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Senate Committee Approves Gina McCarthy EPA Nomination Along Party Lines

Coral Davenport | May 16, 2013

Senate Republicans on Thursday eased their opposition to the nomination of Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency—but her confirmation by the full Senate is not yet assured.

Poll: McAuliffe Holds Slight Lead in Va. Gov. Race

Sarah Mimms | May 16, 2013

Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe has taken a slight lead over Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia's gubernatorial race, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday morning. McAuliffe leads Cuccinelli, 43 percent to 38 percent, with 17 perce...

Weiner's Spending Dwindled in Past Two Months

Steven Shepard | May 15, 2013

Anthony Weiner is still mulling whether to mount a run for mayor of New York this fall, and the former Democratic congressman's latest campaign filings do not indicate any concrete movement in that direction that haven't previously been disclosed. The filings, which cover from March 12 through this...

The Cajun Comeback

Adam B. Kushner | May 2, 2013

Eight years after Katrina, New Orleans is finding new ways to address old problems. Scenes from a turnaround.

Prepare for a Special Election in the Craziest-Shaped Congressional District in the Country

Josh Kraushaar | May 1, 2013

If Rep. Melvin Watt winds up going to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, he'll be leaving behind an incredibly gerrymandered district in North Carolina.

How Online Education Saves Everyone Money

Sophie Quinton | April 25, 2013

Online learning isn’t just another path into the middle class. It’s also a way for the government to spend more wisely.

Affidavit: Bachmann Approved Indirect Payments to Iowa Politician

Shane Goldmacher | April 22, 2013

The problems for Rep. Michele Bachmann are piling up.

What You Need to Know About Boston Mayor Thomas Menino

Elahe Izadi | April 17, 2013

A popular five-term mayor, he faces the biggest crisis of his 20-year tenure.

Peters Raises $371K As He Considers Senate Bid

Alex Brown | April 15, 2013

Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., started his 2013 fundraising by taking in $371,000 during the first quarter, a respectable sum for the potential Senate candidate but less than the $434,000 he raised in the first quarter of 2011. As Peters jostles for Democratic support with party power player Debbie Din...

Ralph Nader’s Newest Crusade: Raising the Minimum Wage

Mike Magner | April 12, 2013

Consumer advocate Ralph Nader has a new crusade for 2013—raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour, where it has stagnated since President Obama took office in 2009.

Can a 'Moneyball' Approach Turn Around New Orleans Schools?

Adam B. Kushner | April 12, 2013

Scores are rising as teachers track data and look for patterns to improve classroom learning.

Curious Friends: How Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg Can Help Republicans

Elahe Izadi | March 29, 2013

By zeroing in on issues where bipartisanship is possible, Zuckerberg’s political efforts can soften the GOP’s edges.

The Online Lenders That Could Break the Payday Loan Racket

Sophie Quinton | March 28, 2013

Payday loans provide quick cash to many Americans--but with crippling fees. New online lenders may provide a path to good credit.

Five Small Business Committee Staffers to Know

Amy Harder and Stacy Kaper | March 24, 2013

Here are the people you need to know on the Small Business Committee staffs on both sides of the Capitol.

A Republican Divide in Sharp Relief

Reid Wilson | March 21, 2013

There's a growing split between the party's elites, based in D.C. and New York, and the increasingly vocal grassroots.

What San Antonio Has to Teach Washington

Sophie Quinton | March 21, 2013

The city is trying a small-scale version of Obama's pre-K plan. If politicians want to send more 4-year-olds to school, they should pay attention.

Closing in on Signature Threshold, Salahi Talks Politics, Policy And Journey

Dan Roem | March 18, 2013

Though Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe are the far-and-away frontrunners in this year's Virginia gubernatorial race, the other candidate in the race discussed his own campaign with Hotline On Call late last week: former Whi...

Downturn Leads More Kids to Charters, Fewer to Private Schools

Vickie Elmer and Quartz | March 15, 2013

Private school enrollments in the US are falling, while charter schools are experiencing a surge in enrollment.

The Weird Time Warp of the George W. Bush White House Website

Brian Resnick | March 15, 2013

Step back in time to a era where the Affordable Care Act was a laughable dream, when No Child Left behind was touted by the White House, when Barack Obama was not president of the United States.

The Path to a Debt-Free College Degree?

Sophie Quinton | March 15, 2013

Traditional universities could soon be forced to accept credits from online courses.

Congressman Hosts Fundraiser for Scandal-Plagued Colleague, But Won't Show Up

Michael Catalini | March 14, 2013

Even though he's hosting a fundraiser next week for the campaign of scandal-plagued Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee, Rep. John Kline of Minnesota is distancing himself from the event, with a spokesman claiming he never planned to attend in the first place.

Poll: Booker Crushes Dems in Potential N.J. Senate Primary

Kevin Brennan | March 13, 2013

Newark Mayor Cory Booker has said he won't officially announce whether he'll run for Senate in 2014 until after this year's gubernatorial race, but a new poll released Wednesday shows the mayor would begin the contest with a commanding lead over two potential Democratic primary opponents. Asked whi...

Anna Galland, 33, Leads MoveOn.org From Michigan

Christopher Snow Hopkins | March 7, 2013

Anna Galland, the new executive director of MoveOn.org, likes to keep her feet firmly planted outside the Beltway.

Job Training Takes on Partisan Flavor

Fawn Johnson | March 6, 2013

The fight over how to update long-ignored job training programs lays bare the question of whether the law is worth the trouble at all.

The Mighty Jeb Bush Comes Down to Earth

Beth Reinhard | March 6, 2013

Jeb Bush's waffling and word-mincing on immigration has stunned reformers, frustrated his friends, and left Democrats relishing the public-relations disaster.

Arne Duncan's Distracting Gaffe

Fawn Johnson | March 4, 2013

Education Secretary Arne Duncan had a rough week. I can't recap his shenanigans leading up to the sequestration any better than Education Week's Alyson Klein. Check out her post on the topic here.

The Overhyped, Overblown, & Overly Politicized Sequester Fears

Niraj Chokshi and Nancy Cook | February 27, 2013

It turns out that the next big fiscal crisis will seem more like a whimper when it hits on March 1.

Which Minority Passes More AP Math Tests?

Jody Brannon | February 26, 2013

The number of minority high school students taking Advanced Placement classes has risen fourfold in a decade, but college aspirants of color, especially from low-income families, continue to significantly lag white students.

Fewer Dropouts, but Blacks, Hispanics Still Lag: Report

Jody Brannon | February 25, 2013

The U.S. high school graduation rate of 78.2 percent climbed 6.5 percentage points between 2006 and 2010, but the rates for Hispanics and blacks stands at 71.4 and 66.1 percent respectively.

What Would President Romney Do?

Josh Kraushaar | February 21, 2013

For those convinced that President Obama doesn’t deserve any blame for the fiscal gridlock, let’s do a thought experiment. Let’s imagine that Mitt Romney was elected president and was dealing with the same Congress that Obama has faced so much trouble with in getting legislation to avert sequestration and myriad fiscal emergencies. Would a President Romney be confronting the same crisis?

Can This Congress Be Saved?

Alex Roarty | February 21, 2013

National Journal’s annual vote ratings show a Congress as paralyzed and polarized as ever. But better days may lie ahead.

Holy Preschool, Batman

Fawn Johnson | February 17, 2013

President Obama got religion on early childhood education last week, proposing for the first time in his State of the Union address that all four-year-olds have access to high quality preschool. His start point is slightly less ambitious than universal pre-K, making sure that "low- and moderate-income" kids have access to it first. Not a bad start.

Yes, Obama Did Mention '3-D Printing' at the State of the Union

Ben Schreckinger | February 13, 2013

President Obama touted the potential for 3-D printing "to revolutionize the way we make almost everything” in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. Here's how it could affect counter-terrorism, military strategy, gun control, and the global balance of trade.

A Look at Who's Sitting With the First Lady Tonight

Matt Vasilogambros | February 12, 2013

Here's Michelle Obama’s guest list for the State of the Union, broken down by the issues the attendees represent.

In Ted Nugent's Words: It's Him Against Obama at the State of the Union

Michael Catalini | February 11, 2013

The pro-gun, anti-Obama rocker will be the guest of Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas.

Why Skills Matter, Politically

Fawn Johnson | February 11, 2013

Since when did the conversation about education in the United States morph from leaving no child behind to finding and keeping science and engineering college majors? Answer: Since President Obama figured out that linking education to a skill-based economy was the best way to call attention to an issue normally relegated to the third tier of politics.

The Demographic Power Behind Effective Charter Schools

Eric Jaffe - The Atlantic Cities | February 7, 2013

Student demographics and baseline scores play a role in achievement — schools work best for minority students and students with low baseline scores — but non-urban charters appear to be ineffective for most subgroups, research shows.

How a Lingering Deadline Pushes Schools to Face Their Shortcomings

Doris Nhan | February 7, 2013

Ed Trust report finds many state-implemented school-accountability systems are still overlooking the struggles of minority and low-income students.

Q&A: The Value of Socioeconomically Mixed Schools

Rosa Ramirez | February 7, 2013

"When low-income students ... go to school with middle-class culture, they learn how to navigate middle-class America," says Michael Petrilli of the Fordham Institute.

Grading 13 Ideas From Eric Cantor's Big Speech

Jill Lawrence | February 6, 2013

Cantor's grades range from A+ (consumer information on college) to D (Medicaid). He also has incompletes that give his party room to maneuver.

Using People as Props: Cantor Channels Clinton and Reagan

Ron Fournier | February 5, 2013

As Washington becomes increasingly staged-managed, 'real people' land roles in political scripts.

How Eric Cantor Is Trying to Soften the Republican Party

Ron Fournier | February 4, 2013

The House majority leader's charm offensive is part of a broader effort by GOP leaders to revive their battered brand.

Tension on School Closings

Fawn Johnson | February 4, 2013

Give credit to Education Secretary Arne Duncan for showing up at a hearing last week where hundreds of irate students and parents complained that the department's position on closing schools has resulted in harm for low-income students of color.

Bruce Braley

February 1, 2013

One Tough-Talking Nerd: Bobby Jindal Brands Himself as Republican Reformer

Beth Reinhard | January 25, 2013

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is hoping that a fast-talking, brainy policy wonk can be elected president.

Recession Pushes States to Make Deep Cuts to Higher-Ed Budgets

Doris Nhan | January 23, 2013

Since the recession, 38 states have made steep cuts to funding for higher education. How will graduating high school students make do?

Leahy to Obama: Write Immigration Bill

Fawn Johnson | January 21, 2013

To legislate or not to legislate, that is the question.

What the U.S. Might Learn from China's Push to Get Kids to College

Jody Brannon | January 18, 2013

Two stories about education reform elsewhere - namely a lengthy piece by theNew York Times about China and an Associated Press report from Mexico (with gallery) are worth considering in light of similar efforts in the U.S.

For 9/11 Relatives, Newtown Brings Grim Sense of Deja Vu

Jill Lawrence | January 18, 2013

Three relatives of people killed on 9/11 describe their reactions to the Sandy Hook shootings.

Rigorous Teacher Evaluations (With Videotape)

Fawn Johnson | January 14, 2013

Two years ago, I sat in the 8th floor of the Watergate building at a National Journal dinner on education. The main attractions of the event were researchers from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who were about a year into a three-year intensive study on teacher evaluations. As they described their research, the diners were incredulous.

Pre-K for Everyone?

Fawn Johnson | January 7, 2013

It goes without saying in education circles that the earlier a child acquires language and literacy skills the better. Toddlers who grow up in vocabulary-poor environments, often economically poor and minority families, find themselves far behind their more affluent classmates in kindergarten. If they don't catch up by third grade, it's almost impossible to get them through the public education system without serious and costly intervention.

Five Sleeper Issues Washington Could Face in 2013

Amy Harder and Stacy Kaper and Fawn Johnson and Coral Davenport and Catherine Hollander | December 31, 2012

The incoming Congress has big challenges ahead. But don’t be distracted by the bright shiny objects that are tax reform, entitlement reform, and maybe even gun control. There are some important issues for the U.S. economy and U.S. industries that could pop to the top of the agenda in 2013 and have widespread implications for Washington and the country.

The Truth of Gun Politics: No One Has Good Answers

Gwen Ifill | December 21, 2012

I think it's fair to say we have all been crying for a week.

NRA Offers Free Advice on Arming Schools

Fawn Johnson | December 21, 2012

Any hope of the NRA negotiating with President Obama or members of Congress on gun legislation were dashed with the remarks of NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.

Ross Urged to Reconsider Gubernatorial Race

Julie Sobel | December 20, 2012

Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's admission of an "inappropriate" relationship with a woman who isn't his wife could mean an opportunity for another Arkansas Democrat in the gubernatorial primary, where McDaniel has been considered the frontrunner. Retiring 4th District Rep. Mike Ross is...

Protect Our Kids

Fawn Johnson | December 17, 2012

Last Friday, I was all set to put up a blog post about preparing toddlers for kindergarten, but the events at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., made kids sounding out words seem a little less relevant. (Stay tuned, pre-K conversation will be coming up in a future post.)

Common Core for Teachers

Fawn Johnson | December 10, 2012

The American Federation of Teachers proposed a universal "bar exam" for teachers last week, arguing that the profession deserves to be associated with high standards and the rigorous training needed to meet them.

Rob Portman Is Not a Chicken, but He Did Play One on TV

Ben Schreckinger | August 4, 2012

The line on Rob Portman, a leading contender in soon-to-be Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s veepstakes, is that he’s safe — the only guy boring enough to not overshadow Romney on a national ticket. Don't believe it. National Journal has discovered another side of the junior senator from Ohio.

Hot Ticket

Michelle Bloom | February 27, 2011

Looking for a reason to celebrate Mardi Gras a week early? Bust out your party best—remember, the more glitter the better—and head over to the National Building Museum on Tuesday night to celebrate at the St. Jude Gourmet Gala: Mardi Gras for the Kids.

NJ Topics Elementary And Secondary Education

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