ERIC ED447596: Selected Readings on School Reform, Winter 2000.

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by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 447 596 EA 030 756
Selected Readings on School Reform, Winter 2000.
TITLE
INSTITUTION
Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, Washington, DC.
PUB DATE
2000-01-00
NOTE
141p.
AVAILABLE FROM
Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, 1627 K Street NW, Suite 600,
Washington, DC 20006. Tel: [phone] (Toll Free); Fax:
202-223-9226; Web site: http://www.edexcellence.net.
PUB TYPE
Collected Works - Serials (022)
JOURNAL CIT
Selected Readings on School Reform; v4 n1 Win 2000
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC06 Plus Postage.
Academic Standards; *Accountability; *Charter Schools;
DESCRIPTORS
*Curriculum Problems; *Educational Change; Elementary
Secondary Education; Higher Education; Public Schools;
*School Choice; Scores; Teacher Effectiveness
ABSTRACT
This collection of selected readings includes articles on
the following subject areas: federal issues; charter schools; school choice;
standards, tests, and accountability; teacher quality; curriculum and
content; higher education; and miscellaneous subjects including absence in
the classroom, school consultants, urban education, and principal vacancies
in New York City schools. A "Network Notes" section contains short
commentaries on various education subjects.
(DFR)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
THOMAS B:
ORDHAM
OUNDATION
OUTSIDE THE BOX
4
eadings
_
ycelected
on
)
hool
eform
Winter 2000
Vol. 4, No. 1
-
:
The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
1627 K Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC, 20006
(202) 223 -5452
[phone] (fax)
1(888) TBF-7474 (publications line)
MENT OF EDUCATION
nal Research and Improvement
http:
www.edexcellenee.net
ESOURCES INFORMATION
NTER (ERIC)
t has been reproduced as
the person or organization
have been made to
uction quality.
AVAILABLE
BEST COPY
or opinions stated in this
of necessarily represent
osition or policy.
Selected Readings
on
School Reform
Winter 2000
Vol. 4, No. 1
The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
1627 K Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
[phone]
[phone] (fax)
(888) TBF-7474 (publications line)
http://www.edexcellence.net
The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation is neither connected with nor sponsored by Fordham University.
Trustees
Chester E. Finn, Jr.
THOMAS B.
Chester E. Finn
President
Chester E. Finn, Jr.
ORDHAM
Thomas A. Holton
David H. Ponitz
OUNDATION
Bruce Kovner
Vice President
Bruno V. Manno
David H. Ponitz
Thomas A. Holton
OUTSIDE THE BOX
Diane S. Ravitch
Secretary I Treasurer
January 2000
Dear Education Reformer,
Welcome to the first (SR)2 of the new millenium. We hope that, before
opening its cover, you have already completed our little survey (enclosed with
this mailing) so we can benefit from your thoughts about the future of (SR)2.
If
not, kindly do so now. Then keep reading.
There's plenty here that's worthy of your attention. In Front Lines, you will
read that the ranks of the education reformers are swelling: organizations like the
Education Commission of the States and individuals such as National Urban
League president Hugh Price have recently come out with new declarations of
support for "charterizing" the whole system. The "New Democrats" are making
interesting noises, too.
Another must-read section is Standards, Tests and Accountability. The
long-predicted backlash against standards-based reform seems to have begun.
Faced with test-based evidence of weak performance, a growing horde of
parents and educators is beating up on the standards and accountability
arrangements instead of the system that is producing the bad results. And some
teachers, perhaps unable to contend honestly with new accountability measures,
have been found cheating for their students. Several articles in this section
amplify on these troubling developments. And, of course, The State of State
Standards 2000, also enclosed with this mailing, gives you our latest take on
which states are and aren't doing well at developing good standards and
installing serious accountability systems.
We hope you enjoy this issue of (SR)2 and thanks in advance for providing
us with feedback on the survey. See you in a few months.
Sincerely,
/1)
K Ily
mis
Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Prog am Director/ Editor
President
4
Fax [phone]
Washington, DC, 20006
Telephone [phone]
1627 K Street, NW Suite 600
Publications: 1(888) 823-7474
http://www.eClexcellence.net
U
CONTENTS
Winter 2000
No. 1
Vol. IV,
Schools
Colleges Experiment With Charter
By Julianne Bassinger.
NET NOTES
1
October 29, 1999... 48
The Chronicle of Higher Education.*
7
THE FRONT LINES
51
Urban Education: A Radical Plan
SCHOOL CHOICE
By Hugh B. Price.
The Voucher Seduction
Education Week.* December 8, 1999.
8
By Peter Schrag.
52
23, 1999.
The American Prospect.* November
New Democrats' 10 Key Reforms for Revitalizing
American Education
A Liberal Case for Vouchers
By Al From.
By Paul E. Peterson.
Blueprint: Ideas for a New Century. * Fall 1999.
11
...........
.....
57
1999.
The New Republic. * October 4,
Governing Well: Two Approaches From a National
Out Costlier Students
In Michigan, School Choice Weeds
Commission For Honing the Enterprise to Support
By Tamar Lewin.
Better Schools
59
1999.
The New York Times. October 26,
By Donald McAdams & Adam Urbanski.
Education Week. * November 24, 1999.
15
Monopoly
Whittling Away the Public School
By Thomas Toch.
Lured Away and Forced Out, Principals Leave NYC
60
15, 1999.
The Wall Street Journal. November
Schools at Record Pace
By Lynette Holloway.
Reform and the
The Marriage of Standards-based
....
18
The New York Times. September 20, 1999.
Education Marketplace
By Chester E. Finn Jr.
Scientific Ignorance Wins a Small Victory
62
1999 National Education Summit
By Mark Winston
...
20
Vancouver Sun. December 9, 1999.
STANDARDS, TESTS, AND
67
ACCOUNTABILITY
23
FEDERAL ISSUES
a Fear of Failure Spreads
Academic Standards Eased As
The GOP Congress Fails Again
By Jacques Steinberg.
By Chester E. Finn Jr.
3, 1999.
68
The New York Times. December
24
The Weekly Standard. November 29, 1999.
Department A Haven For Clinton Loyalists
Tests
Soccer Moms vs. Standardized
By Judy Pasternak.
By Charles Sykes.
26
The Los Angeles Times. October 3, 1999.
70
6, 1999.
The New York Times. December
If Schools Get to Hire New Teachers
Poor Scores
Ignoring State Curriculum Caused
By Anjetta McQueen.
By Anemona Hartocollis.
30
Associated Press. November 12, 1999.
9, 1999.
71
The New York Times. November
to Make the Grade
Colorado School Districts Promise
31
CHARTER SCHOOLS
By June Kronholz.
73
29, 1999.
The Wall Street Journal. October
Charter Hypocrisy
Face a Confusing Array
Editorial.
A Babel of Standards: Students
32
The Wall Street Journal. October 20, 1999.
of Tests and Assessments
By Michael Kirst.
Dropping Out?
75
National Crosstalk.* Fall 1999.
By Laura Lang.
33
The Washington City Paper. October 22, 1999.
Gauge
Discrepancies Mar New School
By Brigid Schulte.
The Fight Over What Kids Learn
77
1999.
The Washington Post. October 24,
By Anna Bray Duff.
The Investor's Business Daily.* November 29, 1999.
41
Taking A Chance On Promotion
By Debbi Wilgoren.
Charter Experiment Goes Awry
79
27, 1999.
The Washington Post. September
By Dennis Willard and Doug Oplinger.
43
Akron Beacon Journal. December 12, 1999.
When Teachers Cheat
By E.J. Dionne.
14, 1999.
The Washington Post. December 81
Lessons: One Standard Doesn't Fit All
HIGHER EDUCATION
111
By Richard Rothstein.
The New York Times. December 8, 1999.
Moving On To College, Going Back to Basics
82
By Steve Twomey.
The Washington Post. September 23, 1999.
112
TEACHER QUALITY
83
Why One College Jettisoned All Its Remedial Courses
Students Say 'Fake' "Teach" Was Grad
e A
By Lois Cronholm.
By Susan Edelman.
The Chronicle of Higher Education. September 24, 1999.114
The New York Post. October 1, 1999.
84
The 20 Percent Solution
Not Free to Teach For Free?
By Linda Chavez.
By Kathleen Burge.
The Denver Post. December 1, 1999.
117
The Boston Globe. November 22, 1999.
85
The Scholarship Game
Neediest Students Get Least Prepared Teachers
By Debbie Goldberg.
By Nanette Asimov.
Washington Post Magazine. October 24, 1999.
118
San Francisco Chronicle. December 3, 1999.
87
Rewarding Teachers For Work Well Done
GRAB BAG
121
Editorial.
Absence in the Classroom
The Baltimore Sun. September 12, 1999.
88
By Fred Bayles.
USA Today. November 15, 1999.
Opposing Forces Tug on Teachers
122
By Richard Lee Colvin.
A Taboo Erodes: The Truth about Blacks and Education
The Los Angeles Times. December 8, 1999.
89
By Abigail Themstrom.
National Review.* December 20, 1999.
Caning the Teachers
126
90
The Economist. * October 23, 1999.
Practicing the Piano the American Way Horrifies the
British
CURRICULUM & CONTENT
91
By Greg Steinmetz.
The Wall Street Journal. November 12, 1999.
....... 128
Constructing Knowledge, Reconstructing Schooling
By John Abbott and Terence Ryan.
Online Service Broadens Access to AP Coursework
Educational Leadership. November 1999.
.. 92
By Jonathan Fox.
Education Daily. * November 30, 1999.
.130
Summerhill Revisited
By Alan Riding.
The Parent Trap
The New York Times. November 7, 1999.
95
By Tom Loveless.
The Wilson Quarterly.* Autumn, 1999.
132
The Schools They Deserve: Howard Gardner and the
Remaking of Elite Education
Are School Consultants Worth It?
By Mary Eberstadt.
By Tyce Palmaffy.
Policy Review.* November 1999
98
Investor's Business Daily. * October 22, 1999.
... , .. 135
If It's Tuesday (In Chicago), It Must Be Polygons
By Abraham McLaughlin.
* Reprinted with permission; all rights reserved. Our sincere thanks to
Christian Science Monitor. October 26, 1999.
....... . 103
all the publishers, journals, and writers who graciously gave assent to
use their works in this publication.
Educators, Parents See Magnets' Flaws
By David Nakamura.
The Washington Post. November 23, 1999.
104
Students do Better in Small Schools, So Why Have We
Been Making Schools Bigger?
By Philip Langdon.
The American Enterprise. * Jan./Feb. 2000.
106
AVAILABLE
BEST COPY
iv
Network Notes
Choice & Charters
program and some comparisons with other
Edgewood students. The focus is on demographics,
Choice and Community: The Racial, Economic and
opinions, background characteristics and initial test
Religious Context of Parental Choice in Cleveland
scores. For the most part, participants resemble the
A new report prepared by Jay P. Greene for the
non-participants, although there are some non-trivial
Ohio-based Buckeye Institute disproves one of
differences. (Participants' families are less poor, for
school choice opponents' favorite allegations: that
example.) This report provides no results but will
choice will lead to increased segregation. Greene's
nonetheless be interesting to those trying to stay
study (prepared in conjunction with the federal
abreast of important school choice research.
courts' current examination of the program's
The pair of reports is numbered PEPG99-03.
constitutionality) shows that the Cleveland voucher
Contact the Program on Education Policy and
program actually fosters racial integration as well as
Governance, Taubman 306, Kennedy School of
economic and religious diversity within schools. (It
Government, 79 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard
should be noted, however, that the vast majority of
University, Cambridge, MA 02138. Phone 617 -495-
voucher-accepting private schools in Cleveland are
7976, fax [phone], or surf to
religious.)
CEFjr
www.data.fas.harvard.edu/pepg/
On the whole, Greene points out, private schools
participating in the choice program are better
The Impact of Parental Choice on Three Canadian
integrated racially than their public school
Public Schools
counterparts. Whereas only 5.2% of public school
Daniel J. Brown of the University of British
students in Cleveland attend schools that match the
Columbia has prepared this study of choice in British
racial make-up of the metropolitan area, 19% of
Columbia. It's based on a policy of providing
participants in the voucher program attend such
"alternative" schools within the public school system;
schools. The majority of public school students in
some 10,000 B.C. youngsters are enrolled in such
Cleveland attend schools that are almost entirely
schools. This study of three of these schools
white or entirely black. Indeed, it seems difficult to
examines their origins, missions, delivery methods,
imagine a system more segregated than the one we
student characteristics, and evidence as to their
have now.
effectiveness. One of the three schools studied
Choice and Community can be obtained online at
specializes in Japanese language and culture, plus
www.buckeyeinstitute.org or by calling Buckeye at
technology. The second emphasizes "direct,
614-262-1593.
KLA
purposeful instruction and high expectations for
student content and performance." The third (and
An Evaluation of the Horizon Scholarship Program
newest) of them is a parent-initiated "traditional"
in the Edgewood Independent School District, San
school that stresses "academic excellence and a
Antonio, Texas: The First Year
disciplined environment." Here are some of Brown's
Paul Peterson, David Myers and William Howell,
findings:
under the aegis of the Harvard Program on Education
*They have remarkably strong organizational
Policy and Governance (PEPG), have published a
integrity.
report on the first-year (1998-99) evaluation of the
* Student achievement is at a high level, particularly
large, privately-funded voucher program in Edge-
for the traditional schools, relative to others in their
wood, Texas. It's in two short volumes, the second
districts.
being a data appendix prepared by Mathematica
* Levels of student and parent satisfaction are strong.
Policy Research. Because the Edgewood program
* The schools benefit from a high degree of parent
offered to aid any or all low-income youngsters in the
involvement.
school district, it did not practice any kind of random
* They offer equal educational opportunities.
selection. Hence the evaluation design relies on
Brown concludes that "parental choice makes an
comparisons with children in similar school districts
importance difference in the lives of children, parents
(and with the districts themselves, as "district effects"
and educators." Maybe you knew this. But here's
are a major interest of this, large intervention project).
evidence from our great Northern neighbor, albeit
These two initial volumes provide baseline data about
evidence gathered within the public school system.
the Edgewood youngsters who are participating in the
7
1
For your own copy of this 130-page study, contact
Greg Garn, we learn, for example, that charter
the Society for the Advancement of Excellence in
schools do not necessarily produce innovative
Education, 201-1451-B Ellis Street, Kelowna, BC
curricula. On the other hand, Arizona Superintendent
MY Y 2A3. Phone [phone], fax [phone],
of Schools Lisa Graham Keegan writes that charters
e-mail [email protected], or surf to www.saee.bc.ca.
have wrought nothing less than a revolution in
NB: The Society has published or republished several
Arizona education, broadening options for parents
other recent studies on education that you may obtain
and forcing regular public schools into earnest
from their website or by e-mail from Helen Raham at
reform.
the address given above.
CEFjr
School Choice in the Real World will interest
anyone wanting to know more about charter schools.
Charter Schools in Action: Renewing Public
It is published by the Westview Press (www.
Education
westviewpress.coni), 5500 Central Avenue, Boulder,
Back when yours truly and his colleagues were
CO 80301 and costs $65. You can contact them by
associated with the Hudson Institute, you may recall
phone at 800-386-5656 or by fax at 303-449-3356.
that we undertook a multi-year study of the then-
JRP
revolutionary charter school phenomenon.
Underwritten by the Pew Charitable Trusts, and
Competition in Education: A 1999 Update of School
staffed by. (among others) Bruno Manno, Louann
Choice in Massachusetts
Bierlein and Gregg Vanourek, we produced a whole
Since the introduction of charter schools in 1993,
series of studies and reports. Shortly after you read
and contrary to everything we thought we knew
this, the very last of these will emerge in the form of
about its political leanings, Massachusetts has
an honest-to-God book, published by the Princeton
become something of a hotbed of school choice
University Press, co-authored by Bruno, Gregg and
activity. By 1998-99, charter schools served 9,930
myself We respectfully submit that, at least for a
students in 34 schools. (Well, OK, not exactly a
while, this will be one of the defining works on
hotbed, in a state with nearly a million kids in school,
charter schools. It explores many aspects of them,
but certainly an active site.)
including their relationship to civil society, the
Competition in Education, issued by the excellent
problems they face, the challenges that will shape
Boston-based think tank, the Pioneer Institute,
their future, and what an all-charter community
focuses on the effects of this charter school
would look like. (This last is especially germane to
proliferation on Massachusetts's public schools.
those who read the recent school-governance report
Author Susan Aud concedes that it is still too early to
of the Education Commission of the States and the
witness wide-scale reform in Massachusetts public
excellent essay by Hugh Price of the National Urban
schools as a result of charter schools, but predicts that
League.) We hope you might want to see for
charter schools will likely have this effect in districts
yourself Its title is as given above. Its ISBN number
where they are prominent. She bases this prediction
is 0-691-00480-3. The price will be $27.95. You can
on an earlier study of the effects of Massachusetts's
check with your local bookstore or contact the
open enrollment policy, also conducted by the
Princeton University Press at 41 William Street,
Pioneer Institute, that found that the more money a
Princeton, New Jersey, 08540 USA. The website is
district loses to other schools through choice
CEFjr
http://pup. princeton.edu/
programs, the more likely it is to institute reforms,
combined with the fact that charter schools are taking
School Choice in the Real World: Lessons from
a much greater percentage of funds from many
Arizona Charter Schools
districts than open-enrollment policies.
The charter school explosion in the United States
To get a copy of Competition in Education, call
is still new and not well. understood. Though there
the Pioneer Institute at 617-723-2277 or visit them at
have been a number of accounts of successes or
www.pioneerinstitute.org. Competition in Education
failures of individual charter schools, on the macro-
is White Paper No. 6, released in September 1999.
level there is as yet little to be gleaned. School
JRP
Choice in the Real World thus helps fill an important
void.
Financing Charter School Facilities in
It's a collection of essays about the effects of
Pennsylvania
.
school choice via charter schools on students and
A lot of people are interested in how to ease the
schools alike, using the Arizona charter experience as
facilities crunch that many charter schools
a case study. The book's authors provide a mix of
experience, due to the fact that those who grant their
vantage points and opinions. From Robert Stout and
charters rarely provide them with buildings in which
8
2
who believe that teacher standards and tests are not
to operate their schools (and, under most state charter
the best tools for distinguishing good teachers from
laws, their budgets consist only of operating funds,
bad will find little to sink their teeth into here.
not capital funds). With help from the Annie E.
Teacher Preparation Assessment: The Hows and
Casey Foundation, the Charter Friends National
Whys of New Standards can be ordered from National
Network has prepared a short "policy brief' aimed at
Evaluation Systems, Inc. by calling 413-256-0444 or
the Pennsylvania situation. Written by Amy Berk
faxing 413-256-1153. Single copies are free. MK
Anderson and Bryan C. Hassel, this nine-page
document sketches what several other states have
Making Standards Matter 1999
done and outlines several approaches for
The American Federation of Teachers is back
Pennsylvania's consideration, mostly involving tax-
with its annual report card on state academic
exempt bonds and loosening the strings on what
standards and accountability. If this sounds familiar,
charters can do with their operating budgets.
it's because the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
Interested readers will also want to have a look at
report, The State of State Standards 2000 (included
Paying for the Charter Schoolhouse, another
with this issue of (SR)2), does much the same thing.
publication of the National Network. That
We, of course, believe that we do it better.
organization can be found on-line at www.
The major finding of the AFT report is that state
charterfriends.org and phoned at 651-649-5479. Mr.
standards are improvingby their reckoning, 22
Hassel can be found at 704-370-0357 and
states now have decent standardsand that more
[email protected]. Ms. Anderson can
states are making them matter. Our report differs in
be reached at 303-494-3720 and [email protected].
two important ways. First, our criteria are more
Bruno Manno of the Annie E. Casey Foundation is
comprehensive and demanding. While the AFT
also glad to help: 410-223-2983 and
limits their judgments to whether or not standards are
CEFjr
BrunoM@aecforg.
clear and specific (and is agnostic regarding content),
we also want to know whether the states demand the
Standards & Tests
right body of challenging knowledge and skills.
Second, while the AFT focuses on pupil
Teacher Preparation Assessment: The Hows and
accountability (ending social promotion, exit exams,
etc.), we are more interested in adult accountability
Whys of New Standards
Published by National Evaluation Systems, Inc.,
identifying low-performing schools, reconstituting
the nation's largest creator of state-specific teacher
failing schools if necessary, etc. (Funny that the
tests (as opposed to the uniform, ETS-produced
teachers' union is less interested in that approach!)
Praxis series), this 280-page book is a compilation of
To get a full picture of the standards movement,
papers presented at the group's October 1998
take a look at both our report and the AFT report.
Get Making Standards Matter 1999 off the web at
conference on teacher certification testing. This
www.aft.org/edissues/standards99/index.htm. (In a
event focused on linking certification tests to new
sign of this cyber-age, hard copies are not available.)
teacher standards.
The thirteen chapters that form the meat of this
MJP
book are all accounts of individual states' efforts to
tackle the teacher quality problem. While some
useful initiatives are describedCalifornia's efforts
The Public View
to ensure that teaching candidates are exposed to
Doing Comparatively Well: Why the Public Loves
research-based reading instruction methods, for
instancemost of the reforms being implemented
Higher Education and Criticizes K-12
sound like more of the same old stuff. The new
Why does the public love higher education and
standards and assessments may be better than the old
criticize primary and secondary? That's the subtitle
ones but there have been no real efforts to determine
of this slim report by John Immerwahr of Public
exactly how (and if) they are linked to effective
Agenda. Weaving together the findings of numerous
teaching, defined as producing more student learning.
studies by Public Agenda and others, it presents a
The overview and policy pieces included in this
wealth of information on the differing public
volume call attention to the frequent mismatch
perceptions of K-12 and higher ed.
between what teacher training institutions do and
That the public does view K-12 and higher ed
what actual K-12 schools need, yet most of the
very differently is clear: according to Immerwahr,
authors seem convinced that the solution lies in
higher ed is "teflon-coated" (immune to criticism),
while K-12 is "velcro": criticisms thrown at it tend to
creating better standards and assessments. Those
9
stick. People see American higher education as a
Community Resources
world-class product while giving public K-12 schools
low marks for quality. When people say their local
schools are doing well, they usually mean compared
Catalyst: for Cleveland Schools
to schools in other areas, not compared to how they
During the heyday of site-based school reform in
should be doing. The public tends to assign
Chicago, a little magazine named Catalyst functioned
responsibility to the schools for the shortcomings of
as the indispensable chronicler. (Though we haven't
their students, while college students' failings are
seen it lately, we hear it's still a valuable resource.)
seen as their own responsibility.
Now, with the help of several foundations, Catalyst
While the report doesn't really answer the key
has come to Cleveland, to be published bi-monthly
question posed in the subtitle, the finding that most
and sent to local education movers and shakers. It is
people think they know a lot about the schools in
not meant to track Cleveland's much-reported
their communities yet claim to know little about what
voucher program but, rather, developments in and
goes on in institutions of higher education might have
around the Cleveland Municipal School District,
something to do with it.
which is now accountable to Mayor Michael White.
For a copy of Doing Comparatively Well, contact
How about a Catalyst in your community?
the Institute for Educational Leadership at 202 -822-
Meanwhile, if you'd like to see the Cleveland version,
8405 (phone), 202-872-4050 (fax), or [email protected],
contact Urban School News, 1621 Euclid Ave., Suite
though at $15 for an 18-page report, you might think
1530, Cleveland, OH 44115. Phone [phone],
twice about ordering one.
MK
fax [phone], surf to www.catalyst-
cleveland.org or e-mail editorial@catalyst-
On Thin Ice: How Advocates and Opponents Could
CEFjr
cleveland.org.
Misread the Public's Views on Vouchers and
Charter Schools
ParenTech
Parenting in a Digital Age
Recently issued by the respected research
Ameritech and the North Central Regional
organization, Public Agenda, On Thin Ice
Educational Laboratory have developed a
provides an in-depth study of public awareness and
comprehensive package to help parents help their
opinion on issues of school choice. Its chief finding
children learn the fundamentals of technology.
is that Americans just don't know very much about
ParenTech
Parenting in a Digital Age comes
these things. Sixty-three percent of those surveyed
complete with an interactive CD-ROM and three 16-
say they know "very little" or "nothing" about
page parent guides: "When I Grow Up" (focusing on
vouchers and a whopping 81% say that about charter
technology and careers); "Does it Compute?"
schools. Even in Cleveland and Milwaukee, sites of
(focusing on technology and education); and "Fast
the nation's most prominent school choice programs,
Forward to the Future" (focusing on technology and
three-fifths of parents say they know little or nothing
society). These guides will assist parents with a
about these programs. And about half of parents
shaky grasp on technology, by explaining such items
living in areas rich in charter schools say they know
as bits, bytes, microchips, and bandwidth, but they
little or nothing about them.
are mainly geared towards making technology
Some other findings offer more solace to choice
familiar and accessible to children, particularly
proponents. Once the idea is explained to them, 57%
middle-schoolers. The guides suggest a variety of
of the general public and 68% of parents favor the
resources for students and plenty of ideas for how
idea of providing a voucher to families to fund all or
parents and their children can approach the vast
part of tuition at a private or parochial school.
world of technology together.
Seventy-nine percent of the public strongly agrees
"ParenTech" can be investigated at www.
with the statement that "parents should have the right
parentech.org. Orders for the kit can be placed by
to choose the school they want their child to attend."
calling 1-877-298-7273. ParenTech Kits are available
On Thin Ice is a must for anyone interested in the
free to families, schools and libraries in Illinois,
condition of the school choice movement in America
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, but the
todayand in the very considerable obstacles
three parent guides are available to everyone at no
confronting those who hope to build public
charge on the internet site.
KLA
awareness and enthusiasm. You can get a copy from
Public Agenda for $10 by calling 212-686-6610 or
Transforming Education Policy: Assessing 10 Years
visiting their website (www.publicagenda.org).
of Progress in the States
JRP
In June, the Business Roundtable issued a pair of
somewhat self-congratulatory reports on its long-
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