Private Schools

Source: EdChoice

Date: 4/1/25

School Starter Checklist Rankings: The State-by-State Burden of Private School Regulations

In summer 2024, we published The School Starter Checklist, a compendium of regulations on private schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Even a cursory glance at it will show that states take different approaches to regulating private schooling. Some states take a forceful posture, requiring schools to do everything from getting accredited by the state to administering state standardized tests to having teachers certified by state bodies. Others are more hands off, giving private schools autonomy to operate as they see fit.

We at EdChoice are firmly on the side of autonomy. Private schools are private for a reason. They want to act differently and be different. They might want to have a religious orientation or pursue a different pedagogical philosophy. They also might wish to depart from the typical school calendar or schedule, use different disciplinary practices, or vary from public schools on a host of other matters. We do not believe that there is one right way to educate children, and parents should be free to choose from schools that meaningfully differ from each other. That means allowing schools to do different things and be accountable to parents for what they do. That said, we are not anarchists. We believe in parental rights but recognize that those rights are not absolute. The state does have an interest in safeguarding children, who are vulnerable and leave the protective gaze of their parents when they attend school. We believe that regulations on schools can ensure student safety without meaningfully infringing on the educational autonomy of private schools.

Review of Making the Grade: Accounting for Course Selection in High School Transcripts with Item Response Theory

Source: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University

Reviewed by: Michael Russell, Boston College

The role of standardized test scores in college admissions is evolving, with many institutions shifting away from the SAT and ACT. In their absence, high school GPA has become the primary indicator of college readiness, though it doesn't account for course difficulty. A new Annenberg Institute report introduces "Transcript Strength," a measure designed to adjust GPA based on course rigor. While promising, the report acknowledges the approach requires further research and development.

In his review of Making the Grade: Accounting for Course Selection in High School Transcripts with Item Response Theory, Michael Russell of Boston College agrees that the approach has potential but will require future refinement. The report applies a "partial credit model" from Item Response Theory-commonly used in assessment development and research-to evaluate course difficulty, generating a Transcript Strength measure. Preliminary findings suggest this tool provides insights into high school achievement distinct from GPA and SAT scores.

School shooting database slashed in Trump downsizing

By: Naaz Modan, K-12Dive

"Amid an overall increase in school shootings, experts have lamented the lack of a federal database and rely on such research projects for information."

States must promise their schools don't use DEI or lose federal money, Trump administration says

By: Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat

"The U.S. Department of Education is giving state education agencies 10 days to certify that their schools do not engage in any practices that the administration believes illegally promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Those that do not sign a certification that they are in compliance with the administration's controversial interpretations of civil rights law will not receive any federal funding, officials said. Federal funding represents about 10% of all K-12 funding nationwide but makes up a larger share of local budgets in high-poverty districts."

Save Neighborhood Schools - Say No to Private School Vouchers!

By: Public Funds Public Schools

"The policy brief aggregates research and information on the connection between vouchers and school closures. Vouchers divert limited public dollars from public schools and contribute to declines in enrollment, which impacts state and federal funding for public schools. This underfunding can force schools to close, which is particularly harmful for low-income communities, communities of color, and rural communities. The policy brief features case studies of states with voucher programs that have contributed to public school closures, to the detriment of students, families and communities."

House panel weighs AI's pitfalls, potential as Education Dept cuts loom large

By: Anna Merod, K-12Dive

"Innovating with artificial intelligence in schools remains exciting to some lawmakers, while others fear deepening inequities."

The School Privatization Movement Is Broadly Unpopular

By: Jennifer C. Berkshire, Jacobin

"For years, the loudest opposition to school privatization has come from public-school advocates and teachers' unions, who argue that vouchers steal tax dollars from local public schools. They are now increasingly being joined by critics on the Right."

GreatLakesCenter.org