成長的感覺
一個驕傲的媽媽，在不惑之年，細心地體驗和女兒一起成長的感覺。
正文
請關注並支持Parents\' Choice in Education方麵的提案
很多州都有關於Parents\' Choice in Education方麵的組織，主要是爭取家長自由選擇學校的權利，包括如果選擇私校，應得到TAX CREDIT之類。請看這篇報道。
California Leads the Nation in School Choice Bills
Vicki E. Murray, Sacramento Union Columnist
Published: April 10, 2008
SACRAMENTO – Thanks to a handful of state Assembly members, a record-setting five bills for parental choice in education are being introduced this legislative session. This is the first time in six years for any such legislation in the Golden State, which leads the nation in parental choice bills introduced thus far in 2008.
The proposed measures would release California children from unsafe schools (AB 2361, Rick Keene, R-Chico) and provide parents of private and home-schooled children with tax credits (AB 2605, Alan Nakanishi, R- Lodi). Another bill would let parents of special-needs children to choose another school, if they wish to do so, without having to hire an attorney or jump through endless bureaucratic hoops (AB 2290, John J. Benoit, R-Riverside). Yet another proposal makes students eligible to transfer outside their resident school district if they do not test at grade-level proficiency on the California Standards Test for two consecutive years (AB 2739, Alan Nakanishi, R-Lodi).
A final bill sponsored by Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) allows students in failing public schools to attend a public or private school of their choice (AB 2561). It provides tax credits to parents who choose private schools to help them pay for out-of-pocket tuition.
“This is important,” said Assemblyman Niello, “so that every child has the same opportunities for a quality education in California.”
The prospects for each of these measures are uncertain as of this writing. It’s fair to say, however, that California has reached a decisive turning point.
Thirty years ago, California was the undisputed national education leader. Today students from the Golden State rank around 48th in English and math. In fact, in one of the most comprehensive reviews to date of the state public schooling system, researchers from Stanford University concluded, “there is no evidence to support the idea that simply introducing yet more new programs will produce the desired achievement gain. …no matter how carefully targeted or lavishly funded. … [The] system is broken and requires fundamental reform not tinkering around the edges.”
More resources for the state’s failing public schooling monopoly won’t improve matters much. Missing from previous reform efforts in California is the simple and sensible concept of allowing parents to pick their children’s schools. Absent that element, the state’s educational landscape remains uncompetitive as ever, with little incentive for schools to abandon their business-as-usual ways.
Researchers from Columbia University Teachers College reviewed more than 200 scientific analyses concerning the effects of competition on public schools. They concluded, “A sizable majority of these studies report beneficial effects of competition across all outcomes,” including improved performance by public-school students, higher graduation rates, greater public-school efficiency, smaller class sizes, better teacher salaries and improved housing values. Not one single analysis found that competition harms public schools or students.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared 2008 the “Year of Education Reform.” Five school choice bills confirm that the California State Assembly, at least, is taking that declaration seriously.
很多州都有關於Parents\' Choice in Education方麵的組織，主要是爭取家長自由選擇學校的權利，包括如果選擇私校，應得到TAX CREDIT之類。請看這篇報道。
California Leads the Nation in School Choice Bills
Vicki E. Murray, Sacramento Union Columnist
Published: April 10, 2008
SACRAMENTO – Thanks to a handful of state Assembly members, a record-setting five bills for parental choice in education are being introduced this legislative session. This is the first time in six years for any such legislation in the Golden State, which leads the nation in parental choice bills introduced thus far in 2008.
The proposed measures would release California children from unsafe schools (AB 2361, Rick Keene, R-Chico) and provide parents of private and home-schooled children with tax credits (AB 2605, Alan Nakanishi, R- Lodi). Another bill would let parents of special-needs children to choose another school, if they wish to do so, without having to hire an attorney or jump through endless bureaucratic hoops (AB 2290, John J. Benoit, R-Riverside). Yet another proposal makes students eligible to transfer outside their resident school district if they do not test at grade-level proficiency on the California Standards Test for two consecutive years (AB 2739, Alan Nakanishi, R-Lodi).
A final bill sponsored by Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) allows students in failing public schools to attend a public or private school of their choice (AB 2561). It provides tax credits to parents who choose private schools to help them pay for out-of-pocket tuition.
“This is important,” said Assemblyman Niello, “so that every child has the same opportunities for a quality education in California.”
The prospects for each of these measures are uncertain as of this writing. It’s fair to say, however, that California has reached a decisive turning point.
Thirty years ago, California was the undisputed national education leader. Today students from the Golden State rank around 48th in English and math. In fact, in one of the most comprehensive reviews to date of the state public schooling system, researchers from Stanford University concluded, “there is no evidence to support the idea that simply introducing yet more new programs will produce the desired achievement gain. …no matter how carefully targeted or lavishly funded. … [The] system is broken and requires fundamental reform not tinkering around the edges.”
More resources for the state’s failing public schooling monopoly won’t improve matters much. Missing from previous reform efforts in California is the simple and sensible concept of allowing parents to pick their children’s schools. Absent that element, the state’s educational landscape remains uncompetitive as ever, with little incentive for schools to abandon their business-as-usual ways.
Researchers from Columbia University Teachers College reviewed more than 200 scientific analyses concerning the effects of competition on public schools. They concluded, “A sizable majority of these studies report beneficial effects of competition across all outcomes,” including improved performance by public-school students, higher graduation rates, greater public-school efficiency, smaller class sizes, better teacher salaries and improved housing values. Not one single analysis found that competition harms public schools or students.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared 2008 the “Year of Education Reform.” Five school choice bills confirm that the California State Assembly, at least, is taking that declaration seriously.
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