CHAPTER 12 Collin College EDUC 1301 How Should Education Be Reformed?

I. Welcome II. Chapter 12 – How Should Education Be Reformed? A. Elements of Reform B. Texas Educational Reform C. National Reform D. School Choice III. Homework – Lesson Plans Due April 26 Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

Schools can and must be improved. Effective school reform is needed, but, for various reason, likely impossible. Schools are the best they have ever been. Reform is not necessary. Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

Develop a Democratic Citizen Equity Understand democracy Global understanding Develop the Good Worker Skilled workforce Information-age teaching Develop the Good Person Develop moral responsibility Justice-compassion- serving mindset Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 School Choice  More academic learning time  Standards-based education  Higher expectations for teachers  Higher salaries for teachers  Increased graduation requirements Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Harlem Success Academy 100% students pass zone test compared to 58% of public school students  Reasons public schools unsuccessful (Eva Muskowitz) 1)bureaucracy 2)union 3)can’t fire teachers  365,000 children on waiting lists for Charter Schools Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 March 23, 2011  Plano Superintendent: Governor Perry’s Claims on School Funding “Disingenuous” and “Idiocy”(Audio) | Scott Braddock Plano Superintendent: Governor Perry’s Claims on School Funding “Disingenuous” and “Idiocy”(Audio) | Scott Braddock Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Excellence High Standards/Accountability (p ) High-Stakes Standardized Testing (p ) Active Learning (p ) A Sense of Community (p ) Life-long Learning (p ) Character Education (p ) Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Group Task Choose a role  Governor, Legislator, Superintendent, School Board Member, Parent Discuss priorities from your position regarding the school funding shortages 10 minutes to work 2 minutes to present Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Performance often measured by standardized tests Achievement tests, minimum competency tests High-stakes testing  Danger of teaching to the test “Lake Wobegon” effect  Authentic assessment promoted as alternative to standardized tests Portfolios, performances Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Knowledge must be constructed in the mind by each learner, rather than transmitted.  Learners constantly reconstruct their mental knowledge as new information becomes available.  Active learning - curriculum should involve students in real situations that let them use and reconstruct prior knowledge as new information is presented. Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Needed to combat growing disengagement of students  Movement inspired by “urban sanctuaries” discovered by social researchers  Schools-within-schools “Houses” of 100 to 400 students Stay together and with same teachers several years Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Methods for remembering  Note-taking methods  Study reading  Research skills  Preparing for different kinds of tests  Systematic problem solving  Creativity  Work habits, self-regulation to “get the job done” Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

For  Impossible to teach academics if moral conduct is not encouraged  Values needed for democratic participation are appropriate for all public-school students Against  Public schools should focus only on academics  Difficult to define universal values Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 National Educational Goals Well-intentioned, but not achievable  No Child Left Behind  National Standards Difficult because of decentralized state control Curriculum organizations offer widely-used standards  National Voluntary Networks Schools & districts  High-school reform - governors’ coalition Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

Public School Choice Choice of schools within a district Sometimes between districts Magnet Schools Public schools with specific themes Charter Schools Public schools chartered to be run independently Voucher Plans Public money to attend private school Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

For  Families have widest possible range of education choices  Free-market competition will force schools to improve Good schools get stronger Bad schools “go out of business” Against  Schools, rather than families, choose Those not accepted remain in public system  Voucher amounts not enough for most private schools  Reduces funds for public schools  Public money could support religious schools Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved