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Let's compromise and close the US Office of Education and eliminate the position of Secretary of Ed. from the cabinet and send all the Federal funds to the states in block grants, except a small portion to the Justice Department (after we change administrations) to make sure the states follow the rules when using the funds.
Can someone tell me why we have a Dept. of Ed.?QUOTE
Most Charter schools are part of the public systems. Tonight's NBC news had a special about two such charter schools in NY demonstrating tremendous improvements with poor and minority students when a professional, research based approach is used. I have personally witnessed this kind of transformation in specific schools.
Sure, but those schools are taking money away from public schools. More importantly, charter schools have absolutely no accountability. They do not have to meet state standards. They do not have to meet any of the provisions of NCLB - and do not need to test their students. One last thing that irks me about reports of these high performing charter schools: how often do you hear about the charter schools that take the money and warehouse the kids they get from the "failing" schools? It happens, it just doesn't get the news it should - just like the "good things" happening in Iraq.
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Unfortunately, after all the Federal grants run out, two or three leadership persons are lost and the school district does not incorporate the change into its larger system, every thing tends to drift back to, "Normal." As the system is presently, the only mechanism for improving education is Federal Grants Management system which is extremely corrupt and incompetent. Education is a community endeavor and can not be micro-managed from Washington.
Absolutely. NCLB is completely unconstitutional and should be struck down.