Explainers

EXPLAINED: What Are Standardized Tests and Why Do We Need Them?

Ed Post Staff — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 20:22:35 GMT

Few issues in education spark more tension and debate than standardized testing. Are they a tool for equity or a burden on students? A necessary check on school systems or a flawed measure of learning? To understand what’s at stake, we first have to ask: what are standardized tests, what are they used for, and why do they play such a significant role in our schools?

What Is the Federal Charter Schools Program & How it Funds Charter Schools

Ed Post Staff — Wed, 21 May 2025 16:27:04 GMT

Charter schools are public schools with a purpose. Operating independently from traditional school districts, they're tuition-free, open to all students, and publicly funded—but with more flexibility to innovate in exchange for higher accountability. For many parents, especially in communities where traditional schools have struggled, charters have offered fresh hope and real alternatives.

In 1993, when charter schools were a new, bipartisan idea, President Bill Clinton proposed supporting them with federal funds. Two years later, Congress made it happen by putting $6 million into competitive grants to states. The winning states sent the money on to new operators to get charter schools off the ground.

Since then, the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) has become a vital source of funding, helping new charter schools launch and supporting high-performing ones as they grow. Here’s how the program works, why it matters, and where it’s headed today.

What's Wrong With the Teacher of Color Educator Pipeline?

Ed Post Staff — Wed, 21 May 2025 16:25:05 GMT

Despite the benefits of a diverse teaching force, prospective teachers of color fall out of our leaky preparation pipeline at every stage: preparation, hiring, induction, and retention. Here’s what our pipeline should look like:

Why We Need a More Diverse Teacher Workforce & Its Importance in Education

Ed Post Staff — Tue, 13 May 2025 19:05:00 GMT

The Reality—Students Need More Teachers of Color

While America’s student body has grown more diverse over time, the teachers working with them have remained overwhelmingly white. More than half of public school students are students of color, but teachers of color make up only 22.4% of the public school teacher workforce.

The Furor Over AP African American Studies, Explained

Maureen Kelleher — Tue, 13 May 2025 14:00:00 GMT

What should have been a milestone in U.S. education instead ignited a firestorm. In early 2023, the College Board released a revised framework for its new Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course while it was still being piloted in 60 high schools. The timing raised eyebrows: just weeks earlier, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had rejected the course, calling it politically motivated and devoid of academic value.

How to Get Better at Math: Why Students' Math Identity Matters

Lane Wright — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:54:12 GMT

The stories you tell yourself about your own math ability tend to become true.

What's an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and How to Ensure Your Child's Needs Are Met?

Ed Post Staff — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 18:37:00 GMT

If you have a child with disabilities, you’re not alone: According to the latest data, over 7 million American schoolchildren — 14% of all students ages 3-21 — are classified as eligible for special education services. With this classification comes a set of rights, codified in federal law through the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), that your school district guarantees to your child. While parents generally advocate for their children, parents of students with disabilities have to advocate a little harder. Here is a set of questions and answers to help you secure what your child needs to thrive.

Social Determinants of Health in Education: How it Impacts Black and Brown Children

Laura Waters — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 19:53:06 GMT

The fight for educational equity has never been just about schools. The real North Star for this work is providing opportunities for each child to thrive into adulthood. This means that our advocacy must go beyond the walls of the classroom and encompass what many call “the whole child.”

The Backlash to the Backlash Against Teaching Black History in Schools

Mark R. Lowery — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 19:42:20 GMT

When high school students in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, were allegedly told they couldn’t discuss slavery and civil rights during a Black History Month program because it made an administrator uncomfortable, they voted with their feet. Literally.

Educational Civil Rights: You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Study

Lane Wright — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 16:30:00 GMT

Threats to our civil liberties are alive and well.