A Second Listen to Student Voice

Common Core author David Coleman shocked a crowd of educators in 2011 when he declared, “…as you grow up in this world, you realize people…

How Free College Programs Can Increase Equity in Our Schools

As someone who has studied free-college Promise programs for over a decade, I read with interest the recent Education Trust report on equity in free-college…

My Science Teacher Told Me I Wasn’t Going to College. Good Thing I Didn’t Believe Him.

I grew up in East San Jose, where I attended our local traditional public schools. In elementary school, I received many awards for my academic…

This School Used to Be a Kmart

In early August, Entrepreneur High School—a state of the art charter school in Highland, California—opened its doors in what was once a Kmart store. Completely…

Their Mom Always Said They Would Go to the University of Chicago, and That’s Exactly What These Twin Sisters Did

Growing up, Olivia and Aliyah Singleton frequently heard their mother’s prediction: “You’re going to go to the University of Chicago.” “I would just shake my…

College Credit in High School Is Great, But Where Are the Classes About My Latina History?

As a first-generation college student, I jumped at the opportunity to take college classes while in high school. As a result, I was able to…

Take It From a White Suburban Mom, Grade Inflation Is Real and We Can’t Deny It Anymore

Arne Duncan found himself in hot water a few years ago when, in reference to the higher standards of the Common Core, he said, “It’s…

The Kids Aren’t Here for Half-Baked Schoolwork and Shady Politics

Outrage: If They Don’t Believe In Them, They Shouldn’t Be Teaching Them This was my story entering freshman year of college. Many students are earning…

Eighth-Graders Are Doing Fifth-Grade Work. No Wonder Our Kids Aren’t Ready for College.

I just read a report that, as a father, makes me question my own kid’s school. I mean, if these problems are happening in so…

I Dropped Out of the Same High School as My Dad. Now I’m Helping Kids Break That Cycle.

Halfway through my senior year of high school, I found I didn’t have enough credits to graduate on time. Between boredom and an hourlong bus…