Analysis: Charter Schools Yield 53% Greater Return on Investment Than Traditional Public Schools Charter schools have been a subject of extensive nationwide discussion, but this should not be the case. The data indicates that public charter schools are a worthwhile investment. Over the past few years, we have conducted five studies comparing traditional schools and charter schools in various U.S. cities where a significant number of families are choosing charters. We have analyzed the funding each sector receives as well as the learning outcomes they produce. The facts are crystal clear. Charter schools achieve more with fewer resources. Our initial report, "Inequity in City Charter School Funding," highlighted a considerable…

In the initial stages of studying, both males and females displayed nearly equal enrollment rates in first-year chemistry and second-year algebra. However, a greater proportion of boys opted for physics and calculus courses. A recent study indicates that the percentage of girls enrolling in advanced math classes has shown improvement in 12 out of 16 states that reported this data to the CCSSO. This increase can be attributed to the stricter graduation requirements in most states. The study conducted by the Council of Chief State School Officers highlights that during the 1980s, over 40 states raised the number of math and science credits necessary for graduation. Since 1990, enrollment in…

Principal Bonnie L. Vick claims that her recently built $15.3-million school is a state-of-the-art facility for severely handicapped children. The Frederick J. Gaenslen School, which opened last month, has elevators spacious enough to accommodate a classroom filled with wheelchair-bound students. It also boasts handrails along its hallways, color-coded corridors, and cantilevered blackboards that enable children in wheelchairs to face the board when they write on it. Additionally, there are shallow pools for hydrotherapy, and the stoves in the home economics classrooms have controls placed at the front for easy access by students in wheelchairs. One of the preschool classrooms features a booth equipped with audio pipes and colored lights that…

Researchers at Brown University recently came together to address the concerning trend of declining academic success, trouble-free behavior, and physical health among children of immigrants in the United States. This led them to question whether becoming American poses a developmental risk. The phenomenon known as the "immigrant paradox" has been observed for over two decades, which highlights the fact that immigrants tend to fare better than expected in American society, despite facing numerous challenges such as adapting to a new culture, language barriers, and financial constraints. However, this initial success often diminishes in subsequent generations. The conference aimed to encourage researchers to find solutions that can help future generations of…

The nation’s largest developer of standardized achievement tests for students, the Educational Testing Service (ETS), recently announced several measures to increase transparency and ensure fairness in its programs. In a joint hearing before two education subcommittees of the U.S. House of Representatives, the newly-appointed ETS President, Gregory R. Anrig, stated that the nonprofit testing organization will: 1. Seek support from both commercial and nonprofit test-makers to establish a universal "Code of Fair Testing" for the industry. 2. Establish a "Visiting Committee" comprised of individuals external to ETS. This committee will conduct an annual evaluation of the organization to ensure it adheres to recently endorsed internal standards of fairness and quality.…

Three years ago, school authorities in Marion County, Florida, decided to prohibit the use of corporal punishment. However, this school year, students were surprised to find that the practice was once again being implemented. Marion County’s inconsistent approach to school spanking demonstrates the persistence of this discipline technique in schools across the country. Despite the increasing number of districts and states banning corporal punishment, it is still legally permitted in 19 states, predominantly in the South. The Center for Effective Discipline, a nonprofit organization based in Columbus, Ohio, which provides educational information on corporal punishment and alternatives, reports that the number of states allowing this practice has decreased from 22…

The Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department recently criticized college admissions practices that restrict the number of Asian-American applicants being accepted, describing them as "legally and morally wrong". William Bradford Reynolds, who is stepping down from his role after seven years, made these comments at a symposium organized by Democratic senators Paul Simon and Thomas A. Daschle. Reynolds suggested that allegations of such practices by top universities are not entirely baseless, claiming that the rejection of qualified Asian-American applicants is driven by the universities’ affirmative action policies that aim to favor other racial minorities. Reynolds made these remarks while the Education Department was investigating…

Britain has fallen down the international education league tables of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Michael Gove has taken this as an opportunity to advocate his beliefs. Almost immediately after his inauguration, the Education Secretary praised Alberta, Canada’s educational system. Alberta’s education system often scores higher than any other English-speaking region in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) ranking. Gove asserted that the school system is better because schools in this region enjoy the autonomy that charter schools in the US have. This shift towards autonomy would involve giving the school heads’ more control, freeing them from local authority control and making parents the ultimate decision-makers on…

Jessie Smith, an 18-year-old who recently received acceptance to Manchester University, was overjoyed after netting the top grades required for the course. However, she soon learned that the university was facing a shortage of student accommodation. She was forced to seek lodging in Liverpool. Sarah Smith, Jessie’s mother, who works in Sheffield, fears for her daughter’s safety, given the distance between Liverpool and Manchester. Manchester University offered £100 per week to cover accommodation expenses but Mrs Smith did not feel that this resolved the situation. Furthermore, she fears her daughter will miss out on the freshers’ week events. Manchester University has confirmed that more than 350 students are still waiting for…