Education Reform Briefs

From the Family Research Council/Ed Facts, 6/9/00

$1.6 Billion Increase in Ed Funding Not Enough for NEA

This week [June 5-9], the U.S. House of Representatives considered the appropriations bill that funds the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education. Many amendments to the bill have been filed, so progress is anticipated to be slow. The bill does not fund the main infrastructure of the Goals 2000 system (though peripheral programs remain), eliminates funding for School-to-Work, and prohibits development of a federal student test.

While the bill increases education funding by $1.6 billion over last year's expenditures, the National Education Association (NEA) has announced its opposition on the basis of inadequate funding for current and proposed federal programs. The NEA cites the fact that the bill falls $2.9 billion short of the President's budget request, and $3 billion below the Senate Appropriations Committee's bill. Also objectionable to the teacher union lobbyists is the lack of federal funding for NEA priorities like school construction and the 100,000-teacher program.

From Edison Schools, 6/15/00

Edison Schools Achieve Record Enrollment for Coming School Year

Edison Schools, America's largest private manager of public schools, announced today that it anticipates record enrollment increases in its coming school year, beginning July 1. Edison expects that its number of schools will increase to approximately 108, up from 79 this year. Pending completion of its enrollment efforts, Edison expects its enrollment will grow by over 50% to between 57,000 and 59,000 students, up from approximately 37,500 this year. This represents an increase of between 19,500 and 21,500 students, easily exceeding the company's prior record growth of 12,000 set last year.

As a result of its new school openings, Edison expects to operate in five new states beginning this fall: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Delaware. With these additions, the company will have operations in over 45 cities and in 21 states and D.C., up from 36 and 16 respectively. As of this fall, Edison will be operating in all of the 10 most populous states.

From National Association of State Boards of Education, 6/4/00

Florida Accountability Program Still Working Out Kinks

Parents are complaining that Florida's A-Plus Plan is creating a good deal of confusion. As part of the program, public schools are graded on an A-F scale based largely on the results of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Schools receiving an "F"are placed on a 'failing' list and qualify for a series of interventions, and parents have the option of either transferring their child to another school graded "C" or better, or to a private school using a state voucher. However, parents are confused because of a series of complicated developments, including: (1) the voucher portion of the plan has been found unconstitutional, (2) test results are not being returned until late summer so that parents do not have ample time to address their options, and (3) the rating system itself is being changed. The state is currently working to fix problems in the system, but is holding steady on the accountability program itself.

From the Children's Scholarship Fund, 6/14/00

Forstmann Invites Gore and Bush to Single-Issue Education Debate

Theodore J. Forstmann, Co-Chairman and CEO of the Children's Scholarship Fund (CSF), today invited presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush to participate in a nationally televised 90-minute debate devoted solely to education -- a subject the candidates have each called the most important issue facing this nation today.  In recognition of their participation, Mr. Forstmann personally offered to donate $500,000 to children's charities of each candidate's choice.

Mr. Forstmann stressed that neither he nor the Children's Scholarship Fund, nor any of the participants in today's press conference were promoting or opposing any candidate.  The Board Members of the Children's Scholarship Fund attending today's press conference represent all elements of the political spectrum and are joined in the belief that control of every child's education must be taken back from the government and returned to the parents. 

From the National Education Association, 6/14/00

NEA Polls Faculty on Distance Learning

The National Education Association released a first-of-its-kind poll of distance learning faculty. The poll taps the perceptions of 400-plus instructors who teach distance learning courses, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of distance teaching and learning.

Faculty are enthused about new tools to reach and engage students. Those surveyed favored Internet-based distance learning over other mediums such as video-conferencing. "Unlike its predecessor, the correspondence course, web-based distance learning offers far more than a text and a workbook," said [NEA President Bob] Chase.

The poll also found that faculty's zest for distance learning is tinged with some apprehension about the future. Almost uniformly, distance learning instructors report that preparing and delivering distance learning courses requires significantly more time and effort than traditional classes. Most believe this fact will not be reflected in salary schedules. However, their enthusiasm for offering an education to more students outweighs this concern.

From the American Association of School Administrators, 6/15/00

National Assessment Governing Board Ponders NAEP Participation Problem

Increased state accountability testing, administrative burden and complaints about no compensation or results for the time and energy expended have pushed schools to rethink their participation in the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also referred to as the Nation's Report Card.

Thus, the National Assessment Governing Board, which governs NAEP, is considering a number of measures--including requiring participation, like the U.S. Census--to maintain local and state participation in the tests.

Among the measures being considered by the governing board are:

• Requiring participation;
• Reducing the burden of NAEP testing on schools involved by simplifying procedures or relying on one national contractor;
• Providing feedback to students and schools;
• Offering incentives, such as materials and workshops or reimbursement payments;
• Using the internet for background questionnaires, sampling, and possibly test questions; and
• Extending the number of weeks when NAEP may be given.

From Edison Schools, 6/9/00

Four Percent of D.C. Schools Comprised of Edison Students

Edison Schools, America's largest private manager of public schools, announced today that it will expand operations in the District of Columbia, where it currently manages two elementary schools and one middle school. As a result of this expansion, approximately four percent of the District's public school students are enrolled in Edison schools.

Starting in the fall of this year, Edison will manage Edison-Friendship Collegiate Academy, Carter G. Woodson Campus, with its partner, Friendship House, serving approximately 450 Grade 9 and 10 students.

From the American Federation of Teachers, 6/12/00

AFT Commended for School-to-Work Efforts

The AFT has been honored by the National School-to-Work Office for its continuous and outstanding support for implementation of school-to-work programs throughout the nation. School-to-Work is a joint effort of the Departments of Education and Labor to promote work-based education initiatives at the state and local levels. AFT has produced a policy paper, a program evaluation tool, case studies and a video on school-to-work programs.

From the House Education and the Workforce Committee, 6/14/00

House Resolution Acknowledges Importance of Music Education

The House last night passed H. Con. Res. 266, a resolution regarding the Benefits of Music Education.  The resolution was sponsored by Rep. David McIntosh (R-IN) and passed by voice vote.

"Music education has touched the lives of many young people in my state of Indiana and across the nation," said McIntosh, a member of the committee.  "It has taught them teamwork and discipline, while refining their cognitive and communications skills.  Music education enables children with disabilities to participate more fully in school while motivating at-risk students to stay in school and become active participants in the educational process.

[In a meeting with musicians and members of the Music Educators National Conference], Goodling expressed his concern that the Clinton Administration had proposed turning over a large portion of the Arts in Education program to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and stated that he "agrees with MENC that art and music educators should have a direct say in how any increase in funds for the program would be spent."  Goodling went on to assure them that the committee would consider legislation that would require Education Secretary Richard Riley to consult with arts educators in awarding Arts in Education grants.

From the Democratic Leadership Council & Progressive Policy Institute, 6/12/00

Increasing Number of Charter Schools Go Virtual

In California, in Minnesota, in Florida, in Ohio, and in pockets of experimentation all around the country, Virtual Charter Schools are popping up, offering instruction in part or in whole via the Internet. The Choice 2000 On- Line Charter School in Perris, California offers 140 middle- and high-school students 24-7 access to comprehensive educational software. About 75 other California charter schools use distance learning via the Internet for part of their instruction.

Ohio has recently authorized a statewide Virtual Charter School, called the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow. Based in Toledo, the school will offer K-12 instruction over the Internet to an estimated 1,900 students around the state, beginning this fall. The target audience for the Electronic Classroom is typical of many Virtual Charters:

• Children with disabilities that make regular school attendance difficult or impossible;
• Teenagers in youth detention centers;
• Senior citizens seeking to pass high school equivalency exams; and
• Ohio's 60,000 home-schooled children.