education and state

Provides an insider's account of the Chinese school system, revealing the secrets that make it both the best and worst in the world, discussing that despite turning out the world's highest-achieving students in reading, math, and science, Chinese educators, parents, and political leaders hate the system and long to send their kids to western schools; and discusses how current reforms in the United States parallel the classic Chinese system.

"Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Christie, and Cory Booker were ready to reform our failing schools. They got an education. When Mark Zuckerberg announced in front of a cheering Oprah audience his $100 million pledge to transform the Newark Schools -- and to solve the education crisis in every city in America -- it looked like a huge win for then-mayor Cory Booker and governor Chris Christie. But their plans soon ran into a constituency not so easily moved -- Newark's key education players, fiercely protective of their billion-dollar-per-annum system. It's a prize that, for generations, has enriched seemingly everyone, except Newark's students. Expert journalist Dale Russakoff delivers a story of high ideals and hubris, good intentions and greed, celebrity and street smarts -- as reformers face off against entrenched unions, skeptical parents, and bewildered students. The growth of charters forces the hand of Newark's superintendent Cami Anderson, who closes, consolidates, or redesigns more than a third of the city's schools -- a scenario on the horizon for many urban districts across America. Most moving are Russakoff's portraits from inside the district's schools, of home-grown principals and teachers, long stuck in a hopeless system -- and often the only real hope for the children of Newark. The Prize is a portrait of a titanic struggle over the future of education for the poorest kids, and a cautionary tale for those who care about the shape of America's schools. "--.

"In many public schools, students are spending up to 28 percent of instructional time on testing and test prep. Starting this year, the introduction of the Common Core State Standards Initiative in 45 states will bring an unprecedented level of new, more difficult, and longer mandatory tests to nearly every classroom in the nation up to five times a year--forcing our national testing obsession to a crisis point. Taxpayers are spending extravagant money on these tests--up to $1.4 billion per year--and excessive tests are stunting children's spirits, adding stress to family life, and slowly killing our country's future competitiveness. Yet even so, we still want our kids to score off the charts on every test they take, in elementary school and beyond. And there will be a lot of them. This book is an exploration of that dilemma, and a strategy for how to solve it"--.

America has been steadily sliding in global education rankings for decades. In particular, our students are increasingly unable to compete globally in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. One Nation Under Taught provides a blueprint for helping students fall in love with, succeed in, and further pursue studies in STEM subjects. The book challenges educators and policy-makers at all levels to work together to make our schools places that promote curiosity, inspire a love of learning, and create long-lasting prosperity.

Presents information from diverse disciplines on the efforts of the states and courts to address inequities in educational opportunities and outcomes in the U.S., and provides annotated lists of organizations, associations, government agencies, and print and nonprint resources.

Presents a comprehensive analysis of school desegregation in the fifty years since the Brown verses Board of Education decision, charts the degree of interracial contact in schools, and examines how integration influenced the education of both African-American and white students.

Examines some of the major education controversies that have arisen since the 1950s, discussing desegregation, funding, reform, school choice, ability grouping, and other topics, argues that most issues come down to a conflict between what is best for the individual and what is good for all students, and offers suggestions for building a consensus on education policy.

Discusses the inherently political nature of education and the impact of ideology on schools and students.