A Useful Website Focusing on Education Reform

The Center for Education Reform hosts a website dedicated to the topic of education reform. Included are news, issues, fast facts, resources, and commentary. It looks like a good source of information.

The CER started in 1993 in the District of Columbia. They describe themselves as "the leading national organization for necessary structural change in American education." It looks like they are a grassroots advocacy group that provides information and support to communities, families, schools, and states.

In the Ed Reform Fast Facts is an overview of school choice and charter programs. States are listed under such headings as Public School Choice Permitted Throughout the State (there are 9 states listed); Charter School States That Have Strong to Medium Strength Laws (Grades A - B), Charter School States That Have Weak Laws (Grades C - F); Publicly-Sponsored Full School Choice (Cleveland, OH; District of Columbia; Milwaukee, WI; Florida); Publicly-Sponsored Secular School Choice (Maine, Vermont).

CER's State-by-State Scorecard compiled April 2006 rates states in a number of categories including their improvement over pre-NCLB performance. It is interesting to see the amount of money per child each state spends. Mississippi spends the least ($5,890 per child) while District of Columbia spends the most ($15,489 per child!)

To explore this website your self, go to http://www.edreform.com/