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9/11-15/08 
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EDUCATION REFORM
FACTS & LINKS
QUOTES
"Education: public education is the foundation of our democracy- the stepping stones for our youth to reach their full potential.
Traditional education can be extremely isolating- the curriculum is often abstract & not relevant to real life, teachers & students don't connect with resources & experts outside of the classroom, & schools operate as if they were seperate from their communities.
Project-based learning, student teams working cooperatively, students connecting with passionate experts, & broader forms of assessment can dramatically improve student learning. New digital multimedia & telecommunications can support these practices & engage our students. And well-prepared educators are critical." -George Lucas
"The good Education of Youth has been esteemed by wise Men in all Ages, as the surest Foundation of the Happiness both of private Families and of Common-wealths. Almost all Governments have therefore made it a principal Object of their Attention, to establish and endow with proper Revenues, such Seminaries of Learning, as might supply the succeeding Age with Men qualified to serve the Publick with Honour to themselves, and to their Country." -Benjamin Franklin,
Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania, 1749
"Education remains the key to both economic & polital empowerment."
- Barbara Jordan
FACTS
One out of every three students drops out of our public schools each year. The Alliance for Excellent education estimates that each high school dropout earns about $260,000 less than a high school graduate over his or her life time. The alliance also reports that dropouts not only earn less money but also drain state & federal budgets through their dependence on social & welfare programs. Increasing the male graduation rate a mere 5 percent would add $2.8 billion in earnings to the U.S. economy. Those students who drop out make up nearly half the heads of households on welfare, & the Justice Department data show high school dropouts make up 75% of America's state prison inmates, almost 59% of federal inmates, & 69% of those in jail. The overall cost to our society is overwhelming.
In 2007 we spent $488 billion on public schools (pre-kindergarten to 12th grade) & yet over 60% of 12th graders can't read or write at the proficiency level, 1 out of every 5 adults can't read or write at all. We are now spending nearly $9,000 per student each year in our public schools. Canada spends only $5,947, Japan spends $5,913 on each student & their kids are better educated than ours.
- LINKS
- Class Size Matters
Nonprofit, non-partisan clearinghouse for information on class size and the proven benefits of smaller classes. Class Size Matters also advocates for class size reduction in NYC, where students are disadvantaged by having the largest classes in the state and some of the largest in the nation.
www.classsizematters.org - Reduce Class Size Now
Dedicated to the quality of education in the classrooms of America.
www.reduceclasssizenow.org - Heros, Inc: Class Size Research
Includes research results and links to articles about the benefits of class size reduction.
www.heros-inc.org/classsizeresearch.htm - U.S. Department of Education Class Size Reduction Program
Includes achived information about legislation and program implementation. The Class-Size Reduction Program was incorporated into the ESEA Title II Teacher Quality block grant in 2002.
www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/ClassSize/index.html - Education World School Issues Center: Class Size
Find links to archived articles about research on how class size affects student performance.
www.educationworld.com/a_issues/archives/class_size.shtml - National Education Association: Class Size
Includes positions on the issue of class size reduction, and links to articles and local resources. NEA supports a class size of 15 students in regular programs and even smaller in programs for students with exceptional needs.
www.nea.org/classsize - Can School Districts Capitalize on the Benefits of Smaller Classes?
Explains various aspects of the issue of class size reduction. From the Clearinghouse on Educational Policy and Management at the University of Oregon.
eric.uoregon.edu/publications/policy_reports/class_size/intro.html - Education Commision of the States: Class Size
Browse through information on class-size reduction. Find summaries on research findings; details about federal, state, and school district initiatives; and links to other organizations.
www.ecs.org/html/issue.asp?issueid=24 - Benefits of Small Class Size
Information from the American Federation of Teachers about evidence demonstrating that reducing class size has a positive effect on student achievement.
www.aft.org/topics/classsize - Life&Times: 40 Students in a Class?
Blog from a reporter who visited an Los Angeles Unified School District classroom with 39 students. Read the story, watch videos, and find insider viewpoints on the class size issue.
www.kcet.org/lifeandtimes/blog/?p=126 - CSR Research Consortium
Partnership researching California's class size reduction reform. Includes a summary of findings published in June, 1999 and August, 2002.
www.classize.org - National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
Also known as "the Nation's Report Card," it is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas such as reading, mathematics, science, writing, U.S. history, civics, geography, and the arts.
nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard - Rethinking Schools: Race and the Achievement Gap
Article from the public education journal Rethinking Schools that gives the historical explanations and present-day consequences of the achievement gap between white and minority students.
www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/15_04/Race154.shtml - Closing the Achievement Gap: Two Views from Current Research
Compares the findings and recommendations of two studies on minority student achievement. From the ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education.
www.ericdigests.org/2004-3/gap.html - PBS: Closing the Achievement Gap (2004)
PBS documentary by Clarence Page that explores the achievement gap in American schools. Features Amistad Academy, a charter school in New Haven, Connecticut that is closing the gap.
www.pbs.org/closingtheachievementgap - Wikipedia: Achievement Gap
Explains the achievement gap between the educational performance of groups of students. Includes graphs showing test scores grouped by race. Also discusses reforms to combat the gap.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achievement_gap - Educational Research Service: What Can Schools Do to Reduce the Achievement Gap?
Overview of the achievement gap in schools. Includes a summary of causes and possible solutions. Part of the ERS On the Same Page series.
www.ers.org/otsp/otsp3.htm - Education Commission of the States: Closing the Achievement Gap
ECS Issue Site that addresses the problem of the academic achievement gap between white and minority students. Find readings, research summaries, and statistical information on the causes and effects of the gap. Also includes links to related issues.
www.ecs.org/html/issue.asp?issueID=194 - NEA: Closing the Achievement Gap
Article from the National Education Association on closing the achievement gap. Includes historical background and strategies to improve minority achievement.
www.nea.org/teachexperience/gapk050707.html - National School Boards Association: Class and the Classroom
Article about the achievement gap between poor and middle-class black and white children in American schools. By Richard Rothstein.
www.nsba.org/site/doc.asp?TRACKID=&VID=2&CID=1234&DID=34723 - Edwin Javius: Can We Really Talk (PDF)
Edwin Javius' article for K-12 educators about race and racism in American schools. Discusses starting "courageus conversations" with colleagues and students to close the academic achievement gap.
www.acsa.org/doc_files/CanWeRea.pdf - National Governors Association: Closing the Achievement Gap
Explores state efforts to close the academic achievement gap, strategies and solutions, and pitfalls for policymakers to avoid. From the National Govenors Association Center for Best Practices.
www.subnet.nga.org/educlear/achievement - U.S. Department of Education: Achievement Gap
Read reports from the U.S. Department of Education about how No Child Left Behind (NCLB) provides stronger accountability to close the achievement gap in public schools.
www.ed.gov/nclb/accountability/achieve/edpicks.jhtml - Forbes.com: The Achievement Gap
Forbes article about the achievement gap between African Americans and non-blacks. Discusses how economics affects the problem. By Tim Harford.
www.forbes.com/2007/02/25/economics-discrimination-education-lead_achieve07... - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Closing the Achievement Gap
Position statement of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) on closing the achievement gap.
www.nctm.org/about/content.aspx?id=6350 - School Choices
Includes articles on school choice, vouchers, charter schools, and more.
www.schoolchoices.org - School Choice Info
Includes research, daily news, parent profiles, and summaries of Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Florida school voucher programs.
www.schoolchoiceinfo.org - Citizens For Educational Freedom
Group promoting parental choice regarding public school curriculum, funding, and attendance. Site includes information about school vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and the latest news.
www.educational-freedom.org - Alliance for School Choice
The Alliance for School Choice is the nation's vanguard organization for promoting, implementing, and enhancing K-12 educational choice. In collaboration with a host of national and state allies, they create opportunities for systemic and sustainable educational reform that puts parents in charge.
www.allianceforschoolchoice.org - Rethinking Schools Online: Special Voucher Report
Find a variety of articles about school vouchers and the controversy surrounding them.
www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/voucher_report/index.shtml - Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002)
Features the text of the opinion finding that an Ohio school voucher program which includes a religious schooling option conforms to First Amendment requirements.
supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-1751.ZS.html - School Vouchers: The Wrong Choice for Public Education
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) advises of their arguments against school vouchers.
www.adl.org/vouchers/vouchers_main.asp - Settled Questions, Continuing Disputes (PDF)
Resources on the constitutional and educational policy issues on school vouchers after the Cleveland Voucher Decision in Zelman v. Simmons Harris.
pewforum.org/issues/files/VoucherPackage.pdf - Education Week: Choice
Overview of school choice alternatives and initiatives.
www.edweek.org/context/topics/issuespage.cfm?id=43 - Wikipedia: School Choice
Includes support and criticism of school choice, international overview, resources, and links.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_choice - Heritage Foundation: Choices in Education
Reports on the progress of initiatives to implement school choice programs.
www.heritage.org/research/education/schoolchoice/schoolchoice.cfm - Wikipedia: Education Voucher
Find information about school vouchers including the controversy surrounding them, implementations, and links.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_voucher - National Education Association: Vouchers
The NEA voice their educational, social, and legal cases against school vouchers.
www.nea.org/vouchers/index.html - SoYouWanna Learn About School Vouchers?
Learn the arguments in favor of and against school vouchers.
www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/vouchers/vouchers.html - On Thin Ice
Public Agenda Online advises how advocates and opponents could misread the public's views on vouchers and charter schools.
www.publicagenda.org/specials/vouchers/voucherintro.htm - School Choice in Public Education
Information from the Public School Parents Network about charter schools, magnet schools, alternative schools, school vouchers, homeschooling, and more.
www.psparents.net/school_choice.htm - Frontline: The Battle Over School Choice
Examines the school choice debate and reform initiatives in several states.
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/vouchers - Ohio ESL: School Vouchers
Includes definitions and resources about school vouchers, as well as voices for and against vouchers.
www.ohiou.edu/esl/project/voucher/index.html - School Choice Demonstration Project (SCDP)
Educational research project based within Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute. The national team of researchers, institutional research partners, and staff of the SCDP are devoted to the rigorous and unbiased evaluation of school choice programs and other school improvement efforts across the country.
www.georgetown.edu/research/scdp - Center for Law and Education
Addresses public education reform issues, with emphasis on low-income students and communities.
www.cleweb.org - Coalition of Essential Schools
National network of schools using common principles to inform school change, school design, and school reform efforts.
www.essentialschools.org - Odysseus Group, The
Nonprofit dedicated to presenting alternatives to the current school system. Offering The Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto.
www.johntaylorgatto.com - Center for Education Reform
National advocacy group. Issues include: standards, accountability, governance, school choice, and charter schools.
edreform.com - Partnership for 21st Century Skills
Organization to build collaborative partnerships between educators, businesses, communities, and government leaders to help students compete in the 21st century's global economy.
www.21stcenturyskills.org - Southeastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE)
Consortium of organizations which addresses critical educational issues in the Southeast and serves as a resource for groups striving for comprehensive school improvement.
www.serve.org - Education Policy Institute
Provides education research and policy analysis from a public choice and pro-market perspective.
www.educationpolicy.org - Just for the Kids
Motivates educators and the public to take action to improve schools by giving them a clear picture of a school's academic condition and identifying the effective practices found in high-performing schools.
www.just4kids.org - Project Appleseed
Working with schools, families, employers, and community organizations to develop local partnerships that support a safe school environment where students learn to challenging standards.
www.projectappleseed.org - Black Alliance for Educational Options
Organization focused on ensuring access to school choice programs for black children.
www.baeo.org - Annenberg Institute for School Reform
Standards-based and practice-centered policy-research and technical-assistance organization with an emphasis on promoting quality education for disadvantaged children and communities.
www.annenberginstitute.org - Organization for Quality Education
A group of Canadian parents, teachers, trustees, ratepayers, and business people who are dedicated to reforming elementary and secondary education in the Province of Ontario.
www.oqe.org - KnowledgeWorks Foundation
Empowering communities to improve education. KnowledgeWorks is focused on high school education policy and reform, adult education and training, and college access for all students.
www.kwfdn.org - National Association for the Advancement of Single-Sex Public Education (NAASSPE)
Offers information regarding federal funding, research, history, and links to single-sex public schools in the U.S.
www.singlesexschools.org - National Commission on Teaching and America's Future
Promoting policies and practices to put a well-qualified teacher in every classroom.
www.nctaf.org - Center for Teaching Quality
Improves student learning through developing teacher leadership, conducting practical research, and engaging various communities.
www.teachingquality.org - 21st Century Learning Initiative
Transnational organization which researches human learning and exlores its implications for education, work and communities.
www.21learn.org - Project GRAD USA
Seeks to promote an education reform initiative to increase academic achievement, and high school and college graduation rates for poor and disadvantaged inner-city and rural minority students attending public schools.
www.projectgrad.org - National Forum
National education group promoting the academic performance of middle school students. Includes links to Southern Forum and Schools To Watch.
www.mgforum.org - Small Schools Workshop:
Resource for public schools and districts engaged in restructuring into smaller learning environments. Based at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
www.smallschoolsworkshop.org - Designs for Change
Multi-racial, educational research and reform organization. Seeking major improvements in public schools serving the 50 largest American cities, with a particular emphasis on Chicago.
www.designsforchange.org - Learning Exchange, The
Not-for-profit corporation which develops and implements school reform models, educates educators, and provides innovative programs for kids.
www.lx.org - Ohio Coalition of Essential Schools
Working to improve student performance through teacher training and fundamental redesign of schools.
www.ohioces.org - Give Kids Good Schools
Give Kids Good Schools is a national campaign to guarantee a quality public education for every child in the nation. Through national activities and online resources, the campaign seeks to provide Americans with the information and tools they need to take action in their communities and improve their public schools.
www.givekidsgoodschools.org - Keep Kids Learning
National advocacy campaign working to improve education and learning opportunities for struggling students. From the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
www.keepkidslearning.org - National High School Association
Association of high school teachers and administrators that promotes constructive school reform through national and state conferences, publications and activities.
www.nhsa.net - Modern Red Schoolhouse Institute
Nonprofit organization providing redesign plans for schools that seek to build on traditional American education, while still incorporating modern technology.
www.mrsh.org - American Textbook Council
Reviews history textbooks and other educational materials. Dedicated to improving the social studies curriculum and civic education in the nation's elementary and high schools.
www.historytextbooks.org - Springboard Schools
Working to transform a critical mass of schools in the San Francisco Bay Area into vital places of teaching and learning for every student and adult.
www.springboardschools.org - StandardsWork
Nonprofit education consultancy in Washington, D.C. Offers education reform news and resources as well as tools for judging and implementing academic standards.
www.goalline.org - AIM at Middle Grades Results
Project of the Educational Development Center seeking to create high performing middle grades schools.
www.takingaim.org - A+ Education Foundation
Coalition to promote better public education in Alabama.
www.aplusala.org - Weaving Gender Equity into Math Reform
Seeks to assist staff developers in expanding the equity content of their workshops, videos, and written materials for teachers.
www.terc.edu/wge - Massachusetts Coalition for Authentic Reform in Education
MassCARE promotes fairness in testing and educational opportunities for all students. Involves parents, teachers, and students working for quality and equity in public education.
www.parentscare.org - Education Reform 21
Voluntary, nonprofit organisation to provide parents and educationalists with information on non-selective comprehensive education in Northern Ireland.
www.reform21.org - Parentica International
An organization of business leaders, teachers, students, and parents committed to education reform.
www.parentica.com - National Partnership for Excellence and Accountability in Teaching (NPEAT)
Dedicated to research-based action that results in teaching excellence to raise student performance.
ed-web3.educ.msu.edu/npeat - Education Enhancement Partnership
TEEP fosters private sector efforts in education reform in Stark County, Ohio.
www.chameleongraphics.com/teep - National Coalition for Equality in Learning
Works to improve the learning of young people who are not benefiting from their school experiences.
www.umass.edu/soe/ncel - National Center for Urban School Transformation
The National Center for Urban School Transformation is a research and support center designed to help urban school districts improve learning results.
www.ncust.org/dnn
- Class Size Matters
