Mitt Romney Announces A Chance for Every Child - image desert news
From:the Springfield Republican: “Mitt Romney: U.S. students getting 'third-world education,' proposes school choice program” speaks to Romney’s release of a prospectus on education reform from the top down – ensuring that students have equal access to higher quality education – specifically those from lower-income households. The plan shown below, highlights steps that necessary to insure the quality of education matches the price tag – and one can bet the teacher’s union’s have their panties in a bunch.
A Chance for Every Child
The plan to allow for increase Charter and online schools, pay more to higher performing teachers, and allow Federal funds that go to states to be used by the families of low income students as vouchers are a few points where trouble may arise.
Oddly enough (or perhaps not so) both candidate (President) Obama and candidate Mitt Romney are echoing some of the same themes for improving the public education system, ABC News offers: “Can Romney, Obama Learn to Share on Education?”, where both have used similar language in recent speeches.
That said Romney as Governor had increased Charter Schools in Massachusetts, and in 2005 offered legislation similar to the plan released yesterday which was met with the same “horror” from those who support the current union/federal government education relationship – the Massachusetts Legislature - (See Romney Plan Would Greatly Boost Charter Schools).
The Charter Schools do startling well in Massachusetts, with parents hoping to get their children into Charter versus public school systems. The reasoning: According to 2011 records of he Massachusetts Department of Education on Graduation Rates, the three top schools, with 100% graduation are Charter Schools: Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (Horace Mann Charter School), Foxborough Regional Charter (District) - Foxborough Regional Charter Schooland the Ma Academy for Math and Science – of the Commonwealths larger population centers, the graduation rates are: Springfield Putnam Vocational: 60.5%, Boston Monument High School: 50%, Worcester North High School, 51%, New Bedford High, 58.9%, these fall in the middle, and represent a dismal public school graduation rate record. Of the 370 schools rated, 162 have a graduation rate of 90% or higher, while 208 fall below 90%, with 73 falling below 70%. Massachusetts is a participant in the Nationwide Race to the Top program, and places first in the group of states that participate (approximately 10 out of 50). Although the schools have seen a major improvement over previous years (some rising a full 20% in graduation rates), one wonders why these schools (with some exceptions such as schools set up for the those students who have servers challenges, either have faced being homeless, or are mentally challenged.) have not had greater success as they include some of the largest school districts in the Commonwealth.
Additionally, Romney’s plan to use language immersion in schools was seen as being problematic for students – he omitted the bi-lingual education classes (whereby a student was attending classes in both their native language as well as in English) – the charge: those students would not fare well against students who are native to the language. That said, private parochial schools use the same method of immersion, and those students acclimate quickly – often surpassing those students who are native English language students. In addition, the price tag for parochial (or private schools) is often far less than those of the public sector schools, with results that are much higher. For example: Chicopee, MA public schools spend an average of $12,672 per student, while a private parochial college prep school cost per year is approximately $10,000 (includes tuition uniforms, books, sundries). The difference, 100% graduation versus approximately 70% graduation from the public school. (Note: Chicopee Graduation Rates have vastly improved over the past three years going from high 50% to over 70%). There is, not only justification, but an imperative to reexamine the way funds are spent for public sector school systems, and allow parents to have more choice where it comes to their children’s public education. This is especially true nationwide – especially considering the few school systems in the nation that are “Racing to the Top” and the results thus far.
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