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Employers are pulling out the stops in their efforts to improve the U.S. educational system. Besides lobbying at the state, local and federal levels for much-needed reform, companies are launching projects together and on their own to strengthen America's schools. And they're committing themselves for the long term, knowing that it will take a sustained effort to turn the situation around.
There's plenty of reason for concern. The high school dropout rate in the U.S. is 30% (50% for minorities), and many who do graduate lack the skills, especially in math and science, to be successful in college or the workplace. The U.S. ranks 21st in science and 25th in math among 57 developed nations surveyed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. "The U.S. faces a critical talent gap in science, technology, engineering and math and is not keeping pace with foreign competition," says John Castellani, president of the Business Roundtable.
Companies want Congress to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act, but to change it so it puts more emphasis on testing high school students. The current law requires annual testing of schoolchildren in grades 3 through 8, but only once in high school. Firms also want to track a cohort of youths and measure their growth as they move through grades rather than the current system that measures each class against benchmarks.
They also want full funding of the America Competes Act. That law, passed in 2007, authorizes new federal investment in science and math education, teacher training and incentives for math and science majors to pursue teaching careers.
Businesses will press the issue at the local and state levels, too, since that's where most education decisions are made. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is beginning a major effort, following its state-by-state report card on educational effectiveness called Leaders and Laggards. The survey gave 19 states grades of D or F.
The aim is to get the word out to Chamber members so they start to focus on what needs to be done in their particular states, says Karen Elzey, executive director of the Institute for a Competitive Workforce at the Chamber. Businesses are pushing for a major overhaul because they think too many schools are using antiquated models that are no longer relevant.
Specifically, employers are backing programs to improve teaching and management and create innovative curricula. Firms want better data to identify and then reward the best teachers and to better track and measure student progress. They also want smaller classes, charter schools and more advanced courses. "The goal is to ensure that students get a rigorous and relevant education," says Elzey.
Many employers are moving ahead with their own projects. For example, IBM is working to fill the teacher gap in math and science by giving midcareer employees who want to be teachers tuition reimbursement of up to $15,000 and time off for student teaching. The Siemens Foundation reaches out to 5th and 6th graders to get them interested in math and science, often sending key personnel to speak or provide hands-on science experiments. The foundation also offers scholarships to top science students. GlaxoSmithKline sends employees to tutor elementary school kids in reading and math, and scientists talk about careers in their field. And State Farm trains workers to be substitutes so teachers can take leave for professional development programs.
Companies are also working to get the presidential candidates on board. A bipartisan group called Strong American Schools is trying to make education a top priority in the 2008 election with a $60-million effort called Ed in '08. Half of the money is from Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates.
The Democratic candidates tend to have more-specific education proposals. N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton supports grants to states for early college high schools and apprenticeship programs targeted to the needs of local businesses and bonuses to teachers to work in high-need schools. Ill. Sen. Barack Obama is keen on grants to states to target at-risk students and prevent dropouts. He also wants to give states money to develop measurements to evaluate workforce readiness.
Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney has a plan that's the most detailed of the Republican candidates. It includes some reform of No Child Left Behind plus public-private partnerships focused on science and math education. Sen. John McCain of Arizona has no official education platform, but he has voiced support for vouchers. And former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee supports home schooling, pay for performance to teachers and making arts and music education part of the curriculum.
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POSTED BY: R Spangler (February 04, 2008 02:12 PM)
One of the most effective ways to improve reading, math, and science achievement is to include a full arts, music, and physical education curriculum. The data is out there--it works.
Not only will you have a more intelligent and higher-achieving population, but it will also be significantly balanced, integrated, effective, and healthy--good for all including the economy.
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