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________________________________________ THE VERMONT EDUCATION REPORT
December 05, 2005 - Vol. 5, No. 47
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Covering education news in Vermont and beyond...
Informative, provocative, unique...
Published by Vermonters for Better Education
VBE is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to enlist parents and the public at large in achieving quality educational opportunities for all the children of Vermont by monitoring the state of education in Vermont; promoting the value of educational freedoms for all parents; and giving parents the evaluative tools with which to identify excellence. Libby Sternberg, executive director: VTBetterEd@aol.com
NEWS & ANALYSIS..."NEEDING IMPROVEMENT" SCHOOLS LIST RELEASED
The Vermont Department of Education released the annual list of "schools needing improvement" last Tuesday and the majority of the state's schools are doing just fine. Only three percent - 10 schools - of the state's schools did not meet adequate yearly progress (AYP) goals.
The summary of AYP determinations, put together by the VDOE, is pasted below. Other documents, including a handy FAQ on the AYP determinations and what they mean, can be found at: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/new/html/dept/press_releases_05.html.
As reported in last week's VER, many students in schools needing improvement won't be able to take advantage of the school choice option that should be available to them under the consequences spelled out in the NCLB law. This is because Vermont's districts are often too small for more than one school, and the state passed a law several years ago that defined the "local education agency" (through which federal dollars flow) as the school district itself and not the supervisory union, which would offer more choices to students.
Also of note - several school districts have opted out of receiving Title I funds and thus any consequences of NCLB. When schools started this opt-out process several years ago, the VER discovered that some of them were not actually forgoing the money, however. They were merely using other federal money in place of the Title I funds and playing a "shell game" of sorts with the cash.
2005 ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS DETERMINATION SUMMARY
297 schools made AYP
Ten (3 percent) schools did not make AYP
Three schools exited identification for School Improvement:
Hazen Union High School
Leicester Central School
Troy Elementary School23 (7 percent) schools are in School Improvement
One school entered Year Two Corrective Action:
Mt. Anthony Union High SchoolOne school made AYP and was held at Corrective Action:Mt. Anthony Middle SchoolOne school made AYP and was held at Year Two School Improvement:Missisquoi Valley Union High SchoolThree schools entered Year Two School Improvement:
Bellows Falls High School
North Country Union High School
Rutland High School16 schools made AYP and were held at Year One School Improvement:
Barre City Elementary
and Middle
Burlington High School
Edmunds Middle School
Fair Haven Graded School
Harwood Union Middle
and High School
Lyndon Town School
Milton Elementary
Molly Stark
Neshobe
Otter Valley Union High School
Rutland Intermediate
Rutland Middle
Rutland Northwest
St. Albans City
St. Johnsbury
Vergennes Union High SchoolOne school entered Year 1 School Improvement:
Brattleboro Union High SchoolFive schools did not make AYP for the first time - no formal status:
Fair Haven Union High School
Lake Region Union High School
Springfield High School
Sunderland Elementary
Winooski High SchoolEight Districts made AYP and are held at Year One District Improvement:
Burlington
Colchester
Essex Town
Milton
Montpelier
Rutland City
St. Johnsbury
South BurlingtonTwo districts entered Year One District Improvement:
Bellows Falls UHSD
North Country UHSDFour Districts did not make AYP for the first time:
Fair Haven UHSD
Lake Region UHSD
Sunderland
Winooski
MORE STRIKES ON THE HORIZON?
The Vermont NEA Today, the newsletter of the state's teachers union, features a celebratory article in its November/December 2005 edition (http://www.vtnea.org/Nov-Dec05.pdf) about the Colchester teachers strike that is sure to inspire other union negotiators as two more towns face the possibility of strikes. Both Barre and South Burlington teachers are looking at striking as the VER is being written. Here's how the VT-NEA breathlessly describes their victory in the recent Colchester strike:
"Teachers fended off the school board's $1,000 deductible insurance plan and maintained 80 percent board payment of the premium.
"Salary was the only remaining issue. The board proposed new money increases of 3.5 percent, 3.25 percent and 3.25 percent over three years. Teachers proposed 4.5 percent each year.
"Imagine the pressure on CEA negotiators to give in on that final 1 percent new money to get a settlement...CEA leaders and members stayed steady....After three hours, this time without a mediator, CEA negotiators and the school board reached a compromise on salary. They agreed to 4 percent new money each year for three years...."
Health benefits and wages also are the big issues in the possible strikes in Barre and South Burlington. According to an Associated Press article, Barre teachers voted on Friday to strike if no agreement is reached with the school board. And in South Burlington teachers are talking of a strike after a third round of negotiations failed.
According to the article, Leslie Williams, chairwoman of the South Burlington School Board, is "astonished" and "perplexed" that teachers would vote to strike after the board offered what she believes is a generous package.
The AP story continues, "South Burlington teachers are the highest paid in the state. The teachers union wants a top salary of $81,182, with 10 percent insurance contributions."
For the full story, go to: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051205/NEWS/512050338/1004
ED REFORMERS BEWARE?
Former legislator Frank Mazur, a proponent of education reforms such as charter schools and school choice, received an unusual postcard on Saturday, December 3.
Mazur says the card was addressed to him as a legislator. It looks to be professionally printed with yellow print on a black background (making the postmark impossible to read) and the message is: "Are you feeling LUCKY? Education reformers beware... Friday October 13, 2006."
The VER would be interested in any information readers might have about this card, which was also received by the chairman of Vermonters for Better Education, the organization that publishes this newsletter, and this newsletter's editor. The postcard could just be a misguided promotional effort of some sort, but if so, the designers of the effort have bungled with such a terse and cryptic mailing.
VT NEA GEARS UP TO LIMIT SCHOOL CHOICE -- AGAIN
The state's limited school choice law -- Act 150 -- will sunset in 2007 unless the legislature acts to extend or expand it. The Vermont NEA is already talking about how to affect this re-enactment. In an article in their newsletter (http://www.vtnea.org/Nov-Dec05.pdf), the teachers union says "we intend to be involved in developing" the successor to Act 150. The good news is that the union plans to push for collaborative partnerships of "no fewer than four districts," which would expand the choices available to students. Currently, schools are only required to collaborate with one other district.
There's no word, however, on whether the union would back unlimited numbers of students requesting transfers, instead of the handful of students allowed per school now. The union is quite explicit in what it would oppose. Printed below is the paragraph on those items:
".... we know that our detractors will advocate for a much broader legislative reception to school choice in any of its iterated forms - vouchers (that's what Vermont needs: having parents of private secular or religious school students demanding state funding); charter schools (that's what Vermont needs: more schools to fund despite having so many fine public schools that have the qualities other states' charter school proponents seek); extending the current law to elementary schools (that's what Vermont needs: exacerbated transportation and funding problems many small community schools face); having money follow the students" (that's what Vermont needs: forcing less well-funded schools pay for departing students, making it harder to meet the needs of all students left behind)."
To which the VER responds, with the same gentle sarcasm evidenced in the VT-NEA newsletter: That's what Vermont needs, having a bloated behemoth of a lobbying organization attempting to stop children from accessing educational opportunities that meet their needs.
We're sure the VT-NEA will read our message with the same good-natured sense of fun that inspired their own writing on the school choice topic.
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FROM ELSEWHERE...
From the U.S. Freedom Foundation
On the web at: http://www.freedomfoundation.us/HOMESCHOOLERS AND SCHOOL CHOICE
by David W. Kirkpatrick, senior education fellowHomeschooling relates to the broader issue of school choice, often negatively, in the eyes of many homeschoolers. The driving force behind the homeschooling movement is not restricted to a desire for more emphasis on religion or other values not found in public schools and the avoidance of some of those that are in the traditional system.
There is often a cynicism or distrust of government itself, not least of all of government's involvement in the educational process. This frequently goes beyond concern with the government owned and operated school system. There is the commonly stated objection, and not just by homeschoolers, to any form of public funding for student grants at the elementary and secondary level because of the fear of regulations that might follow.
Many homeschoolers want no part of any government involvement and oppose the drive to establish student financial grants or scholarships, often discussed under the general heading of "vouchers," as well as charter schools, and other alternative proposals.
There are reasons why this opposition should not be so inclusive of all reforms:
First, some homeschool parents say they do so because it is the only option available to them when their local district refuses to make any accommodation to their wishes and they cannot afford other alternatives. School choice grants would provide them with more options.
Second, those who home school tend to do so at the elementary level. One-third or more of these students transfer to an established school, usually a public school, at the secondary level where homeschooling gets more expensive and complicated. Some youngsters may wish to participate in sports or other extracurricular programs. For many parents, nonpublic schools may not be available or affordable. Grants, again, would create additional options.
Third, the problem of obtaining public funding for student grants is a political one to convince legislators that there are sound reasons to assist parents in educating their children if they are so inclined. Since those who do so have a commendable track record, to give them modest financial assistance, as other developed nations do, would be in the public interest. Yet there are homeschool parents who reject involvement in the political process as well.
Fourth, homeschoolers have much to gain, and to give, by supporting the school choice movement. As the restrictions have been relaxed, or eliminated, on home schooling the number of participants, thus constituents of elected officials, have grown. The availability of full school choice could significantly expand the number of citizens opposing regulations. Evidence exists for this belief, although it is often unknown or overlooked by those who are afraid of government regulations, or cynical about government.
As the constituency for a given position grows, the likelihood of its being heard, successful, and protected, grows. Can you imagine the outcry if millions of parents, having their children educated as they wish, were faced with prospective government laws or regulations restricting their freedom? A limited version of this occurred some years ago when Rep. George Miller (D-CA) proposed an amendment in Congress which appeared to require certification of all teachers in nongovernment schools and homeschooling. The outpouring of objections to this measure resulted in only his vote being cast for it. And this was mild compared to what might have happened if even more citizens had felt they would be restricted by his bill.
Finally, those who object to government involvement in the education process would still be free to reject such financial assistance. By objecting to its existence, they deny its availability to those who perhaps most need it and would be willing to accept it. Homeschoolers and students in independent schools would gain from full school choice, even if they chose not to accept it. Not least of all, huge numbers of public school students and their parents would benefit by having alternatives to the educationally deficient, even personally dangerous, school environments in which too many presently find themselves.
David Kirkpatrick is a Bennington native now living in Pennsylvania. He is a former public school teacher and officer in the PA-NEA.
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WHO COVERS EDUCATION IN VERMONT?
We do! Consider a gift to Vermonters for Better Education, the publisher of the weekly Vermont Education Report, Vermont's ONLY continual source of education news. Send donations to: VBE, 170 Church Street, Rutland, Vermont 05701. VBE is a nonprofit organization and contributions are tax-deductible.
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The VERMONT EDUCATION REPORT is published by Vermonters for Better Education 170 Church Street, Rutland, VT 05701, 802.773.5240 Contact VTBetterEd@aol.com for more information.
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