Joanne Jacobs
A la carte learning in Florida
Alicia Garcia was a part-time cooking teacher before the pandemic closed Florida schools, writes Ron Matus on Next Steps. Now the former...
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Joanne Jacobs
Jun 192 min read
Always mediocre, teacher prep is now politicized too
Future elementary teachers get a lot of training in "equity pedagogy" at the University of Florida, writes Scott Yenor in City Journal....
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 18, 20232 min read
Repeating a grade can help elementary students succeed
Holding kids back if they're way behind in reading is very controversial, but new research shows that repeating a grade in elementary...
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 10, 20232 min read
How AZ parents spend ESAs: Specialty schools, private schools -- and karate lessons!
How are Arizona parents spending Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) money? They're paying for educational products and services,...
Joanne Jacobs
Aug 14, 20232 min read
Shakespeare's smut: 'Out, out, gosh-darned spot'
There's no need to edit the dirty jokes out of Shakespeare's plays to comply with Florida's new law, according to the state Education...
Joanne Jacobs
Aug 9, 20231 min read
Kerfuffle's climax: AP Psych is OK in Florida
Florida high schools can teach Advanced Placement Psychology -- including the unit on gender and sexuality -- says the state education...
Joanne Jacobs
Jul 24, 20232 min read
Black history in Florida: 'Strong, valuable people'
Alex Haley's Roots, which traced his ancestors back to Africa, was a very big deal when it was shown on TV in 1977. I was surprised to...
Joanne Jacobs
Jun 17, 20232 min read
Banning book bans: It won't work
Illinois libraries that ban or restrict books for "partisan or doctrinal" reasons will lose state funding under a new law, reports Claire...
Joanne Jacobs
May 12, 20232 min read
Cellphone bans spread: 'This has got to stop'
Schools across the country are banning cell phones in hopes of reducing distractions and refocusing students on academics, writes Donna...
Joanne Jacobs
May 1, 20232 min read
It's easier to become a teacher, but ...
States are dropping licensing tests to qualify more teachers, write Hannah Putnam and Heather Peske of the National Council on Teacher...
Joanne Jacobs
Apr 28, 20231 min read
Teach about gender identity -- but just the facts, person who produces eggs
Florida banned teaching about sexuality and gender in K-3 last year, and authorized only age "appropriate" lessons in higher grades. Now...
Joanne Jacobs
Apr 26, 20231 min read
Poll finds strong, bipartisan support for school choice
Democrats and Republicans strongly support school choice, according to a new I&I/TIPP poll, reports Terry Jones. Here's the question,...
Joanne Jacobs
Apr 20, 20232 min read
Don't ignore the smart kids
Victoria McDougald thought kindergarten would be exciting and joyful for her son, "an eager, rapid learner," but she learned that the...
Joanne Jacobs
Apr 12, 20232 min read
Will 65% of Tennessee 3rd-graders repeat the year? Not likely
If Tennessee's read-or- repeat law had been in place last year, 65 percent of third graders would have been at-risk of retention for...
Joanne Jacobs
Mar 31, 20231 min read
Back in the USA
We returned from Barcelona last night, so I'm a bit jet-lagged -- and where was my breakfast buffet this morning? -- but the blog is...
Joanne Jacobs
Mar 17, 20232 min read
Why was Rosa Parks told to move to the back of the bus?
Florida is approving new "anti-woke" social studies textbooks, reports Sarah Mervosh in the New York Times. Some publishers think the...
Joanne Jacobs
Feb 20, 20232 min read
DeSantis vs. College Board
Florida schools will not stop offering Advanced Placement classes, whatever Gov. Ron DeSantis suggests. With other rigorous options, such...
Joanne Jacobs
Feb 8, 20232 min read
Parents need 'choice navigators'
"Choice navigators" can help parents use education scholarships to find the right options for their children, writes Travis Pillow of the...
Joanne Jacobs
Feb 2, 20231 min read
Classroom libraries aren't a crime in Florida
The "great Florida classroom library freak-out of 2023" is based on faulty reporting, confusing directives from local school officials...
Joanne Jacobs
Feb 2, 20232 min read
AP African American Studies purges critical race, queer theorists
Critical race theory, queer theory and black feminist literature are out of the core curriculum in the revised version of College Board's...
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