I’d like to turn the conversation about American public education decidedly combative, says John Flavin for The Oregonian. The enemy of America’s future is anyone who is opposed to increased professional development for teachers; guaranteed classroom sizes of 22 students or fewer; diversified options for students; and the elimination of standardized tests as we know them. Presently, education is crushed by unfunded mandates dealt by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Diane Ravitch, a professor of education, wrote in her book, “The Death and Life of the Great American School System”: “I was known as a conservative advocate of many of these policies … I’ve concluded they’re wrong … I don’t think any of this is going to improve public education.”
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Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.
Oregon’s education board seeks rules on virtual schools
This week, the Oregon Board of Education took a small step toward resolving a five-year dispute over one of the thorniest questions of the virtual-schools movement, reports the Oregonian: Who decides whether a child can attend an online-only school? In Oregon, education dollars follow the students. And this issue pits parent choice against school district stability. Initially, each of six members of the state board suggested slightly different solutions. After nearly three hours of discussion, however, most board members said they would support parent choice—but only if there was a cap on how many students could leave an individual school district. Though they couldn’t agree on details, the board will send this recommendation as part of a larger report on virtual schools to the Legislature on Sept.1. The Legislature will take up the issue again in 2011. Since Oregon’s first virtual charter school opened in 2005, some school districts, union leaders, and politicians have been concerned that the schools would pull too many kids and resources from traditional public schools and cripple already-underfunded programs. Meanwhile, parents, charter, and virtual school advocates argued that parents deserve the right to choose what educational option best fits their child. Kaaren Heikes, executive director of the Northwest Center for Education Options, the state’s charter school association, said the board’s consensus on this issue was an important compromise. “Districts wanted to be protected from losing too many kids,” Heikes said. “That fear is addressed. Brick and mortar schools have natural enrollment limits. This gives virtual schools a reasonable limit as well.”
…Read MoreOregon school computer labs overwhelmed by demands
It used to be students needed only a No. 2 pencil to take the Oregon state assessment, but now it requires a computer. At the same time, the federal government requires students to be “technologically literate” by the end of eighth grade. The competing demands have created a logjam for local schools, reports the Oregonian, as educators try to teach students about search engines, digital presentations, and internet safety—but find computer labs consumed for days or weeks at a time throughout the year for state testing. With little money to comply with the state and federal requirements, districts are trying out smaller, less expensive laptops and looking to their students for additional help. “Kids are powering down for the most part when they come to school,” said Carla Wade, a technology specialist for the Oregon Department of Education. “In a classroom of 30, if 10 bring in laptops, you only need 20 more laptops. How can you use what kids are already coming to school with?” This school year, Oregon had roughly one computer for every 4.6 students. That number is virtually unchanged from 2005. Ten years ago, Oregon received about $6 million in federal funding for technology, but it has declined every year since, Wade said. Last year, it was $1.4 million, and this coming school year it drops to about $800,000…
…Read MoreOregon educators look to create single hub for cyber classes
Students across Oregon might be able to take online classes as soon as this fall if the state’s Education Service Districts can pull together a plan for a statewide cyber-school hub, reports the Oregonian. Superintendents from nearly all of Oregon’s 20 Educational Service Districts (ESDs) converged in Salem on March 11 to consider strategies for offering a broad range of online classes. If the plan works, it will be a giant step into 21st-century learning for most of Oregon’s 197 school districts. Students would access the statewide system of courses through their local ESD. Oregon’s ESDs offer school districts services such as special education, technology, early education, and teacher training. They receive state funds and can provide services on a broader scale for less money than schools could alone. Districts pay for some ESD services; access to the online classes might fall into that category. The cyber courses will give parents another option to Oregon’s three online charter schools, said Jim Mabbott, superintendent of the Northwest Regional ESD. “The online situation is out of control in Oregon,” Mabbott said. “There should be one online school for the state, and the cost would drop substantially.” He believes the ESD virtual classes would keep more students—and the money the state provides to educate each student—in their home district schools…
…Read MoreOregon school lets students borrow laptops for home internet access
Just as finals approached, David Orozco’s family decided to drop internet access to save money. But the Canby High School senior had a group project on Bosnia and Herzegovina due in Economics class, and he needed to look up music on YouTube for choir practice. Now, school leaders have presented a possible solution to Orozco’s problem, reports the Oregonian. Last month, they launched “Check It Out,” a program that allows students to borrow laptops and wireless modems for free internet access at home. The program sheds light on a predicament facing families as they search for ways to trim budgets. Although many now consider online access essential for academic success, nearly one-third of U.S. households have no internet connection, according to data from a 2009 Census Bureau survey. At Canby High School, where a striking one in 17 students is considered homeless, there’s often a waiting list for the laptops and wireless modems, especially on weekends. “We definitely know there’s a need for the program,” said principal Pat Johnson. Each night, students can check out one of 10 laptops bought by the school and one of 20 wireless modules, which were provided free of charge by Cricket Wireless. Though the school’s computer lab has 40 computers, it closes at 5 p.m., he said. These days, every laptop gets checked out every night, and 90 students—including Orozco—have turned in permission slips to participate…
…Read MoreLife-saving mandate? Every Oregon school would have an automatic defibrillator
It’s likely that every Oregon school will be required to have an automatic heart defibrillator available by 2015, reports the Oregonian. The House Education Committee voted 7-3 in favor of the requirement Feb. 19, and it now heads to the House floor. The full Senate approved Senate Bill 1033 earlier this week. Members of the House panel said they were reluctant to impose an unfunded mandate on schools, and they said they hope local donors will help pay the costs. But they said the potential to save lives moved them to vote yes on the mandate. Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, R-Scio, will make the case for the bill when it comes before the House. She testified with tears in her eyes that, in 2001, her young nephew died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart problem at school. “This equipment very possibly could have saved his life,” she said. Automatic defibrillators, designed to be easy for lay people to use, shock the heart back into a normal rhythm. They typically cost $1,500 to $2,000. Some lawmakers questioned whether tiny rural schools can afford and truly need one. The bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point, noted, “Rural schools often do more than just be a schoolhouse. Often they are the place for community events. … Emergency services are very important. We don’t actually think about them too much. But as a guy who has ridden in an ambulance twice in the last year, I’ll tell you, it’s nice to have around. This is important for rural Oregon.”
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