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--- Friday --- June 7, 1996 --- Vol. 6 --- No. 55 ---
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THE NATIONAL UPDATE ON AMERICA'S EDUCATION REFORM EFFORTS
A service of the National Education Goals Panel
__________ __________
DRC SUMMER SCHEDULE | SPOTLIGHT |
The DAILY REPORT CARD will | |
begin its summer schedule next | A TAXING PROBLEM |
week. | |
Beginning on Wed., 12 June, | Whether or not you think |
the DAILY REPORT CARD will | schools can do more for |
publish once weekly, on | less, seeking the most |
Wednesday. We will be back on | appropriate and plentiful |
our regular three-day-a-week | source of public school |
schedule in September. | dollars tops many political |
Enjoy the summer!! | agendas. |
| |
ARE YOU DISTRIBUTING | St. Louis school board |
THE DAILY REPORT CARD? | officials have petitioned |
If you are distributing the | city leaders to end |
DAILY REPORT CARD on your own | property tax abatements on |
network, web site, or through | commercial property. They |
any other means, please use the | say schools are losing $17M |
form at the end of today's | because of property tax |
DAILY REPORT CARD and return it | breaks given to certain |
to the DRC by 21 June: e-mail: | businesses. (#2 |
DRC_publisher@goalline.org.; | |
fax: 202/632-0957; address: | Even after passage of the |
1255 22nd Street NW; Suite 502; | "Robin Hood" law, which |
Washington, D.C. 20037. | redistributed funds from |
We also would like to hear | property-rich Texas school |
from university professors or | districts, to property-poor |
teachers who use the DAILY | ones, many educators |
REPORT CARD in their classes. | complain about an unlevel |
Please use the second form at | playing field. (#4) |
the end of today's DRC and | |
return it to the same address. | The financially strapped |
Thank you for your help. | Cleveland school district |
Your information will help with | won approval to obtain a |
our fundraising efforts. | state-backed loan. (#3) |
|_____________________________|
============== QUOTE OF THE DAY ==============
"This isn't the school for aspiring quarterbacks." -- DALLAS
MORNING NEWS columnist Lee Cullum, on the rigorous program at the
Genesis charter school. (#5)
_______________________________________________________________
| A service of the National Education Goals Panel |
| Published by the Education Policy Network |
| 1255 22nd Street NW; Wash, D.C.; 20037; 202/632-0952 |
| The DRC hereby authorizes further reproduction and |
| distribution with proper acknowledgement. |
| Publisher: Barbara A. Pape |
|
|_______________________________________________________________|
============== TABLE OF CONTENTS ==============
GOAL SEVEN: SAFE SCHOOLS
MAKING THE GRADE: New guide for drug prevention programs. (#1)
MONEY MATTERS
TAX ABATEMENTS: Loose money for St. Louis schools. (#2)
LOAN APPROVAL: Cleveland passes muster. (#3)
TEXAS' ROBIN HOOD: The men are not so merry. (#4)
CHARTING A NEW COURSE
GENESIS: A new charter's labor pains. (#5)
THE BIG PICTURE
OUT WITH THE OLD: In with the new in Dayton. (#6)
FROM COURTHOUSE TO SCHOOLHOUSE
KEEPING THEIR RELIGION: Miss. district vows to keep prayer.(#7)
===== GOAL SEVEN: SAFE SCHOOLS =====
*1 MAKING THE GRADE: NEW GUIDE FOR DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAMS
Six of 47 national school drug programs earned an "A" grade
in a new report issued by Drug Strategies, "a leading national
organization that promotes effective approaches to the nation's
drug problems," writes a DRUG STRATEGIES press release (6/4).
"Drug abuse prevention programs require a balance of critical
elements to succeed," said Mathea Falco, president of Drug
Strategies. "Different programs may emphasize different elements
but, as in cooking, they can't leave out an ingredient or skip a
step and still produce good results. Consistency and complete
implementation are the keys to success."
"Making the Grade: A Guide to School Drug Prevention
Programs" lists several criteria for a good drug prevention
program: helps students recognize internal pressures (anxiety
and stress) and external pressures (peer attitudes and
advertising;) develops personal and social refusal skills to
resist these pressures; provides developmentally appropriate
material and activities; covers necessary prevention elements in
at least ten sessions a year, with a minimum of three to five
booster sessions in two succeeding years; includes teacher
training and support; and contains material that is easy for
teachers to implement and culturally relevant for students.
The report examines K-12 school drug prevention programs.
Michigan Model, a comprehensive health program, is one of the six
programs that received an "A" grade. The K-8 program contains 40
to 60 lessons per year, which includes coverage of tobacco,
alcohol and drugs. According to the report, Michigan Model
stresses resistance skills training "within the context of social
and personal skills training." It also provides "excellent"
teacher training and "sufficient opportunities for student
practice." Michigan Model is run by the Michigan Department of
Public Health.
The organization operating the program, address and phone
number are provided for each of the 47 programs evaluated.
The report is available for $12.95 per copy (or $9.95 per
copy for order of five or more) from Drug Strategies; 2445 M
Street NW; Suite 480; Washington, D.C. 20037.
===== MONEY MATTERS =====
*2 TAX ABATEMENTS: LOSE MONEY FOR ST. LOUIS SCHOOLS
St. Louis, Mo., school officials demand that city officials
stop giving property tax abatements on all commercial property
(Little, St. Louis POST-DISPATCH, 6/3). They claim the amount of
abatements has grown from $15M in recent years to $17M; and the
public schools are losing badly needed funds. "Any time you have
an abatement on property taxes, the school district is the
hardest hit," said St. Louis School Board member Eddie Davis.
"We believe ways should be found to minimize the impact on the
school district as much as possible."
The School Board passed a resolution that also called on
Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. to support state legislation that would
"forbid the granting of property tax abatements beyond 25 years;"
and that Bosley create a task force comprised of business and
civic leaders to develop options to property tax abatement,
reports the paper. However, Bosley refused to comply with the
board's demands. He charges that school officials have not made
the best use of the money in their current budget.
Charles Leven, professor emeritus of economics at Washington
U, noted that the city and the school district have two different
taxing structures, which causes property tax abatement to present
a conflict. The paper explains that the city receives taxes from
new development, whether or not the properties hold abatement.
Public schools do not benefit from those taxes, which include
sales tax, employee taxes, utilities land payroll taxes. "It's
entirely possible for tax abatement to be a perfectly sensible
fiscal direction for the city of St. Louis, while it would be
adverse for the school district," explained Leven.
School officials maintain that they remain pro-development.
They just want a larger share of the tax burden held by business.
"We get a benefit of the strength of the city in the long run,
but the scales have tipped so much," said board member Robbyn
Wahby. "The well-being of this city depends on the well-being of
this school district."
*3 LOAN APPROVAL: CLEVELAND PASSES MUSTER
A unanimous vote by the State Controlling Board this week
gave the Cleveland school district permission to receive a $42.1M
state-backed loan for debt reduction (Lane, Cleveland PLAIN
DEALER, 6/1). According to the paper, the district needs the
loan to make two payrolls this month that amount to $15M and to
pay vendors a total of $12M.
Before granting approval, board members questioned school
officials on steps taken to tackle the district's debt problem.
The district was ordered by the court last year to operate under
state control. Since that time, school officials closed eleven
schools, cut the number of workers and restructured
transportation to save money, notes the paper.
State schools Superintendent John Goff said he intends to
ask the Legislature to allow the district to "restructure the
debt load from a six-year to a 10-year repayment plan to reduce
monthly payments," writes the paper. The state/local Cleveland
school team also plans to seek voter approval of a 9.8-mill levy
in November. While the schools actually need a 27.8-mill levy,
Boyd explained that officials must realize what "voters will
endure," reports the paper.
Business leader Albert Ratner, chairman of Forest City
Enterprises, remarked that business supports the efforts of
Cleveland's state/local district team. "We deserve a lot of
blame because we allowed it to happen," he said.
*4 TEXAS' ROBIN HOOD: THE MEN ARE NOT SO MERRY
School superintendents across Texas complain that the
state's attempt at equalizing school expenditures between
property-rich districts and property-poor ones is not successful.
"We're definitely not happy," said Daniel Casillas, spokesman for
the Edgewood school district.
Casillas remarked that equalization funds have added
computer labs and air-conditioning units in many classes.
However, other major needs continue to go unmet. "We are using
buildings that were built more than 60 years ago," he said. "The
redistribution only focuses on operating money and does not
address new construction."
Many Houston-area superintendents agree that equalization is
not working. They point out that tax rates "continue to vary
widely," writes the paper. "We still think the playing field
needs to be leveled," said Spring schools Superintendent Gordon
Anderson, whose district is at the state average in property
wealth but has the 11th-highest tax rate at $1.74 per $100
valuation.
Leonard Sturm, Houston's deputy superintendent for finance
noted a "tremendous difference in reality and perception in
property values." He added: "People see downtown buildings and
the Galleria and think we're rich with $48.8 billion in values."
The CHRONICLE reports that the state provides 20% additional
funding for low-income students and another 10% for those whose
primary language is not English. Additional funds also are
targeted to special-education children. Houston significantly
benefits from those additional funds, notes the paper.
However, several superintendents complain that special-needs
funds are "stretched to thin," writes the paepr. The number of
children who qualify as special-needs has skyrocketed from 29% in
1979-1980 to 46.3% in 1994-1995. Bob Barrett, superintendent of
Chambers County's Anahuac district, names one reason for the
increase: a rising number of illegal immigrants. According to
the paper, a 1980 federal court decision ordered that illegal
immigrants could attend public schools without paying tuition.
"It's not a state problem; it's a federal problem," said Barrett.
"The federal government needs to enforce immigration laws or
provide foreign aid, not education aid."
Barrett backs a lawsuit filed in 1993 by state Attorney
General Dan Morales that "seeks federal reimbursement for costs
associated with illegal immigration," reports the paper. No
trial date has been set.
Another problem detected by several superintendents is the
$1.50 rate tax cap placed on districts. "As time goes on, more
and more districts will be bumping up against the cap," said Omar
Garcia, spokesman for the Texas Education Agency. "But it will
take an act of the Legislature to raise it. This is something
that will have to be dealt with."
Gov George Bush is "seriously questioning whether property
taxes can continue funding the bulk of the state's education
system," writes the paper. He has appointed a commission, led by
insurance Commissioner Elton Bomer, to develop alternative plans.
According to the paper, three-fifths of all property taxes
statewide go to school districts. Over the past 10 years,
property taxes in the state have doubled and "now add 30% to a
mortgage," writes the paper. Bush is concerned that the taxes
could become "a significant barrier to home ownership or economic
expansion."
Several superintendents are counting on tax restructuring.
"We're going to have to find out if our state really does put
education first," said Dickinson Superintendent Williams, whose
district is at the $1.50 cap. "If they do, the Legislature is
going to have to start putting more money back into education."
===== CHARTING A NEW COURSE =====
*5 GENESIS: A NEW CHARTER'S LABOR PAINS
David Molina decided to create a charter school since he
claimed his son's education at Dallas' Talented and Gifted High
School was becoming watered down, writes Lee Cullum, a columnist
for the DALLAS MORNING NEWS (6/1). Molina easily gained charter
school status for his school called Genesis. According to
Cullum, the school "promises to be a no-nonsense institution."
Seventh- and eighth-graders will be required to take Latin
and three more years of a foreign language. English classes will
focus on spelling and grammar, "which will be quite a relief
after the reformist craze for 'self-expression,'" writes Cullum.
Other courses include: Algebra, pre-calculus and geometry;
biology, chemistry and physics; U.S. history; geography; and
computer science.
Genesis will not maintain a sport program, although
community service, off-campus theater and choral groups will be
available as extracurricular activities, notes Cullum. "So this
isn't the school for aspiring quarterbacks," pens Cullum.
However, Molina has run into a problem -- money. A lawsuit
has been filed to keep the district from sending funds to
Genesis. And the Texas Education Agency also has tried to block
funds, explains Cullum.
As with other charter schools nationwide, start-up funds are
scarce. Cullum: "In a fit of shortsightedness, the Legislature
voted not to provide funds until the school opens in August."
Molina is hard pressed to hire a director or run newspaper ads to
inform parents about the school. Remodeling will have to
commence after the school opens its doors in the fall.
Cullum describes the school's governance structure. A nine-
member council will oversee the school -- seven parents, one
teacher and one member from the nonprofit organization that is
creating the school.
Cullum applauds Molina's efforts to open a charter school
that boasts a rigorous curriculum. "What Mr. Molina is doing is
brave and daring. He and Genesis deserve support," she
concludes.
===== THE BIG PICTURE =====
*6 OUT WITH THE OLD: IN WITH THE NEW IN DAYTON
Dayton Public Schools Superintendent James Williams recently
announced his plans to "completely overhaul" his district's
public schools (URBAN EDUCATOR, Council on Great City Schools,
May 1996). "The time has come to stop listing reasons why some
students are not excelling," declared Williams. "Dayton citizens
have done their jobs by passing three levies to support our
educational programs. And yet, we have come up short in showing
them acceptable results."
According to the newsletter, the five-year, $430M proposal
features greater school choice, accountability of staff, students
and parents, and higher student achievement. Provisions of the
plan include: a 15- to 1 pupil-teacher ratio in grades K through
3; single seventh-through-12th grade secondary schools; family
access to health and social services through the schools; and
greater choice for parents and students to select schools.
Choice is "at the heart" of Williams' plan, writes the
newsletter. Under his proposal, the district would be divided
into three zones to give families the choice of selecting an
elementary school in the district where they reside. Students
would select high schools on a districtwide basis, "subject to
available space and desegregation guidelines," writes the
newsletter.
URBAN EDUCATOR notes that the district is seeking financial
support from the state. The plan already has been approved by
the school board and is being examined by the community through a
series of school board town meetings.
===== FROM COURTHOUSE TO SCHOOLHOUSE =====
*7 KEEPING THEIR RELIGION: MISS. DISTRICT VOWS TO KEEP PRAYER
School leaders in North Pontotoc County School District in
Ecru, Miss., intend to appeal Tuesday's federal court's decision
that charged the district's Bible classes and prayer broadcast
over the intercom system violated the constitutional separation
of church and state (REUTER/WASH POST, 6/4). U.S. District Judge
Neal Biggers issued a preliminary injunction in 1995, "ordering
the school to halt the practices," writes the paper. This week's
ruling makes the injunction permanent.
However, Pontotoc County School Superintendent Jerry Horton
said the district most likely will appeal the decision (WASH
POST, 6/5). "I don't think our founding fathers intended for
this type of hostility .. against students who want to ...
voluntarily engage in religious expression."
In 1994, Lisa Herdahl sued to end school prayer in the
"largely Baptist community of Ecru," stating that her five
children should not be taunted for their Lutheran beliefs and
that the district's policy violated her childrens' constitutional
rights, writes the paper. Biggers wrote in his decision: "The
Bill of Rights was created to protect the minority from tyranny
by the majority."
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