Department of Education Antics

The bizarre reports, actions, and spin coming out of the US Department of Education these days are starting to churn my stomach.  A recent Nation Research Council report suggests that (guess what?), for all of our testing, and investing in testing, students in the United States are not performing significantly better than they were in 2002. Diane Ravitch wrote an Op Ed piece questioning “miracle” results in schools which drew strange criticism by a reporter who didn’t seem to understand the topic; while in California there was an eerie violation of the 4th Amendment. Before I take an Alka Seltzer and lie down, let’s review some of the latest events in this weird saga, as told by birds:

Meanwhile, there are some interesting strategies to fix NCLB coming from the Secretary of Ed.  Congressional incentives,  and something he calls a “Plan B”, but sounds like more push &  shove, strings attached…

Whew, it’s been a busy week or so! I don’t even have a bad pun to end this, I’m left (almost) speechless.