Click here to return to OFCN's Main Index Page.
--- Friday --- May 2, 1997 --- Vol. 7 --- No. 38 ---
D #### ##### #### ### #### #### ##### ### #### ####
A ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ##
I #### #### #### ## ## #### ## ## ##### #### ## ##
L ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ##
Y ## ## ##### ## ### ## ## ## ##### ## ## ## ## ####
THE NATIONAL UPDATE ON AMERICA'S EDUCATION REFORM EFFORTS
A service of the National Education Goals Panel
__________ __________
DRC-NEGP PARTNERSHIP | SPOTLIGHT |
The Daily Report Card and the | |
National Education Goals Panel | OF YOUNG TROOPERS AND |
have forged a new partnership | OLD HORSES |
to report on programs and | |
policies related to the eight | A significant number of |
National Education Goals. The | teens surveyed by USA |
NEGP is a bipartisan and | WEEKEND Magazine said they |
intergovernmental body of | welcome some adult-imposed |
federal and state officials | restrictions on their |
charged with assessing and | rights at school. (#3) |
reporting on state and national | |
progress towards achieving the | Typical of teens |
Goals. | throughout the years, |
Each Wed.'s DRC, beginning | survey respondents |
5/7, will be sponsored by the | complained of not having |
NEGP and called the NEGP | enough personal freedom. |
Weekly. The Weekly's format | Yet they accept some |
will be consistent with the | parameters to guide their |
DRC's structure; readers will | lives: 75% favor bans on |
notice little change. DRC | gang clothing at schools; |
readers will continue to | and 58% believe school |
receive the Wed. NEGP Weekly as | officials should have the |
they do now. They also will be | right to search student |
able to access it at the NEGP | lockers for drugs or |
web site: www.negp.gov. Wed.'s | weapons without permission. |
publication will include links | |
to other sites mentioned in | Today's teens, though |
that day's document. | faced with more and more |
The DRC welcomes the | serious temptations, |
opportunity to work with the | conjure up images of a |
NEGP, and is proud to continue | quote by Thomas Fuller: |
publishing the well-received | "A young Trooper should |
DRC free-of-charge to readers | have an old Horse." |
around the world. |_____________________________|
============== QUOTE OF THE DAY ==============
"While a college degree is a valuable commodity for the 21st
century, that should not mean that it is the most expensive
investment one makes in a lifetime."
Rep. Bill Goodling (R-Pa.), chairman of the Education and the
Workforce Committee. (#1)
_______________________________________________________________
| (c) by the Education Policy Network, Inc. |
| 1255 22nd Street NW; Washington, D.C. 20010; 202/632-0952 |
| EPN, Inc. hereby authorizes further reproduction and |
| distribution with proper acknowledgement. |
| Publisher: Barbara A. Pape |
|_______________________________________________________________|
============== TABLE OF CONTENTS ==============
HIGHER EDUCATION
THROUGH THE ROOF: A commission to study college tuition. (#1)
HIGHER ED STATS: Minority enrollment to retention rates. (#2)
TAKING STOCK
"TEENS & FREEDOM:" Survey says teens want limits. (#3)
SERVING THE COMMUNITY
IN THE SUMMIT'S WAKE: Volunteer activity. (#4)
THE PRIVATE EYE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL: Vouchers in Ohio. (#5)
HOW TO GET ON THE DRC LIST-SERVE
To subscribe: Send an e-mail message from the account you
wish to subscribe to rptcrd@mail.apn.com with the word
"subscribe" as the "subject." Please do not write anything in
the text section; only type in "subscribe" under "subject" in the
memo heading. You will receive a short message confirming your
subscription. If you encounter difficulties subscribing, send a
message to drc@mail.apn.com, detailing the problem.
===== HIGHER EDUCATION =====
*1 THROUGH THE ROOF: A COMMISSION TO STUDY COLLEGE TUITION
Concern over rapidly rising college tuition rates moved
Congressman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) to introduce the "Cost of
Higher Education Review Act of 1997." McKeon is chairman of the
subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training and Lifelong
Learning of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
The bill will establish a commission to examine increasing
college tuition.
A General Accounting Office report found that since the
early 1980s, college tuition has skyrocketed by 234%, far
outpacing the cost of living and any rise in family income,
writes McKeon's press release (5/1).
"By establishing a bipartisan commission to study this issue
we hope to answer the question that is on the minds of millions
of parents and students, 'How am I going to pay for college?'"
said McKeon. "It is my hope this commission will develop sound
recommendations as to how higher education can become more
accessible to people form all economic backgrounds."
The commission will be comprised of 7 members selected from
the higher education, business and education finance sectors.
According to the release, the commission will be appointed by the
House and Senate Leadership and the U.S. Ed Sec. The panel will
last for 6 months and will issue a report within 4 months. The
committee intends to use the price commission's findings as
members re-authorize the Higher Education Act.
"This bill is an important first step in making higher
education more affordable," said Representative Bill Goodling (R-
Pa.), chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee.
"While a college degree is a valuable commodity for the 21st
century, that should not mean that it is the most expensive
investment one makes in a lifetime."
*2 HIGHER ED STATS: FROM MINORITY ENROLLMENT TO RETENTION RATES
College enrollment by minority students show "solid gains,"
according to a new report released by the College Board.
"Summary Statistics, a compilation of data from the College
Board's Annual Survey of Colleges (ASC), found that from 1984-
1995, degree-seeking, minority students enrolled in the freshman
class increased by 6 percentage points -- from 14% to 20% at
four-year institutions, and from 16% to 18% at two-year
institutions."
Donald Stewart, president of the College Board: "Now that
minority students are on the verge of parity in college
enrollment, we must not turn back the clock and risk reversing
those gains by weakening or eliminating affirmative action
programs. Society must maintain a commitment to equity and
academic excellence for all students."
Stewart attributed the increase in minority enrollment in
four-year colleges and universities to affirmative action
policies, which are facing a "wave of criticism and perhaps even
extinction" in many schools nationwide, writes the release.
Other data from "Summary Statistics":
At four-year institutions, on average, 75% of the freshmen
returned as sophomores; in two-year institutions, 59% of first-
year students returned for a second year; at four-year
institutions, 54% of freshmen graduate within five years; at two-
year institutions 40% of freshmen graduate within three years; at
all institutions, the percentage of the freshman class who end
the year in good standing has remained nearly the same over the
course of the decade, about 82%; and at four-year institutions,
26% of graduates who complete four-year programs enter graduate
programs in the next term.
Stewart commented on the nearly 25% of freshmen at four-year
institutions who do not return as sophomores and the over 50% who
graduate in five years. "These retention rates suggest that we
must do more to assure that students persist in their goal of a
college degree," he said. "Sometimes freshmen do not return
because they have transferred into a new institution that is a
better 'fit.' But, I fear that some first-year students drop out
because the financial situation is tight." He added: "Whatever
their reason, education policymakers must increase efforts --
such as improvements in academic standards and increased
financial support for needy students -- so that students can meet
the challenges they face and complete their college degree."
The release points out that the low graduation rate at two-
year institutions may "conceal a significant shift in the mission
of those institutions -- a shift that is particularly relevant to
changes in the current American workplace." Carol Aslanian,
director of the College Board's office of adult learning services
observes that many people enroll in two-year institutions to
"brush up on skills or to acquire new ones for a career change,
or just to keep up with current jobs."
"Summary Statistics" also revealed the weight given to
certain criteria by college admission officers. For example, at
all four-year institutions that do not have open-admissions
policies, the following percentages represent responses from
directors of admission who rated various criteria as very
important: school achievement (87%); test scores (46%);
recommendations (15%); essay (12%); interview (9%); and
extracurricular activities (3%).
Copies of "Summary Statistics" are available for $25 from
the College Board; 45 Columbus Avenue; New York, N.Y. 10023.
Visit the College Board's website at: www.collegeboard.org
===== TAKING STOCK =====
*3 "TEENS & FREEDOM:" SURVEY SAYS TEENS WANT LIMITS
Some adult-imposed restrictions in their lives are
necessary, according to a survey of teenagers by USA WEEKEND
Magazine (USA WEEKEND Magazine press release, 4/29). The
unscientific national write-in survey of 218,350 students in
grades 6-12 is the 10th Annual USA WEEKEND special teen report.
(See local newstands for this weekend's USA WEEKEND.)
While teens surveyed complained that they do not have enough
freedom, a significant number were willing to accept certain
parameters: 75% of the respondents favor bans on clothing with
gang symbols at school; 69% said students should stand for the
national anthem; 58% said school officials should have the right
to search student lockers for drugs or weapons without
permission; half said teen curfews to reduce crime at night are
fair; 35% stated that parents have a right to install a
television v-chip to block offensive or violent shows; and 30%
support Internet restrictions.
"Students today are grappling with issues from tatoos to
censorship to curfews," said Amy Eisman, executive editor of USA
WEEKEND. "Most teens complain adults are trying to restrict them
too much. But this survey shows the choices aren't that easy to
make; teens do welcome some limitations."
Other findings: 58% agree that school officials can
restrict foul language in writing assignments; 38% say it is fair
to censor what students write in the school newspaper; 31% favor
bans on books, newspapers and magazines deemed offensive.
The teen respondents also were asked to pick the appropriate
age for the following activities: drink alcohol (age 19); smoke
cigarettes (18); be sexually active (18); get a tattoo (17).
Teens also report they enjoy the following freedoms: 87%
can listen to whatever music they want; 92% can pick their own
friends; and 81% can decide how to spend their money. From the
release: "Interestingly, 52% say they will impose the same type
of boundaries on their own children."
The "Teens & Freedom" questionnaire appeared in the 25-27
October and 1-3 November 1996 issues of the USA WEEKEND magazine.
It also was distributed throughout schools by Channel One News
and online.
Past topics covered by USA WEEKEND surveys include drinking,
racism, violence in schools and ethics.
==== SERVING THE COMMUNITY ====
*4 IN THE SUMMIT'S WAKE: VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY
The Presidents' Summit for America's Future, which took
place earlier this week in Philadelphia and featured U.S.
presidents and other dignitaries, has spawned numerous activities
surrounding volunteerism -- all part of the summit's five goals:
An Ongoing Relationship with a Caring Adult: Mentor, Tutor
Coach; Safe Places and Structured Activity During Non-school
Hours to Learn and Grow; A Healthy Start; Marketable Skills
through Effective Education; and An Opportunity to Give Back,
reports the Philadelphia INQUIRER (4/28). For more information
on the Presidents' Summit, visit the INQUIRER's web site at:
www.phillynews.com.
Activities relating to the five goals include:
A study released by the U.S. DoEd's National Center for
Education Statistics, which found that 93% of teenagers who were
asked to volunteer actually did, compared with 24% of those who
were not asked. "This just goes to show you that 'if we build
it, they will come,'" said Ed Sec Richard Riley. "This report
couldn't be more timely. I was in Philadelphia earlier this week
to help kick off President Clinton's Summit on America's Future,
which will help generate a new spirit of volunteerism in
America."
The study, "Student Participation in Community Service
Activity," examines data from the 1996 National Household
Education Survey, Youth Civic Involvement component, in which
8,000 students in grades six through 12 were asked about their
participation in community service activity. Nearly half of the
students reported being involved in community service during the
1995-1996 school year; 26% said they participate regularly.
According to a DoEd press release, the most important factor in
student participation is whether schools arranged or offered
community service (5/1).
Other findings: Students involved in numerous
extracurricular activities were more likely to participate in
community service; families provide strong role models when it
comes to community service; students in private schools,
especially church-related schools, were more likely to be
involved than students in other types of schools; female students
with good grades, who spoke English at home, were active in other
types of activities, lived with educated parents, or with adults
who were active in community service were more likely to be
involved in community service.
Copies of the report are available while supplies last
through the National Library of Education, 800/424-1616. The
report also is available on the Internet at
www.ed.gov/NCES/pubs97/9731.html
The K-12 Compact, a new organization created by the
Education Commission of the States, is designed to help school
districts encourage students to participate in community service
(ECS press release, 4/25). The organization is modeled after The
Campus Compact, another ECS-sponsored organization that has
involved college students nationwide in service projects.
"When students get involved in community service, they tend
to stay involved," said Frank Newman, ECS president. "Interviews
with winners of Campus Compact's annual student awards for
outstanding service show that the winners almost always started
performing community service activities early -- they understand
service is a part of growing up."
Newman and Ray Cortines, acting assistant secretary, U.S.
DoEd, are the co-founders of The K-12 Compact. Six state school
superintendents already have joined the group's board,including
Delaine Eastin, California superintendent of public instruction,
Wilmer Cody, Kentucky commissioner of education, and Nancy
Grasmick, Maryland superintendent of schools. Md. state law
requires high school students to participate in service-learning
in order to graduate.
The K-12 Compact is expected to be organized by the end of
June and to commence work by the 1998 school year.
ECS predicts that Campus Compact, the college-level service
group, will have 750,000 students contributing 42 million hours
of service by the year 2000. The project was founded in 1985 and
has "promoted participation in community service to help students
develop the values and skills of citizenship necessary for
democracy to thrive," writes another ECS press release.
A study conducted by Campus Compact and the Higher Education
Research Institute found that college students who participate in
community service are more likely to socialize with persons from
different racial and ethnic groups and participate in community
service work after college. The Campus Compact/HERI study
analyzed the effects of community service on behaviors and values
over a nine-year period. Longitudinal data were gathered from
students when they entered college in 1985, again in 1989 and
after college in 1994-1995.
"We now have solid evidence to back up our instincts that
community involvement is a key ingredient of building committed,
tolerant, educated citizens," said Elizabeth Hollander, Campus
Compact executive director. "Now we need to find ways to engage
as many people as possible in this endeavor, and I believe the
Presidents' Summit is a timely and well-directed step toward
making that happen."
For more information on the K-12 Compact, contact Peggy
Arkins, assistant to the president, Education Commission of the
States; 707 17th Street; Suite 2700; Denver, Colo. 80202-3427;
303/299-3629.
Copies of the Campus Compact/HERI study are available by
calling Campus Compact at 401/863-1119.
==== THE PRIVATE EYE ====
*5 UNCONSTITUTIONAL: VOUCHERS IN OHIO
An Ohio appeals court in a unanimous decision ruled
yesterday that the Cleveland school voucher program violates both
the U.S. and the Ohio Constitutions "because it is skewed toward
religion." The ruling issued by the Franklin County Court of
Appeals will end Cleveland's school voucher program at the end of
this school year (AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS press release,
5/1).
President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers Ron Marec: "We
are overjoyed by the court's decision. Now we can get down to
the real business of education improvement in Ohio and put this
ill-conceived, tax-wasting diversion behind us."
Jeanne Allen, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Center
for Education Reform, called the decision "unfortunate news."
She added: "We must also stress the loss to the children
involved in the program," which is all that it's about.
The court also found the Cleveland voucher program to be in
violation of the Ohio Constitution's Uniformity Clause, which
maintains that state-funded programs must be administered in a
fair and uniform manner. The release explains that private
schools outside of the boundaries of the City of Cleveland were
prohibited from participating in the voucher program.
The suit, Gatton v. Goff, was appealed to the Franklin
County Court of Appeals last summer after Franklin County
Municipal Court Judge Lisa Sadler, "in a surprise decision,"
upheld the voucher program's constitutionality, reports the
release.
Voucher proponents are expected to ask for a stay in order
to keep the program running, and to file an appeal to the Ohio
Supreme Court.
Click here to return to The 1997 Daily Report Card
Click here to return to OFCN's
Academy Program
Click here to return to OFCN's Main Index Page.
John Kurilecjmk@ofcn.org