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Home / Washington Business - July/August 2004 / Schools Improve When Business Leaders Insist on High Standards and Get Involved |
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Schools Improve When Business Leaders Insist on High Standards and Get Involved |
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Written On: July/August 2004 |
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Written By: by Don C. Brunell |
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Schools improve when employers insist on high standards and roll up their sleeves and help. “Business leaders need to be on school boards, advisory committees, and state boards of education — they have too much at stake not to be!”
In late May, Sandy Kress, former education senior advisor to President Bush, told a packed annual AWB Spring Meeting that “we can’t abandon the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) just like you can’t abandon the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) in your state.”
“Stay the course so our students can compete with children from Japan, Germany, China and India for jobs in the future.”
Bush & Kennedy Team to Pass No Child Left Behind
Kress, an Austin attorney who actually chaired the Texas Democrat effort to unseat President Bush’s father in 1992, reminded the audience that No Child Left Behind had bipartisan support. The leading Democrat supporter was Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and all members of Washington’s congressional delegation voted for the bill in 2001.
Today, Kress is a close friend and strong supporter of President Bush and was tapped by the President to design No Child Left Behind in 2001.
The National Education Association (NEA) is attempting to derail significant parts of the legislation as it deals with testing and accountability for student performance. They are supporting what they call a “far-reaching federal bill by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT).” NEA feels No Child Left Behind standards are too rigid.”
Part of the impetus for the NEA backed bills was a study prepared for the Connecticut Education Association that projected that 94 percent of Connecticut schools will fail to meet the NCLB accountability requirements.
NEA also complains the Congress and the White House haven’t provided enough funding to implement the new requirements.
Federal Education Funds Are Up 60 Percent Since 2001
Kress points out in the last three years under President Bush; federal education funding has jumped 60 percent. Title I money for disadvantaged children is up 43 percent, and federal funds for reading increased more than $1 billion—nearly four times the amount allocated by the Clinton Administration.
Yet in Wisconsin, for example, the attorney general with the backing of the teachers union is suing saying the 2001 NCLB act creates a $2 billion unfunded mandate.
In Washington, the Washington Education Association (WEA) says it may sue the state claiming the governor and state Legislature are not fulfilling their constitutionally mandated responsibility to insure that education is the “paramount duty” of the state. WEA believes the state is violating the Doran decision—a court case in the late 1970s which established the statewide funding formulas for basic education (kindergarten through high school).
Money is “An Issue,” But So is Accountability
Kress said he believes money is an issue. “Employers ought to insist that schools are funded adequately and employers ought to insist that taxpayers are getting their money’s worth. Just throwing more money at education doesn’t work.”
“All President Bush wants is to see that funds are well spent and the education objectives are being met,” Kress adds. “It is the way we handle money in our businesses and families. Why not in education?”
He believes that lowering academic standards harms students. Without strong accountability requirements it will be very difficult if not impossible to measure schools, districts and states on what students know as they prepare to enter the workplace, military or go on to a technical college or university.
“If state education leaders feel changes are needed, then go to Washington (D.C.) and make your case,” Kress added. He believes President Bush and the Dept. of Education want to make No Child Left Behind work and are willing to make well-grounded changes.
Kress, like Washington Gov. Gary Locke, believes education is “the great equalizer.” Like Locke, he feels it is essential that Washington’s education reforms passed in 1993 continue and challenge business leaders to make sure the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) is fully implemented by 2008.
AWB, Roundtable Support WASL
AWB and the Washington Roundtable have been staunch advocates of the fourth, seventh and tenth grade WASL testing. Both organizations are pushing to implement the “Certificate of Academic Achievement.” The certificate will be issued after students demonstrate achievement of the state’s reading, writing, math and science standards. Students will have multiple opportunities to take the WASL tests. Starting with the class of 2008, the certificate will be one of several new graduation requirements.
“It is unfair to give students a diploma without ensuring they have the basic reading, writing, math and science skills required to succeed in work and postsecondary education,” said William W. Krippaehne, Jr., chair of the Roundtable and CEO of Fisher Communications.
The Roundtable issued its “Students Can’t Wait” report, specifying recommendations to implement a standards-based set of graduation requirements. It is an action plan which draws from successes and lessons learned in 24 other states.
AWB and the Roundtable will continue to push for full implementation of the WASL on schedule. Kress vows to return to Washington in 2008 to celebrate its complete integration.
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