Were it not for the fact that you’re reading these words, chances are you’d never have heard of AB 2999, a bill authored by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D. – Chatsworth) that would require every California public school district, county office of education, and charter school to develop a homework policy in compliance with…

On March 19, 2024, CAPSO’s leaders assembled in Sacramento for the spring meeting of the Association’s board of directors. As has become a matter of longstanding practice, regular business was conducted during the morning portion of the meeting and, following lunch, board members organized themselves into three teams and made pre-arranged visits to the…

Decades ago, while still in grad school, I read a book that left a lasting impression. Written by Alan Nairn, then a young associate of Ralph Nader, The Reign of ETS contained what struck me as a stinging criticism of what was then known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test – a…

Beginning in September, 2023, a handful of the nation’s private schools will be invited to participate in the 2024 administration of the National Assessment of Education Progress, also known by its acronym, NAEP, and its more popular designation, The Nation’s Report Card. If your school is among those selected to form a nationally…

Last week, I submitted a one-sentence public comment in response to an obscure announcement buried within the California Department of Education’s website. At issue is a pending request from the CDE to the U.S. Department of Education to extend the period of time in which the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) may…