Publications
Exam Schools: Inside America's Most Selective Public High Schools
Chester E. Finn, Jr. , Jessica Hockett / September 16, 2012
What is the best education for exceptionally able and high-achieving youngsters? There are no easy answers but, as Chester Finn and Jessica Hockett show, for more than 100,000 students each year, the solution is to enroll in an academically selective public high school. Exam Schools is the first-ever close-up look at this small, sometimes controversial, yet crucial segment of American public education.
Applying Systems Thinking to Improve Special Education in Ohio
Nathan Levenson / September 5, 2012
This paper uses systems thinking to provide common sense ideas for saving money while improving special education services to the more than 275,000 Ohio students with special needs.
Boosting the Quality and Efficiency of Special Education
Nathan Levenson / September 5, 2012
This groundbreaking study uses the largest database of information on special education spending and staffing ever assembled to uncover significant variance in how districts staff for special education. The report concludes that if the high-spending districts studied reduce their staffing in this area to the national median the public could save $10 billion and offers clear recommendations for improving special-education quality and efficiency.
How Americans Would Slim Down Public Education
Steve Farkas , Ann Duffett / August 2, 2012
Education budgets are tight and state and district leaders must make tough decisions about where to save. But is the public willing to accept cuts? If so, where? According to the results of this new survey, many Americans are open—selectively open—to dramatic changes in how school districts do business.
