LeBron James’s School Drew Lots of Attention, but It Doesn’t Take an NBA Star for Districts to Forge Innovative Partnerships
Last fall, NBA star LeBron James and his foundation received a lot of attention for opening the I Promise Academy in partnership with Akron Public Schools. The school extends philanthropic work James had already been doing in his hometown. Many features of its model — a longer school year, wraparound services, family engagement and a […]
Going the Extra Mile for School Choice
For families living in neighborhoods with low-performing schools, choice-friendly policies open up an array of options. Students can seek out district or charter schools with stronger academic programs, or look for schools that match their unique interests or needs. The concept is simple, but families who want to take the school-choice route may find that […]
A Simple Recipe Needs Complex Conditions to Work
Over the past two weeks I have become obsessed with sourdough starter. My son and I diligently followed a recipe that involved smashed grapes (organic required), many fruit flies, weeks of exacting directions, special jars, and then … nothing. Bubbles, but no rise. I have since Googled every article entitled “troubleshooting sourdough starter” or “bubbles, […]
Portfolio Systems Can and Must Lead When it Comes to Students with Unique Needs
The traditional district model is clearly not working for students with complex needs. Students with disabilities are typically assigned to specialized programs or are asked to fit into a one-size-fits-all classroom. If those options don’t work, families have little option but to hire a lawyer, if they can afford one. Whether a student has a […]
Gentrification Presents Both Challenges and Opportunities for Cities and Schools
The debate over charter schools and segregation, driven by the fact that many charter schools locate in segregated city neighborhoods, is about to be overtaken by events. The rapid movement of young college graduates into previously low-income neighborhoods opens up a new opportunity for effective integrated K–12 education, to which charter schools should contribute. The […]
Homeschooling Can Be a Living Room Laboratory for the Future of Education
Homeschooling in America is changing. In the 1980s and 1990s, it took hold mostly among white religious conservatives. They rejected secular public education and wanted to educate their children on their own terms. As a new CRPE research brief shows, homeschoolers are becoming more diverse, and so are their motivations. The ranks of black and […]
4 Things States Should Do to Help Students With Disabilities Graduate Ready for the World of Work
Recent headlines have said it loud and proud: Unemployment is at a 50-year low, and it might drop a lot further. This is good news, for sure. But while more and more jobs are created, we can’t shake the fact that not everyone is benefiting from this boom. Unsurprisingly, the Brookings Institution has found that the out-of-work […]
The History—and Future—of School Integration Defy Buzzwords
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and the race for the Democratic nomination have given education policy a rare moment the limelight in a presidential campaign. The policy issue at the heart of their dispute, dubbed “busing,” has prompted a debate about equity and school integration that is difficult to handle fairly in a political environment that […]
Underserved Families Can’t Always Manage School Choice Alone
The goal of school choice is to give all families — especially families in underserved communities — access to high-quality schools that work for them. School systems will not reach that goal if they leave families to navigate these options on their own. This has long been a priority for us at the Center on […]
What if High School Were Different?
I am the oldest of four children. The youngest is my brother Stephen. Regular school was never a good fit for Stephen. He is one of the smartest people I know. An avid reader. A talented visual artist. And incredibly hard-working. But none of those attributes mattered when it came to his schooling experience. He […]
