The Blog Wrangler | Ed is Watching

http://www.ediswatching.org/

"I’m five years old. My parents say they’re planning for a bright future. So I stay busy keeping an eye on the world of education in Colorado. I watch legislators, state officials, school boards, administrators, principals, teachers, and other people and groups that have an impact on public education here.

I’m too young to write, so I have the staff of the Independence Institute’s Education Policy Center help me post on the blog and keep it running."

Event at CCU for homeschoolers and high schoolers

August 21, 2009

"I wanted to take a moment to let all you Colorado homeschoolers and high school students out there about a great opportunity coming up on Saturday, September 12. You’ll want to check out the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) seminar, hosted by Colorado Christian University (CCU) and titled “Reforming Federal Environmental Policy: Entrepreneurs, Enterprises, and the Environment."

A glimpse at new schools: Jeffco's 21st Century Virtual Academy

August 19, 2009

"It seems almost everyone is getting in on the virtual public school act in Colorado these days. But that’s a good thing, because having more options is better for students and parents."

To ask 5 JeffCo board candidates about key education positions

August 5, 2009

"These people are vying for a position on the Board of Education of Colorado’s largest school district. Therefore, I want to know where they stand on some key issues. So I Google searched all five of their names and found no substantive clues. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised."

Let's stop gazing at spending rankings, start changing priorities

July 28, 2009

"When it comes to measures of where Colorado ranks in education spending inputs, I never cease to marvel at the selective judgment of newspaper writers. Take for example today’s Denver Post headline: “Colorado at 40th in K-12 funds per student”. Yes, the Census Bureau has released its annual rankings and finds

that Colorado spent $8,167 per pupil, 11th from the bottom nationally, during the 2006-07 school year. That is below the national average of $9,666 and almost half the amount spent by New York, the top state."

Ben DeGrown, Amy Oliver talk about teachers union priorities

July 24, 2009

"Last week I helped bring your attention to the National Education Association’s open declaration about their priorities as a labor union first, and kids second — as well as the latest published criticism of NEA, this time coming from a traditional political ally on the Left."

Hoping not to see more of the same from Boulder, teachers union

August 20, 2009

"It doesn’t seem that long ago the school year was winding down, and up in Boulder many teachers were calling in sick as a form of protest: sort of a collective temper tantrum. Now students and parents in the district may wonder what’s coming next."

A glimpse at new schools: Thomas MacLaren

August 14, 2009

"If you live in the Colorado Springs area and have a student heading into the middle school years, you may want to take a look at the new Thomas MacLaren School. The tuition-free public charter school opens this month with classes from 6th to 9th grade. Eventually the school will serve students all the way up through high school."

A glimpse at new schools: Atlas Preparatory Charter

August 3, 2009

"It’s Monday, which means it’s time again to highlight a new public school opening here in our great state of Colorado. Today we look south along the Front Range to the Colorado Springs area, where the Atlas Preparatory Charter School has kicked off its very first classes today. One hundred fifth-graders represent the first cohort of what is slated to take students all the way up through eighth grade by 2012-13."

A glimpse at new schools: Denver's Envision Leadership Prep

July 27, 2009

"Can you picture it? Envision Schools are coming to Colorado, and the first one opens this fall: the Envision Leadership Prep in Denver. Believe it or not, the morning bell will ring sixth- and ninth-grade students in for the first time in only three weeks!"

New Denver KIPP school performance pay plan latest charter innovation

July 17, 2009

"With a variety of programs and greater flexibility from state laws and district policies, public charter schools can provide a great alternative for parents and students looking for something different. Because of that same flexibility, charter schools can serve as great laboratories of innovation for different practices that work."

Face the State