Monday, June 1, 2009

Public schools ought to include Washington state

EDUCATION Secretary Arne Duncan's "Listening and Learning" national tour of public schools ought to include Washington state if federal officials are serious about understanding education reform's local impact.
Our state is at a crossroads. An ambitious education plan recently approved by the Legislature was a major hurdle crossed. The next hurdle is a question: where do we go from here?
Debates in this state about education reform rarely rise above the level of money. Granted, it will take a major investment to turn all schools around, but without planning and general consensus, the cash will be useless.
Duncan could learn from this region as well as lend guidance. Federal input wouldn't be intrusive, it would be welcomed. Education stimulus dollars account for the largest spending increase ever. This state will use much of the money to mitigate education cuts imposed by the state Legislature, but millions will be available with varying degrees of flexibility. The new rule in spending should be money spent on unproven efforts is money wasted.
Encouraging signs from Duncan, and President Obama, are the two men's refusal to simply throw money at public education's many problems. The administration is wise to to take its impressive education agenda, which includes early childhood, higher standards, teacher quality, workforce development and higher education, to the people.
Consider this the warm up before Congress delves into reauthorization of the federal No Child Left Behind law. The massive law should be tweaked, necessary improvements include additional flexibility and monEducation, ey, but not abandoned.


For further details visit as : seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2009284191_editb01education.html

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