Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Is It Time to End Neighborhood School Policy?

                The national attention school districts across the country are receiving for their proposed plans to reduce staff, close and consolidate buildings, cut transportation, cut art and music programs, and end full-day pre-kindergarten, has parents wondering how will these proposed plans will impact their children’s education? 

                Families living in poor performing districts where proposed reductions will have the greatest impact have increased anxiety for their children’s education.  Examples of this anxiety can be witnessed in the infamous case of Tanya McDowell and the lesser known case of Kelley Williams-Bolar.  Both women who lived in poor performing districts have been convicted for falsifying residency documents in order for their children to attend school in a better district.

                The practice for some families to use the address of family members who reside in better performing districts has been occurring for decades, with the recession severely impacting district allocations, districts have begun to crack down harder on non-residents who are mostly minorities who live in poorer neighborhoods with failing schools.  Recognizing the potential of an influx of students from poor performing districts in a recession economy the McDowell and Williams-Bolar cases were decisions made to discourage parents from enrolling children who would be taking away resources from children who are legal residents.  However, the cases have also brought the attention to the ongoing disparity among districts and what desperate parents would do to ensure their children get a proper education.

                With state governments encouraging districts to think out of the box concerning how to educate children with fewer resources, Sam Chaltain argues that something drastic needs to be done.  Chaltain claims that access to the American Dream is being denied to some students based on their zip code[i].  Using legal arguments from the 1954 landmark Supreme Court Brown v Board of Education case and the lesser known 1973 Supreme Court case San Antonio v Rodriguez case, Chaltain argued:
 
                                “that the state’s tolerance of the wide disparity in school resources

..many which were determined by the value of property taxes-

violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment[ii]

As the disparity widens, it may be time to take bold steps to close the achievement gap by removing residential boundaries and allow students to attend school in any district. 
 
                There are a number of students who cross residential boundaries daily to attend school.  These students attend private, parochial, and charter schools.  States should consider in the voucher debate the use of vouchers for students to attend schools in neighboring districts.  States should also consider require districts to hold a lottery to take out of districts students as part of increasing educational equity and diversity.  It is ideas such as these that will ensure that a zip code doesn’t determine a child’s access to the American Dream.






[i] Chaltain, Sam (5/23/11). Your Education is Not an Equal Opportunity. www.cnn.com
[ii] ibid

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Do Kids Need A Summer Break?

                Last week (5/12/11), there was an interesting article by LZ Granderson entitled “We Need Year-Round School to Complete Globally.”  Granderson argues that while US students continue to fall behind globally in reading, math and science, our countries attitude is not reflective of the seriousness of the continuous decline.

                Granderson cites a 2009 report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to support his argument for year-round school.  The report which occurs every three years assesses students (age 15) in 34 nations in math and science.  Currently US students age 15 rank 14th in reading, 17th in science, and 25th in math.  The reports estimates that if US scores increased in reading, math, and science increased by 20 points over the next 20 years, the US economy would gain $41 trillion dollars over the lifetime of the generation born in 2010[i].  The data also showed that even though US students have fallen behind, their perception of their academic skills is higher than students in other countries.  Granderson believes the students high perception of their academic skills is due to praise given for mediocre work.  It is for these reasons Granderson argues that our country needs to consider converting to year-round schooling.

                On average, US students have a shorter school year (180 days) than students in countries such as Korea (220 days, ranks # 2 in math) and Finland (190 days, ranks # 1in math and science).  Having such a lengthy summer break, Granderson argues students, especially low income students’ are losing the academic knowledge acquired during the school year.  Citing the research of a summer-learning expert, Granderson claims that over the past century:

                                “each summer, our kids lose about a month of progress

                                in math and low income students lose as month as three

                                months worth of reading comprehension[ii]

 Granderson reminds the readers the primary reason for summer break was for youth to help their family in the fields during growing season.  Since farming is less prevalent in a global economy, and more people live in cities than rural areas, US students are at home watching tv, playing video games, and losing valuable instruction time that could keep them competitive in the global market.

                There are a number of districts, both large and small that have converted to year-round schools.  While Granderson did not discuss or provide data on districts currently operating year-round schools, he argues:

                                “The world is getting smaller, the world is getting smarter and

                                if you look around you’ll see when it comes to education, we’re

                                no longer basking in the glow of superiority…We are wallowing

                                in mediocrity.  And our kids don’t even know it[iii].

With the economy still in recovery and some economist claiming that by 2016 China will over take the US as the leader of the global economy, our educational system is the main impetus to ensure the US remains the leader of the global economy.  Our nation must understand that students who receive poor to mediocre education present a threat to democracy, national security, and future economic leadership.





[i] www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/10/granderson.yearround.school
[ii] ibid
[iii] ibid


Saturday, May 14, 2011

Should School Districts Go To A Four-Day School Week?

                School Districts across the country are trying to find ways to fill gaps in their budgets from loss State allocations and the end of Federal Stimulus dollars.  Many of the strategies that are being considered or implemented are: 1) school closures and consolidation, 2) staff layoffs, 3) cuts to extracurricular activities, and 4) reduction in transportation.  However, one school district has gained national attention for considering a different strategy.

                The Coatesville School District in Pennsylvania is considering going to a four-day school week in order to prevent budget cuts and staff layoffs.  While the idea of a four-day school week is not new, the eyes of the nation are watching the Coatesville School District.  If Coatesville decides to approve a four-day school week and the change provides minimal or neutral academic gains, other school districts may follow their lead.

The Coatesville plan is to lengthen the school day by 80 minutes for elementary schools and 45 minutes for middle and high schools.  This would allow the district to utilize the exception to the Pennsylvania School Code which allows a district to measure a student’s time in class by hours instead of days[i].  While this would provide logistical problems for students involved in extracurricular activities, parents plans on what to do with children on off days, and will schools be able to provide enough instruction in four days.  However, Coatesville can look for guidance from over 125 school districts that are currently operating on a four-day school week. 

             There are many advantages to having a four day school week.  First is the savings gained from having unused buildings and buses.  Districts are able to reduce the costs of utilities, fuel, and payroll for non-instructional staff[ii].  Second, is the reduction of teacher burnout and staff turnover.  A four-day school week would also provide teachers the opportunity to recover from the demands of teaching.  Teachers would  be able to have more time to develop lesson plans, grade papers, spend time with their family, and they may remain in the field.

Lastly a four-day week could be beneficial to students who work or are looking for work.  A four-day school week would give students the opportunity to make more money and make them attractive to employers.  Due to the economic recession, many students are having to contribute to the household expenses or pay for their personal expenses to alleviate further strain to the household income.  Additionally, a four-day school week would also give students more time to work on their academic assignments.

           The disadvantages of a four-day school week mainly create concerns for parents.  Concerns such as making arrangements and paying for child care for younger children, how to prevent older children from becoming involved in high risk behavior s, and how to make sure children are learning and retaining the academic information needed to be promoted or graduate.

         The concept of a four-day school week could work for a small district like Coatesville, because a majority of the 125 districts utilizing a four-day school week are small.  There is not data that a larger district would be able to transition to a four-day school week due to the size of staff and student enrollment.



[i] McLaughin, Danielle (4/19/2011).  Schools Consider 4-Day Week (www.msnbc.com)
[ii] Hardy, Dan & Lu, Adrienne (5/5/2011).  Two Pennsylvania School Districts Weigh Four-Day Week (www.philly.com)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Teacher Appreciation Week

                This week is Teacher Appreciation Week.  This week is dedicated to celebrating the teaching profession, highlighting the vital role teachers play in shaping the lives of youth, and providing the public the opportunity to express their appreciation and gratitude to the teachers who played an important role in their lives.
                Unfortunately, when Teacher Appreciation Week is over, teachers will go back to being underpaid, underappreciated, overly scrutinized, and mostly likely laid off.  Not since the start of the 20th century when the educational system was transformed from an agrarian to an industrial system have teachers and the teaching profession received so much negative attention (see David Tyack 2005, The One Best System).

                With all the negative attention teachers and the teaching profession has been receiving, lost in the discourse is that teachers are more than just teachers.  Teachers are parents who have children and have the same concerns about the education of their children, they are husbands/wives who work late grading papers, creating lesson plans, and sponsors for student clubs, and they are highly educated professionals who chose a career in teaching knowing they will underpaid and undervalued.  Teachers also understand they will bear the brunt of the blame for problems plaguing education.

                Compared to other countries, teachers are a highly valued commodity.  In China teachers are considered Nation Builders and in Sweden and Germany teachers are viewed as an integral part of National Security.  In the US, teachers are “just teachers.”  It is no surprise that the US is trailing the aforementioned countries in educational categories such as math and science. 
                It is time our country begins to value teachers the same way as other countries.  Our country needs to understand that other countries are using teachers to build the next generation of competitors to compete against the US in the global economy. 

Other countries heavily invest in teachers, the US has not.  Other countries have adjusted their teacher pedagogy to reflect the needs of a global economy.  The US has not clearly defined teacher pedagogy in a global economy.  Lastly, other countries compensate their teachers in a manner that demonstrates their value to the country.  Other countries do not appear to have the same teacher turnover or vacancies as in the US.

                As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, contact your State and Federal representatives and ask them to vote against teacher layoffs and invest in teachers.  Remind them that teachers are a crucial component to a successful educational system and remind them that teachers placed us on the path to being productive citizens because they inspired and empowered us to pursue our dreams.  Lastly, honor teachers by sharing with your child(ren) stories about your favorite teacher(s) and the impact they had on your life.

For all the teachers who have made a difference in our lives by motivating, challenging, and believing in us.  THANK YOU!