From USA Today, "The study, which uses 2002 and 2003 data, the most current available, finds that public schools graduate 69.6% of an estimated 4 million eligible students each spring, meaning about 1.2 million students likely won't graduate this year. That means about 7,000 students drop out per school day, Swanson says.
Researcher Lawrence Mishel of the Economic Policy Institute says Swanson's figures "seriously understate graduation rates, especially for minorities." They say that just 52% of blacks graduate, and 57% of Hispanics.
Prresidnet Obama, like his predessors before him have increase the Federal Budget expenditures for Education, this time putting an emphasis on elementary, secondary and early childhood education.
It is estimated that 41 states have a 35 billion dollar education shortfall.
For some interesting reading, go to the National Educators Association and look at their Issues and Actions section. And additional information can be found at the website for the American Association of School Administrators.
From the NEA website, "Obviously we don't want to tie our merit to test scores," Preusser says. "If that happens, I want a dorm in the back of the school where the kids can live 24/7."
Call it old-fashioned, like Mom and apple pie, but NEA still believes a short and strong salary schedule, with a minimum of $40,000 annual pay for teachers, is best. It rewards teachers for things we know make a difference in teacher quality-knowledge and experience-and, at the same time, avoids the capriciousness of typical merit pay plans."
From the AASA website, "When asked how they are using or plan to use ARRA Title I monies, the top five responses were:
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- professional development (63 percent)
- saving existing personnel positions (58 percent)
- classroom technology (53 percent)
- classroom equipment/supplies (38 percent)
- software (35 percent)
- The top five reported uses for ARRA IDEA dollars are identical:
- professional development (68 percent)
- saving existing personnel positions (61 percent)
- classroom technology (54 percent)
- classroom equipment/supplies (41 percent)
- software (37 percent)
And additional comments from one involved."But Charles Barone, a former congressional staffer who helped design the education reform law, says the plan doesn't go far enough. He predicts states won't do much to change how they hire teachers - and they'll still get their money. "All they're going to have to do is copy and paste what's in their current plan to get this money," says Barone, who now consults about education and writes a popular blog."
End the end, more government waste and no accountability.
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