Amy Oliver Show: Private Funds Honor 14 Successful Denver-Area Schools
Tom Kaesemeyer, executive director of the Denver-based Fox Family Foundation, talks about the latest round of monetary awards given by Foundations for Great Schools to recognize local schools that beat the odds in achieving successful results with challenging student populations.
Amy Oliver Show: Colorado School Grades Keeps Tabs on School Performance
Scott Laband of Colorado Succeeds explains how the Colorado School Grades website provides users a clear picture of school performance. With the site’s recent update based on new testing data, parents can see how their child’s current school is doing or look for new options during upcoming open enrollment periods in many Colorado school districts.
Analyst Addresses What’s Needed to Make Extended Learning Time Work
Senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow commented recently in an American Family Radio News (One News Now) story to provide perspective on news that some Colorado schools were among the recipients of grant money to provide longer or more days to serve especially low-income students. DeGrow told reporter Bob Kellogg that more than just the amount [...]
Amy Oliver Show: Common Core Concerns Resurface in Colorado
Former assistant education secretary Bill Evers explains why he continues to resist the strong push for Common Core national education standards. The quality of standards and questions about federal influence of classroom curricula have fueled pushback in several states. Though the Common Core was adopted here two years ago, Colorado may be next, as the State Board of Education has sought input from national experts.
Do Charter Schools Create Real Competition?
Young Harris College Professor Nathan Gray discusses his study of Ohio charter schools that offers some new insights into the effects of competition in K-12 education and the importance of quality charter school policies. In Gray’s study, the threat of charter competition yielded significant learning gains for students in district schools.
Amy Oliver Show: Boosting Math and Science Success in Colorado
The National Math and Science Initiative’s Gregg Fleisher talks about his group’s remarkable success helping students pass AP tests, a result that’s beginning to show up in the Colorado schools where they work. He discusses the attention given to student cash incentives in NMSI’s program, but focuses more on the critical training and support given to teachers.
Amy Oliver Show: DPS Removes Controversial Evaluation Language
Education Policy Center director Pam Benigno tells how Denver Public Schools has backed away from language promoting student social activism, and highlights the opportunity for others to expose absurdity in the education system and win a scholarship through the Citizen Journalism project.
Amy Oliver Show: Reforms vs. Tax Hikes in Jeffco Schools
Sheila Atwell, executive director of Jeffco Students First Action, makes a case for greater accountability in Colorado’s largest school district. She explains why the Jeffco Public Schools 3A and 3B tax hike proposals represent a misguided approach that burdens homeowners and business owners without the promise of better results.
Amy Oliver Show: Promoting Early Literacy in Colorado
Colorado Succeeds vice president Scott Laband joins guest host Ben DeGrow to discuss the implementation of the READ Act (HB 1238) adopted by the General Assembly this year and what else can be done to improve early literacy in Colorado.
Amy Oliver Show: Denver Teachers Judged on Encouraging Social Activism
In this clip from the August 30 Amy Oliver Show, Education Policy Center director Pam Benigno discusses controversial new language in Denver Public Schools’ evaluation framework that gives the highest rating to teachers who encourage students to “challenge and question the dominant culture” and “work for social justice.”
