ICYMI: Opening Weekend Edition (2/15)

My latest show opened this weekend, and the cast is enjoying the result of their hard work. We are fortunate to have a great little theater in this community, and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work in it from time to time. Making stuff is good for the soul.

Here's the reading for the week.

Misunderstanding and Misapplying "No Zero" Policies (and Why They Are Good)

Paul Thomas looks at the much-debated No Zero grading policy, and explains why he believes it's good practice.

Trying out the clt

Testing guru Akil Bello takes the Classical Learning Test, the alleged "classical" alternative to those all-woked-up SAT and ACT joints, out for a test drive. If you've been wondering what's actually under the hood with this test, here's your info. Fascinating and informative.

Are Charter Schools Innovative?

It's a fairly important question, but as Shawgi Tell points out, we haven't really been dealing with it honestly.

White House says it won’t withhold funding from NH schools with DEI programs

The regime takes another loss on its anti-diversity, equity and inclusion campaign. Annmarie Timmins reports for New Hampshire Public Radio.

A Subsidy For the Few: Vouchers Leaving Public Schools, Students Behind

Tim Walker (who, I think, has been writing for NEA Today for roughly a million years) gets into how taxpayer-funded vouchers really work and who benefits from them. 

"The Bill Dies Today"

True to its promise, the Mississippi Senate just killed the House school choice bill really most sincerely dead. Devna Bose reports for Mississippi Today.

Arizona librarians could become criminals for recommending these books

Arizona takes some more steps to criminalize Naughty Books and threatens librarians with jail time.

Tennessee House panel kills private-school voucher transparency bill

Yet another state's legislators declare that taxpayer-funded vouchers should not be subject to any sort of transparency. Gee, I wonder why. Sam Stockard at Tennessee Lookout has the story.

Governor Polis Has Opted Colorado Into the Federal School Voucher Scheme

The big question is whether Polis is a liar or truly doesn't understand the policy. So sorry, Colorado. Advocates for Public Education Policy explains the situation.

State Data: Ohio spent more on school privatization last year than public schools in many communities

Stephen Dyer continues to detail the many ways that Ohio's taxpayer-funded choice programs stick it to students still in public schools.

A Structural Problem, A Temporary Fix

Sue Kingery Woltanski actually goes to legislative meetings and pays attention and stuff, and she understands the many brands of Floridian shenanigans. The rest of us are fortunate that she's willing to explain it all.

All the Ways the Trump Admin. Keeps Redefining Civil Rights by Banning Equity and Inclusion in Education

Jan Resseger looks at several of the reports about the Trump regimes work in redefining civil rights and who gets to have them.

Kristof Is Wrong about Reading (Again), and He Knows It: A Reader

Paul Thomas has collected many of his resources about the science of reading in this post that argues that Nicholas Kristoff is wrong about something else, again.

Does Love Really Make the World (or Classroom) Go ‘Round?

Nancy Flanagan with some reflections on the importance of some non-academic factors in school.

Students Unite!

Jennifer Berkshire highlights some of the students who are standing up to ICE.

Homophobic President Attacks Transgender Students

Thomas Ultican looks at Trump policies and trans students.

A pair of giants here.

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