Recent Research

Defend Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools free from some oversight and regulation. They are approved by the state Board of Education, and operated by teachers, parents or other qualified individuals. Charter restrictions were liberalized in 1999, 2005 and 2007.

Some Little Rock public school officials threaten legal action to turn back the clock on this education reform. Their message to the U.S.: Arkansas is not serious about education reform.

Local PLAs bite the hand feeding the beast

Jim Waters
Prejudice at the lunch counter may have disappeared, but other types of discrimination remain alive and well in America – and have surprising supporters.

The Simplicity of Goverment Transparency

Kevin Kane

Governor Bobby Jindal’s short tenure in office has received extensive coverage from local and national media. And while several pieces of new legislation have garnered much attention, two important developments have gone largely unnoticed: Executive Order No. BJ 2008-2 and Senate Bill 37.

These new laws mandate the creation of a website where state spending will be posted and require increased transparency in state finances. Together, they signify that Louisiana is moving towards making all government spending information accessible via the internet.

Research & Commentary: Teachers Association Options

Joy Pullmann

For many decades, unions were the only large-scale professional organizations available to teachers and education administrators.

Wired to Waste

National Taxpayers Union

As the 21st Century evolves and our economy begins to recover, there is near-universal agreement on the importance of expanding Americans’ access to high-speed Internet service.