In January 2010, the UCLA-based Civil Rights Project (CRP) released "Choice without Equity: Charter School Segregation and the Need for Civil Rights Standards." The study intended to report on, among other things, levels of racial segregation in charter schools across the United States. The authors use 2007-08 data from the U.S. Department of…

This article focuses on the reports produced by the National Center for Education Statistics which rely too much on subjective judgments. The two studies--which used data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress that were adjusted for student and school differences--reported generally favorable academic results for regular public…

Today's attack on the public schools is not only unfair, it may very well shatter the foundation. The facts are that this is the golden era of American education. At no time in the nation's history has literacy been higher, academic skills greater, and educational opportunities pursued by so many. (Author)

Some segments of the business community have lost patience with schools that fail to prepare disadvantaged and low-achieving students for work. Critics cite declines in test scores, higher costs, and bloated bureaucracies. Offers 17 ways to improve school performance. (MLF)

A look at national and particularly urban dropout rates reveals that the disadvantages of high school dropouts, relative to their graduate peers, are confounded by race, ethnicity, social class, and gender. Their troubles in terms of employment and earnings are more devastating today than they were 20 years ago. Quotes from Chester Finn present…

Presents some 1980 data demonstrating that Catholic and private high schools do have higher achievement and better course offerings than public high schools, but cautions parents to use personal values as well as statistics when selecting a school. One of three theme articles: "Reflections on the 1981 Coleman study." (SJL)

Examines the legal and ethical framework within which the National Center for Education Statistics must work to resolve the tensions between obligations to disclose information and obligations to protect confidentiality. Discusses some approaches to reconciling the sometimes conflicting demands of applicable legal and ethical guidelines. (164…

A summary of recommendations for improving the fiscal data portion of the Center for Education Statistics' Common Core of Data includes a discussion of the issues surrounding each recommendation. The following actions are recommended: (1) revenues and expenditures should include a breakdown of function by funds, and further detail should be…