Are we being overly optimistic when it comes to how well our middle-class students are being prepared for college? Take, for instance, my home state of New Jersey. If you live in one of New Jersey’s many middle-class suburbs, you most likely take great pride in your public-school district, each one a reflection of distinctive township identities. Ninety-seven percent of… Read more →
Let’s start with what we all agree on, reformers and anti-reformers alike. Poverty matters in education. Of course it does. Yes, high concentrations of poor students in schools make it harder for those students and their teachers to succeed. Yes, children living in poverty need more support, especially in the earliest years. Yes, teachers who work in high-poverty schools need… Read more →