July 26, 2009

“RACE TO THE TOP”

President Barack Obama hied to a podium Friday, telling local School Boards how to share a $100 billion “Race To The Top” fund set aside by Congress earlier this year for innovations in the classroom.

From this fountain of tax dollars, $4.35 billion will be funneled to states in grants.  Another $650 million will be reserved for school districts and non-profit groups.

Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, says 46 states are creating a common academic standard for their public schools.

He has been traveling the nation – telling state officials who have resisted change for decade: “Embrace reform or risk being shut out.”

CHARTER SCHOOLS

Seven states have lifted limits on the number of privately operated “charter” schools within their jurisdiction.

“This is about challenging the status quo,” Duncan said in a Washington Post interview Wednesday.

Duncan wants states to use funds to ease limits on charter schools; tie teachers’ pay to student achievement, and move for the first time toward common academic standards.

It is part of a broader effort to improve school systems -- with a $100 billion increase in education funding, more money for community colleges and an increase in Pell Grants for college students.

SLOW-ROLLING CRISIS

Obama says “stagnating” student-achievement is part of a “slow-rolling crisis” which represents a threat to the America’s economic future.

“Stark achievement gaps remain for minority and low-income students.  In some big cities, fewer than half of high school students graduate on time.  The United States trails international competitors in math and science.”

“There are going to be elements within the teachers union where they’re just resistant to change, because people inherently are resistant to it, ” Obama said.

“Teachers aren’t any different from many politicians or corporate CEOs.  There are going to be certain habits that have been built up which they don’t want to change.”

SKEPTICS

Congressional Republicans are skeptical.  Rep.  John Kline -- top Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee – declared last week:

“We just took a big old checkbook, with a $5 billion total behind it, handed it to the secretary, and said: ‘Write a whole bunch of checks.’

“I am uncomfortable that we’re doing it.”

According to Duncan, states will not be eligible if they have any legal or regulatory barrier preventing the use of student achievement data to evaluate teachers and principals.

“Big Brother” takes hold.

Also, applying-states will be asked to show they are paying teachers based on performance, intervening faster to turn around their lowest-performing schools, authorizing more charter schools and closing achievement gaps such as those between white, black and Latino peers.

Duncan asserts that states unwilling to make such changes won’t get the new grants.

FEDERAL FUNDING

Duncan suggests several things to improve chances for federal funding:

• Lift restrictions on the growth of charter schools;
• Build data systems that show individual student progress under specific teachers and principals;
• Seek out new ways to turn around perennial-struggling schools, and
• Sign on to efforts to develop common academic standards tough enough to withstand international scrutiny.

DEVIL IN DETAILS

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation Of Teachers, is quoted saying:

“The devil really is in the details.  Many teachers fear they will be fired if they are judged unfairly on student test scores.

“You want to be respectful of an administration that believes in public education.  On the issues -- where you have differences -- you try to work those out.”

WILL ROGERS VIEWPOINT

Your writer is suspicious about ultra-political organizations – whether liberal, conservative or middle-of-road.

Americans need some of all, depending on circumstances.  Right now, the United States is re-arranging itself.  Education is the glue that holds every thing together.  And, no political party or nation has enough.

I am old enough to remember well the great  cowboy humorist Will Rogers -- who cautioned us with good advice:

“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.  Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.”

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist