New Test Data Show That COVID School Closures Rapidly Accelerated U.S. Learning Losses
Nearly two years after most children returned to the classroom, educational losses continue to grow.
School Choice
Online Learning During COVID-19 Linked With Lower Test Scores
A new study has found that the more schools kept kids online, the worse their pass rates on state standardized tests were.
How School Choice Can Mitigate Harmful Culture War Policies in Public Education
Current culture wars are just one more manifestation of the reality that public education routinely devolves into indoctrination and imposition of majoritarian ideology on dissenters. But school choice can help mitigate that problem.
Dave Rubin: Why Libertarians Should Vote for Ron DeSantis
The Rubin Report host makes the case for the Florida governor, who courageously defied lockdowns but is quick to use the state to punish corporations he doesn't like.
North Carolina Governor Declares 'State of Emergency' Over Education Debate
The stunt comes days after Justice Gorsuch warned of officials addicted to emergency decrees.
New Federal Report: Half of Public School Students Are Now Performing Below Grade Level
The number surged during the pandemic.
The Two Faces of Ron DeSantis
Sometimes he calls for freedom, and sometimes he preaches something darker.
More States Are Using Science-Backed Reading Instruction. It Shouldn't Have Taken This Long.
Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana have all seen dramatic improvements in reading scores by investing in "science-based" reading instruction.
New York City Public Schools Will Now Be Required To Actually Teach Kids To Read
Education officials unveiled new rules on Tuesday which will mandate that city elementary schools use one of three "research-backed" reading curricula.
Connor Boyack and Corey DeAngelis: Why K-12 Education Sucks and How To Fix It
The authors of Mediocrity say it's well past time to end "factory schooling" and set kids free to learn.
Why Do Public Schools Suck and What Should We Do About Them? Live With Corey DeAngelis and Connor Boyack
Join Reason on YouTube and Facebook on Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern for a live discussion with the authors of Mediocrity: 40 Ways Government Schools Are Failing Today's Students
What 'Freedom' Means to Ron DeSantis
There are some jarring contradictions in the Florida governor's pitch to voters.
You Prefer 'High-Quality Public Education' Over School Choice? Define 'High-Quality.'
Families don’t all want the same sort of education for their children. They should be free to choose.
In the Chicago Mayoral Race, the Teachers Union Is the Real Winner
The union "has an outsized impact on working families who have no other choice on where to send their children...that power, combined with a mayor who is essentially a wholly owned subsidiary, would make them a dangerous force," says one former Chicago Public Schools executive.
D.C.'s Test Scores and Absenteeism Rates Are Getting Worse, so Why Are More Students Graduating?
When "graduation becomes close to a virtual guarantee, it also becomes pretty functionally meaningless," says one education researcher.
Conservative Florida Lawmakers Want To Expand LGBT Censorship to Charter Schools
New bill makes a mockery of parents’ rights, school choice, and educational freedom.
Ron DeSantis Signs Bill Expanding School Choice to All Florida Students
The Florida governor has a history of using state power to bully Florida schools over speech he doesn't like. H.B. 1 may accomplish his goal while ceding power to parents.
'All the Parents Want Is a Chance To Make That Choice'
Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears wants state education dollars "to follow the child instead of the brick building."
To Increase 'Equity,' This California High School Is Eliminating Honors Courses
"I was born in Cuba, and it doesn't sound good when people are trying to achieve equal outcomes for everyone," said one parent.
Bad Schools Aren't Always Underfunded
"More money can help schools succeed, but not if they fritter those extra resources in unproductive ways," says one researcher.
Public Schools Are Failing Students with Disabilities
A New York Times investigation accidentally makes the case for school choice by detailing how poorly public schools are serving vulnerable students.
Under No Circumstances Did Joe Biden Save Social Security
Plus: a listener question on prohibition and a lightning round on the editors' favorite Super Bowl moments
Biden's Claims About Universal Pre-K Are Malarkey
During the State of the Union, Biden claimed that "children who go to preschool are nearly 50 percent more likely to finish high school and go on to earn a two- or four-year degree," but evidence in favor of universal pre-k programs is lacking.
Nikki Haley Is Running for President
Expect a lot of harsh positioning on immigration and China.
Robert Pondiscio: Why Our Kids Can't Read
A former teacher says there are bigger problems in K-12 education than CRT and wokeness—and that school choice may not fix them.
Utah Funds Scholarship Program for Students Seeking Private Education
Gov. Spencer Cox signed legislation that will provide scholarships to K-12 students who choose nonpublic education.
Flexible Homeschooling Enters the Mainstream
To its credit, the world seems ready to embrace the pioneers of a homeschooled future.
Why Did Schools Stop Teaching Kids How To Read? Live With Robert Pondiscio, Nick Gillespie, and Zach Weissmueller
Join Reason on YouTube and Facebook on Thursday at 1 p.m. ET for a discussion of American K-12 education policy with author Robert Pondiscio.
Florida's Rejection of an AP African American Studies Course Is a Rejection of School Choice
Why is Gov. Ron DeSantis acting just like his opposition by attempting to dictate what students are permitted to learn?
Why Schools Suck in the Movies and in Real Life
Why are educational institutions in real life more like the one in Carrie than the one in Harry Potter?
Winsome Earle-Sears: School Choice 'Is New Brown v. Board' Fight
Virginia's lieutenant governor wants state education dollars to fund students, not school buildings.
Biden Wants Schools That Please Politicians, Not Parents
Educators should be responsible to parents and students, not to the government.
Will Katie Hobbs Take Down Arizona's Expanded School Choice Program?
The governor wants to roll it back, but she doesn't have the votes.
Kentucky's Governor Wants School Choice for His Kids but Not Yours
A legal assault on charter schools will deprive families of educational options.
The KKK's Push for Compulsory Schooling and a Federal Education Department
In the early 20th century, the Klan's virulent nativism and anti-Catholicism fueled its interest in education policy.
Virginia Is Considering 4 Different School Choice Bills
At least four different bills are before the General Assembly that would empower parents to use education funds in ways they see fit.
Survey: Americans Want K-12 Schools To Prioritize Practical Skills, Not College Prep
New survey results show that "Americans believe the K-12 education system should redirect its focus on what it means to successfully prepare American students—equipping them with practical skills that prepare them for life."
Yet Another Shady, Hypocritical Document Hoarder
Plus: The editors field a listener question on college admissions and affirmative action.
Politics Is Getting in the Way of What Makes Cities Great
Healthy cities are a boon not just for those who live in them, but for our entire society.
A Bad Day for School Choice Advocates at the Kentucky Supreme Court
The state high court rules against the Education Opportunity Act.
Rural Public School Systems Aren't Threatened by Choices, Study Says
Expanding options empowers families and improves education in the country and the city alike.
Some States Will Let Students Transfer to a Better Public School, For a Price
While open-enrollment policies are intended to provide opportunities regardless of a student's zip code, many states fall short of this goal.
Miserable Math and Reading Scores Will Fuel School Choice Movement
There’s no reason to argue over lessons and policies when you can pick what works for your family.
Average ACT Scores Drop to Their Lowest Point in Three Decades
"The score decline really reflects students' lack of access to a rigorous high school curriculum," says the senior director for state partnerships at ACT.
A Top-Ranked High School Got Rid of Merit-Based Admissions. Then Students' Grades Tanked.
Data show that students admitted by lottery to San Francisco's Lowell High School are academically faring much worse than their peers.
Education Freedom Wins Big in Arizona
Instead of being attached to public schools, funding follows students to learning options they choose.
Mandatory Kindergarten Won't Be Coming to California
Citing costs, California Gov. Gavin Newsom struck a victory for parental choice in education.
