Is This Education Reform’s ‘E Pluribus Unum’ Moment?

Everyone trying to influence policy dreams of leading “an organized whole that acts as a single, unified, powerful or influential force.” Merriam-Webster’s dictionary will tell…

‘No Excuses’ Only Works When It Applies to the Adults in the School, Too

Many schools with strict discipline practice what they call a “no excuses” philosophy. The problem with many “no excuses” schools is that the motto is…

A Conversation With Black Parents, Teachers and Students

VIDEO SERIES: We recently brought together a group of Black teachers, parents and high school students to talk about their experiences with public schools.…

Don’t Get Angry, Get Eva

Somehow, while managing a sprawling network of public charter schools serving 15,000 children, engaging in the day-to-day political combat of New York, and raising three…

Don’t Be Fooled, There Are High-Performing Schools That Are Still Failing Children

I haven’t been given the opportunity to have children of my own yet; however, as an educator, I have spoken to and worked with many…

Yes, You Should Use Social-Emotional Learning With School Discipline, But It’s Not Easy

There is an escalating debate about the role of social-emotional learning (SEL) in education. Proponents of SEL believe it’s correlated with positive outcomes for students,…

These Denver Principals Are Calling for an End to Suspensions of Young Students

In the world of education, few things are sadder or more ill-advised than suspending kids as young as 4 years old from school for behavioral…

Restorative Justice Practices in Schools Are Good for the Body, Mind and Soul

If you ever wanted a crash course on school-based restorative justice practices, then I urge you to watch this panel. I recently attended the “Re-Thinking Discipline:…

A Candid Convo With a Chicago Principal Who Says Black Boys Learn Best When Success Looks Like Them

Christopher Goins is the founding principal of Butler College Prep, a four-year-old charter high school on the far South Side of Chicago with a student…

Suspension Is No Longer the Only Tool Educators Have to Address Discipline Problems

A student yells at a teacher, engages in an altercation with a peer or is continually late to class. For decades, under a zero-tolerance framework,…