Chicago Isn’t Atlanta—Our Student Learning Gains Are Real and Lead the Nation

About a year ago, Stanford researcher Sean Reardon was digging deep into a 300-million-piece database he created, containing five years’ worth of state test scores…

This Chicago Program Is Making Sure Families Know Their School Options

When we policy wonks talk about school choice, mostly we talk about big-picture ways to make choice more available, like creating charter schools or offering…

This Is What Being a Non-Racist White Person Really Looks Like

First, let’s get something straight: The current bar for being a “good, non-racist White person” is set way too low. Here’s what it looks like…

So You Want to Go to College? Send a Text.

In 2013, then-First Lady Michelle Obama approached then-Secretary of Education Arne Duncan with the goal of inspiring more young people to attend and graduate from…

Up Until Ninth Grade, I Had Zero Male Teachers of Color. Here’s Why That Matters.

For 10 years—the first decade I was in school—all my teachers were White women. As a Mexican-American kid, I didn’t get the chance to have…

It Doesn’t Take Millions to Support Students’ Mental Health

Brand-new charter school Washington Leadership Academy (WLA) has already drawn national attention for its commitment to incorporating the latest in tech, including virtual reality, into…

I Thought I Suffered for Not Being Placed in ESL Classes, But I Was Wrong

At the age of 2, I left the United States to live in my parents’ native country, Guatemala. I completed my first two years of…

These Boys Are in Juvenile Detention. Here’s How I Help Them See the Opportunity for Hope.

As an educator for 18- to 21-year-old boys at our county juvenile detention center, sorrow often feels like a constant companion. There are days when…

VIDEO: Super Soaker Inventor Lonnie Johnson Is Helping Fund Young Engineers

Does the name Lonnie Johnson ring a bell? He’s the inventor of the Super Soaker. The popular water gun has grossed over $1 billion in…

Believe It Or Not, Free College Comes With a Price

To much fanfare and press releases, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced his free college plan for families in the state earning less than…