By Dennis Powell, e-Management
A recent National Charter School Study from the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (Stanford University) Suggests public charter schools are effective for low-income, immigrant, and minority students. (Photo credit: Education News - www.educationnews.org)
The late advice columnist Abigail Van Buren (“Dear Abbey”) once said, “True, a little learning is a dangerous thing, but it still beats total ignorance.” Benjamin Franklin believed, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” The late Nelson Mandela asserted, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The verdict is in! Education means a lot of things to different people.
Spotlight on Education
For this government spotlight, e-Management wanted to examine the federal government and its role in education. To begin, we had to take a closer look at the U.S. Department of Education (E.D.). After all, more than 4,400 employees support the department’s mission “to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.” The agency has only been around since 1980 following President Jimmy Carter’s signing of the Department of Education Organization Act. Today, the agency has a $68 billion budget, which goes toward collecting data on schools and leading education research; calling attention to the most pressing issues in education; ensuring equal access to education and ending discrimination; and finally, driving the policies that shape federal financial aid for students.
4 Gold Stars for E.D.
The department clearly has its hands full. So, we had to narrow down E.D.’s good work to four stellar initiatives for students.
- School Improvement: Locating the Dropout Crisis (2004) reveals that more than half of the nation’s 1.2 million dropouts come from fewer than 15% of schools. To address this surprising statistic, the Department of Education administers the School Improvement Grant (SIG) program, which provides grants to states. Since 2009, more than $4.5 billion has gone to support the SIG program. SIG grants provide better resources to underserved public schools in rural and urban areas. The goal of this program is to increase achievement among students of all ethnicity who attend low-performing schools.
- Financial Aid: The average annual tuition cost for private and public colleges is about $24,000. Naturally, many students use scholarships, grants, and loans to subsidize their college expenses. The Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) is here to help. FSA provides $150 billion each year in tuition support. Through FSA programs, students qualify for work-study funds, grants, and low-interest loans.
- Arts Education: In our National Endowment for the Arts blog spotlight, we talked about the challenges around arts education. E.D. supports arts education through grants. Earlier this week, the agency announced its awarding of $13.4 million to 34 organizations around the country. Specifically, these educations grants will support arts educators. The grants will also have the added benefit of being tools for educators around the country to share best practices for improving student achievement.
- Public Charter Schools: Public Charter Schools are controversial organizations. Advocates for those learning institutions point to a recent National Charter School Study from the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University. The report suggests that these schools are effective for low-income, immigrant, and minority students. The Department of Education seems to agree. This week the agency awarded nearly $40 million in grants for the expansion and creation of new “high quality” public charter schools. The grants will help build on the formulas of successful and high achieving charter schools and will affect students of underserved communities in 12 states. Overall, the department has invested more than $220 million over the last 12 months for “high quality charter schools and the dissemination of their successful efforts.”
What can E.D. do for you?
The Department of Education’s 35-year history isn’t without controversy. The department has come under fire for No Child Left Behind and the Common Core—even though the latter is a National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) initiative. Speaking of , (1) do you think the new standards are good for students? (2) What do you think the Department of Education should be doing more of when it comes to education policy? (3) How would you grade the Department of Education?
Tags: charter school, Dennis Powell, Department of Education, , FSA, Government, Ola Sage, School Improvement Grant
I think the students are failing because the system itself is failing. The worst thing about our education system is the teaching methods we use and that’s why we lag behind when compared to other countries. Also I dont think parents are as involved as they use to be when it comes to early education and that leaves too much burden and strain on the system. Also all schools need to go green and benefit the environment.
Thank you Dennis for your well written article. I do not have personal experience of the American Education System but reading about the Public Charter Schools, there is a similar initative that is currently being advocated, marketed and implemented in the UK, under the guise of Free Schools. I think it is interesting that alternatives to the State System are explored. Educational advancements are of benefit to all and the privelege should be available to all equally. I am in favour of parental participation, including the local community and Business World. Schools should cater for all abilities and promote a child strengths. Traditional Academic subjects should compliment non vocational, music, arts and sports. A rounded education should ideally encompass all these areas. In respect of funding, I think that the funds should be made available in communities where deprivation is an influencing factor to non achievement. Ideally schools should operate as a community and offer out of school hours facilities to adults also. Inclusive education with areas of specialism seem to be the way forward in some countries. The Scandanavian countries and Asian continent appear to top the world school league tables. There is a lesson to be learnt from such research. Teacher training is another contributory factor. How to attract the best qualified teachers to such teaching environments.
A great read. Education truly is one of our greatest weapons. On top of the 4 initiatives listed above, I would like to see “Salary Improvement” added. Some schools have a much greater access to resources than others so I am glad attention is still being placed there. School should look inviting and safe. Schools should be inviting and safe.
Additionally, we cannot forgot our teachers. They help shape the minds of hundreds to thousands of children/people/knowledge seekers. Why are they paid so little? How many great teachers have we lost from the system because they simply could not make a living?
(1) I don’t think the new standards do enough to allow teachers the room to teach and not just hand out information. The standards are a good road map but not destination. Work needs to be done on allowing Teachers to have more space to teach in a way that students are retaining information over a long haul and not just long enough to pass standardized test.
(2) The DoED needs to create policy that is for the love of children and not the fear of children. Many children, mostly teens, in minority communities are being excessively punished for normal teenage behavior. Giving a teen a Principals suspension for wearing a hat to school for example is hurting the trust that students need to have in these institution. When a student is mouthing off to a teacher, which teens do, having a police officer remove the student is excessive and abusive.
(3) I would give the DoED a “C.”
Well done! The new standards are not good for students, it is providing a dis-service to the students who are failing & who actually do need the help & are not getting it. Sadly, most of these kids are in the urban areas and are disadvantaged. It is a poor excuse to not provide them with the necessary skills to succeed in life and/or to wind up in jail/prison or dead which will most likely happen and all because someone is just trying to make a dollar or bring their status up. No wonder these kids get discourage and dropout. If we as parents can see these and are frustrated can you imagine how they “really” feel on a daily basis
If you are going to provide grants to undeserved schools in rural and urban areas then you also need to provide the staff that is capable and willing to put in the effort to help these children all the way not just half way just because it looks good on their resumes.
My son is in elementary school and he attends an arts integration school in Montgomery County they have been awarded grants from various sources and I have yet to see any results; for instance he has been taken Italian for 3 years now and every blue moon I see something come home about what they learned which is a word or two. In 3 years I expect him to be able to carry on a conversation and no I don’t think that is asking too much. If the resources are going to be supplied again also provide staff that is willing to go that extra mile with the kids, staff that is willing to teach them and not be there just for a pay check? I am seeing too many young teachers that are not willing to put the time and energy in it.
What is the definition of “high quality” public charter schools? Why not invest that money all the way around the board. Invest it in really helping these kids succeed , prepare for life, prepare for their future, try to make something out of their lives, make their dreams come true and not make them fail by moving them forward without learning.
These policy makers are just doing what they need to do just to get by. What happened to it takes a village? Parents need to step up also and realize they are the 1st and sometimes the only advocates for their children! I give them a D!
Thanks for the great article on the Department of Education. Always learn something new from your articles.
I haven’t had a chance to see if the new standards are good yet since our school is teaching the new while also holding on the the old. I find it a bit overwhelming for the kids, personally. I suppose we’ll know more as the old standards are phased out.
I didn’t know, before this article exactly what the DoED does, and judging by the education I received and my children are receiving I would say they do quite a lot.
I’d give them a C+/B
GREAT Article Dennis! I wish that Teachers were paid like athletes and celebrities. Most of the people that we adore/adorn in society have achieved what they have achieved because they were taught by someone. More than likely, taught in a classroom by someone who will NEVER receive the compensation and recognition that they deserve. Education is the pathway to understanding and henceforth growth. I appreciate the standards and core curriculum that the DoED attempts to impose on schools to ensure that every student is educated at the same level, but eduction is personal, and although the framework can be laid, the student that needs to be built is contingent on several factors. Teachers need to have the funding and support to ensure that they can dedicate the resources and energy to help every student grow into citizens who contribute and give back! Another GREAT article!
Education, education, education! It is such a core component to the success in helping our children become functioning job-ready adults, but it seems like we don’t make the mark on so many levels. Giving teachers a decent salary is really only a surface issue. I taught middle school and high school (both special education) for two years and I quickly realized that it wasn’t for me. My students test scores increased significantly each grading period–we even had better scores than some of the “regular” ed classes. But, I got a lot of gripe from the principal for not teaching by the books. I taught based on the students learning style and gave them an environment where they could thrive. *gasp* It was during those moments that I realized that education problem comes from the top down, not the bottom up. There were folks who wanted to recruit me to the Principal/Leadership program–but, I felt like I would better serve on the outside knowing that the problem was bigger than children acing their standardized tests.
It would be great if DoED provided more professional development opportunities and programs for superintendents, principals, teachers, and support staff. Classroom management, adapting to learning styles, developing engaging lessons, building a partnership with parents and guardians, etc. are all important to fostering a positive educational environment that is conducive to learning. Allow teachers to be teachers. Guide principals. Provide real training for our educators and leaders within our system.
I hated No Child Left Behind (NCLB). And, from what I’ve heard about Common Core, I can’t say that I’m a huge fan. I get it in theory, but just like NCLB we quickly found that depriving schools of funding and resources to teach did not solve the problem. Forcing children and youth to think the same way isn’t going to help solve the education problem either.
I give DoED a C.
An interesting article on education and the impact that it’s policies can have on our country, states and most importantly to the communities where our students attend school. There are some significant changes in Education training and evaluation, several that you list above. These four stellar areas that you listed are also the most debated and controversial categories in the education space. Therefore, this is a solid conversation starter. Now, I would like to see a “Parental Certification of Engagement, Involvement and Advocacy on behalf of their student”.
Now, some required training for parents would be another controversial/stellar achievement. Good Work.
@Micheal Smith, that is a controversial idea. I, however, am all for parental involvement in their children’s achievement. Why? Because according to the ( ) parents who take an active role in their children’s education typically see high achievement. Thank you for stopping by.
@Jamie, thank you for being so candid in your response. It’s a shame that so many special education educators leave because of clashes with leadership.
Regarding Common Core, I heard a report on the radio a couple of weeks where private schools in Maryland where seeing a higher than usual interest and request for information from parents of public school students, who want no part of Common Core curriculum. I do think there is a lot of misinformation about the Common Core from its supporters and detractors.
@Tyrone, thank you for returning and sharing your comments. I agree standards are important and “learning is personal”–meaning new research shows that some of us have learning styles that aren’t always compatible with time-honored ways of teaching. Some private, public charter, and parochial schools have been extremely successful because those institutions recognize how to get the best out of every students–regardless of learning styles.
@Steph, Thanks for supporting our blog again. Yeah I agree with you that education’s evolution is overwhelming for parents, students, educators, and administrators. I just hope the right leaders emerge and that public school students get a world-class education they deserve.
@Earl, great points regarding salary. Do a search on teachers and salaries and you’ll likely see epic battles about salary cuts, layoffs, benefits reductions,. etc. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
@Andrea, thank you for sharing your point of view as a parent. I agree. All schools ought to be “high quality” regardless of their areas of specialization.
@Darryl wrote: “The standards are a good road map but not destination. ” Good food for thought. Thanks for sharing that nugget. Also thanks for once again supporting our blog.
@Fauzia, I agree education should be a priority for the usual suspects (students, parents, educators, administrators) as well as community and business leaders. Educated workforces fuel productivity and innovation. Thank you for sharing your thoughts education.
@Zuriel Loriez, the good news is that many new school construction is “.” About education, it will be interesting to see how new methods of teaching and instruction will play out in the next 10 years. Thanks for once again supporting our blog.
Thanks for writing such an excellent article on the different standards of educating our children. As an Associate Adjunct Professor at University of Maryland University College, we just recently changed the University on-line teaching plate-form in order to stay competitive in the online educational market. It is very ironic that I speak of education as if it’s a corporation because in today society, education is very competitive especially since subsidies provided by the Federal Government and States to support the public school systems have declined. In higher education, emphasis is place on maintaining recruitment numbers to maximize revenue with little focus on the quality and delivery of education. Given all the educational opportunities available, most students lack access and proper instructions to be competitive in this global society. In addition, we have a growing population of young parents who are unaware of today educational techniques to help their child supplement their overall learning experience at home. Sadly to say, Education has become the game of the “Haves and Have Nots.”
@Edward, You’ve given us a lot of food for thought. Thank you so much for sharing your perspective as a professor.