More ideas at least give schools more choices
Dallas Morning News: With near-daily headlines trumpeting the latest education study by the latest group of experts based on the latest data, Americans probably feel yanked in 10 directions.
That was our reaction upon reading the "idea report" that arrived last week with signatures from former secretaries of education, respected superintendents and local and state leaders.
One "big think" point from the "Tough Choices, Tough Times" study, which the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation partly bankrolled, was requiring only students who want to go to college to attend 11th and 12th grade. Another headline-grabber was hiking starting pay for teachers. A third was starting school at age 3.
It's easy to grow frustrated when reports reach for the sky, instead of maintaining some sense of grounding. By that, we mean tackling the most fundamental problems first -- like preparing middle schoolers for algebra.
Realistic view
Actually, the authors of this latest report recognize that school boards aren't going to adopt every idea. So the value of this study, by the nonpartisan National Center on Education and the Economy, rests in generating discussion about how we best educate students in this country.
That's a discussion worth having every hour, minute and second, given America's need for a creative workforce. Urban districts especially wrestle with preparing their students, since many come from disadvantaged backgrounds. For instance, the suggestion to start children in school at age 3 could help big-city teachers, such as those in Dallas, get students learning at grade level by early elementary years.
It's also worth discussing the proposal to create personal savings accounts modeled on the GI bill. The feds would kick in 500 when a child is born and lesser amounts until a child reaches 16. Individuals and employers alike could contribute so workers could use the accounts to get the continual training they will need to stay abreast of a fast-changing economy. The costs need fleshing out, but Congress should hear more about this proposal.
No one plan can propel all schools; educators and parents need to find the ideas that work best for their campus. The real value of this report is that it adds to the choices on the table.