School Reform ET-ETP

What is the Purpose of School? Help us compete in global economy Study science, math, and technology so we can compete with India and China Obtain high scores on international tests Just teach reading, writing and arithmetic Develop character Promote creativity Develop good American citizens

Two Major Purposes of School 1. Transmitting Society’s Knowledge and Values passing along cultural values 2. Reconstructing Society tools for social change Reconstructionists see society as broken and in need of repair

MOMENTS IN AMERICA FOR CHILDREN July 2011 Every second a public school student is suspended.* Every 8 seconds a high school student drops out.* Every 18 seconds a baby is born to an unmarried mother. Every 20 seconds a public school student is corporally punished.* Every 21 seconds a child is arrested. Every 34 seconds a baby is born into poverty. Every 42 seconds a child is confirmed as abused or neglected. Every 42 seconds a baby is born without health insurance. Every minute a baby is born to a teen mother. Every 2 minutes a baby is born at low birthweight. Every 4 minutes a child is arrested for a drug offense. Every 8 minutes a child is arrested for a violent offense. Every 18 minutes a baby dies before his or her first birthday. Every 45 minutes a child or teen dies from an accident. Every 3 hours a child or teen is killed by a firearm. Every 5 hours a child or teen commits suicide. Every 5 hours a child is killed by abuse or neglect. Every 16 hours a woman dies from complications of childbirth or pregnancy. * Based on calculations per school day (180 days of seven hours each).

EQ: What are current school reform options and why are they so popular? 1981 James Coleman proposed private schools better than public schools 1983 A Nation at Risk--- –Declining test scores –Weak performance of U.S. Student compared with students in other industrialized nations –Fear U.S. losing ground economically –High % of functionally illiterate Americans –Increased the number of standardized tests

EQ: What are current school reform options and why are they so popular? 1984 John Goodlad’s study A Place Called School researched 300 years of documents Four main goals that parents, students, and teachers rated as very important –Academic –Vocational –Social and civic –Personal

EQ: What are current school reform options and why are they so popular? 1993 study, Catholic schools educating inner-city students better and cheaper Late 1980s-Many public schools were disasters Early 2000s Bill Gates; To compete on global scale, needed to fix schools, so he committed several billion to American schools; –Three Rs now should be: –Rigor, Relevance, Relationships 2009 McKinsey & Co. report-The Economic Gap in America’s Schools; put a dollar figure cost on poor education system 2009 Reform movement growing-more choices

Reform Movements School choice Charter school Vouchers Magnet Schools Open enrollment Schools.com Schools for profit Home schools Green schools Full Service schools

Students needed more choices Milton Friedman, economist –First to suggest shutting down poor schools –Weak because it was monopoly –Schools should compete –Wealthy did have a choice Could move to better school area Attend private school Voucher plan

Charter Schools 1990-Minnesota created first Now 5000 in over 40 states Contract with local state or school board Exempt from state and local regulations No admissions tests Nonsectarian Requires a demonstrable improvement in performance Can be closed if it does not meet expectations- ALLOWED TO RUN FOR FIXED AMOUNT OF TIME Receives funding based on the number of students enrolled What is a charter school?

Waiting On Superman Watch the video Answer these questions: –What is your initial reaction to the movie? –Do you feel that WGHS is “broken”? –What suggestions do you have to reform education in America? –Choose a modern-day education reformer and research

KIPP Charter Schools (Knowledge is Power Program) Five principles –More time –High expectations –Choice and commitment –Power to lead –Focus on results – % of KIPP graduates went to college- preparatory high schools –Challenge-keeping their kids in school

Vouchers An admission ticket to any school in the country, public or private (voucher=taxpayer money) According to Friedman: Gov’t gives families vouchers Parents chose a school Turn in the voucher Schools exchange vouchers for cash from gov’t Good schools will have a lot of cash Poor schools will not

Magnet Schools Offers one or more special programs such as science, math or performing arts that is so excellent, it draws students like a magnet A way to desegregate schools-set up in inner city areas to attract white students =fvwrelhttp:// =fvwrel elatedhttp:// elated elmfuhttp:// elmfu

Open Enrollment 1988 Minnesota –Students could attend any school Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and other states joined Today, more than 40 states allow open enrollment Read the Profile in Education on page 163 in your textbook. In your opinion, what American values are reflected— or undermined—in school choice?

Schools.com A type of distance learning –Provided by means of T.V. the Internet, and other technologies –1990s-first VHS began in UT, FL, and MA –Today, k-12 online learning programs in about half the states –700,000 children participate –2006 Michigan-1 st state to require at least one online course for graduation\ –Ga Virtual Schoolhttp:// –K12.com scenes/science/ scenes/science/ –Students report that they find virtual courses more personal, interactive, and individualized than typical high school classes –Why do you think this is so?

Schools for Profit EMO-educational maintenance organizations –Companies that run schools to yield a profit for their stockholders –Edison Schools 1990 Whittle offered Yale President Schmidt a million dollars to run the company –Lengthen school day by 1-2 hours –School year-from 180 to 210 »This adds 2 more years of study by grad –More time on math, science, foreign lang. –Use proven programs for math and reading –Learning contracts –Computers at home south-carolina –Studies showing that Edison schools not doing any better than public schools – –In your teams, read the information on page 166 in your textbooks in “You Be the Judge: For-Profit Schools –Discuss your responses to the questions –Be prepared to share with the class

Homeschooling 30 years ago-12,500 students homeschooled Today-1 to 2 million Why do you think it has increased? Ideologues-focus on teaching certain values Pedagogues-focus on educational goals Read paragraph on page 167 that describes a homeschooling scenario

Homeschooling Pros –Outperform traditionally educate students on standardized test and social skills –Earn higher GPAs in college –More self-directed and willing to take risks Cons –Social isolation????

Green Schools EPA-over 60,000,000 people spend their days in schools Half of all school-unsatisfactory indoor enviormental conditions 1 in 5 have unhealthy air quality 1/3 in need of extensive repair Green Schools –Promote clean air and water quality –Healthy and natural foods –Recycling –Nontoxic cleaners –Alternative means of transportation –Promote energy conservation – 12/what.aspxhttp:// 12/what.aspx – –

Full Service School Learning cannot occur if the BASIC needs of the students and parents are not met Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needshttp:// KAhttp:// KA Provides network of social services –Nutrition –health care –Transportation –Counseling –Parent education

Five-Factor Theory of Effective Schools 1. Strong leadership 2. A clear school mission 3. A safe and orderly climate 4. Monitoring student progress 5. High expectations Survey Monkey project: 10 Traits of an Effective High School