The American Teacher Federation agrees that the Obama's "have every right to make a decision that works for their family and their kids" when it comes to education BUT both AFT and the president-elect still do not support school choice for anyone else. How is this fair?! It is not.
Okay for Obamas to Send Their Kids to Private Schools, Teachers’ Union President Says
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Charter School Interest Grows in Columbia, MO
Current state law only allows charter schools in St. Louis and Kansas City, which is simply not fair!
As a previous blog notes, Columbia Public schools are failing to educate all students adequately. However, most families (especially those with lower income) lack any practical alternative.
There are two people in particular that already expressed interest in providing Columbia parents greater options through charter schools. Myke Gemkow, who plans to open a private Montessori school for low-income children, would definitely look into charter school opportunities. And Joelle Quoirin would open a French immersion school.
Charter schools have proven to produce positive results. A Harvard University researcher found that students in charter schools score significantly higher on reading and math tests than peers in traditional schools. Furthermore, charter schools are among the top performing schools in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas when it comes to Missouri Assessment Program test scores.
Basically, Missouri needs expanded charter school laws for equality for parents and children!
Read the Columbia Tribune Story.
As a previous blog notes, Columbia Public schools are failing to educate all students adequately. However, most families (especially those with lower income) lack any practical alternative.
There are two people in particular that already expressed interest in providing Columbia parents greater options through charter schools. Myke Gemkow, who plans to open a private Montessori school for low-income children, would definitely look into charter school opportunities. And Joelle Quoirin would open a French immersion school.
Charter schools have proven to produce positive results. A Harvard University researcher found that students in charter schools score significantly higher on reading and math tests than peers in traditional schools. Furthermore, charter schools are among the top performing schools in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas when it comes to Missouri Assessment Program test scores.
Basically, Missouri needs expanded charter school laws for equality for parents and children!
Read the Columbia Tribune Story.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Artistic School Choice Video
Though 'voucher' has been turned into a dirty word, the underlying school choice theme behind a voucher system is a desirable and actually necessary aspect for any real education improvement.
The video uses simple and artistic means to convey the benefits of competition and accountability. Because parents want only high-performing schools for their children, only those schools that achieve at the top level (and continue to maintain impressive results) will survive. And obviously, any school system that grants ALL children a proper education is the common goal driving families, educators and politicians in the area of education reform.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
National School Choice Campaign
School choice deserves support!
Many groups and individuals are passionately crusading for improvements in education through school choice. The Alliance for School Choice launched a new Let Parents Choose campaign last week with a goal of enlisting 10,000 school choice activists.
Registering at www.letparentschoose.org will get you free school choice bumper stickers, handbooks and magazines. There is also a place for sharing your story, donating money, reading up on education research and social-networking though a facebook group.
Another aspect to the campaign is aimed at not allowing shocking and disturbing statistics of failing public schools go unnoticed. For example, Approximately 4 million children are attending underperforming schools in America, despite the best efforts of many educators. What's more, a child drops out of school every 26 seconds!! That adds up to more then 1 million drop-outs every year!
Many groups and individuals are passionately crusading for improvements in education through school choice. The Alliance for School Choice launched a new Let Parents Choose campaign last week with a goal of enlisting 10,000 school choice activists.
Registering at www.letparentschoose.org will get you free school choice bumper stickers, handbooks and magazines. There is also a place for sharing your story, donating money, reading up on education research and social-networking though a facebook group.
Another aspect to the campaign is aimed at not allowing shocking and disturbing statistics of failing public schools go unnoticed. For example, Approximately 4 million children are attending underperforming schools in America, despite the best efforts of many educators. What's more, a child drops out of school every 26 seconds!! That adds up to more then 1 million drop-outs every year!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
School Choice for the Obama Family
As the Obama’s move into the white house they will face the same decision of millions of families across the county will encounter—what school can offer the best education for their children?
Public schools are, of course, the first option. But if these schools are constantly failing to produce results, then this is hardly a contending alternative at all. In fact, being stuck in a public school is more like a parental nightmare!
In some lucky cities there is the publicly funded, privately run option of charter schools. (Obama has thankfully supported this form of parental choice). However, admission is by random by lottery and slots fill up extremely fast.
The other alternative is private schools. Obviously, the Obama’s can financially afford this school choice option, however many families simply can not. The predicted private school decision of the Obama’s will shed pertinent light on the lack of fairness in America’s educational system.
With the future president determining that private schools offer their children superior education, will he still maintain his stance against all private schools voucher models? How could he deny low-income families the same opportunities his children are enjoying? Do his kids deserve more and better opportunity then those with less fortunate economic family circumstance? These questions display the obvious importance of parental school choice.
Clearly it is only morally fair to offer every parent the ability to choose the best for their child. It is extremely important that every child is offered opportunity beyond their family’s income level. Therefore, school choice is the only way to instill the ethical principle of fairness into the education system, while reaping the rewards of improved schools and more educated children!
Want More?
The Chicago Tribune has a comprehensive story on the Obama family and presidential school decisions.
USA Today offers an in-depth look at the specific school options the Obama's will have.
And the Wall Street Journal has a popular blog on the issue.
Public schools are, of course, the first option. But if these schools are constantly failing to produce results, then this is hardly a contending alternative at all. In fact, being stuck in a public school is more like a parental nightmare!
In some lucky cities there is the publicly funded, privately run option of charter schools. (Obama has thankfully supported this form of parental choice). However, admission is by random by lottery and slots fill up extremely fast.
The other alternative is private schools. Obviously, the Obama’s can financially afford this school choice option, however many families simply can not. The predicted private school decision of the Obama’s will shed pertinent light on the lack of fairness in America’s educational system.
With the future president determining that private schools offer their children superior education, will he still maintain his stance against all private schools voucher models? How could he deny low-income families the same opportunities his children are enjoying? Do his kids deserve more and better opportunity then those with less fortunate economic family circumstance? These questions display the obvious importance of parental school choice.
Clearly it is only morally fair to offer every parent the ability to choose the best for their child. It is extremely important that every child is offered opportunity beyond their family’s income level. Therefore, school choice is the only way to instill the ethical principle of fairness into the education system, while reaping the rewards of improved schools and more educated children!
Want More?
The Chicago Tribune has a comprehensive story on the Obama family and presidential school decisions.
USA Today offers an in-depth look at the specific school options the Obama's will have.
And the Wall Street Journal has a popular blog on the issue.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Columbia Public Schools are Failing Black Students
The Columbia Daily Tribune: News Story or Blog
The Board of Education dedicated at the meeting last night that the Columbia Public Schools were failing its black students. White students are significantly outperforming their black peers on MAP scores and other achievement statistics throughout the state. However, when comparing achievement statewide based on race, Columbia’s black students are doing well below the state average, while the Columbia’s white students are doing above (which NOT correlate with income level). This means the city suffers from an especially large racial achievement gap.
While it is good that these problems are not being ignored, it is extremely important that something is done about these unfortunate statistics. Every student deserves a proper education! In the face of several failed reforms, school choice remains a viable answer. School choice encourages parents to take an active role in their child’s education by empowering them with options. School choice would, more importantly, offer families outraged at this data the ability to make the proper changes for their children.
The Board of Education dedicated at the meeting last night that the Columbia Public Schools were failing its black students. White students are significantly outperforming their black peers on MAP scores and other achievement statistics throughout the state. However, when comparing achievement statewide based on race, Columbia’s black students are doing well below the state average, while the Columbia’s white students are doing above (which NOT correlate with income level). This means the city suffers from an especially large racial achievement gap.
While it is good that these problems are not being ignored, it is extremely important that something is done about these unfortunate statistics. Every student deserves a proper education! In the face of several failed reforms, school choice remains a viable answer. School choice encourages parents to take an active role in their child’s education by empowering them with options. School choice would, more importantly, offer families outraged at this data the ability to make the proper changes for their children.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Charter Schools Offer Choices for KC Parents
The parental choice that charter schools offer is becoming an increasingly enticing option for Kansas City families—as 15 percent more students enrolled in charter schools this year.
Charter schools are run by independent boards. This often allows them freedom from ineffective bureaucratic administrations—leading to more efficient fund management and specialized policies. In fact, charter schools are held accountable for maintaining this effectiveness through basic market forces. Parents would not bother to enroll their children in a charter school if at any point they believed the regular public schools would better serve their child. Charter schools also force parents to become more actively involved in their child’s life—significantly improving discipline, by comparison.
Because of the many benefits of school choice--specifically through charter schools--it is extremely promising to see these statistics in Kansas City. According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, around 23 percent of schoolchildren in Kansas City public schools are getting their education at one of the city’s 18 public charter schools—which totals about 7,000 students. That puts the city sixth among U.S. communities in the percentage of public school students enrolled in charter schools.
“Charter Schools on the Rise in KC”—the story from the Kansas City Star
Charter schools are run by independent boards. This often allows them freedom from ineffective bureaucratic administrations—leading to more efficient fund management and specialized policies. In fact, charter schools are held accountable for maintaining this effectiveness through basic market forces. Parents would not bother to enroll their children in a charter school if at any point they believed the regular public schools would better serve their child. Charter schools also force parents to become more actively involved in their child’s life—significantly improving discipline, by comparison.
Because of the many benefits of school choice--specifically through charter schools--it is extremely promising to see these statistics in Kansas City. According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, around 23 percent of schoolchildren in Kansas City public schools are getting their education at one of the city’s 18 public charter schools—which totals about 7,000 students. That puts the city sixth among U.S. communities in the percentage of public school students enrolled in charter schools.
“Charter Schools on the Rise in KC”—the story from the Kansas City Star
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Compition Factor of School Choice
When going down the cereal isle at any grocery store there is hundreds of different brands to choose from. Why are these companies always coming out with new flavors, improved ingredients and tempting ascetic gimmicks? The answer: COMPETITION. This same marketplace philosophy of improvement though choice MUST be applied to Missouri schools.
With parental choice options public schools will be forced to finally begin must needed system-wide revamping to maintain students. Private schools will also be motivated for high-quality achievement in order to entice local families. With a school choice model, children win. They would no longer be stuck in failing schools.
Some try to argue that school choice will hurt public schools—which is simply not true! Great schools will not be affected. (Aren’t there still Cheerios and Wheaties?). It is only the schools that are currently unacceptable that will be forced to improve.
Though the future of our children is obviously an extremely more important and sensitive subject then breakfast food, today’s economy forces even the most passionate institutions to face this market-driven society. The bottom-line is: our children deserve a first-rate education and this is possible using school choice!
School Choice: A Market Approach to Education Reform
With parental choice options public schools will be forced to finally begin must needed system-wide revamping to maintain students. Private schools will also be motivated for high-quality achievement in order to entice local families. With a school choice model, children win. They would no longer be stuck in failing schools.
Some try to argue that school choice will hurt public schools—which is simply not true! Great schools will not be affected. (Aren’t there still Cheerios and Wheaties?). It is only the schools that are currently unacceptable that will be forced to improve.
Though the future of our children is obviously an extremely more important and sensitive subject then breakfast food, today’s economy forces even the most passionate institutions to face this market-driven society. The bottom-line is: our children deserve a first-rate education and this is possible using school choice!
School Choice: A Market Approach to Education Reform
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
YOUR KIDS ARE LESS LIKELY TO GRADUATE THAN YOU!
Seriously! Your kids are less likely to graduate than you were! It is startling, scary and unfortunately true reality (according to a recent governmental report). Clearly reform must happen now! Schools need to be held accountable to increase graduation rates—ultimately allowing our children opportunities that only a full education can provide. We must pursue proper reforms, therefore not allowing schools to continue down this slippery slop. The horrendous graduation problem is more then just a statistic. Behind every single dropout number, there is a child with severely inadequate education and limited opportunities, there are families stuck in unfortunate situations and there are the consequences this has one the entire community. Parents need to ensure that state and school officials face these facts and enact the necessary reforms supporting our schools. We need to see more of our students in caps and gowns. Effectively proven education reforms are the answer to the appalling dropout crisis.
More on the graduation crisis from KSDK
Or AP Education Writer: Dropout Improvement
More on the graduation crisis from KSDK
Or AP Education Writer: Dropout Improvement
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