Obama escalates assault on public education

[inthebrain]

Well, I suppose I'm gonna get killed for this but this is one area where I part ways with Obama.


Obama escalates assault on public education
By Tom Eley
25 July 2009

On Friday, President Barack Obama announced an assault on public education that would go beyond the Bush administration’s “No Child Left Behind” program. He outlined an education “reform” that would link teacher pay to the test performance of students and force state governments to shift funding from established public schools to so-called charter schools.

Obama spoke on Friday at the Department of Education, unveiling a $4.3 billion “competition” among the states for federal grants, named “Race to the Top.” Money from the fund would be awarded to only a handful of states that best promote “innovation”— charter schools and merit-based pay among teachers. States that forbid these policies, such as California, New York, and Wisconsin—home of the nation’s highest-ranked education system—would be barred from consideration.

Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan presented the $4.3 billion as if it were an extraordinary amount of money. But it is tens of billions less than has been doled out to individual banks, such as Goldman Sachs, in Obama’s bailout of the finance industry. It is also less than the personal fortunes of about 90 Americans, according to the Forbes 400 list of 2008. Nor does it meet the desperate needs of cash-starved public education; the Detroit public school system alone has a deficit of $400 million.

This relative pittance would do little even if it were distributed equitably. But that is not Obama’s intention, as he made clear. “Rather than divvying it up and handing it out, we are letting states and districts compete for it,” he said. “That’s how we can incentivize excellence and spur reform and launch a race for the top in America’s public schools.”


http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jul2009/educ-j25.shtml

[ProSense]

1. "that would go beyond the Bush administration’s 'No Child Left Behind' program"

He's worse than Bush.

Clowns.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. Hmm.

One of my beefs with Obama was his equivocation on merit pay and vouchers. One of my teacher friends and union rep. told me Obama swore up and down at a fundraiser that he wouldn't do this.

Of course, I'm taking this article at face value and I'm interested in hearing what the DU education experts have to say about this - is it true? What are the ramifications?

[dsc]

3. truth be known his positions on education were even worse to me

than his behavior during the campaign when it came to gay rights. Merit pay has a specific, well known, meaning in education circles and he knew full well what he was saying when he supported it. It doesn't surprise me at all that he is doing this stuff.

[inthebrain]

4. I'm not a teacher expert BUT

The one issue I have with this is merit pay based on standardized test scores. That's completely ridiculous and benefits teachers that teach in wealthy communities. Students that come from poorer communities have a less stable home life and more distractors as a result of it.

When "The Bell Curve" was written, and they used standardized knowledge tests for their research, this was one aspect of the research which was used to poke holes in authors arguments. "The Bell Curve" argued that Black people are less intelligent than white people.

[YvonneCa]

20. Here's a WAPO article...

...by Secretary Duncan:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/23/AR2009072302634.html

And one in EdWeek: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/07/23/37race.h28.html?tkn=YSUFYIm%2BMA2jCca4Ty69mm89stWNLqKb4Eu2

I also suggest a visit to ED.gov website here...

http://www.edgovblogs.org/duncan/2009/07/secretary-arne-duncan-speaks-at-nea-conference-invites-comm/

And here:

http://www.edgovblogs.org/duncan/2009/05/secretary-arne-duncan-takes-listening-tour-online-invites-comments-on-raising-standards/

[FrenchieCat]

27. Good info! Thanks!

[YvonneCa]

31. You are very welcome...

... :)

[FrenchieCat]

5. This article is written in such a biased manner, it is hard to sort out facts from it.

To begin with, $4.3 Billion IS an extraordinary sum of money, regardless of how it is being compared. This sum is not all of the funding for education that has been budgeted...it is simply a small chunk that is discretionary. So for the article to make it appear that this money doesn't quite put a dent into the education shortfall that states are experiencing is to not put anything into context. The Feds are not responsible for funding education at 100%, and they never have been. And to further compare the amount being discussed to the amounts given as Bailout monies to the bank is the first indication, apart from the headlines that this article is meant to be biased, and will provide its reporting in a manner that is determined to have readers reach only one conclusion, as opposed to providing informative value that one can intelligently analyze. Guess that a socialist publication would do that. although doing so doesn't really do the public a service.

As for competing for money that is above and beyond the budged allocations set out in the new budget is supposed to be a bad thing....why? Incentive is bad how? This publication would like for us to conclude that the Obama administration will be throwing out crumbs and expect all to fight for it; kind of a Marie-Antoinette approach....and that is total bullshit, but conveys a strong negative image, which is what the author of the article intended.

My understanding is that the merit pay is to reward teachers that work in the poorest neighborhoods, not just merit pay willy-nillie....and that the $4.3 billion worth of crumbs is to get educators to being creative as opposed to being pacified.

It appears that we are supposed to be mad at Obama for this, just like we are supposed to be mad at him for everything else.

There is no complexity or actual debate going on with this article....just smears.

[inthebrain]

6. This article is no different than the position we have taken on this board about this issue

for years.

4.3 Billion thrown to the schools is a pittance compared to the short falls the Detroit public school system faces. If it is not the responisibility of the fed gov (BTW we the people decide what their responsibility is. Its pretty organic.) how are they supposed fix them? Michigan's unemployment rate is about 18%. GM, who is one of the biggest empoloyers in that state, is laying people off and constantly shirks their tax responsibility by holding the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan hostage.

Merit pay on standardized test scores is not going to fix this problem. It is well documented that students who live in impoverished communities FARE WORSE on those tests than those that are more economically stable.

[FrenchieCat]

9. So in essense, you were looking for an article that re-inforced your views,

and one that bends a morsel of facts to provide an acceptable context for your needs.
Then you make absolute statements based on speculations that are not proven nor factual.

"Merit Pay on Standardized test scores" is not exactly what this program is about, although you have whiddled down to that convenient soundbyte. It is way more complex than that, but you knew that. So what are you doing that isn't done on Fox News, exactly....cause I don't see it.

Here is context and deliberateness...cause it is obvious that you don't know what fair and balance really means: http://www.aft.org/news/2009/racetothetop.htm


BTW, what is your background in education?

[janx]

11. Consider the source.

;-)

[PurityOfEssence]

12. Be brave; not all are as noble as thou

It must be a shock to hear that humans would do something so deeply alien to your character as to cherry-pick ammunition for personal crusades.

It's a great testimony to your communal spirit that you're still able to wield a keyboard after such a truly dismaying shock to the soul.

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. From that link:

The Education Department has listed 19 criteria on which to judge grant proposals. "We are going to use our own four criteria when reviewing the department's plan," Weingarten said. "They are: Does it help kids? Is it fair and helpful to educators? Is it transparent? And does it require shared responsibility? If the answer is 'yes' for each, then we have a real chance of improving the quality of teaching and learning and raising student achievement."

Weingarten said the AFT will withhold final judgment until the final regulations are issued, following the 30-day comment period, of which AFT leaders will take full advantage.

I am an AFT member and was thrilled to see these remarks. Thanks for posting that link.

[demmiblue]

7. Terrible on education...

I am surprised he has so many people backing him up on this board regarding this issue.

[WI_DEM]

46. he's making it much easier for my nephews and many others to get money for college

[Political Tiger]

8. Oh my! The World Socialist Website whining about Obama!

Will wonders never cease?
:sarcasm:

[FrenchieCat]

10. The messenger takes a couple of facts without true context

and runs with it, just like the RW would do, but with a slightly different message.
Sad to see this kind of manipulation going on....but I guess if it's from the Extreme left,
it is quite alright. Personally I resent this type of reporting by misinformation and omission more when it comes from the Left.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. That's not fair, Frenchie

There is a clear pattern here going back for many months of Obama's assault on our public schools. It began with the appointment of Arne Duncan, whose work to 'improve' the schools in Chicago involved turning the high schools into military academies. He reconstituted schools by firing every staff member, painting the walls and hiring a new principal. And no, he didn't get good results. Yet.

During the campaign Obama said he did not support merit pay and now he is promoting it.

He has taken NCLB and let it grow. Instead of adopting a new program, he is expanding the piece of shit program that is Bush's legacy. Second to the Iraq War it is his biggest mistake, IMO.

This is not a RW attack on the president. It's also not reporting by omission.

[Hansel]

47. When did he say he did not support merit pay?

I recall Obama saying he supported merit pay for teachers at the campaign rally I attended in Feb 2008.

Then there is this:

http://workingcalifornians.com/blog/julia_rosen/2007/07/05/obama_announces_support_for_teacher_merit_pay

He was really quite clear about this on the campaign trail. It's one of many reasons I like him.

I'm sorry but there are just too many utterly incompetent teachers who think that nothing besides showing up, warming a seat and gossiping about the students should justify their pay. And I have seen excellent teachers with great skills and ideas who have had their dreams crushed by the politics of their jealous and less competent colleagues.

Excellent teachers should be rewarded for their work and seat warmers should be chucked. Also, something needs to be done with administrators who have for far too long facilitated mediocrity and slash and burn politics in the schools. Especially in the inner city schools.

[inthebrain]

34. Frencie, lets just assume what you are saying is true

That I have ommitted a lot of stuff and just focused on the aspect of Merit Pay based on Standardized testing results.

That still does not make that aspect of Merit Pay a good idea. As a matter of fact, it still stands as a very stupid idea whereas schools in wealthy districts stand to benefit from it. That aspect alone is just pissing away money.

The only thing I really see you arguing against here is the "bias" that exists in the article and attacking the messenger. The leader of the teachers union which you cited as a "fair and balanced" source was AGAINST a lot of Obama's proposals when they were endorsed by the Republicans. A lot of them were stupid and wrong headed then just as they are now.

Many of them still do not addrees the fact that the fundamental way we raise funds for public schools in this country is extremely flawed.

The focus on the problems on public education is also a brushing under the rug of many social and economic disparities that exist in American society while also DISPLACING BLAME FOR THEM!!!!

[FrenchieCat]

38. On education, you will be proven wrong....

and there will be a lot of debate before the fact,
and even during the fact, and even some after the fact,
but what I am saying is that Obama will not destroy our public education system,
as it has always been a very important part of his passion.

He has already provided more dollars than anytime in history ever....for education,
and that is always the way to know what someone's priority is,
cause putting money where one's mouth is can be a real indicator.

[YvonneCa]

43. I think both Obama and Duncan think they are...

...doing what's right for our kids AND for public schools. I do not question their intent at all. If this were a Bush Admin. proposal, I would just give up trying to get through to them about why certain things (like test scores and evaluation) won't work. But I challenge parts of the proposal because it IS an Obama Admin. and I know he wants to do this right.

Debate is good. Listening is better. Hearing is even better...because then solutions can be found that will succeed for kids and public schools.

[inthebrain]

44. Frenchy, few things here

First off, you can argue the bias of the article you all like. That's fine. If you want to use "history" the Socialists always have a habit of getting education right. They also have a tendency to be light years ahead of everyone else.

Also, you are ignoring what I mentioned about merit pay in regards to test scores. That is a VERY bad idea and has been argued over and debated over to the point of exhaustion. It stands as a fact that students from encomonically stable background do better on standardized that those who are not.

It was even argued over when scientists debated "The Bell Curve" when they used standardized knowledge tests administered by the millitary. It's a simple fact.

Obama damn well knows better to.

[proud2BlibKansan]

59. Where is all this money going?

Why do I have to buy all of my own classroom supplies?

Why are class sizes larger?

Why are raises for teachers lower and non-existent in school districts all over the country?

Why is our Title I money reduced?

Where is all this money?

Sorry. I don't buy that for a minute.

[FrenchieCat]

68. Education reform is just now beginning......

as for the 2009 stimulus money, you will have to ask those who run the state.
My guess is that they used it so that teachers wouldn't get fired,
But I can't be sure!

What state are you in?

[proud2BlibKansan]

70. My district is laying off teachers for the first time in 30 years

I teach in MO.

[BlooInBloo]

13. Is he an education TERRORIST???

:rofl:

[WinkyDink]

14. Education is not a COMPETITION. except, of course, it is when the RICH public systems benefit.

New Trier, e.g.

Public schools should ALL be funded equally. It is UNCONSCIONABLE that the President of the United States sees PUBLIC education for our younger CITIZENS to be fit for COMPETITION, and BIDDING WARS, and akin to a RACE.

Educating the citizenry is not the moral equivalent of a race to the moon.

[FrenchieCat]

16. The 4.3 Billion of the 100 Billion earmarked for Education

from the stimulus package (and not from regular budget funding) was specifically to be for an incentives and innovation program. (see my post below)

Let's keep things in perspective and not do the Knee Jerk thing.
Otherwise we all start to succumb to propaganda when the information is actually available...
which would mean that we are too lazy to be informed, but eager to comment.

[YvonneCa]

21. Facts...

... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8552811&mesg_id=8553065

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. +1

[FrenchieCat]

15. Facts to be noted to put the 4.3 Billion expenditure into context.....

The 4.3 Billion is only for one (1) specific education program, and not the in-total education funding......as there was $100 billion for education programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act alone, which doesn't include budgeted money for education.
http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/StimulusPackage/default.aspx

the 4.3 Billion is a small slice of the Stimulus money.....
and was specifically earmarked for "incentive and innovation" programs....

State Incentive Fund: ARRA allocates $4.35 billion for competitive grants for states to fund experimental school improvement programs. State Incentive programs along with Innovation Fund programs (described below) are collectively referred to as the “Race to the Top.”

in addition to this 4.3 Billion, there is 95.7 Billion remaining.....
of which some has been allocated as follows:

State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF): This new program provides $48.3 billion for restoring state education funding. Washington is expected to receive about $1 billion in SFSF money between now and fiscal year 2010-11.

Student Achievement, ESEA, Title I, Part A: ARRA provides additional money for LEAs and schools with high numbers or high percentages of poor children who need help in meeting states’ challenging academic standards. Washington schools are expected to receive about $135 million in additional Title I funds.

Special Education, IDEA, Part B: ARRA provides additional money to help states and local schools insure that children with disabilities have access to a free, appropriate public education. Washington schools are expected to receive more than $221 million in additional funds for special education.

School Improvement: ARRA provides Washington approximately $44.5 million in additional funds to help schools that have failed to demonstrate adequate yearly progress (AYP) in meeting state academic goals.


Innovation Fund: ARRA allocates $650 million for competitive grants for a local education agency OR one or more schools in partnership with a non-profit organization. Innovation Fund programs along with State Incentive programs (described above) are collectively referred to as the “Race to the Top.”

Educational Technology, ESEA Title II, Part D: ARRA provides additional money to LEAs to improve student academic achievement through the use of technology. Washington schools are expected to receive an additional $8.7 million for technology.

Homeless Children and Youth, McKinney-Vento, Title II: ARRA provides additional money to ensure that homeless children and youth have access to a free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education. Washington is expected to receive additional money for the education of homeless children and youth.

Child Nutrition Services: ARRA provides additional funds for improvements in program equipment distributed to the states. States must distribute these funds via competitive grants to local school food authorities, with priority given to those schools in which at least 50% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The program is administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Pupil Transportation: The funding most directly associated with school transportation is through the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Of the $90 million going directly to the states, Washington’s share is $1.7 million. The Department of Ecology will oversee the distribution of Washington’s $1.7 million.

School Facilities and Organization - ARRA School Bond Opportunities: ARRA has made available new and expanded bond opportunities for school districts to include Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCBs), Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZABs), Build America Bonds (BABs), and Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs). These programs can provide interest-free bonds to schools for construction, rehabilitation, repair, energy-saving renovations, teacher training and land acquisition.
http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/StimulusPackage/default.aspx

[Bodhi BloodWave]

18. keep up the good fight on letting the truth be known FrenchieCat

I always enjoy reading your posts since i know something sensible is going to be posted(about 90-95% of the time) :)

Hopefully DU will return to 'normal' somewhere down the line and start being more fact-based and civil again rather then spin-based and playing on emotions

[Metta]

17. Arne Duncan is a huge charter schools advocate and seems anti-neighborhood school.

This is a pig being presented as a princess and another giveaway to corporate masters.

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=219x12776

betraying public education http://www.truthout.org/121708R


edited to include links

[FrenchieCat]

19. What do you have against Charter Schools, specifically.....

as long as Public Education is largely funded?

Are we not supposed to try to be innovative? Aren't part of the job of Charter schools to run as experiments to see if there are other models of education that might work better than the current status quo one? Can we not look into alternative models in the education approach at all?
Is this a taboo?

To me, reacting in the manner that you are can be equated to those who say NO to a Government Option in health care simply because they don't like the sound of it based on the limited information they have.....

I just don't understand this knee jerk reaction to everything. It's almost like there always has to be a boogie man, a bad guy, a nefarious dark agenda.

I'm sick of this "in the box" reactionary thinking so many Americans are so willing to have. Loving the devil that they know, as opposed to the Devil that they have only kind of heard of.

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. We have had charters in my community for about 10 years now

We have 15 or 20 of them now. We have had more fail than succeed. Of these charters, there is ONE that is doing a decent job. None have test scores that are better than the traditional public schools. And they are funded by taking money away from our public school district, which is facing its worst financial crisis in its 150 year history. If the mission of charters is to starve public schools, they have succeeded.

That's my complaint about charter schools.

[FrenchieCat]

40. How do they starve Public Schools, when they themselves are

part of the Public School system?

as far as all Charter Schools are equal, I don't believe that....and the point is doing Charter schools that work.

Remember that we are going to be dealing with 121 Billion just next year, which is almost 3 times what was budgeted for the current year.

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. They aren't part of the public school system

They are tax dollar supported. And they get money that would go to traditional public schools.

They also don't have to operate by the same regs public schools do. Charters write their own rules. They are selective about which kids they admit while public schools have to admit every child who walks in the door. Charters can also kick kids out without the due process we have to abide by in public schools. They are not required to admit special ed kids.

There is some variation from state to state and I am only familiar enough with the charters in my state to comment on them, not the others. Admittedly, some charters are more successful than the ones in my community. But as a whole, a study recently released shows charters across the country lag behind public schools in achievement test scores.

[FrenchieCat]

42. So lemme see if I've got this straight.....

They are tax dollar supported, like Public schools.
Kids go there, like public schools.
And of course, they are charter so yes, there is a difference in how they are run,
because the whole point is that they are not exactly ike a public school.
I think that different charter schools have various policies, and they are not all the same,
as far as kicking the kids out or special ed kids.

I will say that the new charter schools will have standards as approved at the top by Mr. Duncan....
so I don't think that saying what Charter schools will be,
is the same as saying what have been, which is what you are talking about.

Like I said, I'm just open minded on this,
and I see that you have pretty much made up your mind, for the most part.

So in the end, we shall see......

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. States are allowed to set them up as they want

There are no federal regs for charters. So Arne Duncan won't be able to set up a list of rules for charters.

And yes I have made up my mind. For my community. I have watched charters rob the traditional public schools while failing to adequately educate the kids in my community. Many of these kids end up back in the public schools and we have to help them play catch up.

The charters also hire non certified teachers and there is no union representation for the teachers or other employees. Teachers who are certified often leave the local charter schools and come to work in our district. They make better money and are working under better conditions. And often have smaller classes.

So yes, you bet I have made up my mind. This is my business. I am determined to see that my kids get the best we can offer. So far, charters here are not doing that. Yes there are some successes in other communities. But not here.

[inthebrain]

49. Read post #48

It's a clearing house on the issue of Charter Schools

[Odin2005]

66. The entrenched interests don't like the "use money that would go to normal public schools".

Because it takes money away from those entrenched interests.

[Telly Savalas]

61. If Academie Lafayette is doing merely a "decent" job

why do they have such a hard time finding classroom space for the growing number of students enrolling there?

On edit: did you own kids go to school in the KCMO district?

On edit yet again (sorry): or were you talking about University Academy? I'm glancing at the Missouri Dept. of Education and it looks like they send a higher % of their students to a 4 year college than even Lincoln Prep. And I don't think it's about the family's ability to pay for college, because a higher % of students at University Academy are eligible for a free/reduced lunch program than at Lincoln Prep. This is not to knock Lincoln Prep - I'm just using it as a benchmark because it's widely considered to be a really good school.

[proud2BlibKansan]

63. Yes my kids went to KCMO schools

Why do you ask that?

I think it's obvious why one fairly successful charter is doing a great job attracting students. Pick up the newspapers, watch the local TV news or read the local blogs. The KC District is under constant attack. Yes, it deserves much of the criticism it gets. But the good news about the district is rarely reported. I can tell you of literally hundreds of good stories the media has refused to cover in the last couple decades. I have personally contacted local media with good news stories and they just aren't interested. Slamming the district is so much more interesting.

There is a good example right now. Both Tonys KC and Channel 41 are doing hit pieces on training the district held this past week at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in the Ozarks. There were a couple hundred teachers and administrators there. We worked for 10 hours a day and had homework every night. For 3 days. It was exhausting. Definitely not a vacation. And we were not paid to be there. All we got was lousy food and a few hours of sleep in a nice hotel room.

But Tonys is reporting we were fed fancy dinners and wined and dined on the district's dime. First night we had fajitas and they ran out of them before everyone got to eat. Second night we had burgers and hot dogs. For lunch we had pasta with no meat. And breakfast all 3 days was a roll. Yet Tony and channel 41 are telling Kansas City we had some luxurious 3 day vacation in a fancy resort with a spa and a beautiful pool. It's some of the most dishonest reporting I have seen in years.

Last year during the fight to unsuccessfully prevent Independence from annexing KC schools, the misinformation was unreal. I went to the public hearings and heard a state senator flat out lie about the KC Schools. A state senator.

I am not trying to be a Pollyanna and deny there are problems. Indeed, like every urban district in the nation, there are problems. But lying doesn't solve those problems. And bottom line - our kids deserve better.

So when charters spring up they don't even need to advertise to attract students. The meme in KC is the schools suck and the truth doesn't seem to matter to our media.

[Telly Savalas]

71. The reason I asked

is that I was under the impression that you lived on the other side of the state line and was adopting the view of limiting choices of KCMO residents while sending your own kids to JoCo schools. My apologies for being poised to level that accusation.

Nonetheless, I think you're not painting a fair picture of the quality of charter schools in KCMO. For a number of the MAP tests, Academie Lafayette is in the top 10 in the state even though its curriculum is in a different language than the test, and in the cases where it's not in the top 10 it's well above average -- that's pretty far above the bar of being "decent". And a brief look at University Academy suggests that it too performs better than most if not all high schools in the KCMOSD.

I read about the Ozarks thing at TKC, and a couple of people pointed out in the comments section that the accusations were bullshit. However, the Star recently had a piece on how the district's Human Resources functions are being outsourced to a consultant for a large chunk of change. Am I missing something here, or is it flat out bizarre that an employer the size of the KCMOSD doesn't do human resources in house? While the Ozarks story may be an unfair pot shot and part of a pattern of overly excessive negativity in the media, the HR story appears to be yet another sign of the continued dysfunction of the school administration.

Although the media may overlook the bright spots, the district doesn't help with its rather tepid promotion of its schools. It wouldn't cost too much to clean up its web presence and find relatively cheap advertising to direct traffic towards their website. e.g., how much can that Janice "No Excuses Just Results" Ellis billboard on Main St. in Midtown really cost? Presumably she hasn't been paying for it for a couple of years. Maybe the district could convince city hall to take a break from its circle jerk of blame and have the city government do something to promote the schools (although that may be a stretch).

For example, I just became aware of the existence of Southwest Early College Campus this evening. This looks like it has the potential to be a phenomenal school, and I'm pretty excited that this could be an option for my kid in several years. But I don't see much effort to promote it. Driving by the school building doesn't mean much since so many of them are vacant. I think they may have a single sign out front, but I don't drive down that stretch of Wornall that much and when I do my main concern with the jackasses in their Land Rovers with the "BKS" stickers who can't navigate the narrow lanes, not road signs.

On the web, I can't even tell if it's still going to be open for the 2009-10 school year:

http://www2.kcmsd.net/pages/swecc.aspx

http://www.kcmsd.net/schools/home2.asp?schoolid=40&t=1&s=0

In contrast, Brookside Frontier Math and Science has yard signs placed in easements all over the Brookside, Waldo, and 49-63 areas. It has a professional looking website that contains lots of useful information. It's an effective, yet inexpensive strategy of promoting the school. Somebody who just moved to the area and has no pre-conceptions about schools is much more likely to have heard of and have a more favorable impression of Brookside Math and Science than Southwest ECC just based on these promotional campaigns, so this can't all be laid at the feet of the media.

It's been ten years since the district lost its status of being fully accredited which indicates that despite the bright spots, the administration is slow in its progress. Charter schools expand the choices for quality education for parents and students in KCMO.

[Odin2005]

67. Oh you and your facts!

:sarcasm:

[debbierlus]

22. I truly hate the unrecommend feature - this post is important

Yet, it is at minus zero because it points out unpleasant facts that the Obama celebrity fans don't want to hear.

[FrenchieCat]

23. It may be minus zero because it omits too many facts,

and leaves a reader with a skewed notion of the program being proposed.

In otherwords, it disinforms more than it informs.
Is that one of the important features of this article for you, that it lacks facts, and leads readers to only one conclusion? How is that helpful, other than allow you to do some name calling of Duers?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. Bullshit. This thing went to minus zero the minute it went up.

I don't give a shit about the feature as I don't ever go to the GP ..... but let's deal in reality here.

[FrenchieCat]

25. So did a thread that I started....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8553046&mesg_id=8553046

cause in the end, the feature is what it is....

or I would say, in posting on this forum, guess that the rules of the forum
comes with the priviledge. Folks have opinions, and I guess that using the
feature as it is offered is part of the deal in how it best be expressed.

[FrenchieCat]

26. Did the lack of facts changed from one minute to the next minute?

cause the real question is how many unrec does it take to get an op at <0 ?

[geek tragedy]

36. This isn't Communist Underground.

If people want a place where Communist (literally Communist) propaganda doesn't face skeptical scrutiny, the Internet's a big place.

[Baltoman991]

57. Could you

please tell me what an Obama celebrity fan actually is? I mean, I see you post that many many times to people who like the guy.

IMO you do nothing but spew the right wing bullshit with remarks like that but then I realize, you were never an Obama supporter anyway.

It's quite sickening around this place that right wing talking points rule the day and not a fucking thing is done but my posts where I dare call out a right wing talking point somehow find themselves deleted.

Perhaps this really shouldn't be called Democratic Underground. Perhaps it should be called the lets shit on Democrats we don't like such as Obama and continue to slam him and pretend he's no better than Bush. Long title for a message board I know but it does seem to fit.

[Dinger]

33. Duncan LOVES Militarizing Public Schools:

An old post of mine from the Education Forum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=219x13501

[AllentownJake]

35. Meh

If he gets the Healthcare reform passed and it is a decent bill it was worth it, if not I expect a GOP congress and President in 2012.

[earth mom]

37. Oh oh-look at all the unrecs here. Can't have Obama looking bad about schools & teachers.

:eyes:

DU has seriously gone over to the dark side.

[FrenchieCat]

39. Perhaps if the article wasn't full of shit to begin with,

the op wouldn't have deserved the unrecs.

Too bad this isn't a socialist website where trashing the current President
on every damn thing is the sites primary agenda!

[inthebrain]

48. Saying something is full of shit doesn't make it full of shit

proving it, that's a different matter.

There are also many issues regarding Charter Schools that they increase segregation.
--------------------------------------------
Racial segregation
In an article written for the journal Contexts, Linda A. Renzulli, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Georgia, and Vincent J. Roscigno, coeditor of the American Sociological Review, use Linda's own research as well as research by Amy Stuart Wells, Professor of Sociology and Education and the Coordinator of Policy Studies at Teachers College at Columbia University, to state that Charter Schools actually increase racial segregation.

They receive public funding and some of them refuse to provide for special needs students to beef up their bottom line..
----------------------------------
Distribution of funds
Additional concerns arise when, as in Michigan, charter schools are run for profit. Many educators worry that education will suffer when funding is split between profit and educational spending, rather than going completely toward educational spending as is done in traditional public schools.<57> Studies have already shown many instances of charter schools cutting programs or refusing to educate students with special needs in order to maintain profitability.<58> Charter schools in Michigan, where for-profit charter schools are common, have performed at a lower level than their traditional public school counterparts.<56>

They also receive public funding but do not have to meet state standards;

----------------------------------


Charter schools are elementary or secondary schools in the United States that receive public money but have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter.<1>

While charter schools provide an alternative to other public schools, they are part of the public education system and are not allowed to charge tuition. Where space at a charter school is limited, admission is frequently allocated by lottery based admissions. Some charter schools provide a curriculum that specializes in a certain field—e.g. arts, mathematics, etc. Others attempt to provide a better and more efficient general education than nearby public schools.

Some charter schools are founded by teachers, parents, or activists who feel restricted by traditional public schools.<2> State-run charters (schools not affiliated with local school districts) are often established by non-profit groups, universities, and some government entities.<3> Additionally, school districts sometimes permit corporations to open chains of for-profit charter schools.

--------------------------------------------------

There is also a study, although the results are debateable, showing public school students OUTPERFORMING Charter Schools

--------------------------------------


National Center for Education Statistics study
A study released on August 22, 2006 by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that students in charter schools performed several points worse than students in traditional public schools in both reading and math on the National Assessment of Educational Progress test.<39> Some proponents consider this the best study as they believe by incorporating basic demographic, regional, or school characteristics simultaneously it "... has shown conclusively, through rigorous, replicated, and representative research, whether charter schools boost student achievement ...", while they say that in the AFT study "... estimates of differences between charter schools and traditional public schools are overstated."<31> Critics of this study argue that its demographic controls are highly unreliable, as percentage of students receiving free lunches does not correlate well to poverty levels, and some charter schools don't offer free lunches at all, skewing their apparent demographics towards higher income levels than actually occur.<40>


United States Department of Education Study
In its Evaluation of the Public Charter Schools Program: Final Report released in 2003, the U.S. Department of Education found that, in the five case study states, charter schools were out-performed by traditional public schools in meeting state performance standards, but noted: “It is impossible to know from this study whether that is because of the performance of the schools, the prior achievement of the students, or some other factor.”<7>



This study is ACTUALLY RELIABLE and shows 17% of Charter Schools performing better than Public Schools, 46% no different and 37% WORSE THAN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Center for Research on Education Outcomes
The most authoritative study of charter schools was conducted by the Center Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University in 2009. The report is the first detailed national assessment of charter schools. it analyzed 70% of the nation's students attending charter schools and compared those students with demographically matched students in nearby public schools. The report found that 17% of charter schools reported academic gains that were significantly better than traditional public schools; 46% showed no difference from public schools; and 37% were significantly worse than their traditional public school counterparts. The authors of the report considering this a "sobering" finding about the quality of charter schools in the US


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_school#Learning_gains_studies


Note that this isn't the WSWS but guess what? It backs up their analysis.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

50. No. This article is full of shit.

It's deplorably short of facts and spins tip a dervish.

For starters, the author pisses and moans that $4.3 billion is not enough (I agree) but then tries to build a case that the pittance (his term) offered to only a handful of schools is somehow going to undermine public education.

Dude, which is it?

[inthebrain]

52. 4.3 is not enought

it also mentions that not all states can compete for it AND!!!!
--------------------------------------------------
Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan presented the $4.3 billion as if it were an extraordinary amount of money. But it is tens of billions less than has been doled out to individual banks, such as Goldman Sachs, in Obama’s bailout of the finance industry. It is also less than the personal fortunes of about 90 Americans, according to the Forbes 400 list of 2008. Nor does it meet the desperate needs of cash-starved public education; the Detroit public school system alone has a deficit of $400 million.

[FrenchieCat]

53. 4.3 Billion is a tiny portion of the actual funding for Education....! That's only for one program!

4.3 Billion is only for one program that is exactly about Education innovation!

What in the *uck don't you get about that????

Under Obama, Education funding will be at $121.8 BILLION in next year's budget,
and it was 46 Billion from Bush plus the added 19 Billion added by Obama via the stimulus for 2009.

Why are you talking like you aren't willing to read anything beyond that Socialist disinformation article? Are you afraid to find out the truth of the matter?

[inthebrain]

54. Because the article is actually BACKED UP by other sources

All the evidence provided in it converges on a single point.

And it is not critical of Obama's ENTIRE education program. Just this one which is a bad idea AND OBAMA SAID IT WAS A BAD IDEA ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL!!!

And if it you really want to to look at Obama's ENTIRE education funding, it does not address the fundamental falw (which I have stated many a times on this thread) in how public Schools are funded. Especially when it also includes Charter Schools, who's results are not reliable at all whereas 37% perform WORSE than the public Schools, 46% show no benefit at all and 17% is the improvement.

And they are not beholden to state standards and not required to provide services to special needs students. AND THEY RECIEVE PUBLIC FUNDING AND OBAMA IS INCLUDING THEM IN HIS PLAN.

The 4.3 billion he has allocated for "merit" are only good for those schools in wealthy communities. The Detroit School system where schools are closing for lack of funding, teachers are getting laid off, and the one that are open are overcrowded do not have a chance in hell. Especially considering that the unemployment rate for the state of Michigan is at an upwards of 18%.

Just as many states in the midwest.

ALSO!!! STUDENTS FROM ECONOMCALLY UNSTABLE BACKGROUNDS DO NOT PERFORM WELL ON STANDARDIZED TESTS!!!!

This is proven fact.

With the worsening state of the economy (Already 25% of all children in the US have food insecuruty and are poor) those numbers are getting worse.

Obama is wrong on this a million ways from Sunday. This is a throw away of 4.3 billion dollars to many school districts THAT DON'T NEED IT!!!!

[FrenchieCat]

55. Do you mind if I disagree?

Thanks.

[inthebrain]

69. I'm OK with it

I'm not the type to beat people over the head.

Don't have the energy for it and I think it's stupid anyways. I don't post here for that either. I do it for the discussion.

[BlooInBloo]

51. Oooooh! Now Obama's a SEGREGATIONIST!!! bwahaahahaa!!!

You guys slay me. You really do.

[foginthemorn]

56. And he and Duncan are using STIMULUS money to do this-half

of this will not even be distributed till the fall of 2010!!

[dflprincess]

58. So, if teacher pay is linked to student test performance

will parents also be fined if their child doesn't do well in school?

It's seems real easy to forget that teachers aren't the only ones who have an effect on how well a child does in school. They may not even have the most influence on how well kids do.

[proud2BlibKansan]

65. Best reply in the thread

:thumbsup:

[xchrom]

60. kick

[Jakes Progress]

62. Only Nixon could go to China.

Ah. Another payoff for the well-orchestrated neocon media. Half or more who consider themselves liberal buy the crap they sell.

[Odin2005]

64. WSWS is not a valid news source.

They are the left-wing equivalent of Fox. Trotskyite shit.