Here are some recent useful posts and articles on educational policy issues (You might also be interested in The Best Articles & Posts On Education Policy In 2015 – So Far):

Back to school: Why August is the new September is from CNN and has some info that was new to me.

Polishing the Apple: What ‘Dangerous Minds’ and Other Movies Get Right and Wrong About Teachers is from Grantland. I’m adding it to The Best Places To Learn About (And View Video Clips Of) Teachers In The Movies.

The Problem We All Live With is the must-listen to (or must-read transcript) from This American Life. Here is how it’s described:

Right now, all sorts of people are trying to rethink and reinvent education, to get poor minority kids performing as well as white kids. But there’s one thing nobody tries anymore, despite lots of evidence that it works: desegregation. Nikole Hannah-Jones looks at a district that, not long ago, accidentally launched a desegregation program.

This Florida School District Is Failing Black Students at a Shocking Rate. That’s Exactly What It Chose to Do. is from Slate.

Is VAM a Sham? Depends on the Question You’re Asking. is by Ben Spielberg. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About The “Value-Added” Approach Towards Teacher Evaluation.

Policy Influences Practice But Does Practice Influence Policy? is by Larry Cuban.

Famed teacher Esquith sues school system amid release of new allegations is from The L.A. Times.

20% of New York State Students Opted Out of Standardized Tests This Year is from The New York Times. I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Parents “Opting-Out” Of Standardized Tests For Their Children.

News Corp. Planning to Sell Off Money-Losing Education Unit is from The New York Times.

Parents think standardized tests are useless. Teachers agree. is from Vox.

Here’s my tweeted comment about Bill Gates’ article in Ed Surge.:

I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About The Role Of Private Foundations In Education Policy.

Here’s the latest update on the California High School Exit Exam fiasco (see California High School Exit Exam Fiasco — Here’s The Latest):