Education Reform Briefs

From the Association of American Educators (AAE), 6/12/97

Independent Education Associations

Over 300,000 teachers now hold membership in twenty independent state associations and/or in the three non-union national groups -- the AAE, the National Association of Professional Educators (NAPE), and Christian Educators Association International (CEAI).

AAE asks, "What is the message that most independent groups want our national leaders to hear? Namely that public education will be improved if:

• we always remember that our first duty is to the child;
• we aim to develop a young person's character as well as his or her intellect;
• our schools are free from strikes or any other work stoppage tactics or coercive threats;
• educators are free from all forms of compulsory membership and are not forced to join or otherwise pay dues or fees to a labor union in order to teach or hold membership in a local or state association; and
• the public schools and their administration, instructional services, and curriculum are under the control of and accountable only to the parents, citizens, and taxpayers of the local communities they serve."

From the American Association of School Administrators, 6/3/97

Highlights from First Year Report on Charter Schools

Highlights from a charter school study conducted by RPP International and the Univ. of Minnesota include the following:

• The study includes the first definitive survey of all charter schools, including 90% of all schools in operation as of 1995-96.
• Charter schools are extremely diverse because of state and local factors.
• States play a primary role in defining the possibilities and approaches of charter schools.
• Most charter schools are small.
• Charter school developers say charters afford them an opportunity to pursue educational goals that they felt they could accomplish more effectively with fewer restrictions and stable financial support.
• New charter schools face challenges including start-up costs, creating time for planning, cash flow constraints, and attracting students and staff.

From the National Association for Secondary School Principals (NASSP), 6/11/97

Ethnic Diversity

A new reference book, The Ethnic Cultures of America, has been released. According to NASSP, it presents information in a non-encyclopedic, easy-to-use, concise format that offers ethnic cultural information delineating what is needed for effective teaching, reference, and educational administration in today's multicultural and ethnically diverse America.

Sample information includes the following:

• Muslims now outnumber Episcopalians and within the decade of the 1990s they will outnumber Presbyterians and will eventually outnumber the nation's six million Jews.
• Asian-Americans are a diverse group. For example, over 95% of people of Japanese ancestry are Buddhist, while 90% of people of Filipino ancestry are Roman Catholic.

From the American Federation of Teachers, Week of 6/9/97

AFT's Opposition to Vouchers

Quoted from "Inside AFT":

In her first address to the entire AFT national staff, AFT president Sandra Feldman last week in Washington, D.C., spoke with urgency and hopefulness about the many problems facing the union. Premier among them, Feldman said, is vouchers. "Call them what you will &endash; opportunity scholarships, choice programs &endash; they all amount to the most serious attack on the institution of public education ever." Feldman warned that attacks on agency fees and all forms of privatization also threaten the union, noting that the only way to beat back such attempts is to provide quality across the board. Feldman also criticized "social promotion" in the early grades, saying, "We're going to get it right from the start."

From the Council of Chief State School Officers, 6/10/97

4th Grade Performance in International Science and Mathematics Report

Sixteen percent of American 4th graders score in the top tenth percentile for the world in science and nine percent of U.S. students score in the top tenth percentile in mathematics.

The results for 4th grade students are better than previously released results for American 8th graders. Hopefully, as these students move up, challenged by stronger standards, the nation will see better 8th grade results in four years.

The key is to sharpen the standards, curriculum and professional practices and make them coherent across the grades. States are moving that way and this gives promise of improved achievement ahead.

From the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, 6/12/97

Reconciliation Bill Reported to Budget Committee

Budget legislation designed to help American families, college students and workers by: helping people move from welfare into the workforce, protecting student loan programs; and helping millions of uninsured workers provide health insurance coverage to their families, was reported to the House Budget Committee from the House Education and the Workforce Committee as part of the Budget Reconciliation package for fiscal year 1998.

The Budget Resolution will achieve savings of up to $1.763 billion over the next five years by reforming the guaranteed and direct student loan programs to make them more efficient.

From the American Association of School Administrators, 6/10/97

More on 4th Grade Test Results

...Meanwhile, the First in the World Consortium, a group of 20 Illinois school districts that scored as well or better than every nation but Singapore on the 8th grade TIMSS (Third International Mathematics and Science Study), continues to use the international test as a focus for professional development, applying research and developing partnerships for educational improvement.

From the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, 6/12/97

Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act Amendments of 1997

The Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed H.R. 1853 the "Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act Amendments of 1997."

H.R. 1853, authored by Frank Riggs (R-CA), works to strengthen academics, broaden opportunities after high school and drive dollars to local communities. The bill authorizes $1.3 billion for 1998, with much of the funds going for State block grants for vocational education programs.

From the National PTA, 6/12/97

Virtual Convention

The National PTA will present cybercasts from its 101st annual convention, June 18-21, in Kansas City, Missouri. Starting June 19th, keynote speeches, reports on National PTA activities, and addresses from National PTA leaders will be available in the Virtual Convention area on their website.

From the National Center for Policy Analysis, 6/5/97

Firing Line Debate on School Vouchers

A Firing Line Debate on the topic "Resolved: Government Should Not Discriminate Against Private Schools" was taped June 9 at Texas Christian University.

The debate, and two 30 minute programs on the same topic, will be broadcast on PBS affiliates around the country on June 20, 1997.

From the Electronic Education Excellence Network (Thomas B. Fordham Fdtn.), 6/3/97

Teachers, Curriculum, Pedagogy

EEEN correspondent Matt Buchler of Holland, Michigan writes, "The public schools are still suffering from a warped version of Deweyism....Almost twenty years ago Project Follow Through &endash; the largest, most expensive experiment ever conducted on pedagogy &endash; proved with statistical significance that teachers who come to class with well developed lesson plans who instruct, study, test, and remediate are the most successful teachers in the business.

Until public schools break the stranglehold schools of education have on the philosophy, or lack thereof, of K-12 education, American students will continue to leave high school with plenty of self-esteem and very little knowledge.

From the Education Reporter Page -- The Phyllis Schlafly Report, June 1997

K-III Communications Buys Captive Audience

Roughly 8,100,000 schoolchildren are required by their school officials to watch at least two minutes a day of television commercials on the daily 12-minute TV program called Channel One.

Sociology professor William Hoynes of Vassar College, and media expert Mark Crispin Miller of Johns Hopkins Univ. conducted two critical studies of Channel One. Their research revealed that Channel One's "real function is not journalistic but commercial."

Education organizations including the National Assn. of Elementary School Principals, the National Assn. of Secondary School Principals, the National Assn. of State Boards of Education, and the National PTA are opposed to Channel One.

From the Family Research Council, 6/13/97

Charter Schools

The U.S. Department of Education recently released its first-ever report on charter public schools, the first in a four-year study. It shows that nearly half the students attending charter public schools are minority students.

The report finds that a lack of start-up resources poses the most common problem for charter public schools. Political resistance from teachers unions and school districts is also a significant barrier for a majority of preexistent schools which have converted to charter status (60 percent).

From the Bradenton Herald, 5/28/97

Economists Cite Education as Main Economic Problem

The National Association of Business Economists identified education more frequently than any other economic problem in a April/May 1997 survey of its members.

"That is clearly the most important issue in our members' minds," said NABE president Mark Dadd.

Dadd noted that a separate NABE survey recently found that 40% of members reported shortages of skilled workers.

From the National Education Association, 6/12/97

Plans for Annual Meeting

Prior to its 1997 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, scheduled for July 1-6, NEA will hold pre-annual meeting events including a Student Leadership Conference, Ethnic Leaders Meetings, PAC Meeting, NEA-Retired Annual Meeting, National council of Urban Education Assn. Meetings, and a Joint Conference on the Concerns of Minorities and Women. A Women's Issues Hearing will be held in conjunction with the Joint Conference on the Concerns of Minorities and Women.

The Annual Meeting, itself, will include such topical gatherings as "Bargaining Without a Law," Forum on Inclusion, and a Run for NEA-PAC.

From the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, 6/12/97

Teacher Unions: Helping or Hurting?

The Mackinac Center documents and clarifies some of its concerns with the attitudes and actions of the Michigan Education Assn., which it believes is not representative of many, possibly most, Michigan public school teachers.

Some of the topics included in the report follow:

• Teachers Disagree with MEA Policies and Activities
• MEA Hypocritical on Privatization
• MEA Demeans People of Faith
• MEA Wastes Public School Funds Defending Unqualified Teachers
• How Teachers Can Obtain a Dues Refund

From Forbes Magazine, 6/2/97

School Vouchers

Virginia Gilder, a New York City investor, has decided to invest up to $2,000 a year in school vouchers for 153 children from Giffen Memorial Elementary School in Albany, NY. Ms. Gilder determined that focusing on one school would provide more fairness by allowing each of the 458 eligible students the opportunity to leave this poorly performing public school. She said, "If four or five students fade out of a public school, nobody notices and it's easier for the school to go about its business as usual; but if a big bunch leaves, the message can't be ignored."

As the article develops, it discusses various other privately funded voucher programs, as well as some state government initiatives.

From the American Legislative Exchange Council, 5/28/97

Legislative Update on the Alternative Teacher Certification Act

Already enacted by Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Wyoming, this Act amends the state education code by granting the state/local board of trustees of a given school district the authority to certify as teachers and to employ as teachers persons who do not hold state issued teaching certificates. This legislation shall enable states to enact alternate certification programs for individuals who are qualified, experienced, and well-educated in a specific subject area, but who do not have an education degree.

Other states working on this Act include New York, Oklahoma, and Washington.

From the American Legislative Exchange Council, 5/28/97

Legislative Update on the Career Ladder Opportunities Act

Already enacted by Tennessee and Virginia, this bill recognizes the importance of rewarding educators who improve the quality/excellence of public education, by providing them compensation/incentives to further their careers. Educators who assume additional responsibilities shall be rewarded/compensated with increased pay, tuition assistance, sabbaticals, or other assistance. This Act emphasizes enthusiasm, merit, and progress.

Other states working on this Act include Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.

From the National Center for Policy Analysis, 6/12/97

Praise for Home Schooling

NCPA writes, "Teaching children at home is far more successful than sending them to public schools, according to a new study by the National Home Education Research Institute." They cite the following justifications for this praise:

• While by definition public school students average at the 50th percentile in standardized achievement tests, the home-taught have average scores between the 80th and 87th percentiles on every subject.
• While minorities vastly under perform white students in public schools, those minorities who are home-schooled (5% of total) equal their white counterparts in reading with an average 87th percentile score.