Testing Dilemma

Utah has an average absentee rate of 13.5 percent, which means nearly 14 of every 100 students is missing each day. So how are teachers supposed to get them to take the test and how are they supposed to score well if they're gone?

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What is the True Crisis in Education?

"If there is a crisis in American education, Ms. Ravitch writes, it is only 'because of persistent, orchestrated attacks' on teachers and principals. 'These attacks,' she writes, 'create a false sense of crisis and serve the interests of those who want to privatize the public schools.'"

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Let me tell you what I think everyone needs to know: American public education is a huge success. Test scores have never been higher than they are today for white children, black children, Hispanic children and Asian children. High school graduation rates have never been higher than they are today for all of those groups. Our schools are not failing; they are very successful.

Listen to Diane Ravich discuss the problem. Click Here.

More on School Grading

Now that the Utah Legislature-inspired school grading system has been exposed for the joke that it is and lawmakers are spinning, ducking and finger-pointing to avoid accountability for their own ineptitude, it's time to debunk the myth that a similar system was adopted by Florida.
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Grading Plan Full of Flaws

The school grading program, created by SB271 S3 (2013 Session) is a one-size-fits-all system that dishonors students, their schools and the dedicated educators who serve them. Consider four of several concerns:
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Grading The System

All Utahns should be prepared to use the grades as ammunition to demand that their representatives take positive, constructive steps to help failing schools fix deficiencies on which the school-grading system has, in the words of legislators, "shone a bright light." And, in many cases, that means increasing money available to school districts, something legislators have perennially resisted.
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Not Optional - Education Should be Required

Poor Aaron Osmond. Tossed into the Utah Senate in midstream (filling the unexpired term of retiring Sen. Chris Buttars), the South Jordan Republican quickly immersed himself in the details of one of the most important and controversial responsibilities of state government -- public education.

He met with stakeholders on all sides, avoided the stereotypical teacher-bashing that is all too common on his side of the aisle, even proposed some good ideas, including a plan that could have attracted private money to such underserved needs as pre-kindergarten education.

Then, just the other day, he punted. Gave up. Threw in the towel. Surrendered. Retired from the field. Pulled the plug. Called it quits.
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School Districts Facing More Budget Woes

Unlike the recent years of the recession, most Utah school districts are no longer facing deep cuts as they come up with budgets for next school year. But they're not exactly flush with cash, either, as they face the impending costs of health care reform and the threat of continued sequestration.
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