Education Is a Necessity and We Should Fund It Like It’s One

Letting parents choose the school or schooling that best fits their child shouldn’t be so controversial. We don’t question the right of people to choose…

Here’s How We’re Making Halloween Work for All Our Students

There is a schism in U.S. education. I’m not talking about Common Core or the latest state tests. I’m talking about Halloween. Halloween. The word…

Donors Choose, Except When They Can’t

DonorsChoose.org, an organization that allows teachers to request classroom supplies and experiences for their students, is guilty of discriminating against parochial and private schools. At…

4 Things Every First-Year Teacher Needs to Know

Recently, I shared with a colleague that I was about to start my new job as an assistant professor of education, assisting first-year teachers as…

Why We’ve Got to Talk About Race If We Want to Achieve Education Equity

Our inability as a nation to engage in difficult conversations about race has left us with a lack of agreement on how to define equity.…

Real Educational Equity Isn’t Going to Just Happen in Schools

Those of us in the education and learning fields are focused on developing ways to reduce the persistent educational inequities that harm low-income students. Unfortunately,…

Philadelphia’s Great Unless You’re a Sick Student at a School Filled With Asbestos and Lead

Philadelphia’s on the rise! The Eagles won the Super Bowl. Michelle Obama led an all star cast of celebrities to celebrate thousands of graduating high…

I Love College Signing Day But I Hate Seeing My Students Hit With Tuitions They Can’t Afford

Today is College Signing Day, the day when high school seniors all across America commit to their choice college or university. Here in Philadelphia, none…

I Found the Right School for My Son With Autism and It’s Only Because I’m White and Have Money

It’s March, and all over the country, students and their families are waiting anxiously to receive emails and letters about the status of school applications;…

Whether Families Choose Diversity or Cultural Affirmation, Charters Meet Their Needs

For many years, education policy has focused on closing educational access and achievement gaps that exist between low-income, predominantly communities of color, and more affluent…