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'We're graduating people who can't do basic arithmetic'
Screening students' math fluency and providing help to those falling behind has improved achievement in Alabama -- and England.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 33 min read
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Texas: College-prep classes set students up for college failure
Dual enrollment helps Texas students do well after graduation, but taking college-prep classes has no benefit, says a new study.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 252 min read
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How advanced is AP? Exam scores are inflated, says new competitor
Inflating grades and dumbing-down tests is giving high achievers no way to show their competence.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 242 min read
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Are choice students learning more in private schools? We don't know
Unless public funding is linked to testing, there's now way to know if choice programs are improving student achievement.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 192 min read
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Learning 'isn't always fun, and that's OK'
Learning may not always be fun, but kids need to know it's worth the effort.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 172 min read
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'Disconnected' diplomas are useless
States are dropping graduation exams to hide the failure to prepare all students for work, job training and college.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 51 min read
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Asian-American students work hard: Is that a problem?
Asian-American achievers don't just study for tests. They participate in sports, art, music and dance.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 42 min read
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It's AI all the way down: Colleges are using AI to screen applications
When AI reads college application essays, "it doesn't get grumpy" or "have a bad day," says Virginia Tech vice provost.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 22 min read
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Parents' choice, public funding: Don't we need to know if kids are learning?
Should testing be required to see if students are learning in publicly funded choice programs?

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 4, 20252 min read
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Dubious disabilities: 'It's rich kids getting extra time on tests'
At elite universities, growing numbers of students receive special treatment for ADHD, anxiety, depression and other conditions now considered disabilities.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 3, 20253 min read
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High schools require too many subjects -- and too little competence
Streamline high school course requirements.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 24, 20253 min read
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Structured math is the new old math: Teach the basics, test mastery, move on
Low math scores have pushed New Zealand and England to adopt explicit, structured teaching "mastering the basics before you move on."

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 18, 20252 min read
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UC San Diego adds remedial class in elementary and middle-school math
Without SAT or ACT scores, University of California at San Diego is seeing a "steep decline" in academic readiness.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 12, 20252 min read
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School safety is top reason parents use choice to leave public schools
Bullying is the primary reason parents use choice programs to flee public schools.

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 18, 20252 min read
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Going fuzzy: NY drops exams for 'portrait of a graduate'
A fuzzy "portrait of a graduate" will replace New York's Regents exams.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 17, 20252 min read
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If AI kills the market value of a degree, how many colleges will survive?
AI is destroying the value of a college degree -- everyone's cheating -- and taking entry-level jobs from new graduates.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 16, 20252 min read
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Eat your spinach and do your homework: Rigor is unpopular
Everyone says they value a rigorous education -- but many don't want to do the work.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 14, 20253 min read
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As attention spans get shorter, so does the SAT -- and soon the ACT
The SAT, and soon the ACT, are changing to cater to students with short attention spans.

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 20, 20252 min read
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1460+ (SAT) or 33+ (ACT) and you're in at U of Austin
The University of Austin will guarantee admissions to students with very high test scores.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 1, 20252 min read
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What's a 'good' school? Parents have more choices, need more info
As school choice expands, parents need to evaluate test scores to find a "good school."

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 19, 20253 min read
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