It has the feel of Groundhog Day: Another international education comparison, another round of hand-wringing and finger-pointing, and then right back to the same policies. You know what they say about the definition of insanity.

The latest results come from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), conducted...

Early childhood education is "in" these days--from the bipartisan bill introduced in Congress this week modeled on President Obama's proposal to expand high-quality early learning experiences, to Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio's proposal to provide universal prekindergarten to every 4-year-old in New York City, to the

The Common Core State Standards are taking so many hits these days that some might wonder why so many people think they should play an important role in American education. In our competitive, fast-changing global economy, if students don't have higher-order capabilities like critical thinking and problem solving,...

If you had $50,000 or more to invest in the privatization of public education, you could have been welcome at a recent meeting in Philadelphia of self-described school reformers. But if you're an educator or parent interested in strengthening public education, you'd be out of luck, because that

There's a bitter irony to the "prescriptions" often given to struggling hospitals -- closure, consolidation, downsizing and privatization. They invariably make the situation worse. And they fail to address the underlying factors that cause health care facilities to struggle -- large numbers of uninsured patients; reimbursement formulas that...

"We've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition." --"I Have a Dream" speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 1963 March on Washington

Martin Luther King Jr. and other champions of civil rights led the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom to "dramatize," as...

The idea that teachers have the summer off is something of a myth. I recently spent a few days with several thousand teachers -- not at the beach, but at TEACH, the AFT's largest gathering of educators focused on their professional practice and growth. Teachers spent long days...

Higher education in America is caught in a vise of competing realities. While not the only road to success, access to higher education is vitally important for individuals to be able to participate in today's changing economy and for the United States to maintain its global competitiveness. Indeed, the number...

America's public education system could be on the brink of a once-in-a-generation revolution. Forty-five states and the District of Columbia have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for math and English language arts. The CCSS are a sharp departure from the too-common superficial sprint through...

I have yet to see a perfect piece of legislation, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), often referred to as Obamacare, has real flaws. But even at this early stage, its accomplishments are important. Millions of previously uninsured people have gained healthcare coverage; the law...

The F-35 fighter jet is the costliest weapons system in U.S. history, yet it is virtually recession-proof and largely shielded even from the sequester. Production of the jets is spread across so many congressional districts that the F-35 program's budget has been immunized by the legions of representatives...

Participating in the Washington blame game is not going to stop the dangerous across-the-board cuts set to kick in this Friday. These cuts are not just numbers. Every cut and every dollar has a real-life, real-world, disastrous consequence.

This faux crisis will throw cold water on our...

President Obama made the case in his State of the Union address last week for swift passage of comprehensive immigration reform. His powerful call for Congress to "get this done" brought members on both sides of the aisle to their feet and made it clear that, after decades...

Gun violence is a tragic, pervasive part of American life. Assassins' bullets have felled presidents and national icons. Americans are 20 times more likely to be killed by a gun than residents of other developed countries. Even those who had grown numb to the everyday carnage were shaken...

America's schools are filled with extraordinary people -- as was made clear by the brave actions of educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School to protect their students from unspeakable terror. The curtain was pulled back, allowing the world to see what teachers do and the passion and love they have...

In this season that usually fills children and adults of all ages with joy and hope for the New Year, the entire AFT family is shaken and deeply saddened by the senseless, unspeakable loss of so many lives this past Friday in Newtown, Conn. Our thoughts and prayers go out...

As lawmakers turn from the November elections to the work of balancing the federal budget, it's necessary to reflect on the messages that voters conveyed. Americans expect our leaders to make our economy work for working families, invest in education and healthcare, rebuild the middle class, fight for good jobs...

Earlier this year at a roundtable discussion in Colorado, Mitt Romney was talking about education -- extolling the virtues of private schools and vouchers, and criticizing public schools and teachers unions. When a teacher participating in the discussion tried to offer her perspective, Romney shot back: "I didn't...

What pushed Chicago's teachers past their breaking point and onto picket lines last week? The strike, which at this writing appears close to resolution, is about the heart and soul of education. While some pundits may disagree, the Chicago public understands that, clearly supporting the teachers in this...

Labor Day means many things to many people -- back to school, the end of summer, a needed respite from the daily grind. For working people and union members, Labor Day stands for something special and profound.

It's a day to honor the deep commitment each of us has...