Education Futures Council: America’s Schools Are Facing a ‘Public Emergency’
A year after it was convened by the Hoover Institution, the Education Futures Council released its first report Tuesday, issuing an urgent call for a new national framework to renew America’s schools and expressing the unanimous concern that taking dramatic action to revitalize today’s K-12 educational system “is no longer a matter of public urgency; […]
Special educational needs system ‘not delivering’ for families – watchdog
The special educational needs system is not delivering better outcomes for young people or preventing local authorities from facing “significant financial risks”, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has warned.Families and children lack confidence in the special educational needs (SEN) system in England which is “financially unsustainable” and in urgent need of reform, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).In its report published on Thursday, the NAO said “insufficient capacity” within schools and longer waiting times to support children with SEN have contributed to low parental confidence in the system.The Education Secretary said she is “determined” to rebuild families’ confidence in the...
Major special educational needs reforms to come ‘in due course’ – minister
Schools minister Catherine McKinnell has declined to say when the Government will complete its promised special educational needs (SEN) reforms.Ms McKinnell pledged changes will be “huge and complex”, setting up a system which is “inclusive, mainstream, with high and rising standards and opportunities for all”.But when asked about a timescale for the reforms, she said she will outline required changes to the law and other areas “in due course”.Ms McKinnell took an urgent question in the House of Commons on Thursday, after the National Audit Office (NAO) found the current SEN system is “financially unsustainable”.Only half the education, health...
Opinion/Guest column: Vote no on Question 2 to preserve state's education standards
I am writing to share a perspective that many Massachusetts voters probably do not have. During the 23 years before the 1993 Education Reform Act, I was a high school teacher, counselor and administrator, and from 1993 to the present (31 years), I have continued to work in high schools. I have helped to implement many education reform improvements, some of which Question 2 now seeks to terminate. Before reform, many of us educators bristled when...