Category Archives: School Choice Project

A Tale of Two Lobbyists

By Doug DeFilipps The Oregonian’s Betsy Hammond pointed out last week that there are two lobbyists in the Oregon legislature representing K-12 Inc. (which operates the online charter school Oregon Virtual Academy) and another two from Connections Education LLC (which … Continue reading

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Freedom in Film: Won’t Back Down (2012)

Social problem films are not generally “feel-good” movies, in the sense that viewers feel comfortable with their feet up, eating popcorn, laughing with the heroes, and hoping for happily ever after. Won’t Back Down (2012) is a bit different. The … Continue reading

Posted in Cascade Website, Children's Scholarship Fund, Freedom in Film and Fiction, Kathryn Hickok, School Choice Project | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

This Week in the Capitol: Virtual Schools, Tobacco Taxes, and Land-Use

We are a month and a half into Oregon’s 2013 legislative session. Cascade’s John Charles and Steve Buckstein are in the capitol several days each week, bringing free-market and fiscally responsible perspectives to issues before numerous committees. On Tuesday, Steve … Continue reading

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Ollie and the Train

Online learning is becoming an ever more popular method of engaging students. Whether through public, private, charter, or home schools, Oregon kids are increasingly able to use technology to interact with teachers and to learn at their own pace. Watch … Continue reading

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Exposing “The Machine”

Just months after the release of Cascade Policy Institute’s StatusQuoLobby.com webpage, the Moving Picture Institute and Reason.tv have created a video which vividly explains the relationship between teachers unions and politics. Illustrating how a great increase in per student spending … Continue reading

Posted in Cascade Website, School Choice Project, Tax and Budget, Video | 1 Comment

Will an Education Czar solve Oregon’s education problems?

Governor Kitzhaber’s latest attempt to reform education in Oregon took a major step forward today with his Oregon Education Investment Board’s hire of Rudy Crew as the state’s first Chief Education Officer, our very own education czar. Not to be … Continue reading

Posted in Cascade Website, School Choice Project, Steve Buckstein | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

Lewis J. Perelman probably wrote his 1992 book, School’s Out, without knowing anything about Oregon’s 1991 major school reform effort, The Oregon Education Act for the 21st Century that then-Senate President John Kitzhaber supported. But he didn’t have to know … Continue reading

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What are they afraid of?

A tale of Steve Buckstein’s and Russ Dondero’s time together at the State Capitol on February 8th. On Wednesday at 1pm, Hearing Room B in the State Capitol was packed with representatives of virtually every organization and special interest group … Continue reading

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Christina Martin discusses Control Cometh Before the Fall of Education

Policy Analyst Christina Martin discusses her latest commentary on a desire for control leading to the fall of education. See the full commentary here: http://cascadepolicy.org/news/2011/12/29/control-cometh-before-the-fall-of-education/

Posted in Christina Martin, School Choice Project, Video | 1 Comment

Blended Learning: Making Technology Work for Students

In the Nation’s Digital Learning Report Card, Oregon received great marks for our state’s full-time online programs and access to blended learning in Oregon’s public charter schools. Oregon received low marks in the national Report Card for failing to make … Continue reading

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