by Jack Jennings | Jun 7, 2018 | school funding
State and national leaders were given a grade of D minus by Ed Week showing a lack of commitment to adequately fund the schools, despite rhetoric about education’s importance. “Watch what someone does–not what they say,” to see their real...
by Jack Jennings | Jan 12, 2018 | advocating, politics
To win elections, it is helpful to have a disliked opponent. People are more motivated to vote against someone than they are to vote for someone, according to an old adage. The dreams of Democrats to have such opponents could not be better fulfilled than to...
by Jack Jennings | Nov 11, 2017 | advocating, politics, school funding, teachers
Corporations and the rich will pay less in taxes. Public education will be weakened. Revenge on Democratic-leaning states will be extracted. This trifecta of disastrous results comes from the budget bill passed in late October by the House and by the Senate a...
by Jack Jennings | Nov 10, 2017 | children with disabilities, school funding
Future leaders often seem to come from high school debate teams. Students participate in these debates because they are interested in current affairs and want to hone their public speaking skills. The National Federation of State High School Associations has announced...
by Jack Jennings | Jul 11, 2017 | civics education, democratic values, politics
Yesterday, as usual, we talked now and again about President Trump and politics. As much as we try to avoid the topic, it sharply intrudes into our daily lives. We voted against Trump, and are upset about the direction that the country is taking. Living in Washington,...
by Jack Jennings | May 31, 2017 | advocating, federal funding, politics
The country is so politically divided that people increasingly are not tolerant of different views or respectful of others. This is not simply a lack of good manners. It is a blow to a democratic society. After a half century’s involvement in Washington policy-making,...
by Jack Jennings | Apr 23, 2017 | advocating, college degrees, college degrees, costs of college, federal education policy, federal funding, professors, student debt, student loans
I am honored to be part of this celebration of the life of Tom Wolanin. Donna, Andrew, Peter and other members of the family, you have the sympathy of everyone in this room. All of us knew Tom during his long career. We admired his talents. And, today, we salute him...
by Jack Jennings | Apr 16, 2017 | charter schools, education research, federal education policy, federal funding, NAEP, private schools / vouchers, school choice
“(A)n education system flush with cash but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge.” President Trump broadcast this biting condemnation in his inaugural address. A short time later, Trump proposed cutting education spending by 13%....
by Jack Jennings | Mar 4, 2017 | academic standards, accountability, advocating, NAEP, No Child Left Behind, testing
A Paper on the NAEP Long-Term Trend Assessments Prepared for the National Assessment Governing Board by Jack Jennings February 13, 2017. In this age of student testing mania, a strong justification should be required to initiate or continue any assessment. Edward...
by Jack Jennings | Feb 16, 2017 | advocating, federal education policy
If the United States valued education as much as military activities, children in elementary schools would have 45% more spent on their education than is provided now. High schools would see their budgets go up by 71%. American schools currently are not the best in...
