Michael Winerip of the New York Times relates an inspiring lifelong tale of a father’s dedication to reading to his daughter, the successful tradition they carried throughout long years, and her eventual success in high school, college, and beyond…

Please see the following link for essential reading on the importance of outcomes-driven reform and the impact of the No Child Left Behind Law: ESEA backgrounder .
For more information on the authors of this issue brief, please visit their websites: Democrats for Education Reform and Education Equality Project.

Bill Turque of the Washington Post D.C. Schools Insider reports on reformers’ testimony before an independent evaluating committee…

(The following letter is the product of collaboration between the Education Equality Project and 18 other education advocacy, civil rights and policy organizations. Please feel free to spread the letter far and wide.)
Open Letter to President Obama, Secretary Duncan, and Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives:
The 2010 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization process comes on the heels of an intense year of federal, state, and local education action spurred by President Obama’s Race to the Top initiative. Like No Child Left Behind (NCLB i.e., …

In a breaking story, Washington Post columnists Nick Anderson and Bill Turque report on D.C.’s rousing win in the first round of the Race to the Top contest for federal funding…

Noted philanthropist Melinda French Gates, of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, reports on her goals for education reform in a recent Washington Post editorial…

School reformers generally agree that the most important education resource is the teacher. But one of the biggest obstacles to putting a good instructor in every classroom is a tenure system that forces principals to hire and retain teachers based on seniority instead of performance…

School reform supporters organize to back Rhee
A November 1, 2009 Washington Post story by staff writer Leah Fabel features DC School Reform Now prominently:
“Local supporters of D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee have grown more organized in recent weeks, as her attempts at reform have come under sharper attack from union officials and members of the city council.
“I’ve never gotten more e-mails from people all over the city asking what they can do to help,” said Anne Martin, executive director of D.C. School Reform Now, an advocacy group in …

Washington Post columnist Jay Matthews reports on the sweeping changes reformers have enacted at 2 of D.C.’s lowest performing schools…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For additional information, contact:
Anne Martin, 415-336-2564
Reform Group Demands That Ineffective Teachers Not Be Returned To Classrooms
‘Reductions In Force’ Should Be Based on Teacher Impact on Learning
Washington, DC – Oct. 16, 2009 – While the District of Columbia City Council and district school leaders tussled over a recent “Reduction In Force” that has resulted in teacher layoffs, a parent and community advocacy group today demanded that both sides commit to making sure that no child be taught by an ineffective teacher, no matter what the budgetary climate looks like.
“Grownups …