Citizens for Effective Schools
 

In the News

“Open Letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council: We Need a Chancellor and DME to Support DCPS and Make Mid-Course Corrections,” (June 27, 2018).

“D.C. Mayor launches search for next public schools chancellor,”The Washington Post (June 28, 2018).

“D.C. Pioneers New Direction for American School Reform,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (October 3, 2017).

Testimony on Nomination of Antwan Wilson for Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, Hearing, Council of the District of Columbia, Committee on Education Gary M. Ratner (December 8, 2016).

“How D.C. Could Become National Model For Turning Around Low-achieving Schools Under ESSA,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (December 1, 2016).

“Testimony on ‘A Better Way to Rate Schools?,’ Hearing, District of Columbia State Board of Education,” Gary M. Ratner (November 16, 2016).

“How D.C. Could Become National Model for Improving Low-achieving Schools under ESSA,” Gary M. Ratner (August 26, 2016).

“States’ Crucial Choice Under New Federal Education Law: Selecting the Best Survey to Measure and Improve School Quality,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (May 25, 2016).

“Challenge low-income students with grade-appropriate classes,” Gary M. Ratner, Letters to the Editor, The Washington Post (April 20, 2016).

“Open Letter to States and Localities: How to Implement ‘Every Student Succeeds’ to Significantly Improve Low-achieving Schools,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (February 1, 2016).

“Senate’s ESEA Challenge: Strengthen Accountability to Help Schools Improve, Not Perpetuate Test-driven Accountability,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (July 7, 2015).

“Congressional Education Reauthorization: Urgent Need for School Leadership Academy Program,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (March 17, 2015).

“Answering Chairman Alexander’s Two Critical Questions for Congressional Education Reauthorization,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (February 23, 2015).

“Principled, Sound Middle Way to Education Reauthorization,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (November 4, 2013).

“After NCLB? Emerging Strategy Shift,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (September 10, 2013).

“Overhaul ‘No Child Left Behind’ now,” Gary M. Ratner, The Hill’s Congress Blog (March 14, 2013)

“Foreword,” (PDF) Gary M. Ratner, to The Crucial Voice of the People, Past and Present: A Second Edition of Education’s Missing Ingredient by Victoria M. Young, Rowman & Littlefield (October 2012)

“What’s Wrong with Romney’s Massive Federal School Voucher Proposal and What Should Congress Do Instead?,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (October 12, 2012)

“What’s Wrong with NCLB and What Should Replace It?,” (PDF) Talk to Save Our Schools (SOS) National Convention, Workshop, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, D.C. (August 4, 2012)

“Key Changes Required in ESEA/NCLB,” (PDF) (August 3, 2012), Part of August 4th Talk

“A New Paradigm for American School Reform: from ‘High-Stakes Testing’ to ‘Helping Schools Improve’,” (PDF) Talk to Institute for Educational Leadership Washington Policy Seminar 2012, Renaissance Hotel, D.C. (April 23, 2012)

“School Turnarounds and School Improvement for the ESEA Reauthorization: Focusing on What Works,” (PDF) Talk to Forum on Educational Accountability Capitol Hill Briefing, Rayburn House Office Building, D.C.  (March 14, 2012)

“What’s Necessary for Congress to ‘Get It Right’ on School Turnarounds?,” Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (February 8, 2012)

"NCLB Waivers Should Not Be Unconditional: New Accountability Strategy Needed," Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (August 25, 2011)

"Where’s the Evidence? Serious Inadequacy of ‘Race To The Top’ School Turnaround Models," Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (May 24, 2011)

"How to Overhaul NCLB to Help Schools Improve: Implement Common Elements of Success," Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (March 23, 2011)

"What’s Wrong with NCLB? False Premises and Harmful Effects," Gary M. Ratner, Huffington Post (March 7, 2011)

“Four Key Areas for Overhauling the Elementary and Secondary Education Act,” Gary M. Ratner, Esq., EducationNews.org (February 3, 2011)

Letter to President Barack Obama objecting to Congressional removal of NCLB protections on “Highly Qualified Teachers," (PDF) Citizens for Effective Schools a signer (January 27, 2011)

"Using 'School Quality Reviews' to improve schools," by Monty Neill and Gary Ratner, The Answer Sheet, washingtonpost.com (October 8, 2010)

"Enhancing School and Family Capacity to Support Student Success" (PDF), Talk to Forum on Educational Accountability Symposium, Capitol Hill (June 29, 2010)

"A Research – and Experience – Based Turnaround Process" (PDF), Forum on Educational Accountability (June 17, 2010)

"Bennet Introduces Bill to Prepare and Support Principals to Help Turn Around Lowest Performing Schools," U.S. Senator Michael F. Bennet (Colo.), Press Release (June 9, 2010)

"The ‘Lead Act' Bill, S. 3469 and H.R. 5495, 111th Cong., 2d Session" (PDF), introduced by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (Colo.) and Sherrod Brown (Oh.) and by Congressmen Donald Payne (N.J.) and Russ Carnahan (Mo.), respectively (June 9, 2010) (See description of CES' role below)

"National Education Leadership Academy Act" draft bill (PDF) (October 9, 2009) (Prepared, and submitted to Congress, by CES as forerunner to the "Lead Act" bill introduced June 9, 2010)

“National Education Leadership Academy Briefing Paper, Revised Draft" (October 9, 2009) (Excerpts) Prepared, and submitted to Congress, by CES in support of draft Academy bill above)

"Common Elements of Successful School Turnarounds: Research and Experience" (PDF), by Gary Ratner, with Monty Neill (prepared as background for May 19, 2010 House Education & Labor Committee Hearing , "Research and Best Practices on Successful School Turnaround,") (May 14, 2010)

"What's Required: A Paradigm Shift in School Reform, from ‘Tests and Sanctions' to ‘Helping Schools Improve" (PDF) , by Gary Ratner, Talk to Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues: Conversation on Education Reform, Rayburn House Office Building, Capitol Hill (March 24, 2010)

"Advocacy to Restructure the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Working with Coalitions" (PDF), Talk to Learning Disabilities Association of America Annual Conference: Session on Advocacy in Action, Baltimore, Maryland (February 19, 2010)

"Draft Guidelines for Race to the Top Has Some Good Ideas, But Priorities Need Changing", Forum on Educational Accountabilitys Comments on Secretary Duncans Draft Guidelines for "Race to the Top Fund", EducationNews.org (August 28, 2009)

"Diverse Alliance Releases Blueprint for Overhaul of NCLB; Calls for Changes to Assessment, Accountability, Funding and School Improvement" (PDF), Press Release (June 15, 2009)

"Extending ESEA 'Accountability' Beyond Student Performance to Measuring, Scoring, Evaluating and Reporting Implementation of Systemic Changes - A Working Paper," (PDF), Forum on Educational Accountability (October 17, 2008)"

"Forum on Educational Accountability Successful in its Efforts to Improve the Higher Education Act, P.L.110-315", (PDF),
Press Release (October 6, 2008)

"Nature and Scope of the African American Achievement Gap", Gary M. Ratner Guest Columnist, EducationNews.org (July 21, 2008)

"No Child Left Behind Act", Cover Story, Washington Lawyer (April 2008)

"Brief Thoughts on the Nature, Scope and History of the African American Achievement Gap, with Emphasis on the Impact of Education Law and Policy," (PDF) Talk to Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Issue Forum, Capitol Hill (March 6, 2008)

"Why NCLB Must Be Restructured To Accomplish Its Goals, How To Do It and How You Can Help," Speech to American Federation of School Administrators (AFL-CIO) 2007 Leadership Conference (July 20, 2007)

"Group Aims to Amend NCLB To Better Aid Failing Schools," Letter to the Editor, Education Week, 36 (July 18, 2007)

"Fixing Urban Schools: Has No Child Left Behind helped minority students?", The CQ Researcher, vol. 17, pp. 361-384 (April 27, 2007), Excerpts reprinted with permission from CQ Press.

Proposed ESEA/NCLB Amendments (PDF), Forum on Educational Accountability (March 30, 2007) 

"Bush Profiteers collect billions from NCLB, Part 5," Daily Kos (March 21, 2007)

"Why NCLB Needs To Be Restructured To Accomplish Its Goals and How To Do It," PEN Weekly Newsblast (March 9, 2007)

"New Study: False Assumptions Cause 'No Child Left Behind' To Fail Students," EducationNews.org (March 8, 2007)

"Why The No Child Left Behind Act Needs To Be Restructured To Accomplish Its Goals and How To Do It" (PDF), University of the District of Columbia Law Review 9 UDC/DCSL L. Rev. 1 (Winter 2007)

Executive Summary of "Why NCLB Needs To Be Restructured ..." Article (PDF), (March 2007)

"Why The NCLB Act Needs To Be Restructured ..." Article (PDF), Full page ad, Roll Call (March 8, 2007)

"New Study: False Assumptions Cause 'No Child Left Behind' To Fail Students-- As Congress considers NCLB, education reform expert offers critique - and alternative - to throwing more money into a broken program." (PDF), Press Release (March 8, 2007)

"Critics of NCLB Ask Congress To Overhaul It," Education Week (February 23, 2007 [electronic], February 28, 2007 [paper])

"Redefining Accountability: Improving Student Learning by Building Capacity" (PDF), Forum on Educational Accountability (February 21, 2007)

"Pupils Still Far Behind Despite Law: Little Progress Shown Five Years After ‘No Child'," Chicago Tribune (January 7, 2007)

" 'No Child' Law on Track, Spellings Says," The Washington Post (January 4, 2007)

"Framing the Debate: With the No Child Left Behind Act up for renewal next year, players on the policy stage are staking out positions on what they want to see changed," Education Week (December 13, 2006)

"National Test is the Wrong Answer for Schools," Letter to the Editor, The Washington Post (September 29, 2006)

"The death and life of great American education organizations,"The Education Gadfly, Thomas B. Fordham Institute (May 25, 2006)

"At 4, NCLB Gets Praise and Fresh Call to Amend It,"Education Week (January 18, 2006)

An Interview with Gary Ratner: About Effective Schools, EducationNews.org (June 22, 2005)

"In Defense of Our Children: When Politics, Profit, and Education Collide" by Elaine M. Garan, Book Review, Teachers College Record, Columbia University (May 3, 2005)

"Inside the Law: Analyzing, Debating and Explaining No Child Left Behind," District Administration (February 2005) 

Citizens for Effective Schools Joins Coalition of National Organizations Calling for Reframing No Child Left Behind Act (PDF), Press Release (October 21, 2004)

Joint Organizational Statement on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act (October 21, 2004) (List of signers updated June 26, 2007)

"Will 'failing' schools trip Bush campaign?", The Christian Science Monitor (April 8, 2004)

"Commentary: No Child: Can It Make The Grade? Consensus on the act is fading, but it can be saved," Business Week (March 8, 2004)

"Closing America's Education Gap," Letter to the Editor, The New York Times (March 5, 2004)

"Funding for poorer schools lacking, congressman says," The Boston Globe (November 2, 2003)

"Education group calls for revised law," The New York Times (October 16, 2003)

"Educators: Help, not punishment; group requests changes in No Child Left Behind Act to focus on solving troubles," Richmond Times-Dispatch (October 16, 2003)

"Top suburban schools listed among low scorers on state test," Chicago Sun-Times (October 16, 2003)

"Penalties for poor performance decried," Monterey County Herald, CA (October 16, 2003)

"New education group calls for federal law change," Michigan Education Report (October 2003)

"Open letter to President Bush and Congress" (PDF), Full page ad, Roll Call (October 15, 2003)

Press release accompanying open letter (PDF) (October 15, 2003)

"Only Connect: Preparing Teachers to Stay Well in Urban Schools" (PDF), By Barbara Radner, CES Advisory Council Member, Prepared for Teacher and Administrator Preparation Panel, Education Action Conference, Princeton University, May 8, 2003 — Co-sponsored by Citizens for Effective Schools, Inc., Princeton Project 55 and The Princeton University Program in Teacher Preparation 

"Give states a roadmap so no child will be lost," Op-Ed, The Baltimore Sun (January 16, 2003)

"For 'No Child Left Behind' to work, new federal education role needed," Commentary, Washington Council of Lawyers News Forum (November 2002)

"Education's urgent mission: Strategic training for teachers," Op-Ed, Detroit Free Press (June 7, 2002)

"Bush's education "blueprint" bound to be inadequate," Op-Ed, The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA (September 6, 2001)

"A New Legal Duty for Urban Schools: Effective Education in Basic Skills," Commentary, Education Week (October 30, 1985)


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