The new federal stimulus law could stimulate federal involvement in middle and high schools.
The conference report accompanying the bill urges states to spend 40 percent of the $3 billion in Title I school improvement money on secondary schools. (Hat tip to this document on Learning Points Associates' new page that's chock-full of details on the stimulus.)
States and districts historically have followed Congress' direction in concentrating Title I money on elementary schools, which receive three-quarters of the program's money, according to this report from the U.S. Department of Education.
If states and districts grant Congress' wish under the stimulus, they would make a $1.2 billion dent in the disproportionate distribution of Title I money between elementary and secondary schools.
And that might alter the discussion in NCLB reauthorization about where the money should go in the future.
If I had a chance to ask Mr.Duncan and President Obama one question it would be: If a state or area is NOT able to attract businesses to increase the tax base to help fund public education, and if the federal government continues to give school districts money,millions in Title I funds, for the poor, what is the incentive for the school systems to produce high achieving students if the state is in the bottom 10% ranking for SAT scores? In other words, if we did not have the poor how in the world would some of our districts get the money to pay administrators to ensure failing students pass?
I think we are missing something in the reading program as I know some still teach "sight" words vs. phonics. I also believe there are scientific researched reading programs that are being passed over because of cost. From my understanding, if a child can not read after 3rd grade, he/she is going to struggle for the rest of their academic life, and in high school they at least can drop out and get a GED, or the high school kids can normally attend a Tech school/alternative school. However, our elementary kids are just STUCK.
If I could make one suggestion to Mr. Duncan and President Obama? Ensure DESEGREGATION is enforced in elementary school. Allow these youngsters to be exposed to "others" outside their poor district. Perhaps it might help us create a more tolerant society. Why wait until they get to middle school and high school to integrate?