Policy Research and Reporting
Wrestling with a serious policy issue and looking for sound strategic advice and the best possible policy analysis?  Looking for an accurate reading of the current edutrends, best practice, and the latest research?

We have the capacity to initiate and to conduct in-depth educational policy research. Our prime mission is to conduct, to commission, and to disseminate research aimed at promoting excellence and higher standards in our publicly-funded education system. We focus on the critical education issues, including student performance standards, school improvement, and strengthening public accountability.

We aim to produce major policy research studies, research papers and articles, and eventually books on issues affecting Canadian education.  On our website and various edublogs, we will make the results of the latest educational writing and research available to clients and the public.

Through sound research and critical thinking, we seek to assess the competing claims of the key stakeholders – administrators, teachers, and parents-- as well as to find solutions to some of our thorniest, most perplexing problems.  Armed with the latest, best research, we will advocate for needed policy changes and seek to influence and enlist the support of today’s educational leaders and policy-makers.
 

Our biggest challenge in schools lies in “building a community of learners. Schools have the capacity to renew themselves, if the conditions are right.”
Roland Barth, Improving Schools from Within (1991)

“Overwhelmed teachers yearn to escape the edu-babble of conflicting and unworkable policy directives.”
Andy Hargreaves, International Handbook of Educational Change‎ (1998)
What's New
ANNOUNCING - NEW EDUCATION SERIES - Paul W. Bennett's first Education File Report for OPENFILE Halifax on "Alternative School Programs" appeared Sept 27, 2011. [more...]

BOOK LAUNCH - Paul W. Bennett's DREAMING BIG: The Don Gardiner Realty Story made a big splash on Sept 14, 2011 in Fredericton and Oromocto NB with City Hall Receptions and great press coverage. [more....]

BOOK REVIEW - Dr. Michael Corbett's review of Vanishing Schools, Threatened Communities (Sunday Herald, July 31, 2011) praised the book for offering a much needed "scholarly look" at the "emotional issue" of school closures.

PUBLIC LECTURE TOUR - Schoolhouse Director Paul Bennett's Public Lecture Tour made stops in Yarmouth NS (Sept. 2), Windsor NS (Sept. 8), and Antigonish NS (Sept. 12) and were rebroadcast on Eastlink TV's Podium Series.

UP AGAINST EDUTOPIA - Paul W. Bennett's "Up Against Edutopia: Dr. James Daly's Lonely Crusade against the Spectre of Progressivism, 1968-1983," is the lead article in the Spring 2011 issue of Historical Studies in Education [more...]

ONGOING INITIATIVES:
NEWS COMMENTARIES - Since September, Dr. Paul Bennett has provided Education News analysis for CBC Radio's Maritime Noon and CBC Mainstreet NS as well as regular spots on News 95.7's Maritime Morning and The Rick Howe Show.

STUDENTS FIRST NOVA SCOTIA - Since late March 2011, the Schoolhouse Institute, in collaboration with AIMS, has supported Nova Scotia's parent-driven school reform movement "putting students first." (see video)

POLICY RESEARCH PROJECTS REPORT: In early October 2011, Schoolhouse Consulting completed a major research report on "International Schools" for the Canadian Association of Accredited Schools (CAIS).

STAY CURRENT! - Connect with Educhatter on EduBlog for weekly education policy issue forums, and on Twitter for daily posts on emerging issues in education.

Testimonials

"Canadians are properly concerned about their children's education, and Dr. Paul Bennett is well versed on the major issues. He's a veteran teacher and a respected historian who brings a vital awareness of the past as well as the present to a field in need of some serious research."

 Dr. Desmond Morton, Distinguished Professor of History, McGill University, Montreal.

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