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For Retirement Security, K-12 Teachers Should Embrace Higher Ed Model
In a modern, defined contribution system, all workers and retirees get an annual report on the status of their pension investments.
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Interview with Representative Christina Hagan
Representative Christina Hagan, an American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) member and Midwestern Chair of the ALEC Women’s Caucus, is the youngest woman ever elected to the Ohio State House of Representatives. She…
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Massachusetts Plays the Lottery with Students’ Futures
Last Wednesday, the families of 366 Massachusetts students waited anxiously while their educational fates were decided by a lottery. The families were applying to the Holyoke Community Charter School, one of the best in Massachusetts, but because charter school enrollment is arbitrarily capped in the state, only 34 were chosen to enroll in the school. Unfortunately, scenes like the one at Holyoke are not uncommon in Massachusetts, where the law allows only a certain number of charter schools to operate.
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Tennessee Senate Passes Ban-the-Box Legislation
The Tennessee Senate recently passed Senate Bill 2440 with a 25 to 7 vote. The bill, colloquially known as “ban-the box,” requires state employers to delay inquiring about criminal…
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ALEC CEO Travels to Missouri
Recently, CEO Lisa B. Nelson met with lawmakers in the Missouri General Assembly. Lisa was welcomed by Speaker Todd Richardson, House Majority Floor Leader Mike Cierpiot and Senate President Pro-Tem…
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California’s Golden Opportunity on Sentencing Reform
California Governor Jerry Brown has proposed a ballot initiative that aims to alleviate the state’s overcrowded prisons. Brown’s proposal will reduce the prison population by hastening prison release programs…
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Louisiana Governor Wants Higher Taxes
If the state had effective limits on spending, like those found in Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Louisiana would not be contending with a budget shortfall today.
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More Evidence Raising the Minimum Wage Could Hurt More Than it Helps
Broken promises are nothing new in politics, but the worst are those promises that actual hurt the very people whom the promises were intended to help. Increasing minimum wage is…
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State of the State: Illinois
Given the severity of Illinois’ problems, now is the time for bold reform.
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Testimony before the Federal Lands Action Group
The Environmental Implications of Federally Managed Lands in the West and Canadian Devolution Prepared by Karla Jones Director of the Task Force on International Relations and…
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Illinois: Reform Criminal Justice to Reform Spending
According to Article 1, Section 11 of The Illinois Constitution, criminal sentencing requires that “all penalties shall be determined both according to the seriousness of the offense and with the…
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West Virginia Sends Right-to-Work Bill to Governor’s Desk
In Right-to-Work states, unionization is still permitted, but labor unions are no longer able to force membership as a condition of employment.
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Report Ranks States for Hostility to Parent Choice and Charter Schools
On Tuesday, the Network for Public Education (NPE), a policy group led by well-known school choice opponent Diane Ravitch, published a report grading the states’ education policies. Unlike the…
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State of the State: Oklahoma
Governor Fallin has traditionally been an ally of limited government, free markets and federalism. However, given the difficult economic circumstances that her oil-dependent state is suffering, the governor and legislature are in a trying position.
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Governor Bevin Calls for Responsible Spending in New Budget
Newly elected Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin used his State of the Commonwealth Budget Address to challenge Kentucky to do better in terms of responsible budgeting and be “the best version…
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State of the State: Iowa
Iowa’s Terry Branstad, the nation’s longest-serving governor, delivered his 22nd 'Condition of the State' address this month.
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National School Choice Week Sets Participation Record in 2016
This week, millions of teachers, students, parents and community leaders are coming together to promote and celebrate the merits of school choice.
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Netflix Billionaire Hopes to Avoid Zuckerberg Donation Mess by Focusing on Charter Schools
Earlier this month, Reed Hastings, CEO and founder of Netflix, announced he would donate $100 million dollars to set up a fund for educational initiatives, mainly the creation and maintenance…
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Five Reasons to Celebrate National School Choice Week 2016
This week is National School Choice Week! Here are five reasons to celebrate school choice this year.
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Digital Teaching and Learning Plan
This bill: Has the following goals: Dramatic improvement in student achievement evidenced through individual student content mastery and state determined assessments Skilled workforce development and employer/student alignment Long-term self-funding through budget savings and tax revenue enhancements Requires the State Board of Education to establish a digital teaching and learning taskforce to develop a plan for digital teaching and learning in elementary and secondary schools; and To develop a Digital Teaching and Learning master plan that will lead to dramatic improvements in student achievement; To develop a financial plan that leads to fiscal sustainability and accounts for the positive financial impact of the program; To conduct a technology readiness assessment of the public education system's current technology resources, instructional resources, and levels of professional development; To perform a school network infrastructure study to determine the technology infrastructure needs of the public education system to implement a digital teaching and learning program; and Report the findings to the Education Interim Committee and the Executive Appropriations Committee [or similar appropriate State education and appropriations legislative committees].