Education Reform Briefs

From the Education Commission of the States, 7/11/97

Focus Resources on What Works

Georgia Governor Zell Miller, 1996-1997 ECS chairman, called on policymakers to do a better job of focusing resources on what we know works and taking it away from things that don't help to improve student achievement.

Miller and ECS released the final report from his initiative as ECS chairman -- Investing in Student Achievement. The report looks at three areas that have the potential to affect children: early childhood education, the connections between K-12 and postsecondary education, and teacher education. Call 303/299-3692 for a copy of the book.

From the Education Commission of the States, 7/11/97

New Leadership at the Helm

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad was named chairman of the Education Commission of the States (ECS) for the 1997-1998 term. He succeeds outgoing chairman, Governor Zell Miller of Georgia. Kentucky Governor Paul Patton was named 1997-1998 chairman-elect.

Branstad's initiative as ECS chairman will focus primarily on how to harness the power of technology to improve teaching and learning.

From the Family Research Council, New Ed Facts, 7/3/97

Educational Choice in Minnesota

Minnesota's Gov. Arne Carlson was so intent on giving parents more choice in their children's education, he vetoed the state education budget over it. Following his veto, Gov. Carlson and supporters of parental choice in education stood their ground and waited out the storm of protest from the teacher unions.

The Minnesota legislature finally flinched on June 26 and voted to expand the deduction to $1,625 for K-6 and up to $2,500 for grades 7-12. Carlson declared to the Wall Street Journal, "A governor went toe-to-toe with the teachers unions and choice prevailed. It can be done."

From the Institute for Justice, 7/8/97

Coverdell Education IRA Amendment Status Report

On June 27, Sen. Paul Coverdell (R-GA) offered an amendment to S. 949, the "Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1997." The Senate passed the amendment by a vote of 58-42. The Coverdell amendment expands the purpose of the "education IRAs" contained in the original bill to include post-tax savings and withdrawal for expenses, including tuition, associated with any school, private or sectarian, including home school, from kindergarten through high school. The Senate agreed to S. 949 by a vote of 80-18.

The Coverdell Amendment allows parents to contribute up to $2,000 a year per child in post-tax dollars. Middle income taxpayers eligible for the $500 child tax credit can contribute up to $2,500. The buildup of interest within that account is tax-free if used for the child's education.

From the Education Intelligence Agency, Mike Antonucci-Director, 7/11/97

NEA/AFT Merger Talks

The National Education Association's merger talks with the American Federation of Teachers are progressing. The biggest sticking point so far is the absolute NEA refusal to send any dues money to the AFL-CIO. Each union chose 15 members to sit on a joint council. The council will generate ideas for joint activities for the union as a precursor to merger. The first, get acquainted meeting was held June 11.

From the Family Research Council, New Ed Facts, 7/11/97

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

NBPTS has suffered from unpopularity (only about 500 teachers have sought accreditation during the first few years), so President Clinton is seeking to increase its federal subsidy in order for 100,000 more teachers to complete its several thousand dollar certification process.

From the American Association of School Administrators, 7/11/97

Clinton Reading Initiative Assessed by Experts

President Clinton's plan to recruit millions of volunteer reading tutors is a fine way to augment the efforts of teachers of students whose parents or caregivers can't or won't spend the time to read with them. However, volunteers should be only a supplement to qualified classroom reading instructors, which, a panel of national experts told a congressional hearing, are too often lacking in schools where they are most needed.

The hearing highlighted the difficulty of discerning reading ability based on testing data, of sorting out research-proven educational strategies from "snake oil," and of determining whether students are truly learning disabled or simply victims of bad pedagogy.

From the American Federation of Teachers, Inside AFT, 7/14/97

AFT and NEA Commonalities - Fighting Words

In a July 5 speech to the NEA convention in Atlanta, AFT President Sandra Feldman said that instead of fighting each other, the 3 million teachers and school-related personnel represented by both organizations together can reach out to parents and other allies and "provide the force and the fuel to defeat those who want to further erode our public schools."

Both organizations can also fight "the budget cutters, the voucherites who would steal public money for private schools, the privatizers and profiteers who exploit the legitimate discontent of parents, especially poor parents," she said.

From the National PTA, 7/11/97

PBS Special on America's Schools to Air

Children in America's Schools, a PBS special based on Jonathan Kozol's book, Savage Inequalities, will be broadcast on August 25th. The program examines the funding gaps among public schools in America. The show is hosted by Bill Moyers and features a follow-up debate among panelists including National PTA immediate past president Joan Dykstra.

From the Education Reporter, July, 1997

Higher Education Grade Inflation

"The College Press Service reports that 43% of grades given at Harvard are A or A-. At Stanford, 90% of all letter grades are A or B. At Pacific Lutheran University, 50% of all grades are A, and nearly 40% of the 1997 graduating class received degrees with honors. In a recent poll of University of Washington faculty, 91 % responded that grade inflation is a problem."

From the Education Commission of the States, 7/11/97

Students Say Educators Need Improved Listening Skills

Educators need to listen more to students, start working with them much earlier on their career goals, and be much more creative in helping them. These were the recommendations of an ECS panel composed of recent high school graduates and their job coaches. The panel was led by Gov. Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin and Sen. David Steele of Utah.

The student panelists recommended that teachers become much more involved with their students and stop lecturing. They also called on teachers to offer more hands-on learning and vary how materials are presented to students.

From the U.S. Department of Education, 7/1/97

Comparison Chart of Selected Higher Ed Tax Proposals

Visit the Dept. of Education's web site to view a chart comparing five versions of higher education tax proposals. The Clinton Administration, House-passed bill, Senate-passed bill, Rangel alternative, and Daschle alternative plans are shown. The areas compared include HOPE tax credit (for first two years of college only), tuition deduction or credit for life-long learning, totals for HOPE and life-long learning tuition deduction or credit, employer-provided education, and student loan interest deduction.

Go to EPI's links page to connect with the Dept. of Education (or other organizations included on this page).

From the Independent Scholar, Andrew Coulson - On the Way to School, 6/13/97

History Repeats Itself

"I would promise the whole amount were I not afraid that someday my gift might be abused for someone's selfish purposes, as I see happen in many places where teachers' salaries are paid from public funds. There is only one remedy to meet this evil: if the appointment of teachers is left entirely to the parents, and they are conscientious about making a wise choice through their obligation to contribute to the cost. People who may be careless about another person's money are sure to be careful about their own, and they will see that only a suitable recipient shall be found for my money if he is also to have their own... I am leaving everything open for the parents: the decision and choice are to be theirs-all I want is to make the arrangements and pay my share."

This quote, from an oral presentation delivered to the Conference on Rethinking School Governance at Harvard University School of Government on June 13, was taken from Pliny the Younger, a citizen of the Roman Empire in the early 60s of the first century A.D.

From the Education Commission of the States, 7/11/97

Who Should Make Education Decisions?

Who should set the focus and goals of education? Who decides what students should know and be able to do as a result of schooling? Participants grappled with these and other tough questions in an ECS National Forum session on who's got the power and who decides what goes on in schooling.

While the conversation ranged from how to tap the energy and creativity of schools to how to hold the education system accountable for results and how to get and keep good teachers, the core issue that wove through them all was building partnerships between schools and communities. Participants finally agreed that the challenge is not to support the notion of school-community partnership, but to carry it out.

From the Education Commission of the States, 7/11/97

Special Education Needs Adjustment

At an ECS National Forum session on the nation's large investment in special education, Paul Sherlock, vice chairman of the Rhode Island House Finance Committee, contented that with young children (3-9 years old), there is little question about whether students identified are really disabled -- they have easily seen special needs. With 9-12 year olds, however, questions arise. At this age, Sherlock said, the numbers of students identified as needing special services go off the chart, but the disabilities are less. "The system was probably never intended for these students," he said. "They are a symptom of the failure of school systems."

From the National PTA, 7/10/97

TV Ratings System

"America's families will be now the ultimate judges of its [the new ratings system] effectiveness." Lois Jean White, National PTA president added that the National PTA will work with its partners to educate the public and parents about the v-chip and the TV Parental Guideline System.

The National PTA and other advocacy groups have been negotiating with the industry for a month in an effort to reach accord on the ratings issue. Networks will begin using the new universal television ratings system by October 1.