Common standards for K-12

On July 24, 2009 President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced $4.35 billion program that was designed to spur reforms in state and local district K-12 program. The program is known as Race to the Top. One of the stated goals of the program is to help students out compete workers around the world. Race to the Top prompted 48 states to adopt common standards for K-12.  One of the states that did not apply is Texas.

In explaining why Texas would not be applying for Race to the top funding, Governor Rick Perry stated, "we would be foolish and irresponsible to place our children’s future in the hands of unelected bureaucrats and special interest groups thousands of miles away in Washington." I do not know who is foolish and irresponsible, but I think common standards for every state is not a bad idea. Race to the top may have several strings attached to it, but I am only focusing in one goal “common standards for K-12”.

In a 21st century world, we have to prepare students to succeed in school, in college, in workplace and to compete in the global economy. Once the K-12 is complete, a student from Texas has to compete with a student from Idaho, New York, California, and Florida etc. Similarly a student from USA has to compete with a student from England, China, and India etc. If eventually students have to compete with students from other states, why not have a common standard. As for a competition with students from other countries, USA itself has to implement high standards for K-12.

Education is not something that should vary state by state. What is good for students of USA cannot be bad for students of Texas. If 48 other states and their educational board have agreed to common standards in education, then it cannot be as bad as what Governor Rick Perry thinks it to be. It is possible that 1 head may be smarter than 48 other heads working together, but still probability is 48 heads working together will win most of the time.

Some arguments that I found against common standards are:

·        “Texas would have to spend an estimated $3 billion – $2 billion to purchase new textbooks and $1 billion to redesign our state tests”.

·        “Education is a state issue, with power in Texas delegated to the Texas Legislature and the State Board of Education”.

·        “Washington, D.C. wants more control over schools”.

Some facts that I found in Texas Where We Stand: Education says:

• Texas is #49 in verbal SAT scores in the nation (493) and #46 in average math SAT scores (502).

·        Texas is #36 in the nation in high school graduation rates (68%).

     Given these arguments and facts, I see that common standards for K-12 will do more good than harm to Texans in long term.

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_the_Top

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/14146/

http://biggovernment.com/bdterry/2010/01/15/texas-is-right-to-quit-the-race-for-the-top-education-program/

http://www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/wwstand/wws0512ed/

Comment on a colleague’s work #1 : Blog Stage Five

     My colleague Scott Cameron recently stated that “the annexation of Pflugerville into Austin Community College district is a goal we should all set in the elections to come”.

     I think Scott is absolutely right; everyone will have opportunity to get benefit from the proposal. Already one-third of Pflugerville ISD exists in the Austin Community College District (ACCD), and it receives a much lower in-district tuition rate. Based on some data, already more than 50 percent of Pflugerville ISD graduates who enter higher education go through ACCD. Similarly more than 50 percent of adults in the area who start college start at ACCD. The tuition fee for out-of-district is $150 per credit hour, and $42 for in-district. As Scott pointed the savings of annexation can be, on average, up to $6,000 or more on a two year program. The money saved on tuition may be good for economy of community. Scott found that there are some children who are moving to within Austin city limits to attend the community college after graduation. I think it is not good for community to loose its members due to affordability of community college.

Some residents who do not have college going kids may resist why they should pay more taxes. But they need to understand that a community college is a best way to increase community education that will eventually impact economic prosperity of a community. Even if there is no child who may go to college, the resident herself/himself can take classes in affordable manner. The affordable college would be a good way of retooling skills sets in this tough economic time. The more educated a community is, the higher individual’s earnings are. That will increase business in community, which will bring more tax, and the money can be reinvested into community’s economy.

     Even though tax will increase, a strong community college will be an investment in economic growth. It will have direct impact on the economic well-being of a community. ACCD will offer higher education to the people who are financially and/or academically not able to go to a four-year institution. So I think Pflugerville should join ACCD and get in-district tuition fee. If a strong community college like ACCD is available in the community, it benefits the entire community. It can provide substantial economic benefits to individual students, local communities and the state as a whole.  According to study done by Texas Comptroller office, for every dollar invested in colleges, the community sees a return over $5. Another thing to note is if Pflugerville gets in-district more people may move to the city which will bring more money to the city.

      Bastrop, Elgin, McDade, San Marcos, Hays, Buda, Kyle area are getting (got) chance to decide whether to be annexed or not. Now Pflugerville residents should get a chance to vote on the issue.
References:

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/acc-ready-for-next-growth-spurt-183009.html?cxtype=rss_news_36716

http://www.austincc.edu/ehs/pdf/GeneralUpdates10-4-05.pdf

http://pflugervillepflag.com/2010/04/15/community-shows-interest-in-acc-nothing-in-the-works/

http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/highered05/