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--- Wednesday --- June 12, 1996 --- Vol. 6 --- No. 56 ---
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THE NATIONAL UPDATE ON AMERICA'S EDUCATION REFORM EFFORTS
A service of the National Education Goals Panel
__________ __________
ARE YOU DISTRIBUTING | SPOTLIGHT |
THE DAILY REPORT CARD? | |
If you are distributing the | "IS THE SYSTEM PREPARED?" |
DAILY REPORT CARD on your own | |
network, web site, or through | ... to execute higher |
any other means, OR if you are | standards, queries Boston |
a professor or teacher who uses | School Committee member |
the DAILY REPORT CARD in your | Felix Arroyo. Superinten- |
class, please complete the | dent Thomas Payzant thinks |
appropriate form at the end of | so; and he is moving ahead |
today's DAILY REPORT CARD and | to have new, rigorous stan- |
return it to the DRC by 21 | dards in place by the fall. |
June: e-mail: | |
DRC_publisher@goalline.org.; | But Arroyo and others |
fax: 202/632-0957; address: | argue that for standards to |
1255 22nd Street NW; Suite 502; | be effective and for all |
Washington, D.C. 20037. | children to be given a |
Thank you for your help. | chance to attain higher |
Your information will help with | standards, schools must be |
our fundraising efforts. | restructured and teachers |
| prepared to teach to a |
YOUNG AMBASSADORS OF MUSIC | higher level. (#3) |
Twelve-year-old David Reed | |
and fourteen-year-old Jill | The Council for Basic |
Sears will perform their | Education poses a more |
original musical compositions | basic question: what are |
in celebration of UNICEF's 50th | world class standards? |
Anniversary on 19 June in New | They have convened a group |
York City. Reed and Sears are | of ed leaders from around |
students at the Yamaha Music | the world to reflect on |
Education System, which | academic standards: what |
operates in 40 countries. The | they mean for students, |
students regularly perform in | schools, teachers and |
Yamaha Junior Original | communitites. (#4) |
Concerts. |_____________________________|
============== QUOTE OF THE DAY ==============
"I think it is a system remarkable in its ability to treat change
as a foreign object." -- Allan Taylor, a member of the State
Board of Education, on Harford public schools. (#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 |
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|_______________________________________________________________|
============== TABLE OF CONTENTS ==============
GOAL FOUR: TEACHER EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
HIGH TEACHING STANDARDS: Alabama jumps on bandwagon. (#1)
GOAL SEVEN: SAFE SCHOOLS
THE STUDENT SHUFFLE: Who should call the shots? (#2)
STANDARD BEARERS
WORLD CLASS: Finding out what it means. (#3)
SLOW DOWN: Boston standards moving too fast for some. (#4)
PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
HELP FOR HARTFORD: State leaders reach out for advice. (#5)
MONEY MATTERS
WHERE ALL THE MONEY'S GONE: To special education. (#6)
CHARTING A NEW COURSE
CHARTER COMPROMISE: Connecticut has law on books. (#7)
TAKING OVER
TAKING CHARGE: Texas takeover of Wilmer-Hutchins schools. (#8)
--- REMINDER ---
Don't forget that the DAILY REPORT CARD is on a summer
schedule, and will publish on Wed. only. Enjoy the summer!
===== GOAL FOUR: TEACHER EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT =====
*1 HIGH TEACHING STANDARDS: ALABAMA JUMPS ON BANDWAGON
Ala. officials recently announced that the state would
appropriate funds to pay the fee for tachers to seek voluntary,
advanced National Board Certification (NATIONAL BOARD FOR
PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS press release, 6/7).
Specifically, the legislation provides $100,000 to support fifty
teachers who participate in the year-long process.
"Alabama leaders are proving to its citizens that increasing
student learning is of paramount importance," said James Kelly,
president of the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards. "This investment in the teacher workforce will bring
strong returns from Alabama's students for years to come."
Under Ala.'s legislation, a special panel will review and
screen potential candidates for National Board Certification The
panel is co-chaired by the state superintendent of education and
the executive secretary of the Alabama Education Association.
Panel members will include deans of the colleges of education of
Auburn U, Alabama A&M U, Alabama State U and the U of Alabama.
According to the release, National Board Certification is a
"demonstration of a teacher's work as measured against high and
rigorous standards." The release continues: "[A National Board
certificate] attests that a teacher has been judged an
accomplished professional who can make sound judgments about
student learning and act effectively on those judgments."
Ala.'s law also requires teachers who receive state support
to continue to teach in Ala. public schools for at least five
years.
The NBPTS was created in 1987. It is a nonprofit,
independent organization "working to improving American education
through voluntary advanced certification of elementary and
secondary school teachers," writes the release. Currently, there
are over 250 National Board Certified teachers nationwide.
===== GOAL SEVEN: SAFE SCHOOLS =====
*2 THE STUDENT SHUFFLE: WHO SHOULD CALL THE SHOTS
Principals in Jefferson Parish (La.) public schools
currently have the authority to transfer students with discipline
problems to other schools (Bacon-Blood, NEW ORLEANS TIMES-
PICAYUNE, 6/5). However, school board member Barry Bordelon
recently proposed prohibiting what he calls "shuffling" problem
students from school to school. He wants to ban all transfers
for students with two or more suspensions, writes the paper.
"There is no policy for governing disciplinary problems,"
said Bordelon. "It's very subjective .. and there's a potential
for abuse."
Some principals, parents and others want to keep that
flexibility, reports the paper. "Kids are different," explained
Amy Hoffman, a member of the East Bank Region Parent Advisory
Board. "You have to be real careful on the reasons for the
suspensions .. before telling the student, 'No, you can't
transfer."
The paper also reports that Bordelon's plan treats all
students who have been suspended alike -- regardless of the
reason for their suspension. For example, some students are
issued suspensions due to smoking on campus or other minor
infractions. Others are suspended for more serious reasons.
Board member Polly Thomas, who also is an education
professor at the U of New Orleans, wants principals to maintain
their authority. "I think principals need to have the discretion
of accepting or not accepting behavioral problems," she said.
"We're paying them to be the instructional leaders of their
campus ... We should trust their discretion." She added that
"part of the challenge of teaching is to be able to reach every
child."
==== STANDARD BEARERS ====
*3 WORLD CLASS: FINDING OUT WHAT IT MEANS
Education leaders from around the world are meeting in Italy
this week to discuss each country's education reform efforts, the
feasibility of international comparisons and criteria for world
class standards (COUNCIL FOR BASIC EDUCATION press release, 6/7).
The Washington, D.C.-based Council for Basic Education convened
the symposium, which is being held at The Rockefeller
Foundation's Bellagio, Italy, Study & Conference Center.
"We all talk about 'World Class Standards,'" said CBE
President Christopher Cross. "But no one has really tried to
convene leaders from several nations to discuss the concept of
'World Class' and to try to define the criteria for such
standards." He added: "This meeting will lead to ways in which
we can define world class and cooperate among nations in
determining whether or not our own educational system is meeting
those standards."
Participants also will discuss the formation of a model
school consortium that will include schools in at least six
nations and "focus on learning standards in primary and secondary
education in each of the participating countries," writes the
release.
Questions prepared for the discussion include: How is it
decided (and by whom) what students should know and be able to do
throughout primary and secondary school in your country?; How is
the curriculum determined in your country?; How are assessments
linked to curriculum and instruction in your country?; Who
decides what level of student performance is good enough?; How
much influence does the community have on what is taught in the
schools of your country?.
U.S. delegates include William Randall, commissioner of
education for Colo.; Ruth Wattenberg, deputy director of the
American Federation of Teachers' educational issues department;;
Katherine Nolan, coordinator of International Benchmarking, New
Standards Project, U of Pittsburgh. The keynote speaker is Dr.
Harold Stevenson, professor of psychology and fellow, Center for
Human Growth and Development at the U of Michigan.
Delegates also are expected from Australia, Chile, Czech
Republic, France, Germany, the International Baccalaureate
ORganization, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
CBE will publish the symposium's proceedings. Progress of
the model school consortium will be made available through the
Internet and other media.
*4 SLOW DOWN: BOSTON STANDARDS MOVING TOO FAST FOR SOME
The Boston School Committee is poised to vote on new
academic student standards, but some educators are warning that
the city is moving too fast (Avenoso, BOSTON GLOBE, 6/6). "I'm a
little concerned that the new [school] administration wants to
demonstrate that they're moving, that they're on the case," said
Hubie Jones, chairman of Critical Friends, a network of education
advocates. "But unless this is right, you are going to crete a
hell of a lot of confusion in this city."
Boston School Superintendent Thomas Payzant responded that
it is indeed urgent for the city's children that standards be in
place by the fall. "I don't want to have students wait another
year," he said. Payzant also noted that the standards will be
phased in with the flexibility for change if necessary.
However, many present at a meeting held by the School
COmmittee's subcommittee on curriculum and operations, continued
to warn of the danger of speeding standards implementation. They
also observed that for all students to achieve at higher levels,
"intensive teacher training and even a restructuring of schools"
must be in place, reports the paper. "We can't just establish a
line children should get to and then tell them to jump," said
school committee member Felix Arroyo. "We need to help children
develop skills so they can be successful. IS the system prepared
to do that?" he queried.
The school committee is expected to vote on the new
standards next week.
===== PARTNERS IN EDUCATION =====
*5 HELP FOR HARTFORD: STATE LEADERS REACH OUT FOR ADVICE
Conn.'s DoEd, Gov John Rowland (R) and Hartford city and
school leaders last month formed a partnership charged with
examining the troubled Hartford public school system and
recommending changes (Frahm, THE HARTFORD COURANT, 6/6). The
partnership decided to tap the expertise of a wide range of
educators, including researchers at the Northeast and Islands
Educational Laboratory in Rhode Island.
Staff at the U.S. government lab, located at Brown U., have
served as consultants to public school systems in Boston,
Providence, New York and other cities, reports the paper. State
Education Commissioner Theodore Sergi said he intends to have a
written plan that describes details of the state review available
soon. "I think people want concrete action rather than more
rhetoric," Sergi remarked.
According to the paper, Hartford's per-pupil expenditure of
$9,000 is higher than almost any other district in the state; yet
test scores continue to be among the worst. The paper also
reports that buildings are in bad repair, the curriculum is out
of date and bookkeeping is "in disarray." City and school
leaders initially hired a private firm, Education Alternatives
Inc., to overhaul the system. However, school board members
terminated the EAI contract over disagreements concerning payment
to the firm, notes the paper.
"The EAI contract with Hartford resulted in a great deal of
problems with expectations and delivery," said Sergi. "We
certainly don't want that to happen" with the new partnership, he
added. Sergi also reported that he wants to seek a broad range
of support for school reform -- from local activists to national
experts.
Allan Taylor, a member of the State Board of Education and
former chairman of the Hartford Board of Education, conceded that
an overhaul of the school system will be arduous. "I think it is
a system remarkable in its ability to treat change as a foreign
object," he confessed.
===== MONEY MATTERS =====
*6 WHERE ALL THE MONEY'S GONE: TO SPECIAL EDUCATION
Special education in Mass. is draining money from regular
education, leaving education reform at task, according to a new
report released last week by the Massachusetts Taxpayers
Foundation (Cornell, BOSTON HERALD, 6/5). During the last three
years, the state has allocated nearly $630M for education, yet
spending on regular education has increased by only 2%. SPending
on special education has jumped by 12%, reports the study. "It
means much of the increase is going toward special education,"
summed up Ed Moskovitch, president of Cape ANn Economics, a group
that assisted in preparing the report.
The report reveals that spending on special education rose
$133M from 1992 to 1995, although only about 1,000 special-
education students were "added to the rolls." On the other hand,
enrollment of regular education students increased by 47,000 with
spending rising by $368M. According to the paper, Mass. boasts
one of the highest number of special-education students
nationwide; an issue Gov William Weld (R) and state education
board chairman John Silber "want to tackle."
Other findings from the study: wealthy towns are losing
dollars, while disadvantaged communities are gaining funds; and
teacher salaries actually decreased a half percent since 1992,
counting inflation. "This puts to rest once and for all the myth
that education reform money is going to the pockets of teachers -
- that's the real story here," said Steve Wollmer, spokesman for
the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
===== CHARTING A NEW COURSE =====
*7 CHARTER COMPROMISE: CONNECTICUT HAS LAW ON BOOKS
Conn. Gov John Rowland (D) last week signed a charter school
bill that allows the creation of up to 24 publicly funded charter
schools (Daly, THE HARTFORD COURANT, 7/6). However, the governor
and others complain that the bill has been "watered down" to
satisfy a broader constituency.
Under the new law, up to 12 locally created charter schools
"would be funded through municipal budgets," writes the paper.
Twelve additional state-charter schools would receive funds from
a $6M education grant.
Allan Taylor, state Board of Education member, "denounced"
the bill, reports the paper. He claims that the version that
passed the Legislature is one in which the state "only pretended
to embrace charter schools." For example, the legislation
restricts the freedom of charters to experiment with innovative
strategies and truly compete with public schools, according to
Taylor. The final bill was supported by the state's two teacher
unions, notes the paper.
Dean Pagani, the governor's press secretary, acknowledged
that Rowland also would have preferred a more sweeping bill. But
he added that "at least the ball moved forward this session.
Maybe next session it'll go further."
==== TAKING OVER ====
*8 TAKING CHARGE: TEXAS TAKEOVER OF WILMER-HUTCHINS SCHOOLS
The state of Texas officially took over Wilmer-Hutchins
school district last week, after the U.S. Department of Justice
granted approval (Barrionuevo and McKenzie, THE DALLAS MORNING
NEWS, 6/7). Retired Dallas school administrator Lois Harrison-
Jones and businessman Cyrus Holley were named "monitors," and
were granted the authority to override trustees and
administrators in areas including finance and education policy.
They will not be able to change the tax rate, notes the paper.
School board President Lunita White expressed
"disappoint[ment] and disgus[t]" over the state takeover. "I
think this is a blow to the children in this district. I know we
could do the job if given the chance," she remarked.
The paper chronicles the history of the troubled district.
The Texas Education Agency last year lowered the district's
accreditation to "accredited warned," which mandated a two-year
deadline to improve education in the district. Earlier this
year, the FBI and IRS investigated "alleged corruption, raided
the district and seized financial records," writes the paper.
U.S. Justice Department officials requested more information
about the district in May, alarming state officials who dreaded a
delay in federal action. However, federal officials responded
quickly because "the state asked us to expedite our review," said
Myron Marlin, spokesman for the Justice Department. "Once we got
all the information we needed, we were able to reach a
determination."
State Education Commissioner Mike Moses explained that the
two monitors will remain in the district until the schools
improve. He added that he intends to review the situation every
90 days, reports the paper.
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