Obama Education Policy: Beyond No Child Left Behind Susan Fuhrman Teachers College Lyon, France May 25, 2009

No Child Left Behind: Results Improvements on State and Local TestsImprovements on State and Local Tests Less Improvement on National Assessment of Educational ProgressLess Improvement on National Assessment of Educational Progress Small gains for 4 th and 8 th graders in reading, slightly more in math; virtually no gains for 12 th gradersSmall gains for 4 th and 8 th graders in reading, slightly more in math; virtually no gains for 12 th graders Achievement gap remainsAchievement gap remains Instruction focused on tested subjectsInstruction focused on tested subjects Graduation rate not improvedGraduation rate not improved Greater acceptance of federal role although resentment of narrow, one-size fits all approachGreater acceptance of federal role although resentment of narrow, one-size fits all approach

Obama Education Policy Extensive agenda: early childhood through workforce developmentExtensive agenda: early childhood through workforce development Sees education as foundation for a post-boom economy; we will succeed only if we educate all citizens to “rigorous college-and-career ready” standards; become number 1 in the world in high school and college completionSees education as foundation for a post-boom economy; we will succeed only if we educate all citizens to “rigorous college-and-career ready” standards; become number 1 in the world in high school and college completion Sees the federal government as a leading playerSees the federal government as a leading player Seized the opportunity of the Great Recession to vastly expand education fundingSeized the opportunity of the Great Recession to vastly expand education funding

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: the Stimulus $100b to education (compared to typical federal education budget of $60b)$100b to education (compared to typical federal education budget of $60b) State Fiscal Stabilization Fund $48b to statesState Fiscal Stabilization Fund $48b to states By formula; first round released in AprilBy formula; first round released in April To avoid layoffs, save jobs (recession could have cost 575,00 teacher jobs)To avoid layoffs, save jobs (recession could have cost 575,00 teacher jobs) States have to give assurances to get second round of this money in fall: progress toward high quality standards and assessments; establishment of longitudinal data systems; improving teacher effectiveness and equitable distribution; effective interventions for lowest performing schoolsStates have to give assurances to get second round of this money in fall: progress toward high quality standards and assessments; establishment of longitudinal data systems; improving teacher effectiveness and equitable distribution; effective interventions for lowest performing schools

Stimulus continued Additional Title I and Special EducationAdditional Title I and Special Education School Improvement Fund $3.1b targeted to neediest schools(6 fold increase)School Improvement Fund $3.1b targeted to neediest schools(6 fold increase) More technology fundingMore technology funding Competitive grants of $5 billCompetitive grants of $5 bill Race to the Top for states $4.35b (1/2 must go to localities)Race to the Top for states $4.35b (1/2 must go to localities) Innovation Fund for districts and non-profits $650 mInnovation Fund for districts and non-profits $650 m

Effective Reforms Race to the Top and Innovation Fund must: Support high quality standards; assessmentsSupport high quality standards; assessments Enhance data systems that can be used in feedback loopsEnhance data systems that can be used in feedback loops Improve human and social capital and support systemsImprove human and social capital and support systems Turnaround lowest performing schoolsTurnaround lowest performing schools

Other programs in Stimulus and President’s Budget Expansion of early childhood programs and investment in quality, coordination and parent informationExpansion of early childhood programs and investment in quality, coordination and parent information Promise NeighborhoodsPromise Neighborhoods Rewarding effective teachersRewarding effective teachers Increasing College Access:Increasing College Access: More Pell money; making grants mandatoryMore Pell money; making grants mandatory Increasing student loansIncreasing student loans Direct lendingDirect lending Access and Completion Incentive FundAccess and Completion Incentive Fund Promoting Community servicePromoting Community service

What’s likely to happen to No Child Left Behind Secretary Duncan is on a listening tourSecretary Duncan is on a listening tour ‘NCLB’ is not used as a name; ESEA is‘NCLB’ is not used as a name; ESEA is Likely to give states additional flexibility--- certainly around accountability but also perhaps around frequency of testingLikely to give states additional flexibility--- certainly around accountability but also perhaps around frequency of testing Likely to redefine “schools in need of improvement”Likely to redefine “schools in need of improvement” Additional funding already seenAdditional funding already seen

What I’d like to see: Race to the Top, Innovation Funds to support curriculum development with aligned assessmentRace to the Top, Innovation Funds to support curriculum development with aligned assessment Serious research on assessment—”moonshot”Serious research on assessment—”moonshot” Much more federal investment in “Development”Much more federal investment in “Development” More state flexibility/experimentation, especially around accountabilityMore state flexibility/experimentation, especially around accountability Careful evaluationCareful evaluation P-16 articulationP-16 articulation

What I’m Worried About: Speed—money needs to be spent quickly to save jobs; not compatible with careful development efforts. E.g., speed to develop a common core of standards; treating ‘college readiness’ as a separate block in standards and assessmentSpeed—money needs to be spent quickly to save jobs; not compatible with careful development efforts. E.g., speed to develop a common core of standards; treating ‘college readiness’ as a separate block in standards and assessment “Falling off a Cliff” phenomenon in 2 years“Falling off a Cliff” phenomenon in 2 years Lack of capacityLack of capacity Difficulty of integrating across departments (e.g., Early Childhood)Difficulty of integrating across departments (e.g., Early Childhood) Virtual absence of research (except in Race to the Top)Virtual absence of research (except in Race to the Top)