Despite all the hubbub and hand-wringing over the economy and the banking crisis, education reform has been getting a surprising amount of publicity. Supposedly our new Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, (formerly of the Chicago Public School District) is serious about moving the national education picture in a different direction. And US public schools definitely need some change we can believe in.
Acquiring a high school diploma is widely acknowledged to be the first, minimum step on the road to a middle-class lifestyle in this country. Logically then, one of our schools biggest indicators of success or failure would be the graduation rate. But according to Melinda Gates, whose foundation has done some substantial research in its drive to improve America's schools "Only 71 percent of kids graduate from high school within four years, and for minorities the numbers are even worse -- 58 percent for Hispanics and 55 percent for African Americans." That means that nearly 1/2 of all black students are probably consigned to the bottom rungs of the economic ladder and nearly 1/3 of all students will share the same fate. This in a country that spends more money on education (290 billion dollars) per student and as a percentage of GDP than any other nation in the world.
The first step in the assuredly byzantine march towards better schools would be to create a federal standardized testing regime, one that would replace our current state-by-state system. While the No Child Left Behind Act mandated educational testing for all children as a way to ensure that no single group was 'left behind' and to provide accountability in the form of quantitative statistics, each state was allowed to devise its own series of tests. This loophole in the law created a patchwork of different tests with different standards. Because under NCLB federal funds are allocated based on the test scores and schools scoring well receive additional funding, there is a tremendous incentive to make the tests as easy as possible. A standardized federal system of examination would eliminate this problem and provide policymakers with unbiased statistics with which to make adjustments.
Teachers often argue that an emphasis on standardized testing stifles creativity and forces them to "teach the test", leading to a daily classroom experience that is unsatisfying for both the educational professional and the students involved. While this can occur, it is generally the result of a poorly designed test. One need only look at the Advanced Placement program to see the effectiveness of a properly designed test. AP is one of the most successful educational initiatives in this country today, with rigorous standards and an ever increasing number of students choosing to take advantage of AP's accelerated learning environment. At the same time, AP's curriculum is also formulated by groups of college professors, centered entirely around one major, lengthy examination that occurs at the end of the year in May. A test that sets out clear goals with an emphasis on knowledge acquisition will almost always have a positive impact.
The good thing about this issue is that this country already has a test like this in place. The National Assessment for Educational Progress serves many of these functions, but its application is far from universal and its sobering stats are often brushed aside by state educators. Consider this: 24% of students are considered "proficient" in Civics education. 39% percent are considered "proficient" in math. 33% are considered "proficient" in reading. Haven't heard or read anything like this in your local paper? State test scores are generally 2-3 times higher (percentage wise) than these numbers, and the high scores are the ones that local political leaders and educators want you to see. Expanding the NAEP to a nationwide basis and eliminating misleading state tests would go a long way towards producing a nationwide conversation on reform that might actually lead somewhere.
Here's a suggestion for our leadership: stop talking about vouchers and privatization, and work towards improving our PUBLIC schools. No one in America wants to see the end of public education, and it's time to start offering solutions in an area that has traditionally been a Democratic stronghold but ranks as one of the most important issues year after year in polling data. Even after passing NCLB, with all its flaws, Bush's approval ratings were sky-high. Imagine what we can do if Republicans achieve a truly effective educational reform policy.
Teachers often argue that an emphasis on standardized testing stifles creativity and forces them to "teach the test", leading to a daily classroom experience that is unsatisfying for both the educational professional and the students involved. While this can occur, it is generally the result of a poorly designed test. One need only look at the Advanced Placement program to see the effectiveness of a properly designed test. AP is one of the most successful educational initiatives in this country today, with rigorous standards and an ever increasing number of students choosing to take advantage of AP's accelerated learning environment. At the same time, AP's curriculum is also formulated by groups of college professors, centered entirely around one major, lengthy examination that occurs at the end of the year in May. A test that sets out clear goals with an emphasis on knowledge acquisition will almost always have a positive impact.
The good thing about this issue is that this country already has a test like this in place. The National Assessment for Educational Progress serves many of these functions, but its application is far from universal and its sobering stats are often brushed aside by state educators. Consider this: 24% of students are considered "proficient" in Civics education. 39% percent are considered "proficient" in math. 33% are considered "proficient" in reading. Haven't heard or read anything like this in your local paper? State test scores are generally 2-3 times higher (percentage wise) than these numbers, and the high scores are the ones that local political leaders and educators want you to see. Expanding the NAEP to a nationwide basis and eliminating misleading state tests would go a long way towards producing a nationwide conversation on reform that might actually lead somewhere.
Here's a suggestion for our leadership: stop talking about vouchers and privatization, and work towards improving our PUBLIC schools. No one in America wants to see the end of public education, and it's time to start offering solutions in an area that has traditionally been a Democratic stronghold but ranks as one of the most important issues year after year in polling data. Even after passing NCLB, with all its flaws, Bush's approval ratings were sky-high. Imagine what we can do if Republicans achieve a truly effective educational reform policy.
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