Education
Spend more and get less
Nevada’s higher-ed approach fundamentally wrong-headed
For over four years now, Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Jim Rogers has been bullying, sweet-talking, threatening, celebrating, decrying, politicking, quitting, un-quitting, donating his money, un-donating his money, and, even by his own account, being regularly unreasonable – all in the service of turning Nevada's taxpayer-supported universities and colleges into research and education wonders that will spark massive economic growth in the state for decades to come.
Spend, spend again
Our current approach on education ensures we won’t succeed.
The education establishment consistently bemoans Nevada's lower-than-average per-pupil spending on education. Implicit in their constant return to this statistic is a misguided belief that spending more money on education naturally leads to better education results.
Trademarks and low marks
Is Policy Governance® a road to nowhere?
Almost a decade after the Clark County School District adopted Policy Governance®, the natural question is: Has it moved the district along the road to higher achievement?
The century-old scheme to disempower parents
Modern school boards were designed by elitists to be impervious to change.
Why is public K-12 education in the Silver State so resistant to genuine reform? It was designed to be that way.
Coming out of the dark
Government transparency would add credibility to both sides of the budget battle.
There's nothing particularly new, or even all that interesting, about the kafuffle taking place over Nevada's public K-12 education budget.
Lessons from Texas
We should recognize the benefits of end-of-course exams.
Recognition is beginning to grow across the country that end-of-course exams are a superior alternative to proficiency tests as a requirement for high school graduation.
Talking to the hand
School boards have turned the Open Meeting Law upside down.
Nevada’s Open Meeting Law was designed to generate public discourse and debate. Yet school boards have, ironically, used it instead as a means of avoiding frank discussion with the public — thus turning the law on its head.
Who works for whom?
Problems abound in the chancellor’s office.
Chancellor Jim Rogers’ response to a recent evaluation from Regent Ron Knecht suggests a continuing confusion over an important issue: whether the chancellor works for the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents, or whether it works for him.
Back to school
What are the charter choices in Nevada?
What choices are available to parents and students in Nevada who are considering the charter school option? What can you do if you don’t like the menu at the geographically mandated government educational cafeteria? Unfortunately, Nevadans have few alternatives.
A dose of reality
Proponents of endless education funding have learned some hard lessons.
In a mad rush to jack up education spending by over a billion dollars during the 2007 Legislative Session — without any serious and badly needed education reforms involving choice or accountability — Nevada’s education establishment tripped over the rock of reality and stumbled headlong into a pronounced credibility gap.
