Sara Mead: All Publications, Events and Press

The Role of School Districts in Education Reform

Kirsten Gilbert — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:30:00 -0500

A New America Event
12/09/2009 - 12:15pm

Two distinct strands have emerged in U.S. education reform in recent years. One strand has focused on reforming education at the school district level, by aligning curriculum, instruction, and teacher professional development across schools and grades within a district; improving district-level management and governance; and enhancing districts' capacity to turn around low-performing schools and drive school improvement. A separate reform strand has focused on increasing autonomy for individual schools

Obama's New Push for Preschool for At-risk Children | Christian Science Monitor

Cecille Isidro — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:26:00 -0500

But the big investments haven't necessarily been done within a meaningful framework, says Sara Mead, a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation ...

Sara Mead Appointed to DC Public Charter School Board | Examiner.com

Cecille Isidro — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:08:00 -0400

It was announced yesterday that charter school expert and friend Sara Mead was appointment to the DC Public Charter School Board. ...

Initiative Focuses on Early Learning Programs | The Ledger

Cecille Isidro — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:57:00 -0400

Sara Mead, a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation, said, “I haven't talked with anybody who isn't excited about the prospects for this Early ... and more »

Initiative Focuses on Early Learning Programs | New York Times

Cecille Isidro — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:59:00 -0400

Sara Mead, a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation, said, “I haven't talked with anybody who isn't excited about the prospects for this Early ... and more »

New America Releases Video on Effective School Reform that Features Montgomery County Schools

Communications — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:41:00 -0400

Today the New America Foundation's Early Education Initiative released a short (7 min) video, "Fighting Fade-Out Through PreK-3rd Reform," which makes the case for comprehensive PreK-3rd reforms that begin with high-quality early childhood education programs and build on the benefits of those programs through the elementary school years and beyond.

Building a Solid Foundation

Education Policy — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:59:00 -0400

In April, the states and school districts began receiving the first installment of more than $48 billion in federal economic stimulus funds for education and child care appropriated under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). This unprecedented federal investment in education—from early childhood through college—is a tremendous opportunity for state and local investments to improve our nation's schools. The danger is that states and school districts may squander these funds on ill-conceived projects or use them simply to maintain the status quo.

Putting the “Quality” into Quality Pre-K

Cecille Isidro — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:45:00 -0400

A New America Event
05/07/2009 - 9:30am

Early education is the subject of unprecedented bipartisan interest from both Capitol Hill and the Obama administration. Advocates herald the lifetime savings of effective pre-k interventions, which have been calculated between $7 and $10 for every dollar invested. But what does “quality” mean in terms of closing the achievement gap? And what are the implications for policy?

Stimulus Providing Big Funding Boost For Early Childhood | Education Week

Cecille Isidro — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:09:00 -0400

One early-childhood constituency to watch will be prekindergarten programs, said Sara Mead, a senior research fellow with the New America Foundation, a Washington think tank. While the bulk of stimulus dollars in education will flow through individual ...

Schools Grapple With the 'Trouble with Boys" | Connecticut Post

Cecille Isidro — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:53:00 -0500

Researcher Sara Mead of the New America Foundation, is among them. She points out that on the National Assessment of Educational Progress -- what some call ...

10 New Ideas for Early Education in the 111th Congress

Communications — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:17:00 -0500

Washington DC -- Today, the New America Foundation's Early Education Initiative released an issue brief proposing 10 new policy ideas to improve access, quality, and alignment in early education from preschool through the early elementary school years. The 111th Congress will have numerous opportunities to enact policies that improve early

10 New Ideas for Early Education in the 111th Congress

Education Policy — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:17:00 -0500

As a new congress and new administration take their places in Washington, early education is attracting more attention. The 111^th Congress will have numerous opportunities to enact policies that improve access, quality, efficiency, and alignment in early education, including the forthcoming economic stimulus package and the scheduled reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The New America Foundation's Early Education Initiative proposes

KIPP's Entry Into Pre-K World Takes Some Adjustment | Education Week

Cecille Isidro — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:51:00 -0500

KIPP’s preschool classrooms also contribute to the overall growth of early-childhood classrooms in charter schools, suggests Sara Mead, a senior research ...

The Case for Building Schools

Cecille Isidro — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:47:00 -0500

As Congress debates a roughly $825 billion economic stimulus package, many interest groups want to make sure their pet programs get a piece of the action. The education community is no exception.

Various advocates are urging Congress to use the stimulus to fund universal pre-k, expanded after-school programs, education technology, and new teacher compensation packages, among other education initiatives.

'Scientifically Based' Giving Way to 'Development,' 'Innovation' | Education Week

Cecille Isidro — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:09:00 -0500

... practice and research,” Sara Mead, the director of the Early Childhood Initiative for the Washington-based New America Foundation, said in an interview. ...

Head Start Advocates Join Stimulus Lobbying Crowd | CQ.com

Cecille Isidro — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:42:00 -0500

"I think any sort of Head Start expansion should be addressed outside the stimulus," said Sara Mead, director of the Early Education Initiative at the New America Foundation. "The stimulus is all about getting money out the door fast.

Obama's $10 Billion Early Childhood Education Pledge

Cecille Isidro — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 13:57:00 -0500

Advocates for early childhood education are understandably excited about their prospects under President-elect Barack Obama's administration. During the campaign, Mr. Obama pledged to increase federal early education spending by $10 billion annually.

Currently, the two largest federal early childhood programs, Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant, spend about $12 billion annually combined. A $10 billion increase would almost double that investment.

Obama’s Choice of Duncan Wins Praise From Educators, Lawmakers | CQPolitics.com

Communications — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:31:00 -0500

“His record in Chicago is a strong one,” said Sara Mead, director of the Early Education Initiative at the New America Foundation. ...

Changing the Odds for Children at Risk

Communications — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:45:00 -0500

A New America Event
12/01/2008 - 12:15pm

Data show that children who are born in poverty to young, poorly educated parents have much lower chances of succeeding in school, college, and the workforce than their less-disadvantaged peers. They are also at greater risk for a host of negative outcomes, including poor academic performance, being held back a grade, dropping out of high school, being unemployed, and participating in criminal activity.

Slipping Through the Cracks

Education Policy — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:52:00 -0400

When Congress resumes consideration of the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act, strengthening the federal role in supporting high school reform will be a key issue on the agenda, and with good reason. While elementary school students, on whom most of NCLB’s funding and accountability requirements focus, have made significant achievement gains in recent years, high school achievement has stagnated. Only 70 percent of high school freshmen graduate within four years. Among those who do make it to graduation, only a third have the skills they need to succeed in college.