R&D Bedfellows

Our Bedfellows – We have been very gratified by the number of organizations that have recently called for greater support for R&D in education or some derivative there of. Here is a current list of our bedfellows.

Prez-elect Obama
Learning First Alliance,
Forum for Education and Democracy
National Education Association
Education Sector
NCLB Commission
Brookings Institution
Broader, Bolder Coalition
Partnership for 21st Century Skills
National School Boards Association

The New Three R's: Rigor, Relevance, Responsiveness

We think that the measure of an effective research enterprise has to do with the rigor, relevance, and responsiveness of research when it comes to addressing the needs of policy makers and practitioners. These new Three R's were the subject of the recently released five-year report of National Board for Education. The Board concluded that “… in a relatively brief period of time, the Institute has made exceptional progress in improving the rigor and relevance of education research in our nation. Under the leadership of its first director, Grover Whitehurst, the Institute has accomplished what many believed could not be done…” Hmmm…what about use and responsiveness? Let the Knowledge-able Sourcerer know your thoughts.

Plumbing the Plum Book

Check this out, Obamaniacs “… Every four years, just after the Presidential election, the United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions, commonly known as the Plum Book, is published…to identify presidentially appointed positions within the Federal Government…” See it right here. Who will be the plummers?

My Hero---Dick Riley

Riley one of Time’s Top Ten Best Cabinet Sec --- We couldn’t agree more with the magazine’s assessment of great cabinet secretaries when it includes Dick Riley (secretary of ed 1992-2000) in the top 10 here

Transition Teaming

Transition Teaming --- The transition process can be particularly complex and chaotic as the winning candidate shifts from campaign mode to governing mode. See this Ed Week article on the transition and Kohlmoos’ comments. Compared to the Clinton effort in 1992, the Obama operation is exceptionally well disciplined and tightly managed. As we reported last week, the education policy team will be headed by Linda Darling Hammond and the education agency review will be headed by our friend Judy Winston. See all the team members here

Finally, the winna!

Remember this contest here and here So who is the winna? .... Well Max and Ludy won by 2 electoral votes (Jim K predicted 353 for Barack and Max and Ludy predicted 375. And Barack finished with 365...!!! Stuffed owls for the two winnas

10 for 100

Here are 10 predictions for the first 100 days of the Obama Administration---most of which have relevance to education.
#1 The fiscal crisis will trump everything
#2 Appropriations issues will be the Big Issue
#3 The reauthorization of ESEA will be a whisper of an issue
#4 The new Secretary of Education will be a governor
#5 The battles will be internicine rather than partisan
#6 Obama will govern from above the middle
#7 ED policy will focus primarily on college access and affordability
#8 Standards-base reform will continue but…
#9 The campaign for 2012 will begin on January 21, 2009 
#10 The new puppy will be a mixed pound-puppy not named Spot

The Winna of the Who?Who?Who? Contest is...

Remember this contest here and here ? So who is the winna? .... Well, nobody as of today (11/8) because Missouri is still playing a show-me game and has not yet determined its electoral victor. But very interestingly JK predicted 353 for Barack and Max and Ludy predicted 375. Right now without MO Barack is at 364...right in between! You numerologists out there can speculate about the meaning of this, yes?

the next USSOE (US Secretary of Education)

The Sec of ED? -- The speculation has heated up. And thus begins DC’s favorite parlor game. Check out these speculations: here and here. As we have previously suggested, the Dick Riley governor model is particularly compelling because of the political and policy dynamics between states and the federal government in education.

A Call to Action and Innovation for Education

Election is A Call to Action for Education
Statement by Knowledge Alliance President Jim Kohlmoos and Board Chair Max McConkey


With inspiring Presidential candidates and record voter turnouts, 2008 has been an unprecedented year of health and vitality for American democracy.

And with the election yesterday of Barack Obama as 44th President of the United States, we have reached a pivotal time in our nation’s history – one filled with urgent challenges and history-making opportunities.

For education, in particular, our President-elect faces a watershed moment. He will be uniquely positioned to turn the page on past efforts and to lead us into a new era of innovation and transformation of our public school system.

It is time to unleash America’s ingenuity to solve our most pressing education problems, deliver break-the-mold alternatives to our schools, and guide a new knowledge and innovation revolution in teaching and learning.

With great anticipation and enthusiasm Knowledge Alliance looks forward to joining with the new Administration and the new Congress in a national call to action for education reform.

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Knowledge Alliance is a non-profit, non-partisan strategic coalition addressing the need to apply rigorous research to challenges facing our nation's schools. Its members are leading education organizations conducting high-quality education research, development, dissemination, technical assistance, and evaluation at all levels – federal through local. The Alliance works with the White House, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, and other agencies to advocate knowledge-based policy for innovation

New Evidence about Teacher Quality

“Meeting the Teacher Quality Imperative: New Evidence on Teacher Induction and Professional Development” Last week we attended another one of AIR’s Scientific Evidence in Education (SEE) forums which presented “discouraging” (according to Kate Walsh) findings from two high quality studies on teacher quality. What’s this mean for education policy on teacher induction and professional development programs? Hmmmmm…

Pre-Transit Transition

Getting ready for the Transition --- Some months ago both campaigns quietly established “pre-transition” teams to set up preparations for the transition process after the elections. In conversations with two high ranking Bush Administration officials at the ED last week, we learned that there have already been planning discussions with the campaigns’ reps. The Bushies have pledged full cooperation with whom ever is elected prez. Watch for formal transition activity to begin right away on November 5.

Time to Collaborate?

“It’s Time to Collaborate” and other smart stuff from LPA --- See this excellent guest column on EducationNews.com by none other than our energetic colleague Paul Kimmelman of Learning Point Associates. Well done, man! And speaking of Learning Point Associates, did you see this week’s commentary in Education Week by Gina Burkhardt CEO of LPA. Great piece

(you need a subscription to access it online)