Building
Momentum for School Reformby Jeanne Allen, President, The Center for Education Reform, Summer, 1997
Building
Momentum for School Reform
by Jeanne Allen, President, The Center for Education Reform, Summer, 1997
Reform
Nationwide: State by State Update
Building Momentum for School Reform
The last eighteen months were a time full of opportunity and promise for school children across the country. It is clear that Americans from all walks of life continue to work together to make our nation’s schools great and give our children the opportunities they deserve.
Since 1996, nine states and the District of Columbia passed charter school legislation, and two states enacted legislation to permit public school choice throughout the entire state. Other initiatives to provide increased educational opportunities for students nationwide resulted in five new private sector scholarship programs. Our nation’s most prominent cities have faced major overhauls in the past 18 months in concerted efforts to increase accountability and raise standards to an acceptable level and lawsuits to rectify the potential of expanded school choice for children.
Recent elections saw education transcend party lines and become an urgent, top priority issue for many candidates at the national, state and local levels. The people continue to speak in local and larger races: they want control back from the government and they want to be involved in the critical decisions that affect not only their own livelihood, but that of their children as well. A poll commissioned by CER in 1996 revealed 93% of those surveyed believed the quality of their public school could be improved, and 86% of those surveyed supported some type of school choice option, rather than being restricted to sending their child to a school to which he or she is assigned. The good news is that they are well on their way to getting this freedom. It is at the state level, especially, where educational reforms have been most embattled and most victorious, and where recently implemented policy has begun to reap rewards.
From state legislatures to school boards, efforts are underway that are revolutionizing American education. Though some reforms continue to be thwarted by the political maneuvering of entrenched special interests, the arguments grow increasingly insupportable in the face of the continued academic weakness of too many of our nation's public schools.
Reforms come in a variety of shapes and sizes, tailored to the individual needs of each community. As you will see from this State-by-State Summary of School Reform, opportunities for improvements to the education system continue to grow, from setting up charter schools for homeless teens, to shoring up local control and accountability, to enacting standards that hold every child to her highest potential.
The Center for Education Reform is proud to continue to be involved in nearly every major state effort, and many smaller efforts as well. We provide guidance, assistance and ongoing consultation to reform leaders across the United States. CER’s one-of-a-kind National Charter School Directory now includes almost 500 schools, and CER continues to organize support where it is most needed, whether it be filing amicus briefs for the Cleveland, Ohio choice program or hosting monthly conference calls to assist charter school organizers.
For those of you who want to be more involved, it is as easy as a phone call. Just call us and we’ll put you in touch with others who share your concern and energy. Our phone number is (800) 521-2118. We look forward to working with you.
Jeanne Allen
President
August, 1997
What is School Reform?
The definition of school reform varies greatly among individuals, the media and even education groups. There is consensus that the word reform refers to more dramatic change in school systems than what can currently be achieved without legislation or structural policy changes. In most instances, fundamental school reform requires legislative or popular initiatives, or the approval of a governing authority, depending upon the degree of control granted the governing body for education in each state. (A full discussion of such authority, and details about how to reform can be found in The School Reform Handbook: How to Improve Your Schools, available from The Center).
While many education groups use the term 'school reform' to refer to a hodgepodge of programs that they promote, the term really refers to concepts or proposals that institute fundamental change in the system. For the purposes of this analysis, reform refers to four broad categories: school choice, contracting-out services to private entities, deregulation or decentralization (e.g. charter schools) and accountability through strong academic standards and assessment mechanisms.
Where does school reform happen?
Virtually every state in the nation allows some form of school choice, but the degree to which parents can choose a school for their child varies greatly. Eighteen states currently offer state-wide public school choice and another 11 offer public school choice within districts or in selected areas. School choice programs that encompass choices among both public and private schools -- either through public funding or private scholarship programs -- are in effect in school districts in at least 22 states. Strong charter school legislation has been passed in 12 states and the District of Columbia, and another 13 states have charter school laws, but they don't all provide for the maximum degree of autonomy and innovation that is essential to the charter concept. Districts in virtually every state have taken advantage of private contracting to better manage administrative or special education services. Over 100,000 students in at least twelve states are educated in private schools under contract with a school, district, or the state. At least eight states have adopted new forms of testing to spur accountability.
Who makes school reform happen?
The broad category "reformers" refers to those people or organizations who embrace wholesale change through one or more of these concepts. States most effective in the education reform arena are those that have a strong coalition of reformers, including a bi-partisan group of state lawmakers, a grass roots coalition or an educational research group providing critical information, strong-minded community leaders, and vocal support among a broad cross section of the American public.
This formula has brought successful measures to many communities. As you will conclude from the following, reformers can no longer be pigeonholed or dismissed as a small band of zealots. Reformers come in all shapes and sizes. They are educators and education leaders, and carry no political I.D.s. Here is what is happening in education reform, state by state, around the country, as of August 1, 1997.
Reform Nationwide: State by State Update
The Center for Education Reform has detailed information about each of these state reform efforts, and can put you in touch with local-level experts and activists. A full list of state and local organizations generating this activity is also available as an appendix in The School Reform Handbook: How to Improve Your Schools ($9.95), published by the Center. Some of those resources are also available in Education Resources and Organizations here on our Web Site. If you would like additional information on any of the topics in this summary, please send us e-mail, call us at (800) 521-2118 or write to us at 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 204, Washington, DC, 20036.
This summary is published for the benefit of the general public. We thank all of those who provide us with ongoing information which allows us to update this publication during the year. Many other groups also publish comparisons of state education efforts. This guide was compiled, written and edited entirely by the staff of the Center for Education Reform.