Atlanta Schools Face Scandal While Searching for Leader - NYTimes.com
The Atlanta school system is certainly not a model at this point in time. Rocked by an alleged cheating scandal regarding standardized tests, it now faces a challenge to its accreditation.
On top of the cheating investigations, it appears the school board is aligned along "ideological and philosophical" factions which has caused it not to be able to govern effectively.
And of course while the adults fight over who controls the sandbox, the children languish.
Cheating is wrong. Nothing else to say if that is a true allegation. While I am no fan of high-stakes tests, I am equally no fan of cheating. Not only is it morally wrong, but what kind of lesson is that to teach our children.
My advocacy is for understanding the lay of the land, and working hard to compete within the boundaries of the rules and regulations. Otherwise a win- is no win at all.
Showing posts with label Governance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Governance. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Local Governance is Next Frontier in Education Reform
A close look at and reform of local school governance must be the next frontier in education reform.
More specifically, I refer to school boards.
These boards have been around for years, usually populated by local citizens. Their major purpose has been to oversee school administration. Most have an overarching range of authority granted by state legislatures.
However, it is becoming more clear that education requires more than a part-time investment by a body that usually does not possess the breadth of talent and experience required to manage complex organizations and issues.
We are no longer just talking about school lunch menus, uniforms, or local holidays etc..
The current state of public education in America has become critically important to our ability to lift individual standards of living, and to our competitive position on a global basis.
We must now rethink the entire structure of governance. Are school boards even the right model for the 21st century?
What kind of qualifications and experiences should form the minimums required to serve? Should this be an elective or appointive body? Should it have some minimal paid full time positions? Term limits? Who evaluates the performance of the school board? What sanctions are available for non-performance?
It is clear local communities must step up its appreciation for school governance overall and begin to engage in a serious debate about needed changes.
More specifically, I refer to school boards.
These boards have been around for years, usually populated by local citizens. Their major purpose has been to oversee school administration. Most have an overarching range of authority granted by state legislatures.
However, it is becoming more clear that education requires more than a part-time investment by a body that usually does not possess the breadth of talent and experience required to manage complex organizations and issues.
We are no longer just talking about school lunch menus, uniforms, or local holidays etc..
The current state of public education in America has become critically important to our ability to lift individual standards of living, and to our competitive position on a global basis.
We must now rethink the entire structure of governance. Are school boards even the right model for the 21st century?
What kind of qualifications and experiences should form the minimums required to serve? Should this be an elective or appointive body? Should it have some minimal paid full time positions? Term limits? Who evaluates the performance of the school board? What sanctions are available for non-performance?
It is clear local communities must step up its appreciation for school governance overall and begin to engage in a serious debate about needed changes.
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