Education News
Reports on education reform, school choice, and classroom policies. The Daily Signal provides conservative commentary and opinion alongside education news.
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- News
‘Dumb?’: Joe Scarborough Schools Howard Dean on Scott Walker and the Value of a College Degree
Democratic commentator Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor who rose and fell quickly in the 2004 presidential race, sounded this morning like he thinks a college degree should be a prerequisite for holding the top job in the White House. Dean said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s three and a half…Ken McIntyre -
- News
Jindal Emphasizes Teacher Tenure Reform, School Choice in Sweeping Education Plan
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, hoping that a push for education reform can set him apart among prospective Republican candidates for president, today begins to tout a national plan he says would create “an ecosystem of freedom and choice” for parents, students and teachers. His proposals, Jindal says in the plan to be released this morning,…Ken McIntyre -
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Scott Walker Calls for Major Changes at University of Wisconsin System
MADISON, Wis.—More than 35,000 public employees would be removed from state government rolls if Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal stays intact through the legislative process. Walker’s 2015-17 budget proposal, which was introduced Tuesday, makes major changes to the operation of the state’s University of Wisconsin System. The second-term governor’s plan would split off the system…Nick Novak -
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Obama’s Student Loan Forgiveness Program Has $21.8 Billion Shortfall
The Obama administration’s student loan program came up $21.8 billion short last year because of unpaid and forgiven loans. According to Politico, which found the number buried in President Obama’s 2016 budget proposal this week, the shortfall is “the largest ever recorded for any government credit program.” The president’s student loan initiative limits student loan payments to…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
School Suspends 9-Year-Old Boy for Pretending to Be Bilbo Baggins
It is hard to imagine that when J.R.R. Tolkien published “The Hobbit” he expected school officials would suspend children for imaginatively recreating scenes from the book. But that is exactly what happened to Aiden Steward, a 9-year-old boy from Kermit, Texas. After watching the movie “The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies” one weekend with…Jordan Richardson -
- Opinion
The Next Frontier in School Choice
As we celebrate National School Choice Week, education-reform advocates would be wise to reflect on purpose of school choice as articulated by Milton Friedman, the father of the modern school choice movement. Friedman first proposed the concept of school vouchers in 1955, arguing that by introducing consumer choice into education, vouchers could help create a…Jason Bedrick -
- Opinion
The Future of School Choice: An Education Savings Account for Every Child
This week, over 11,000 educational choice events occurred in every state across America—with millions in attendance— to commemorate the 5th annual National School Choice Week. School Choice Week celebrates the thousands of children around the nation benefiting from parental choice in education and encourages more states to adopt policies providing all students an opportunity to…Brittany Corona -
- Opinion
Another Successful and Inspiring National School Choice Week
The 2015 National School Choice Week is underway, and there are so many exciting events taking place all over America. Our kickoff event on January 25 here in Little Rock, Arkansas, generated wonderful discussions with parents, educators, and supporters on the state of education in Arkansas and around the country. This week has brought to…Virginia Walden Ford -
- News
Citing Gender Discrimination, University Bans ‘Mr.’ and ‘Mrs.’ Salutations
The City University of New York wants employees at its graduate center to stop using the salutations “Mr.,” “Mrs.” and “Ms.,” sparking a heated debate about gender discrimination and political correctness. This morning on “Fox and Friends,” Campus Reform reporter Gabriella Morrongiello, a contributor to The Daily Signal and graduate of The Heritage Foundation’s Young…Daily Signal Staff -
- Opinion
How to Put Parents Back in Control of Their Child’s Education
A good primary and secondary education is the cornerstone of the American Dream: it prepares us for economic and personal success and facilitates our pursuit of happiness. Most parents are powerless to influence the quality of their child’s education. But too often the history of America’s public school system has been a story of dashed…Sen. Mike Lee -
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Flashback: Celebrities Discuss Their Support for School Choice
Several celebrities spoke out in a video released last year about their support for school choice.. Actress Vivica A. Fox, “Today” show co-host Kathie Lee Gifford and former football and baseball player Deion Sanders all agree that “it’s time for educational choice.” The ad, which was made by American Federation for Children, states that “too…Thaleigha Rampersad -
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Teachers Union Accused of Ignoring State Law … for Four Decades
HARRISBURG, Pa.—A law firm representing a Pennsylvania college professor is accusing a state teachers union of ignoring—for more than four decades—a law requiring it to report the use of dues money for political contributions. It’s the latest salvo in an ongoing dispute between Mary Trometter, an assistant professor of culinary arts at the Pennsylvania College of Technology,…Andrew Staub -
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About 1 Million Kids Are Now Eating Dinner at School
First came lunch, then breakfast. Now, schools are serving dinner, too. Should schools feed students dinner before they go home? There’s a growing demand for schools to feed students dinner before they come home, according to the Associated Press. Many low-income students are already provided with breakfast and lunch while they are at school. As…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
What Parents Really Think About Their Kids’ New School Lunches
School lunch standards have changed—and not for the better. This was evident recently in a Twitter campaign using the hashtag #ThanksMichelleObama. Students took photos of their mostly inedible-looking lunch trays of food. >>> These Gross School Lunch Pictures Are Going Viral With the Hashtag #ThanksMichelleObama Yum school lunches #thanksmichelleobama pic.twitter.com/eS27j75Oae — Jess (@Jess_Sency) November 18, 2014…Ericka Andersen -
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Government Shouldn’t Force Religious Schools to Violate Religious Beliefs
Just before the Christmas break, the D.C. City Council passed a law that could force pro-life organizations to pay for abortion coverage. But that wasn’t the only piece of bad legislation, violating religious liberty which came out of the D.C. Council in December. A new bill might force Christian schools to recognize an LGBT student…Ryan T. Anderson -
- Opinion
Union Lawsuit Against Florida School Choice Programs Dismissed, But the Battle Continues
Hundreds of Florida parents are able to celebrate the New Year with access to school choice thanks to a decision last Tuesday to dismiss the union lawsuit against the Sunshine State’s Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts and expansion of the tax credit scholarship program. For the second time, Leon County Circuit Court Judge Charles Francis found…Brittany Corona -
- News
Nation’s Eighth Largest School District Faces Big Questions
This is could be a landmark year for Philadelphia schools. From the results of an anticipated state audit to the expansion of its charter program, the district faces important changes in 2015 that will affect the quality of education and help drive spending in the face of a massive deficit. Here are the five biggest…Evan Grossman -
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Indiana Joins Growing Number of States Pushing Civics Exam to Graduate High School
FORT WAYNE, Ind.—Hoosier lawmakers have joined a growing number of states that want your kid to take another exam. To graduate high school, students would have to pass an exam similar to the naturalization test required for immigrants to become U.S. citizens. Still a work in progress, the bill will come up for debate during…Philip Wegmann -
- News
State-Run University Under Fire for Sloppy Fiscal Practices, Improperly Hiking Student Fees
As if the University of Virginia didn’t have enough of a negative spotlight, a new audit finds Thomas Jefferson’s institution isn’t keeping tight reins on all of its money and property. The university, located in Charlottesville, improperly awarded no-bid contracts, eliminated competitive bids by separating purchases, nixed $72,0000 worth of forklifts from its asset records…Kathryn Watson -
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School Stops Seventh-Grader From Distributing Fliers for Religious Event
A Kansas school blocked a seventh-grader from handing out fliers inviting students to join her in prayer at the school’s flagpole. Fox News senior judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano called the school’s ban “so obviously wrong and misguided,” noting that students “theoretically” have the same constitutional rights as anyone else. “Schools can restrain speech if the…Natalie Johnson