More lawlessness?

Could it be that lawbreaking isn't limited to those infamous Tulsa-area school districts? According to state Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie), the state Department of Education (pre-Janet Barresi) refused to cooperate with a recent study of state's IT systems. "In fact, the department wouldn't allow state officials to conduct the study even though it is mandated by law."

What's up with that?

ESA, not KKK

State Superintendent Janet Barresi recently tweeted about a "thought-provoking column" on empowering parents with Education Savings Accounts. It's the same idea I mentioned recently in The Oklahoman. Over at National Review Online, Reihan Salam calls it one of "the most significant, transformative ideas I’ve ever seen advanced by an actual elected official with any real power."

The more I ponder it, the more inclined I am to agree. Education Savings Accounts just might be, in the words of my compadre Matt Ladner, "the way of the future."

Schools commit fraud

... by failing to educate.

'A more powerful transcript'

In time, many Oklahoma parents will start to ask themselves: "Why should I settle for having my Johnny being taught by the football coach when teachers like this are available?"

Ed Kelley thinks Barresi 'will eventually win the war'

Think tank measures educational productivity

There they go again. Another think tank that doesn't recognize the inherent sacredness of education, that seems to think education can be treated like some sort of business or something.

This latest think-tank report (Return on Educational Investment: A District-by-District Evaluation of U.S. Educational Productivity) concludes that "low productivity costs the nation’s school system as much as $175 billion a year." A separate website even provides an interactive district-by-district evaluation of educational productivity.

Our nation’s school system has for too long failed to ensure that education funding consistently promotes strong student achievement. After adjusting for inflation, education spending per student has nearly tripled over the past four decades. But while some states and districts have spent their additional dollars wisely—and thus shown significant increases in student outcomes—overall student achievement has largely remained flat. ...

Without controls on how additional school dollars are spent, more education spending will not automatically improve student outcomes.

I could go on, but you've heard it all before from Heritage, Cato, AEI, etc. This report, however, comes from the lefty, Soros-funded Center for American Progress.

Credit union

"One of my top priorities in my first year in office," says Superintendent Janet Barresi, "will be to encourage innovation and choice in Oklahoma’s education system by working with Governor Fallin and members of our Legislature on policies like tuition tax credits."

I tell ya, these right-wing radicals are taking over. What would Democrats like Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Jimmy Carter say?

Public schools must take all comers?

Clifton Ogle is president of the Oklahoma chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. In a letter to the editor published yesterday in The Oklahoman ("Private schools, not parents, make student choices"), Mr. Ogle made the point that "most private schools and even many religious schools have admissions tests and other requirements. Unlike public schools, private and religious schools are free to reject or expel students for almost any reason."

Professor Jay Greene throws cold water on that selectivity argument:

Surprising as it may be, most private schools are not very selective. A study of the nation's Catholic schools concluded that the typical institution accepted 88 percent of the students who applied. Other research in D.C., Dayton, and New York private schools found that only one percent of parents reported their children were denied admission because of a failed admissions test. Moreover, the academic and demographic backgrounds of students who use vouchers to attend private school across the country are very similar to those who don't.

Private schools don't significantly alter their student populations by expelling low-achieving or troublesome students, either. One study found that, Catholic high schools dismiss fewer than two students per year, on average. While it is true that every student is officially entitled to a publicly funded education, students in public schools are regularly expelled. According to the U.S. Department of Education, roughly one percent of all public school students are expelled in a year, and an additional 0.6 percent are segregated into specialized academies. That's more than in Catholic and other private schools. Moreover, public schools actually contract out 1.3 percent of their disabled students to private schools.

A dying breed

"We don't need reform, we need more money for an antiquated monopoly."

 

 

 

In an insightful editorial ("Oklahoma Board of Ed power play may backfire on board members"), the state's largest newspaper observes: "If it's a power coup some members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education were seeking, they'll likely get their wish. Just not in the way they envisioned."

Here's hoping it will be in the way OCPA envisions.

Comments-policy reminder

Some of the comments I've received lately are not eligible for posting. Please remember: All opinions are welcome as long as they include the commenter's name and don't violate the common rules of netiquette.

Barresi touts tax credits during National School Choice Week

Price is right

Bill Price, a leader in the national school choice movement and chairman of the Oklahoma School Choice Coalition, talks with Dick Pryor.

Fireworks at the state Board of Education meeting

Peter J. Rudy has the early report. OCPA's response is here.