© 2008 by Educational Research Service Answering the Critics of Public Schools: Dr. John Draper Chief Executive Officer Educational Research Service Presenting and Analyzing Important Educational Issues

Bubba got a cell phone... Bubba and Earl worked weekends at the marina... Priest, Minister, and Preacher...

The public perception of school administration is that it is a large bureaucracy diverting critical resources from instruction. But can this perception be backed up with facts? © 2008 by Educational Research Service Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, VA NO!

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service Administration is an unnecessary burden on schools and should be curtailed. The Perception: FALSE!

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service  Leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to what students learn at school.  Leadership effects are usually largest where and when they are needed most. Source: Review of Research: How Leadership Influences Student Learning (Leithwood, Louis, Anderson, & Wahlstrom, 2004).

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service Superintendent Leadership The correlation between an effective superintendent and student learning equates to almost 10 percentile points on standardized assessments. This finding stands in sharp contrast to the notion that district administration is a part of what former Secretary of Education William Bennett characterized as an amorphous “blob” that soaks up valuable resources without adding value to a district’s instructional program. SOURCE: School District Leadership that Works: The Effect of Superintendent Leadership on Student Achievement. ERS Spectrum (Waters & Marzano, 2007).

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service There are too many administrators. The Perception: FALSE!

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service Number of Persons Employed Per Executive, Administrator, and/or Manager in Selected Industries, 2003 SOURCE: Data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2003) and analyzed by Educational Research Service. Note: The Bureau of Labor Statistics changed its reporting procedures following 2003, and this type of analysis cannot be done for more recent years.

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service The number of school administrators is growing rapidly and at the expense of instruction. The Perception: FALSE!

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service Percentage of Staff Employed by Public School Districts, by Category Sources: Public Elementary and Secondary School Enrollment, High School Completions, and Staff from the Common Core of Data: School Year (Sable & Garofano, 2007) and Public School Student Staff and Graduate Counts by State, School Year (National Center for Education Statistics, 1997)  Teachers52.0%51.2%  Instructional aides  Counselors, librarians, and instructional coordinators  Student and other support staff (library aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, etc.)  School administrators  School district administrators1.01.1

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service Changes in Pupil-Staff Ratios, to  4.3% decline nationally in average pupil/teacher ratio, to 15.5 pupils per teacher in  4.0% decline in average pupil/central office administrator ratios, to 501 pupils per central office administrator Source: Staffing Patterns in Public School Systems: Current Status and Trends, Update 2008 (Educational Research Service, 2008).

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service School administrators are paid too much. The Perception: FALSE!

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia Comparing 2007 Average Salaries (2007 Bureau of Labor Statistics) Teachers$50,936 Elem/Sec Principals 82, x Flight attendant$62,880 Pilot/CoPilot148, x Accountant/Auditor$63,180 CEO/Manager151, x Paralegal/Legal Asst$47,600 Lawyer118, x Nurse$62,480 Family Doctor167, x

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service Comparing Annual Salaries and Daily Pay Rates, Average Salary Days on Duty Daily Rates Teachers$49,195186$ Elementary Principals 81, Junior High/Middle School Principals 88, Senior High Principals 90, Assistant Superintendents112, Superintendents125, SOURCE: Salaries and Wages Paid Professional and Support Personnel in Public Schools Data weighted to generate nationally representative averages (Educational Research Service, 2008a). Comparison with Teacher Salary

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service Increasing amounts of school budgets are going to administration. The Perception: FALSE!

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service Average Percentage of Operating Expenditures Allocated to Various Functional Categories Sources: Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year (Zhou, 2008) and Digest of Education Statistics 2004 (National Center for Education Statistics, 2005)  Instruction64.6%63.5%  Instructional staff support  Student support services  General administration  School administration  Operations and maintenance  Transportation  Other support services2.93.3

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service A lot of money is going to administration that could be better spent for other purposes. The Perception: FALSE!

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service School District Operating Expenditures, Other Support Services 3.3% School Administration 5.8% Operations & Maintenance 10.3% General Administration 2.1% SOURCE: Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year (Zhou, 2008). Instruction 63.5% Instructional Staff Support 5.1% Student Support Services 5.4% Transportation 4.4%

Educational Research Service 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia © 2008 by Educational Research Service “The data reveal that average administrative expenditures in education generally do not support the theory of the administrative ‘blob’… Expenditures on administration tend to be modest by comparison to benchmarks for other organizations.” Finance Center of the Consortium for Policy Research in Education

Research—Let’s be Honest! We’re Choking On it!

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So What Facts Do You Need to Know to Answer the Critics of Public Education?

Arguing about NCLB is like asking “How do you want me to cut off your arm?” Either way—you lose your arm!

The AYP Race We are running a marathon that we cannot win… against competition that cannot lose!

STATEWIDE AYP GOALS APPLIES TO ALL STUDENT GROUPS IN EVERY SCHOOL AND SCHOOL SYSTEM

NCLB is a Noble Goal But a Horrible Measure of Success!

A mom went to visit her college-attending son to see his new apartment and meet his new roommate...

To maintain our schools we need... Political Skill and Public Support

As a school leader you have a responsibility on behalf of your students to engage with state and national issues!

How are America’s public schools? We’re Hurting! Learning First Alliance Survey Shared Unsettling Results

The Main Trend Shaping Attitudes Toward All Our Institutions, Including Education: Is a declining trust / confidence in most public institutions

What are the most important goals for schools? 1.Teaching students hard work and responsibility 2.Cultivating respectful and responsible behavior 3.Providing equal access to a quality education for all 4.Contributing to strong family values

What are the most important goals for schools? 5.Giving students the skills and knowledge they need for success 6.Encouraging students to respect others for who they are 7.Preparing students to be life- long learners

Do you believe... Public Education is the Backbone of American Democracy

Do you believe... Education is the Backbone of American Democracy

Parents still prefer Public Schools to Private Schools... But by a very narrow margin!

The Danger with NCLB is that... We focus all our resources on “leaving no child behind” winning the battle and losing the war!

A long-married husband and wife went for a walk and passed a wishing well... One person’s wish is another’s demise!

Southern Baptist Convention parents who …send their children to government schools…and are receiving a Godless, anti-Christian education...” encourages all churches to work vigorously...to provide or generously support (1) Christian schools, (2) home- schooling, and (3) alternative models for providing Christian education

We must change the conversation! Godless, government schools Selfish, union employees Leaving children behind Caring, community schools Dedicated, public servants Every Child Every Chance

Caring, Community Schools Staffed with Dedicated, Public Servants Providing Every Child Every Chance for Success

What can YOU do about it? Talk about the good things. Don’t talk about the bad apples in the bunch, talk about the golden apples! Talk to your board, the media, at church, at the ball field, and around town. Talk about the possibilities and the successes—not the shortcomings.

We must reclaim the Moral High Ground! We accept all children We feed hungry children every day We teach, inspire and discipline We pass out hugs and wipe away tears “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name, welcomes me.”

Miracles Happen Everyday in Public Schools! “More of God’s work is done every day in public schools than in any other institution in America!” Frosty Troy

Speak to American Values! If students get a good education they become productive members of society. Most Americans who have worked their way out of poverty... Healthy communities need strong public schools.

Speak to American Values! Without free public schools problems like crime and welfare... Public Schools are the engine of opportunity for all Americans. Miracles happen everyday in public schools!

Caring, community schools providing every child every chance for success!

We are engaged in the most noble battle of our time! Let’s build more bridges... “The Bridgebuilder”

© 2008 by Educational Research Service Answering the Critics of Public Schools: Dr. John Draper Chief Executive Officer Presenting and Analyzing Important Educational Issues

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© 2008 by Educational Research Service Answering the Critics of Public Schools: Dr. John Draper Chief Executive Officer Presenting and Analyzing Important Educational Issues