Category Archives: Fiscal & Economic

College one-two punch

Posted on September 12, 2009 by axooms

Two fascinating articles.  The first is a futuristic view of online higher education: In less than two months, she had finished four complete courses, for less than $200 total. The same courses would have cost her over $2,700 at Northeastern Illinois, $4,200 … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiscal & Economic, Higher Education | Leave a comment

…the edge of the world and all of Western civilization…(fn)

Posted on July 24, 2009 by axooms

Nothing like kicking a dead-broke state right smack in the wallet: California could lose out on millions of federal education dollars unless legislators change a law that prevents it from using student test scores to measure teachers’ performance, Secretary of Education … Continue reading →

Posted in District Performance, Fiscal & Economic, Teacher Unions | Leave a comment

As goes Detroit Public Schools, so goes…

Posted on July 21, 2009 by axooms

Well, probably more school districts. From the Wall Street Journal (may be gated); this is a remarkable read: DETROIT — Detroit’s public-school system, beset by massive deficits and widespread corruption, is on the brink of following local icons GM and Chrysler into … Continue reading →

Posted in District Performance, Fiscal & Economic | Leave a comment

D.C. Defaults

Posted on July 15, 2009 by axooms

Somewhat ironically, after my post yesterday about the academic success in the DC school system, it seems that their financials are a particular mess. The District missed a $103 million payment due to its 60 charter schools this morning, triggering serious cash flow … Continue reading →

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Pension drama, Act I

Posted on June 5, 2009 by axooms

I wrote a few weeks ago about the coming municipal (and other) pension morass, which some of Colorado’s elected officials seem intent on denying.  My point was simple: in coming years benefits are going to be reduced, and/or contributions raised. Turns out we did not have … Continue reading →

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Race, money, and student achievement

Posted on April 16, 2009 by axooms

NYC Chancellor Joel Klien’s new editorial will make lots of people uncomfortable: Too many people today excuse teachers, principals and school superintendents who fail to substantially raise the performance of low-income minority students by claiming that schools cannot really be held accountable … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiscal & Economic, Student Achievement | Leave a comment

Time to tell teachers the pension truth

Posted on March 30, 2009 by axooms

It’s deeply discouraging to those of us who have been watching pensions – not just in regards to teachers, but for municipalities overall – to see the very people who will probably be most affected deceived by their elder peers. Such is the current … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiscal & Economic, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment