November 2008

Is Education Too Big to Fail?

By Gene R. Carter, Executive Director, ASCD

In remarks delivered one year ago, presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke about the importance of improving education in the United States, saying, "We can make a commitment that's more than just the rhetoric of a campaign—one that's more than another empty promise made by a politician looking for your vote." After a historic election, we now look to President-Elect Obama to keep that commitment when he takes office in January.

The U.S. financial crisis, which has reverberated throughout the global economy, underscores the need for decisive action. If federal lawmakers can work together to bail out the nation's financial institutions, why can't they work together to ensure that our children acquire the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills they need to succeed in the 21st century? Can we afford to let one student drop out of high school every 26 seconds, amounting to a yearly loss of more than $300 billion in lifetime earning potential? For the United States to maintain its status as an economic and political leader, we must commit to being a global education leader. We must develop our human capital with as much urgency as our financial capital. At ASCD, we stand ready to help Barack Obama and his administration realize the education policies he outlined on the campaign trail.

In 2002 the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) represented a bipartisan effort to improve the achievement of all children. Unfortunately, the law's implementation did not match its intent. The result was a flawed accountability system—one that relies heavily on standardized tests that provide only a snapshot of student knowledge and ability in select subjects—and partisan gridlock over how to fix it. The next version of the law, now almost two years overdue, must recognize that academic achievement is inextricably linked to the civic engagement; motivation; and emotional, physical, and social health of our students.

During his campaign, Barack Obama addressed the need to reform assessment under NCLB. "Don't tell us that these tests have to come at the expense of music or art or physical education," he said. "We are educating the whole child." As a candidate, he pledged to address the lack of funding allocated to fulfill the requirements of NCLB and proposed programs to recruit, prepare, retain, and reward teachers. He also outlined a plan to make early childhood education more accessible and said he would pass legislation to address the dropout crisis. Early in 2009, we expect the new president and Congress to fix the nation's most important education law and begin work on an education agenda that recognizes a child is more than a grade on a test.

ASCD proposes a broader definition of achievement and accountability that promotes the development of the whole child. The Obama administration must work with Congress and educators to ensure that the reauthorization of NCLB

• Incorporates multiple indicators of achievement, flexibility in the application of sanctions and interventions for schools in need of improvement, and increased professional development opportunities and incentives for teachers and school leaders.
• Addresses the dropout crisis by giving schools the ability to personalize education as outlined in the GRADUATES Act: through learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom, mentoring and student support programs, and flexible scheduling.

In addition, the new president and Congress must pass legislation, such as the Full Service Community Schools, Keeping PACE, and WE CARE acts, that lets schools provide additional services to meet the needs of students and families, encourage community involvement, and offer extended learning time outside the hours of a regular school day.

When the number of financial institutions on the U.S. government's bailout list increased, federal lawmakers asked which ones were too big to fail. Now, as the economy struggles to rebound, state and local budget cuts will directly affect the programs and services available to our students, and the new president's commitment to education will be tested. ASCD educators know that investing in our children is the most secure investment we can make. We will make our voices heard to ensure that education policy supports what is best for the future of our students and our country, and we expect nothing less from our elected officials.

Barack Obama, as president, do not let education fail. Make our education system an exemplar for the world.

Make your voice heard by joining ASCD's Educator Advocates.

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