. (more…)

2012 Session | Education Bills Recap: Mississippi Students Denied Choice Yet Again

As far as education policy goes, the low point of the 2012 session was the failure of charter school legislation in the House. In addition to charters, legislators introduced several other bills that would have expanded educational freedom in Mississippi. These include a bill to provide scholarships to low-income students to attend the school of their choice; a special needs voucher bill; and an open enrollment public school choice bill. (more…)

I have some great news, and some bad news.

First, the bad news. Charter school legislation is dead for this legislative session. Thousands of children will go another year without being able to escape the schools that are failing to meet their needs. (more…)