Part 2 of this series can be read at: Washington K–12 Return to Basics and Core Competencies – A Reform Plan For more than two decades, American education has accumulated reform after reform: standards-based education, testing reform, personalized learning, social-emotional learning, project-based learning, competency-based education, technology integration and, most recently, artificial intelligence. Many of these ideas have merit. The problem is that reform has too often been additive. We keep adding new objectives without removing old ones or asking the most basic question: Are students actually learning what they need to know? Washington should begin answering that question with … [Read more...]
Public schools in a bind amid enrollment declines
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...]
Fed up With Screens, Parents Are Demanding a Return To Pen and Paper in the Classroom
Not so very long ago, school districts and education leaders told us that technology in the classroom was essential to the success of our students. “An iPad on every desk” became the new “chicken in every pot” slogan, as experts tried to convince us that technology could be a panacea for the nation’s test scores. Well, they convinced us. And now some parents are working to extract their children from this technological bill of goods that we were sold. According to NBC News, parents like Julie Frumin and Emily Cherkin strongly believe that the heavy presence of technology in the classroom – particularly through Chromebooks and iPads – is harming their children, so much so that they took … [Read more...]
Four-day school week: Research shows the impact of a condensed schedule varies by school location and student grade level
This article was published in the Journalist Resources and is an update to a previous version. That should make it more comprehensive. Please note that it is a 2 cup of coffee article, This link takes you to the publishing source: Four-day school week: What research suggests About The Author: Denise-Marie Ordway: She joined The Journalist’s Resource in 2015 after working as a reporter for newspapers and radio stations in the U.S. and Central America, including the Orlando Sentinel and Philadelphia Inquirer. Her work also has appeared in publications such as USA TODAY, the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Washington Post. She has received a multitude of national, regional and … [Read more...]
The U.S. spent $30 billion to ditch textbooks for laptops and tablets: The result is the first generation less cognitively capable than their parents
From an article at FORTUNE In 2002, Maine became the first state to implement a statewide laptop program to some grade levels. Then-governor Angus King saw the program as a way to put the internet at the fingertips of more children, who would be able to immerse themselves in information. By that fall, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative had distributed 17,000 Apple laptops to seventh graders across 243 middle schools. By 2016, those numbers had multiplied to 66,000 laptops and tablets distributed to Maine students. King’s initial efforts have been mirrored across the country. In 2024, the U.S. spent more than $30 billion putting laptops and tablets in schools. But more than … [Read more...]
Clark County resident Larry Roe shares his thoughts on the the upcoming school levies
From the ClarkCountyToday.com site We need to be having an active and urgent discussion of the goals of our public schools in light of the affordability of our neighborhoods for families with school-age children, the decreasing academic performance of our students, and the increased absenteeism in our schools. Our K-12 public schools have been taking on many roles in addition to the basic academic and athletic training for students that was envisioned in our State Constitution. We have added meals for students, preparation of young children for kindergarten, extended education for students with special needs for an additional four years, resource centers to support young families … [Read more...]
Grok says: As an expert how does DEI harm children in k-12?
Today's article comes to us fro, Grok the AI. We asked it to use "expert mode" and research the negative impact DEI has on K-12 children. For your analysis and consideration. DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives in K-12 education are designed to foster environments where all students feel valued and have equal opportunities, but they have faced significant criticism for potential unintended harms. As a truth-seeking expert, I'll note upfront that this is a highly debated topic: while some studies and opinion pieces highlight negative impacts, others (including from educators and advocacy groups) argue that DEI enhances student well-being, reduces disparities, and that … [Read more...]
Student headcount increase vs staffing growth
A picture can be worth a 1,000 words. Please note that while there has been a slight growth in the number of students over the last 40 years the staffing growth (with the attendant costs) have FAR exceeded the number of students. We're told schools need more money to solve the problem,. This chart suggests money is not the issue. Continuing to feed the beast does nothing to stop the need for feeding. Why are testing results so bad with so much money thrown at it? … [Read more...]
It’s official: Ditching the SATs was a big mistake
Food for thought.. Brought to us by the Washington Examiner written by Jon Miltimore republished at Zero Hedge The state of education in the US is at a crossroads. Money isn't the solution. Focus on basics with full parental engagement and a societal commitment to establish new expectations is the only solution. In early 2020, the University of California set the tone for the rest of the country when its regents voted to drop SAT and ACT admissions requirements through 2024. That decision, initially framed as a pandemic necessity, quickly reshaped admissions nationwide. By late 2022, roughly 1,750 schools, or about 80 percent of U.S. universities, had adopted test-optional … [Read more...]
The Nation’s Report Card Shows the Worst Results Since 1992
This mornings article is a blog post from Conservative Ladies of America: The Nation’s Report Card Shows the Worst Results Since 1992 - Conservative Ladies of America Today, September 9, 2025, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called the “Nation’s Report Card”, released its latest results for 12th-grade students in reading and math, and for 8th-grade students in science. The findings are not just disappointing, they are alarming. Scores have dropped across the board, and the achievement gap is widening. This isn’t just a data point, it’s a national emergency that demands immediate action. Math: A Widening Gap in Foundational Skills The average math score … [Read more...]
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