Some Advice for Young Education Reformers

Conservative education policy writer Rick Hess has a new book out called “Letters to a Young Education Reformer.” He invited me to join one of two panels t

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Coffee Break: Christopher Ruszkowski on the Coffee Shop ‘Post-up,’ the Immigrant Experience and Dinkytown Pierogies

Christopher Ruszkowski has just about a coast-to-coast education reform resume, with stops in Delaware, Louisiana and the Bay Area. He’s now the deputy sec

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Coming Back to the School That Served Him Meant More Than Any Job Title Could

I met Danny Herrera a couple of years ago. It’s hard to put a date on it as I remember his face from our time volunteering with the Lynwood Alumni College

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Illinois Charter Champion Daniel Burke Fights for Funding Equity

Today, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools announced its annual list of Charter Champions, elected officials from both sides of the aisle who

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Want to Know Why I Came Back to Teach at This Denver Charter School? Equity.

Can you name a decision that changed your life forever? Mine was in 2005, as a freshman in high school in Denver, Colorado. I spent two weeks convincing my

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Netflix Series ‘13 Reasons Why’ Has Parents, Mental Health Experts and Educators Worried

The Netflix breakout show “13 Reasons Why” has been praised for its binge-worthy, dramatic storytelling. But mental health experts warn that its thrilling

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Common Enrollment Is Just the First Step Toward High School Equity in Chicago

This week, the Chicago Board of Education voted to adopt a common enrollment process for high school admissions next year. This could be a great relief to

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I Was So Afraid to Hit Submit on My College Application Because That Meant Leaving Home

One of the hardest things I’ve had to do was to hit the submit button on my application to Spelman because that means leaving home. My mom raised my older

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I Got Pregnant When I Was 18 and My Teachers Supported Me. Now I’m a Teacher, Too.

Sometimes, as a teacher of high school students, I need to remind myself of who I was as a high school student. If memory serves, I was more concerned with

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