Tim Daly Journalist Profile

Articles

Don't Blame the Subgroups

1 month ago | chadaldeman.com | Chad Aldeman |Tim Daly

As I’ve documented in separate pieces for The 74, the bottom has fallen out on American achievement scores in both math and reading. In 8th grade math, for example, from 2022-2024 the scores for the top 10% of students rose 3 points while the bottom 10% fell 5 points. The patterns are even uglier if you look out over the last decade, especially in certain states. One pushback I’ve been hearing is that maybe these trends are being driven by changing demographics.
The Return of the A-Word

1 month ago | educationdaly.us | Tim Daly |Chad Aldeman

During a January 29 town hall in Washington to discuss dismal new test results, Harvard professor Marty West - who serves as the vice chair of the board that oversees national testing - poked his finger straight into the light socket.
We’re Living Through an Education Depression

Oct 28, 2024 | educationdaly.us | Tim Daly

In 1990, 48 percent of our nation’s eighth graders had very weak math skills. How did we know? They scored in the lowest performance category, Below Basic, on the national test given to a sample of American students every two years. By 2013, something remarkable had happened. The share of eight graders Below Basic was just 26 percent. Even better, the progress was shared across every demographic group. For example, the percentage of Black students with Below Basic scores dropped from 78 to 48 percent.
NCSS Seeks Comments on Proposed New Connecting Concepts in National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies

Oct 2, 2024 | socialstudies.org | Tim Daly

News and Announcements NCSS Seeks Comments on Proposed New Connecting Concepts in National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies The NCSS Board of Directors recently approved a recommendation from its Standards Task Force to support a set of proposed connecting concepts for a revision of the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (last revised in 2011). Public comment is now welcome for feedback on the proposed addition of these connecting concepts in the standards.
Urban School Drama Has Come to the Suburbs

Oct 1, 2024 | educationdaly.us | Tim Daly

A 6,000 student Midwestern district recently adopted a budget that would result - if all goes according to plan - in a $13.2 million deficit, or more than $2,000 per student. This follows $10 million shortfalls in each of the previous two years. Cash is dwindling. The district’s own financial consultant told its board that the “status quo will lead the district into either financial or academic bankruptcy.” Insolvency, he warned, would result in a state takeover.
Should All School Meals Be Free?

Sep 3, 2024 | educationdaly.us | Tim Daly

When the subject of school lunches arises in conversation, you’re probably going to hear the following:“School lunches are nasty.”“Remember when Ronald Reagan declared that ?”“You’ll never believe what I saw a kid shove up his nose in fourth grade.”That just about covers it. Our shared mythology was perfectly captured in the 1994 Saturday Night Live masterpiece, “Lunch Lady Land.” Watch it - I’ll wait. School food is to be endured and mocked, in equal measure. I think we have it wrong.
How Would You Grade the Biden Administration on K-12 Education?

Aug 13, 2024 | chadaldeman.com | Chad Aldeman |Tim Daly

When my friend reached out to me to grade the Biden Administration on education, I gave it a “D.” That was mostly in line with what Tim heard from other people. What grade would you give it? The Biden Administration tried but ultimately failed to enact a broader early childhood agenda through the Build Back Better initiative. It cut child poverty rates in half, briefly, but it was unable to convince Congress to sustain that funding.
How Should We Grade the Biden Administration on Education?

Jul 29, 2024 | educationdaly.us | Tim Daly

Joe Biden will be a one term president. On July 21, he announced that he would stand down from his re-election campaign. Now seems like an appropriate time to consider how has Biden performed on the issue of education, since we’ve learned there will be no encore. I reached out to more than 25 people to ask for opinions: current and former district and state superintendents, Hill staffers, academic researchers, non-profit leaders, and current classroom educators.
Why Were Schools Closed So Long During COVID?

Jun 17, 2024 | educationdaly.us | Tim Daly

You remember the six-foot rule. How could you forget? The Center for Disease Control (CDC) during COVID that social distancing – which it defined in July 2020 as a minimum of two arms’ length between oneself and other people inside and outside – was “the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease.”Not an “advisable approach.” Not a “precaution.” The best way.
Call for Comments: Position Statement on Powerful, Purposeful Teaching and Learning in Elementary Social Studies

May 2, 2024 | socialstudies.org | Tim Daly

NCSS invites members to review and comment on the proposed Powerful, Purposeful Teaching and Learning in Elementary Social Studies position statement. This position statement is intended to guide decision makers to improve elementary social studies across the nation. NCSS members in good standing may submit comments on the draft statement for review by the NCSS Board of Directors. Comments are due by March 31, 2024