Excellent Public Radio show on education reform

This morning, I happened across an excellent radio show on reforming public education. Broadcast on Cleveland's Public Radio staion, WVIZ, you can access it here .

During the show, I blogged some notes for a local weblog, Brewed Fresh Daily. Here are my notes:

1. Claudio Sanchez, NPR education reporter: We are seeing a real renaissance of school reform that entails real innovation. Dan Moulthrop says that in preparing the program, he was amazed at the extent of innovation taking place.

2. Jim Peyser, New Schools Venture Fund: Educational entrepreneurship is emerging. They are engaging systems in transform the nature of public education. New Orleans is transforming with a deep public-private partnership “at scale”.

3. Claudio Sanchez: The war between public education and its critics has been poisonous. The notion of a solely market driven education system is fading. Chicago, Philadelphia, and New Orleans are focused on deeper partnerships that are changing the political climate in which meaningful reform — education entrepreneurs — can take place.

4. Jim Peyser: Effective communities (New Orleans, Chicago, Philadelphia are examples) have a leadership and a policy environment that welcomes entrepreneurs and focuses on what works, not who’s in control. Some key lessons of transformation: Focus on what works, not who is in control…Establish accountability and transparency for results…Promote local political leadership that can insulate transformation from the the toxic effects of local politics.

5. Good discussion on role of parents in education. (Kalamazoo has rapidly become a model of a community that embraces quality public education. The newspaper has compiled a useful “Back to School” section that outlines the appropriate expectations for parents. You can read it here.)

6. Michelle Rhee, DC School Chancellor: Moving toward a different compensation for teachers. Moving intro teachers from $43,000 to $78,000, based on student achievement levels. This plan is different than Denver’s ProComp, because the differentials are based more on student achievement. Foundations are supporting the first five years. After that the district will focus on sustainability through higher productivity (e.g., improvements in transportation for special education). Regaining the confidence of parents will take place over time. Dan asks: Any advice to the Governor? Rhee: If you want to take this on you need to be willing to take on the entrenched groups….the changes are not politically easy. Politicians also often forget that their constituents are also the children.

7. Claudio Sanchez: In 1989, governors were annointed as the leads of education reform, but their political time horizon is too short to guide meaningful transformation. This problem leads to incredible inconsistency n education reform efforts. (Here’s some background on the 1989 summit.)

8. Listener: Raises the issue of funding. Claudio Sanchez: These funding issues are very complex. Often overlooked, however, is the question, “How are you spending the money you do have?” More money in the classroom matters; it translates into better results. Dan Moulthrop heads us over to WCPN interview with Bill Ouchi, author, Making Schools Work.

9. Listener points to the the documentary of 2 million minutes, a documentary that focuses on global comparisons on student achievement. Claudio Sanchez: Points to former governor Roy Romer of Colorado has launched in ED in 08. It’s not clear why these issues have not gotten more attention. Most schools and school districts feel isolated.

10. Chris Gabrieli, Chairman, National Center for Time and Learning. Powerful, simple reform. First year of conversion generated dramatic improvements in student achievement in Massachusetts.

11. Main point: There is not a problem of public education that has not been solved. The challenge is integrating these reforms into a coherent strategies.