More charter trouble in Philadelphia

by David SafierIt started with a bit too much money going from Philadelphia's Agora Cyber Charter School to its management company, which is now facing federal prosecution. Now it looks like the net is spreading wider. Federal agents yesterday seized financial records from a North Philadelphia school, another move in a widening federal probe of … Read more

Value added ed research

by David SafierI'm behind the curve on this story — I've been out of town — but I'm going to violate the bloggers' code and write about a story that's a full 5 days old. If the U.S. Blogger General wants to put me on probation, that's fine. I can take the heat. I don't … Read more

But ethnic/gender studies programs distort history

by David SafierThe problem with Black Studies, Hispanic Studies, Asian  Studies and Women's Studies is, they give students a distorted sense of history — or so we hear from the detractors of ethnic and gender studies programs. What we need is good old Amurican History. That tells the real story. Oh, I guess sometimes the … Read more

Obama’s education bully pulpit

by David SafierIn the heady days of the presidential campaign, I had a thought that made my eyes mist over. I imagined President Obama delivering a short speech at the beginning of the school year urging students to do everything they can to make the most of their educations. I hoped for a dose of … Read more

Important charter school article in the Star. Where are the investigations?

by David SafierReporters Rhonda Bodfield and Enric Volante have written an excellent investigative article on charter schools in the Star: Education at charters is spotty, oversight lax. It talks about César Chávez Middle School and Aztlan Academy not turning in necessary records and possibly padding their student enrollments, allowing them to get more money from … Read more