A recently released three-year study conducted by the Rand Corporation, a California think-tank, looked at the links between state educational policies and the performance of children on standardized tests. This study should serve to better educate our nations’ presidential candidates as well.
The study looked at 44 states and compared the test scores of students from similar racial and economic backgrounds, taking into account such factors as single parent households, income, the level of education of parents, and so forth.
Governor George W. Bush was undoubtedly pleased to hear that his state of Texas ranked at the very top in this study. But lets hope Mr. Bush also heard one of the other conclusions reached by the study, namely, that early preschool programs have a dramatic and positive impact on student achievement. The GOP has consistently opposed funding for the Head Start Program, one of the few successful federal education programs designed to help low-income children. I know many public grade school teachers who report that their best students come out of the Head Start Program ready to learn. This program has also offered ongoing support for young and poor single parents struggling to raise their children properly. Surely a “compassionate conservative” can see the value in continuing such a program.
Al Gore will undoubtedly be pleased to see that the study found strong links between smaller class size and increased student achievement, especially when it comes to at-risk kids. Smaller class size is a centerpiece of Mr. Gore’s education plan. But will Gore pay attention to the fact that simply throwing money at ineffective teachers does nothing to enhance the education of our nation’s children? For too long, Gore and the Democrats have accepted the marching orders of teachers unions who have opposed important reforms such as mandatory additional training for tenured teachers, merit pay, and public money to send kids to the private schools that often do a better job of educating our kids. In cities around the country, these unions have repeatedly defended grossly incompetent teachers. If Mr. Gore really wants increased accountability for teachers, let him prove it by demonstrating loyalty to children and not unions.
There are any number of issues where the presidential candidates can disagree. Education doesn’t need to be one of them. There are strong data out there to indicate that reducing student-to-teacher ratios, supporting small schools and academies, funding early preschool programs, requiring additional teacher training, enforcing accountability, and providing poor children with access to private schools that get the job done, all will help America do a better job of educating our children. We need a president who will support all 50 states in these efforts.
