by Brian
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
Bush NCLB: Every child will be proficient at reading, writing, and math by 2014.
Obama/Duncan RTTT: Every child will go to college by 2018.
The finish line has been moved, but the result will be the same: in America, all children will be above average.
It's just "The Emperor's New Clothes", over and over again. The President says he wants legislation on education that will catapult the United States back to the top (by the way, top of what?). His advisors write a blueprint, which is overwhelmingly approved by Congress (why is that the only bipartisan thing they can do?) and the pundits and CEOs applaud. While the teachers (see David Cohen's post, and Tom's), who have not been consulted, stand on the sidelines and say the plan is naked.
In Washington we are being prodded by our governor to endorse our application for Race to the Top funds. She wants all districts to buy in: it will get more points for the application. The application requires only the signature of the local superintendent, but the state gets more points if the president of the school board, the president of the principal's association, and the president of the local education association also sign. So there will be significant political pressure to sign on; in Delaware and Tennessee, the first round winners, there was 100% district participation. You will soon be asked if you will support the state's application by having your local association president sign the district's application.
My problem is this: I will not support the American Idol model for funding education. Reducing the access to federal funds to a contest is both demeaning and wrong. Students will be winners or losers without having any role in the process. Money will be doled out according to grant writers ability, regardless of the needs of students.
I have no problem with rigorous criteria to qualify for RTTT funds. But I have a problem with a process that is purportedly designed to reward states and districts and teachers that are trying to do the best for their students, but is in reality a contest between state legislatures.
When they base the process on standards that I can believe in, and will accept the application of every state that agrees to meet those standards, I'm in.
For now, keep the money Arne.
I was also excited 18 months ago…I thought education was finally on the front burner and people who truly cared about students were going to be making decisions. Apparently that was my naiveté talking because we’re playing the same game. The names and faces have changed but today it’s the kids who are suffering…tomorrow it will be the rest of us because these kids will be in charge one day and with what preparation? With what compassion? With what concern about the best interests of individuals?
About 18 months ago I was excited about the possible changes at the federal level in terms of education policy. My enthusiam has curbed a bit because similar NCLB, there are some quality initiatives in the RTTT program, but the devil is in the details.