Publications
Teaching about 9/11 in 2011: What Our Children Need to Know
Richard Rodriguez , Andrew J. Rotherham , William Damon , William Galston , Lamar Alexander , Victor Davis Hanson , Katherine Kersten , Lucien Ellington , Craig Kennedy , Walter Russell Mead / September 7, 2011
Any number of organizations are offering advice about what to teach schoolchildren about the events of September 11, 2001, yet (unlike that day's murderous pilots) most sorely miss the mark. Fordham's publication, "Teaching about 9/11 in 2011: What Our Children Need to Know," highlights the danger of slighting history and patriotism in the rush to teach children about tolerance and multiculturalism. It combines ten short essays by distinguished educators, scholars, and public officials from our 2003 report, "Terrorists, Despots, and Democracy: What Our Children Need to Know," essays that feel more timely than ever, and includes a new introduction by Chester E. Finn, Jr. reflecting on how the lessons of these essays apply today.
The Common Core and the Future of Student Assessment in Ohio
Emmy L. Partin , Kathleen Porter-Magee , Jamie Davies O'Leary / August 29, 2011
Ohio adopted the Common Core standards in ELA and math in June 2010, but now stands at a crossroad in making sure statewide assessments are aligned to those standards. Ohio is a participating member in two federally funded assessment consortia—the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC)--but is a decision-maker in neither. This primer outlines both consortia and suggests that Ohio make a decision soon to begin the massive reboot required to realign assessments, professional development, and accountability systems to match the Common Core.
After the Budget, What Next? Ohio's Education Policy Priorities
August 1, 2011
To what extent have Ohio's leaders met the challenges and opportunities before them in K-12 education? What needs to happen next?
The State of State U.S. History Standards 2011
Jeremy A. Stern , Sheldon M. Stern / February 16, 2011
Reviewers evaluated state standards for U.S. history in grades K-12. What they found is discouraging: Twenty-eight states—a majority—deserve D or F grades for their academic standards in this key subject. The average grade across all states is a dismal D. Among the few bright spots, South Carolina earns a straight A for its standards and six other jurisdictions—Alabama, California, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York and the District of Columbia—garner A-minuses. (The National Assessment's "framework" for U.S. history also fares well.) Read on to learn how your state scored.
