Kerry: Massachusetts Receives Flexibility to Continue to Lead in Education Reform

[Mass]

http://politicalnews.me/?id=11731

PoliticalNews.me - Feb 12,2012 - Kerry: Massachusetts Receives Flexibility to Continue to Lead in Education Reform
Obama Administration Recognizes Massachusetts Among 10 States

BOSTON – Senator John Kerry applauded the announcement that Massachusetts will be one of ten states granted a waiver and the flexibility from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law so it can continue to out-innovate other states in raising achievement. In exchange for this flexibility, these states have agreed to raise standards, improve accountability, and undertake essential reforms.

Criticized for rigid metrics that don’t result in learning gains and underfunding, all 50 states have struggled to meet NCLB standards. The administration today awarded ten waivers to leading states that demonstrate their own innovative, dynamic methods of improving student outcomes. This waiver will allow Massachusetts to continue to drive its rigorous, state-developed education plan.

“We've pushed for this waiver a long time so we can continue to out-innovate other states in education reform. I asked Secretary Duncan to come to Massachusetts earlier this week to talk about the pioneering steps we must take to give all our students a world class education and help our colleges graduate students who can out-compete our global rivals. I’m grateful to Secretary Duncan and President Obama for this flexibility so Massachusetts can continue to lead the way.”
...

As somebody who has been opposed to NCLB for so many years, I was surprised to find myself ambivalent concerning these reforms. On one side, I hope this will result in less stress for students, in particular when it comes to a mandatory MCAS to graduate, which drives so many teens out of school because they do not see they can pass the test, so why continue. This is particularly true when it comes to minority populations. On the other hands, year after year, the MCAS results show the same thing: poor towns and cities are left behind, while towns with a high income, educated population get congratulations because their scores are at the top of the scale: otherwise said, MCAS helps perpetuate the inequality in education, not reduce it. What I am concerned by is that the absence of mandate (as stupid as the mandate was) will lead to even more inequalities, except if the new accountability comes with means for places like Springfield, Holyoke, and others.

[vi5]

1. I don't claim to know the ins and outs of this...

But I've read a few articles here in NJ (we were also granted the exemption) that said this is good news for Chris Christie since it allows him to make reforms he wants to like removing tenure and breaking the teachers unions even more.

The fact is that as much as NCLB sucks, of all the issues that I don't trust the Obama admin on education reform is near the top of the list. It's not just one of those issues where people can make the excuse "Well, it's just the best he can do given the environment but it's not REALLY what he wants." Doesn't apply. Arne Duncan, Michelle Rhea, pushing right wing talking points on education, advocating charters, etc. None of that was stuff that was forced on him it was stuff that he himself without any pushing has advocated.

So....like I said I don't purport to know what's behind these exemptions or what his motivations are, but none of it strikes me as "good news".

[YvonneCa]

2. Thanks for this. Here are a couple of...

...informational articles:

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2012/02/the_big_education_news_out.html

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2012/02/the_challenge_of_teaching_high.html?intc=mvs

Excerpt from the second article is one of my issues:

Most educators in our field would agree that teachers should enter the classroom with a good repertoire of pedagogical techniques. Equally important, principals should know how to get appropriate assistance for a teacher who isn't quite up to snuff.

There's room for other interpretations in these findings, of course, such as whether the No Child Left Behind Act's focus on basic-skills tests has shifted the focus of instruction. We do know that the NCLB law has caused changes in teacher practices, but we don't know all that much about what the instructional process actually looks like in most places.


Yes, teachers' instruction was changed by NCLB... AWAY from best practices. Sadly. I worry that states with GOP leaders(like Christie) will use this as an excuse to gut unions and blame educators.

[YvonneCa]

3. Here's another link with info on California's resistance to...

Last edited Mon Feb 13, 2012, 06:23 PM - Edit history (1)

...the waiver issue:

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/20/local/la-me-brown-school-testing-20120120

Video link to Brown's SOTU. IMO, this is an example of what a DEM leader can do for public education.





http://gov.ca.gov/docs/SB_547_Veto_Message.pdf (I'd love to frame this!)


http://web.utsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/11/talking-education-with-gov-brown/ (Edited to add that SD U/T's closing remarks are typical of that RW paper...)