The Dropout Nation Midweek Monitor

Dropout Nation’s Midweek Monitor: Philadelphia School Closings, Alabama School Choice Effort, and Parent Trigger Laws

RiShawn Biddle — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:11:48 +0000

On the latest Midweek Monitor, RiShawn Biddle analyzes the Philadelphia traditional district’s decision to close 23 schools, looks at the battle in Alabama over a school choice bill opposed by the National Education Association’s Cotton State local, and checks out the progress of proposed Parent Trigger laws in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Watch the Midweek Monitor on the site, download, or watch on RiShawn Biddle’s video page. You can also subscribe to this series and to the overall Dropout Nation Podcast series. It is also available on iTunes, Blubrry, Zune Marketplace, Stitcher, and PodBean. Also download to your phone with other mobile software.

Dropout Nation’s Midweek Monitor: Chicago’s Pension Woes, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s School Reform Success, Common Core and Native Education

Dropout Nation Editorial Board — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:55:32 +0000

On this week’s Midweek Monitor, RiShawn Biddle takes a look at Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s successful effort to pass a school takeover bill; provides analysis on the latest pension deficit numbers for Chicago’s teachers’ pension, checks out Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s plan to eliminate degree- and seniority-based pay scales; and chats about discussions at National Indian Education Association’s legislative event about efforts to leverage Common Core reading and math standards.

The Dropout Nation Midweek Monitor: Parent Trigger in Florida and Georgia, and the Battle over Detroit Schools

Dropout Nation Editorial Board — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:53:10 +0000

On the first episode of this year’s Midweek Monitor, RiShawn Biddle takes a look at efforts in Florida and Georgia to pass Parent Power legislation, the Obama administration’s Equity and Excellence Commission report, and the battle between Detroit Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts and the district’s dysfunctionally incompetent board over the future of the school system.

The Dropout Nation Midweek Monitor: Scott Walker, Teachers’ Union Popularity, and School Choice Debate in North Carolina

RiShawn Biddle — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:47:23 +0000

On this week’s Midweek Monitor, RiShawn Biddle chats about the lessons for school reformers from Scott Walker’s victory over NEA and AFT affiliates seeking his recall; looks at the implications of Education Next’s recent poll on teachers’ union popularity; and considers the discussions over expanding choice in the Tarheel State.

Watch the Midweek Monitor on the site or download. You can also subscribe to this series and to the overall Dropout Nation Podcast series. It is also available on iTunes, Blubrry, Zune Marketplace and PodBean. Also download to your phone with BlackBerry podcast software, Google Reader, BeyondPod, DoggCatcher and other mobile software.

The Dropout Nation Midweek Monitor: Congressional Parent Power Hearing, Teacher Quality in California, & School Choice in Missouri

Dropout Nation Editorial Board — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:28:20 +0000

On this week’s Monitor, RiShawn Biddle notes the House Education and the Workforce subcommittee’s hearing on Parent Power and Family Engagement featuring Connecticut Parents Union President Gwen Samuel; checks out the lawsuit filed by StudentsFirst, Parent Revolution and others against California’s state government over tenure and reverse-seniority layoffs; and looks at efforts in Missouri to expand charter schoo ls and inter-district school choice.

The Dropout Nation Midweek Monitor: Schott and Zip Code Education, Charters in Alabama, and Releasing Teacher Data

RiShawn Biddle — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:39:31 +0000

On this week’s Monitor, RiShawn Biddle takes a look at the Schott Foundation’s latest report on educational opportunities for poor and minority kids; observes the debate in Alabama over allowing charter schools; and considers the raging argument in New York State over releasing teacher performance data.

The Dropout Nation Midweek Monitor: Duncan Vs. Kline, Teacher Data, and Jerry Brown’s Drama

RiShawn Biddle — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:13:11 +0000

On this week’s Monitor, Editor RiShawn Biddle previews Arne Duncan’s testimony before Minnesota Congressman John Kline and the House Education and the Workforce Committee; focuses on the battle in New York State over the release of teacher performance data; and discusses California Gov. Jerry Brown’s two step approach to school funding in the Golden State.

The Dropout Nation Midweek Monitor: Joel Klein, Zip Code Education, and Cleveland District Reform

RiShawn Biddle — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:51:41 +0000

On this week’s Monitor, Editor RiShawn Biddle opines on the Council on Foreign Relations report calling for expansion of school choice; takes aim at Randi Weingarten’s argument that choice will essentially lead to the end of public education; opines on Connecticut H.B. 5508 and how it may help lead to the end of school residency and Zip Code Education policies; and discusses Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s effort to advance his overhaul of the failing district.

The Dropout Nation Midweek Monitor: Bobby Jindal, Terry Brandstad, and Connecticut

Dropout Nation Editorial Board — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:15:15 +0000

On this week’s Midweek Monitor, RiShawn Biddle takes a look at Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s battle to expand school choice and end tenure; casts an eye on Iowa Gov. Terry Brandstad’s efforts to improve teacher quality; and checks out the Connecticut Parents Union/StudentsFirst Rally with Michelle Rhee and MSNBC’s Michelle Bernard.

The Dropout Nation Midweek Monitor: Mayoral Control, Charter School Authorizing, Parent Trigger, and Pensions

Dropout Nation Editorial Board — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:25:26 +0000

On this week’s Midweek Monitor, Editor RiShawn Biddle discusses the battle over mayoral control of Indianapolis schools; talks about the latest news in the battle between parents at Desert Trails Elementary School in Adelanto, Calif., and the school district that opposes their Parent Trigger effort (a topic of this week’s Dropout Nation Podcast); chats about teacher pension reform efforts in Illinois and Maryland; and focuses on the proposed charter school authorizing amendment being discussed in Georgia.

Watch the Midweek Monitor on the site or download. You can also subscribe to this new series and to the overall Dropout Nation Podcast series. It is also available on iTunes, Blubrry, Zune Marketplace and PodBean. Also download to your phone with BlackBerry podcast software and Google Reader.