Two From Ed Week

Two important commentaries from Education Week.

1) Hugh Price, former president of the National Urban League, writes that communities are the missing link in school reform.

2) David Kirp, Professor at the University of California - Berkley, and author of Kids First: Five Big Ideas for Transforming Children's Lives and America's Future, argues that all policies and budget decisions should be made against the Golden Rule: "Every child deserves what’s good enough for a child you love." He writes,

"The Golden Rule standard isn’t about charity or acts of noblesse oblige. All children, not only those who grow up without money, deserve the kind of support that gives them their best chance to learn and grow. They would benefit from the chance to acquire the skills and resiliency necessary to meet the challenges that life invariably throws at them. What’s needed isn’t a one-size-fits-all program, but support that can meet children’s particular needs—support that’s family-centered, effective, and unwavering."

Kirp recommends community schools and others place-based strategies as one of his Big Ideas in his latest book.