White House Mismanagement of Education Continues

Education Secretary Rod Paige yesterday announced the fourth change in as many months to the Bush administration's signature No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. After nearly 1700 California schools alone were designated as "failing to meet adequate yearly progress" under the new law – a categorization that could lead to the privatization of schools or the firing of thousands of teachers and employees – the administration relaxed onerous testing requirements to meet realities on the ground. The increased flexibility makes sense, but like other changes on teacher quality and competency, it fails to address the core funding problems in the administration's new budget.

• The Bush administration severely underfunds its own education plan. The administration's budget contains $9.4 billion less than the $34 billion needed by the states to comply with NCLB. A recent report prepared by the House Appropriations Committee predicts further underfunding in future budgets – $1.9 billion in 2006 increasing to $4.6 billion by FY2009. These cuts will result in drastic cuts in services, including support services for teachers.
• States and school districts need additional support to attract and retain highly qualified staff. High quality schools require high quality teachers. But with economic pressures rising, few incentives exist for the best teachers to remain in public schools. A recent report by the Teaching Commission estimated that it would cost less than a tenth of what the nation already invests in education to give every teacher in the country a 10 percent raise, and the top half of all teachers a 30 percent incentive increase.
• Achievement gaps in schools will only be eliminated by training and supporting the highest quality teachers. If the administration is serious about reducing achievement gaps between schools, it must provide incentives such as bonuses and reduced course loads to attract highly qualified teachers to underachieving schools. Assistance should be provided to help unqualified teachers increase subject competency and all teachers need access to ongoing professional development.

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