K-12 enrollment is on the decline between a combination of dropping birth rates and more school choice options, putting schools in a tight bind. The public school system is expected to see a drop of millions of students over the next five years, a hit that will affect schools financially and potentially lead to the closure of more districts. Ways to combat this phenomenon are limited, as experts say schools will have to look at scaling down operations or competing with other educational institutions. From fall 2019 to fall 2023, a 2.5 percent drop in enrollment occurred, taking more than a million kids out of the K-12 system. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) projects … [Read more...]
Private school observations
This was posted on Facebook by a teacher in private school. We are cross-posting the original. Ask these same questions in your home and see what happens. Carol silva denSosrpot4ma95ucl25 l15h5t :P7a257yMlM3751 14ua70a5i 5157mg · I teach at a $15,000/year private academy. Last Tuesday, I gave my 6th graders a simple quiz: Why is the ocean blue but water in a cup is clear? Twenty-four students. Not one of them could answer. These parents are paying for excellence. We're delivering expensive memorization. I've been in this classroom for 12 years. The parents who send their kids here are successful. They pay $15,000 a year because … [Read more...]
What’s Driving the Ballooning Support Staff in Public Schools?
The article comes from Intellectual Takeout: https://intellectualtakeout.org/2019/09/whats-driving-the-ballooning-support-staff-in-public-schools/ State Superintendent of Schools for Washington State, Chris Reykdal, is asking the State Legislature to increase funding for schools by another $3 billion. This would put education at over 50% of every dollar. Personnel consume over 80% of every dollar. In this article they point out that for all the money and more personnel text scores are stagnant to falling. Money isn't the issue. In the animated graphic below, University of Michigan economics professor Mark Perry charts the ballooning nature of public school staff, students, and … [Read more...]
Veteran Teacher: Here’s What’s Wrong With Traditional Schooling
The original article can be found at Intellectual Takeout For 19 years, I was a master of time. Down to the minute, I controlled time for others and used it to meet my and others’ ends, irrespective of the desires of those in front of me. In short, I was a public-school teacher, and controlling time was my talent. Although I and other adults often talked about helping students reach their potential and grow as learners, what we really did each day was control their time and force upon them ideas and subjects in which most of them had little to no interest. What if there were a better way? A way to help each student learn the way he or she learns best, develop autonomy, explore … [Read more...]
Homeschoolers May Need Less Instructional Time than Traditional School Students
HSLDA - Steven Duvall Summary A recent study by HSLDA’s Director of Research, Stephen Duvall, PhD, found that the efficiency of the homeschool environment can allow for more learning in less time. His findings suggest that 3rd and 4th grade homeschool students can spend as little as 2–3 hours daily in academic pursuits and make the same progress as public school students do in a full school day. Of course, every child is different, and some states have minimum hour requirements for homeschoolers. Many parents find homeschooling appealing because it gives them flexibility when designing their children’s learning experiences.[1] This often results in shortened school days, but … [Read more...]
Those opposing education reform are on wrong side of history
Today's article comes from Chris Cargill in a story published at The Mountain States Policy Center. Give it a read and then ask yourself where you stand about the need to change K-12 education in Washington State. I was recently invited to speak at the City Club in Boise on education policy and the ideas being discussed in the current Idaho legislative session. Realizing the education establishment would be well represented in the crowd, I knew I was heading into a somewhat hostile setting. But Mountain States Policy Center believes in going anywhere at any time to provide a free market perspective. We’re happy to have civil conversations and debate the merit of ideas. We may disagree, … [Read more...]
8 Differences Between Public Schooled Kids And Homeschooled Kids
Spoiler...this is a tongue in cheek article from the Babylon Bee. So it's intended to make you laugh and think. With those caveats read on... With school choice being such a hot topic these days, it can be helpful for parents to learn more about what the experiences are like in different learning environments. Though there may be pros and cons to each option, the differences may surprise you. The Babylon Bee is proud to help parents make more well-informed decisions with the following list of differences between public school kids and homeschooled kids: Homeschooled Kids: Learn how to manufacture paste using complex chemical processes. Their mother then sells the paste as a … [Read more...]
Aunt Becky and the ‘Underpaid Teachers’ Myth
This article was published at the National Review and written by Andrew G. Biggs on Dec 2, 2019. Do you agree or disagree? What the college-admissions scandal can teach us about public-school teacher pay. According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) — a liberal think tank affiliated with teachers’ unions — public-school teachers earn, on average, 21.4 percent less than private-sector workers in other fields who have similar educational and demographic characteristics. According to EPI, by offering higher pay, public schools could attract and retain better teachers, leading to better test scores, higher graduation rates, and better jobs for the future. It’s a compelling … [Read more...]
Common Core – Affecting Home Schooled and Private Schooled?
Are home schooled and private schooled students impacted by Common Core? The answer is yes and no. According to the Common Core Issues web site CC is currently limited to public schools...however...to quote "However, there is no such protection for families who have enrolled their children in programs that receive federal funds, especially those who are using virtual charter schools that are run through the local public school for their home education." The challenge moving forward is testing. They who control the required tests control the curriculum. In order to score well on tests you need to teach (and learn) what is being tested. The Cardinal Newman Society says "The Florida … [Read more...]