Change.org's Education Blog

California Raises Tuition Fees By 32%, Students Occupy Buildings to Protest

Mike Smith — 2009-11-20T11:20:00-08:00

California has been forced to raise tuition fees by almost a third to close a widening budget gap. Facing a $1.2 billion deficit, higher fees are required to mitigate a loss of funding. Fees will gradually rise of the coming years, with students facing a heavier burden as they progress. The president of the University of California system explained to the WSJ that the drastic measure "is designed to provide access, maintain quality and stabilize the fiscal health of the university." He further believes low income students will be hardly effected by the changes.

Students aren't so convinced. And they aren't taking the risk of ever rising fees lying down. They have occupied university building to protest. That dozens of students were arrested indicates that this isn't a minor issue, but one that goes to the heart of further education in America: how much students should be expected to pay and when high-fees become too expensive and start becoming exclusionary. The New York Times proposes that students take a semester off in order to save money, saving their parents money, and allow themselves to gain to valuable experience of the working world. But once students do go back to college, if they think it's worth it, they'll feel the full force of the higher fees. A holiday won't solve this problem.

Photo: Epioles

Universal Education is an Investment in Our Future

Mike Smith — 2009-11-19T15:54:00-08:00

This is a guest-post from the Education & Gender Equality team at UNICEF.

Question: What do the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Convention of the Rights of the Child have in common? Answer: They both celebrate 20 years this November 2009.

The Convention on the Right of the Child is slowly reaching its majority. Since the adoption of the Convention in 1989, many things in the world have changed, the Berlin wall fell as did child mortality in many places around the world. The Convention has supported measurable advances in child survival and development, raised awareness of and expanded solutions to child protection risks and promoted child participation as a fundamental right of children.

Despite great advances, young people today face increasing challenges that require them to be more creative, adaptable and resilient than ever before. Poverty, climate change, conflicts and natural disasters, along with the economic crisis, call for more sustainable solutions. In 2007, 101 million children of primary school age – 53 million girls and 48 million boys – were not attending school. Universal primary education is a particular challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where 46 million children were out of school in 2007, and South Asia, with 35 million out of school that same year. Education is thus the key to solving many of the problems of the global community. A relevant, quality education will ensure that these children become individuals who reach their full potential.

In today’s increasingly interdependent world our economies are as connected as our people. What happens in one part of our planet, has repercussions on us all. One of the cornerstones of the Convention is the right to education. Granting young people across the globe the best possible education is not only a moral obligation, it is an investment in our collective future. UNICEF puts the rights of the child into practice through its child-friendly school (CFS) model. This approach is not simply about implementing small education projects but ensuring that change happens at the national level. This approach is about tackling the challenges of outdated teaching techniques, irrelevant curricula, overcrowded classrooms and scarce resources. At the core of this approach is child participation and transforming our education systems to create sustainable opportunities for our future generations.

The main principle of a child-friendly school is a simple one at heart: schools should operate in the best interests of the child. Schools and learning spaces must be safe, healthy and protective, endowed with trained teachers and adequate resources conducive to learning. They should be places where children feel all their needs are being met. In a child-friendly school, a child has a chance to get vaccinated, eat a nourishing lunch and be taught important life skills to protect themselves from diseases such as HIV and AIDS.If we fail to provide children with quality education, we fail ourselves. The cost of giving a child an education is far less than dealing with the consequences of ignorance.

Join us in supporting the Convention on the Right of the Child. UNICEF invites you to visit a special CRC website dedicated to this occasion: www.unicef.org/girlseducation/index_focus_schools.html

Photo: © UNICEF/NYHQ2006-2268/Pirozzi

Too Many Teachers, Not Enough Money, 125,000 Positions Cut

Mike Smith — 2009-11-16T19:13:00-08:00

Recently, America lacked teachers and many feared that it didn't have enough. But thanks to the economy we aren't going to run out of educators any time soon. America is now experiencing a teacher glut. It's not just that we trained too many teachers, but also that the economy is causing schools to slash the number of positions, reports the AP. And not just a few positions have been lost, but a whole 125,000. That's half the number of the positions that the Obama administration has claimed to have created and saved through stimulus investment.

Many teachers who planned to retire are staying on to work longer, and many people laid off from other fields are trying their luck as teachers, boosting numbers. One Texas school district reported 5,000 applicants for 322 positions. Only in Math is there a lack of teachers, as demand for teachers in all other 60 subjects has declined. Recently qualified teachers will have begun their training expecting a wide range of schools to pick from on completion of their training, but many in the teaching community are now suggesting that new teachers need to be more flexible about where they're willing to work.

Photo credit: Wonderlane

Rules for Huge "Race to the Top" Education Grants Released

Mike Smith — 2009-11-12T17:21:00-08:00

Following consternation and criticism about plans to reform education through a contest to win "Race To The Top" funds, the Obama administration has added flexibility to the final rules for the contest, drawing praise from those initially critical. That's the New York Times' take at least.

But Rahm Emmanuel suggests little has changed: “Even after all the comments, the rules are as comprehensive and demanding as before, they haven’t changed.” Jim Horn at Schools Matter has found himself agreeing with Obama's Chief of Staff that little has changed, but he says "we find that none of the corporate reformer priorities has changed."

Education Week explain that in order for states to receive a slice of $4.35 billion, they will have to develop plans to evaluate teachers based on student performance, though plans have been altered so that this is only one of the ways that teachers are evaluated. The President of the National Education Association quietened his criticism of Race to the Top, explaining that this change presents a “solid reaffirmation of our belief that a student, like a teacher, is more than a test score." Arne Duncan has followed Rahm Emmanuel's harsh tone by explaining that "There will be a lot more losers than winners." He's talking about the states, but I fear that for states that dislike these reforms or for states that miss out, the real losers will be the students.

Photo credit: Sizumaru

Arizona Charter School with Ivy League Teachers is Big Success

Mike Smith — 2009-11-11T11:09:00-08:00

The BASIS school in Scottsdale Arizona is propelling students to achieve far being their grade level. By the time they reach 8th grade they are permitted to take Advanced Placement exams, which test high-school students at a college level reports the Economist. And by the time the students reach 9th grade, all students must take the advanced test.

Michael Block and his wife Olga were so frustrated by the low-standard of schooling, and low-expectations, that they started the BASIS school, out in the desert. Their success sees students achieve at grade levels two years ahead of Arizona and California schools and one year ahead of East Coast schools. Setting up the charter school wasn't easy, and they mustn't charge tuition fees or select the best students. Instead, they say, they find the best, IVY League trained teachers and give them autonomy in the classroom. And it's causing the schools to regularly place at the top of national surveys. The effect is so impressive that a former boss of Intel, after sitting in on a chemistry class, donated $500,000 as bonuses to the teachers.

Photo credit: PhillipC

A Soldier's Perspective Helps Educate Under-Achievers

Mike Smith — 2009-11-10T03:50:00-08:00

Martha Kinney explains how decades of military training worked well for her outside of the military, finding it of great use as a teacher at a community college. She explains that understanding military training has helped her "to mold nascent scholars out of the under-performing, ill-prepared students who frequently show up in my community college classroom." She makes an extra effort to fully communicate exactly what her expectations are, showing what success looks like by performing the tasks in front of them.

Kinney is also fond of checklists, and the "Crawl, walk, run" method of moving through steps slowly, then gradually, as soldiers / scholars gain confidence and ability, allowing them to be increasingly independent, and increasingly speed up. This is especially useful for under-achievers who can go at their own pace, and over-achievers who can quickly progressing whilst still being thoroughly drilled with the fundamentals. Martha Kinney has also maintained a constant evaluation of training effectiveness from her Army days — evaluating her own performance alongside that of her students. This methodical approach shows just how important it is to have variety in our classrooms, with teachers bringing in a wide side of diverse skills and sharing them. From Navy Seals to ex-cops, there are lots of success stories.

Photo credit: US Army

After Bedtime Books, Could Morning Math Be Next Education Success?

Mike Smith — 2009-11-09T13:28:00-08:00

An intriguing idea to improve math skills among children needn't come from advances in modern technology, or from hundred-billion dollar reform. It can instead come from home. Lisa Guernsey, the director of the early education initiative at the non-profit New America Foundation (and a mom), explained to the Washington Post: "If bedtime is book time, let's make morning time for math."

Math scores are stagnating, but Lisa Guernsey believes parents can make a significant difference by simply including math in a morning routine: "Ask your 8-year-old to pour the juice so that the glasses are 75 percent full. Aha. A good opening for a chat about fractions," she explains. It should be obvious that engaging parents leads to improved success, but exactly how this can be best accomplished hasn't been so clear. Engaging students in the morning could significantly improve a huge numbers of kids' math.

At an early age my parents, both teachers, gave me additional math work-books to work through, eventually moving me up to many years above my grade-level. I enjoyed plowing through the books, and even insisted on taking them on holiday. I didn't take to math in college, but all my life this ability at arithmetic served me well, it made understanding other subjects a breeze, and gave me a huge confidence boost. But of course, that isn't just an indication that math skills were natural to me, but that something else had taught me to pay attention and be able to repress distractions and focus; that might be where the arts come in.

Photo credit: Sam Crockett

New Ed Tech Director Appointed, But is She too Close to Business?

Mike Smith — 2009-11-06T09:42:00-08:00

Educational technology has a new leader, coming from one of the most well respected, and education-fond corporations out there. Following months of rumor and anticipation is has been announced that former Apple executive Karen Cator will lead education technology initiatives at the Department of Eduction.

She outlined here philosophy by explaining "We need to craft an entirely new research agenda around this issue so people can’t write that technology doesn’t work. We know it works...but we need to get good at saying and articulating what exactly technology can do” reports EdWeek. Cator used to be a teacher, and was formerly technology director in Alaska, but some critics fear that she isn't so concerned with skills, but most interested in inserting the concerns of business into schools.

Off to a quick start, the Department of Edcuation is asking for your help to update the National Technology Plan, and what direction it should take under the leadership of Karen Cator. Submit you suggestions: "What would you like to see considered in the National Educational Technology Plan?"

Photo credit: Extra Ketchup

Let Kids Run the Banks To Educate Them for the 21st Century

Mike Smith — 2009-11-05T17:08:00-08:00

Educating children is changing. It must change. Computing literacy and learning about the digital world is crucial, but kids also need to be geared to be literate in solving problems, thinking creatively and collaborating. Arithmatic, reading and writing are no longer sufficient skills for the US to able to compete globally. New Hampshire Public Radio explain how schools are preparing their students for the 21st century by building these skills, partnering with multinational corporations and local business to develop a new modern curricula.

The curricula of The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is being implemented in 14 schools. They've determined that most schools and policy makers are too focused on an old model: mastery of four core subjects. They think that's not enough for success: global competence, civic engagement and financial literacy are now just as important.

It's done in math by teaching the subject in a wider context - linking it to business practices and giving students more basic financial skills. Partnerships are made with credit unions, and students have in some schools then set up their own branches to understand marketing, finance, and in turn teaching younger schools by operating a bank-in-school program for middle and elementary schools. These skills are crucial, and can be easily layered on top of currents subjects to create a more rounded, specific, and engaging curricula, so a students will never ask "Why am I being taught this, it'll never be any use."

Photo credit: Pfala

American School Boards – Abolish or Improve?

Anne Foster — 2009-11-04T13:32:00-08:00

Public schools in the United States continue to be governed by appointed or elected school boards – except in cases of takeovers and charter schools that report directly to states. But some seem to be asking if school boards are relevant in today’s world. Often there is no mention of them in national conversation about school reform. Other times, there is prominent mention of them in the headlines because of bad governing skills and just plain bad behavior. And yet school boards continue to set policy, to hire and fire superintendents, and to manage huge amounts of taxpayer money. Can we really afford to ignore them? How can we insure effective school boards?

For starters, public schools belong to the public. The public either elects their school board members or elects a Mayor who appoints them. Either way, school boards represent their communities in the oversight of their schools. In this way, the local school board remains the heart of the democratic process and possibly the purest form of public service. Local communities should continue to have the right to govern their own schools – to lose that would be to lose public support for public schools.

School board members should spend time out in the community talking with parents and citizens about their dreams for their children and the kind of schools they want. In spite of all the challenges facing schools today, school boards should try to deliver on those dreams. The first way to deliver is to make sure the right superintendent is in place. Then school boards must insure proper roles and let the superintendent run the school district. Micro-managing should not be tolerated by either other board members or by the community. School boards can create a culture among themselves that doesn’t tolerate inappropriate behavior by individual members. School board members have to understand that regardless of their individual professional expertise, their role is to oversee the superintendent, whose role it is to run the day-to-day operations.

It is true that school board members come with varying degrees of knowledge about education issues. But they can do their homework in order to stay abreast of policy, legal, and financial issues, while relying on professional educators for their opinions and recommendations. They should also take advantage of state and national school board training hours and should get more than the minimum legal requirements. They should communicate effectively with the superintendent, the public, and each other. They should set measurable goals for staff and then hold them accountable for those goals. They should take public input on policy and listen to the community – then try to reach consensus on what best serves the schools.

School board members must be the prime advocates for public education in their communities. They should speak to Rotary Clubs, homeowner associations, civic clubs, and other groups to explain the challenges, issues, and accomplishments of public schools – all the while challenging them to support public education. They must continually remind citizens about the benefits of quality public schools – a better workforce, a stronger economy, more appreciation for the arts and humanities, better citizens and voters, and a community that draws people to want to live there.

School boards should respect each other even while disagreeing, because after all – the same process put each of them in that position. They may be individuals with different opinions, but they should wrestle the issues and come together for the sake of students, teachers, and schools. Shame on people who serve on school boards for all the wrong reasons and who make it all about their personal agenda. But while some school boards’ antics make us shudder and are enough to make us sometimes want to abolish school boards, I have seen no system I would want to replace them with. The solution is to work towards school boards that represent the best of our communities and who will be champions for America’s children and her noble plan to provide quality public education.

Time for a disclaimer now … I was a school board member for nine years in an urban/suburban school district in Texas that had 35,000 students, changing demographics, shrinking financial resources, and increased state and federal accountability measures that were often in conflict with each other Sound like disaster? It wasn’t, and the reason it wasn’t is the recipe given here for an effective school board. My fellow school board members learned our lessons together. This is not a simple recipe, and it takes time, commitment, and an unwavering belief that all children deserve a quality public education.

Leaving school boards out of the education reform conversation is not a good idea. They still govern our schools districts and should be fully engaged in the education reform dialogue. Citizens should make sure they have school boards that reflect the quality they want to see in their schools – even if it means they offer themselves to serve on their school board!

Photo credit: Matt McGee

Arts Focused Education is Essential to Develop Attention, Cognition, Self-Control Skills

Mike Smith — 2009-11-03T13:17:00-08:00

We're constantly hearing about how poor math and science education is — poor results, falling behind the rest of the world, not producing enough scientists who can help us compete on the world stage and, most importantly, become the next generation of astronauts. But travels to Mars aside, all this talk draws our attention away from the role art plays in education.

Michael Posner and Brenda Patoine don't believe art's effects are solely calming or inspirational, they argue that art training improves cognition, and strengthens the brain's attention networks. As we learned recently it's the ability to pay attention, avoid distraction and demonstrate self-control (so called "executive attention networks") that are crucial to a student's potential for future academic success, necessitating the need for role-play at young age to develop young brains. So if there's any substance to Posner and Patoine's claims, we must take seriously and expand drama and art training. No wonder the Greeks were so smart.

Posner and Patoine contend that their neuroscientific claim isn't actually all that controversial "within the context of what we call activity-dependent plasticity, a basic tenet of brain function." Solid data is increasingly emerging, and its results may lead to the conclusion that more than anything, children need balance in their curricula. Drilling them with math-tests and spelling bees may help improve test-scores and look good to parents and politicians, but making them better rounded human-beings, able to pay attention and demonstrate a high-level of sustained cognition, isn't so respected — that is a fact that I can't get my head around.

Photo Credit: BarelyFitz

Michelle Rhee Skirts the Law, Lays off Teachers

Mike Smith — 2009-11-02T09:14:00-08:00

Michelle Rhee is again causing controversy in D.C., "skirting the law by deciding unilaterally to lay off teachers and staff," reports the Washington Post. It was either do this or trim summer school programs — $9 million dollars needed to be saved from the budget. It's a decision that is leading to a lawsuit and has already seen protesters out in the street.

Rhee choose to ignore a council directive to cut summer school initiatives, coming up against a potential mayoral contenders for next year, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray. He's shocked by her decision, explaining "Why bother to have a legislative body if the people in the executive branch do whatever they choose because they don't like the decision of the legislative body?" Chancellor Rhee is making some progress in terms of test scores and enrollment, but she simply explained "Change is hard," when testifying under oath.

There's a clear theme and philosophy that I see between this news and an Atlantic profile a year ago: Rhee's contention that she's making the changes that schoolchildren need, choosing to represent their interests rather that interests and wants of adults. Improving test scores and enrollment demonstrates progress, but at what cost?

Photo credit: Angela N

Bill Gates: The Real Secretary of Education?

Mike Smith — 2009-10-30T11:18:00-07:00

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are well known for their work funding a wide variety of global health and agricultural programs, but what might be less well known is their work supporting U.S. education. Last year, Gates agreed to give 15 states $250,000 with which they could prepare fantastic grant proposals that would help them wow states into giving them federal stimulus money. Some states were left out of the bounty, which would make them less likely to receive Race to The Top Funds. Last month, Gates agreed to fund all states as long they agreed to the Foundation's reform-minded checklist.

But it's not just occasional proposal-minded grants that the Gates foundation distributes, but around $200 million annually to improve public schools. The Foundation have had such success that Education Secretary Arne Duncan appointed two of his team from the Foundation.

Some ponder whether Gates' influence on states, — forcing them to sign up to his foundation's reform minded agenda — makes him "The Real Secretary of Education," and by moving from education investment to investing in shaping education policy, he's cetainly cosying up to the Obama administration. For those supporting Duncan's measures, the Gates Foundation is a good ally to have onside. Those opposed will be wondering whether it's appropriate for a private foundation to working so closely with the government — especially since, as a private foundation, the Gates Foundation doesn't have to disclose how it spends its money.

Photo credit: UN Photo/Ryan Brow

Sesame Street, Einstein, Disney and How Young is Too Young to Teach?

Mike Smith — 2009-10-29T12:03:00-07:00

Forty years ago, on November 10, 1969, the first episode of Sesame Street was broadcast — "televised preschool" created by educators, experts in child development and officials at the Carnegie and Ford foundations. It was often close to controversy with everyone from feminists to conservatives complaining about certain aspects. Someone from the BBC even went as far as calling it 'a form of 'indoctrination' with 'authoritarian aims'," reports Reason Magazine. They contrast Sesame Street's success and popularity with the recent Baby Einstein "educational" DVDS, summing up that they'd be better known as "Baby Warhol."

There of course has been a backlash against Disney's Baby Einstein DVDs, with refunds now being offered. President Bush backed the maker of the DVDs but pediatricians explained that kids shouldn't be watching TV at all at such a young age (0-2). Indeed some fear it may in fact be harmful for under-2s to watch any television. Disney is now refunding money on its DVDs with the "tacit admission that they did not increase infant intellect." Making false claims of genius doesn't help parents make informed choices about when is a good time to begin education, especially not when it goes against the commonsense to keep very young children away from television. Meanwhile, Kid TV watching is at an all-time high!

Photo credit: Eugenia_y_Julian

Bronx Principal Juked The Stats For Bonus

Mike Smith — 2009-10-28T18:41:00-07:00

A high-school principal in the Bronx who was given a $25,000 bonus to turn around a failing school changed students' grades and turned the school in a "diploma mill". Teachers have accused the principal of passing students who failed, and giving student two credits for a class that only deserved one. Changing grades wouldn't usually cause such outrage, when it's done for the right reason, but many students passed through the school without doing the extra work or getting high enough grades in other subjects to justify a passing grade.

Teachers initially passed the information through the official channels but when the Office of Special Investigations failed to get back to the teachers after a number of months, they approached independent news source Gotham Schools with the story. Out of four of the teaches who made the accusations, three have now moved to charters.

One teacher explained to Gotham Schools that this wasn't a case of a principal being helpful: "I would bend over backwards to help a kid or a teacher. But why would a person think it’s acceptable to take a 45 and make it a 65?" This of course raises similar problem involved in performance related pay — should earnings ever be geared towards students' academic sucess? Some would say in a way they two are already linked, but linking them even closer may be asking for trouble.

Photo credit: Eva Wisten

Teachers Demand Better Evaluation System Built With Their Input

Mike Smith — 2009-10-27T12:09:00-07:00

A team of teachers across the U.S. teamed up this summer, collobarating to develop recommendations for a smarter evaluation system. The teachers suggest more 'objective' measures of student achievement, asking also for more support in "Policy 2.0: Using Open Innovation to Reform Teacher Evaluation Systems." They want a system that helps attract and retain teachers, and put America's schools back on top internationally. But how much should teachers be involved in the testing of themselves?

The report was put together by non-profit Hope Street Groups, and they explains that in K-12 education any teacher evaluation system should have the input of teachers and administrators and not solely come from researchers and policymakers. Their specific recommendations include the suggestion that evaluation systems should be frequently revised, that teaching advocates need to be involved in this process, and that any in-class observations for assessment must be done by teachers with sufficient experience.

Hope Street is hoping to pilot their recommendations across ten educations systems in the coming years, whilst building a network of reform-minded teachers who can be engaged in continuing policy development.

Photo credit: woodleywonderworks

Scholastic Book Fairs Ban Books Feature Same-Sex Parents

Mike Smith — 2009-10-26T10:20:00-07:00

Scholastic have banned "Luv Ya Bunches," a book that features a character who has two lesbian moms from its book fairs. Worse than Scholastic deciding to support discrimination, it suggested that the book would be allowed, but only if the author edited it to change the story to give the character heterosexual parents. Michael Jones on the Gay Rights blog explains, "Same-sex families shouldn't be edited out of books simply to pacify a minority of anti-gay voices." By banning the book Scholastic side with profits and discrimination rather than allow schools and parents to make the decisions themselves.

This comes only a few week after Banned Books Week which provides a yearly reminder of what books have been banned over the past year — often for ridiculous reasons: Harry Potter, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Catcher in the Rye have experienced censorship in the past. (Check out a map of the latest banned books.) We must remember all the wonderful books banned in the past, now revered as great, and always preserve freedom to read — it must not be up to anyone but parents to decide what should be considered objectionable.

Take Action and tell Scholastic to stop censoring books.

Photo credit: Mind on Fire

In Education Reform We See The Real Change That Was Promised

Mike Smith — 2009-10-24T08:37:00-07:00

We’re not close to reaching the educational Promised Land, but we may be at the start of what Rahm Emanuel calls The Quiet Revolution.

These the words of NYT op columnist David Brooks. No, he's not joining birther-teabaggers, but agreeing that one place where President Obama's administration is showing the real change that it promised is in education. Brooks explains that despite fears that education reform would be watered down and wouldn't be able to stand up the power of the teachers-unions, real progress is being made. Across the political spectrum reformers, Bill Clinton, and Jeb Bush have all been impressed by how the Obama administration has held the line to incite reform.

Caps are being raised on charter schools nationwide, and now "reformers know more about how to build charters and the research is showing solid results." Duncan is making progress with the unions too, with Brooks explaining "The American Federation of Teachers recently announced innovation grants for performance pay ideas."

But Mike Rose writing at TruthDig isn't so convinced, fearing "within many of these reforms are the seeds of their undoing." He fears magic-bullet solutions like charter schools and linking student-scores to test scores, and whilst glad to see school-reform a national priority, he fears that tarring dissenting voices with the "anti-reform" or "special interests" brush isn't helping. Change is happening, but Rose wants everyone to continually assess whether this is the right kind of change at the right speed.

Photo credit: D Sharon Pruitt

Ex-Cop Who Replaced Arne Duncan Turning Around Chicago's Schools

Mike Smith — 2009-10-23T16:37:00-07:00

The man who has replaced Arne Duncan running Chicago's City Schools is Ron Huberman, a gay, Israeli born, ex-police officer who was plucked out of middle-management obscurity by Mayor Daley. Now, he's controlling Chicago's public school system's $5 Billion dollars, and looking after the interests of 400,000 students. He's only 37, and in a city worried the safety of their school children, he's winning a lot of support.

The Chicago Mag present him as an "uber-technocrat" who likes to analyse data and measure whatever can be measured. He's one of Mayor Daley's loyalists with David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel, and Michele Obama having cut their teeth working for the mayor. Not afraid to take action, he has closed under-performing schools, and he subjects charters schools to tough standards.

Huberman has tripled the number of year round schools, and those who hear him speak are surprised by his intelligent ability to combine consultant speak with a wow! factor. He's optimistic that the school system can be turned around just like any organization, but with a substantial deficit and student violence in Chicago a problem we've recently discussed, it's clear that he's got a fight on his hands.

Photo credit: Christopher & AmiKate

Hawaii Forced to Cut School Year by 20% to Save Money

Mike Smith — 2009-10-22T16:29:00-07:00

All of Hawaii's 256 public schools have been forced to move to a four-day week due to the continuing effects of the economic crisis on school budgets. Tomorrow, schools will be closed for all 171,000 students, and the closures will last for at least two years. This will cause the loss of 17 days of teaching. The kids may celebrate two years of long weekends, but it's bad news for parents who will be forced to find alternative arrangements for their children.

This makes the Department of Education's plans to lengthen the school year sound crazy — where will the money come from if states are already struggling? Hawaii is one of the states that would really benefit from reform and investment with the state finding itself 47th in reading and mathematics scores amongst eight-graders. They'll be hoping President Obama steps in to solve the problem, considering that he graduated from one of Hawaii's top private high schools.

Parents have already filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of the 171,000 students, but with teachers agreeing that the move was necessary, does this put the teachers and parents at odds with one another? Jack Jennings, president of the Washington-based Center on Education Policy explained that its the kids who will suffer most from 20 percent fewer school days: "The less time spent on a task, the less likely it is that you're going to achieve."

Photo credit: Torres21