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Education
Which American Cities are Education Reform-Friendly?
by
Q Ideas
We all want better educations for our communities and children. But are some cities more “reform-friendly” than others?
A new study
by
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute
in conjunction with the
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
says so.
As the
press release for the study
points out, education entrepreneurialism is all the rage right now. Organizations like Teach for America, EdisonLearning, New Leaders for New Schools, and Wireless Generation are big players today but relatively new upstarts. Such a trend produced a need for research into which cities are most ready reform the way they approach education.
In this study, six areas were considered when judging the nation’s 25 largest cities plus five smaller communities:
1. Access to an ample supply of human talent
2. A pipeline of readily accessible funding—venture capital and operating donors alike—from private and public sources
3. A thriving charter-school sector
4. Attention to quality metrics to guide and regulate entrepreneurial ventures
5. Receptivity to non-traditional providers and to reforms at the district level
6. Similar receptivity at the municipal level
True to their educational paradigm, cities were given a grade from A (extremely reform-friendly) to F (extremely reform-unfriendly). What were the results?
No city surveyed received an A, but eight received Bs: Austin, Charlotte, Denver, Fort Worth, Houston, Jacksonville, New Orleans, New York City, and Washington D.C. These cities are hotbeds of entrepreneurship where exciting reforms are already underway. Six cities fell into the bottom of the reform heap, earning Ds or Fs: Albany, Detroit, Gary, Philadelphia, San Diego, and San Jose. These cities aren’t attracting large sums of money or innovators, and few are enacting significant reforms.
What does this mean for those who inhabit the education space and want to be a force for restoration? It means we should focus energy on those places where we have great chances to succeed in reform efforts without neglecting those cities where there is a great need for entrepreneurship.
The cities at the bottom of the pile aren’t bankrupt. They are simply in need of a few innovative restorers. As the researchers involved with this study said,
“Is there hope for the laggards? Indeed, yes. This study outlines enormous opportunities for mayors, school systems, and business leaders to turn things around, though such transformations won’t come easily or fast. But then, Silicon Valley did not become a hotbed of innovation over night. It took decades to infuse the region with the financial capital, talent, networks, and expertise that make it what it has become.”
Such words are instructive for any reformer. Change will not come overnight or without hard work, but if those of us who have been called to this work will persist in our efforts, transformation is possible. And who knows? Maybe your city is just a few reformers away from climbing from the bottom of the list to the top.
-------
What are the greatest needs for reform in your community? What are the ways you could begin working to restore the educational system?
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Editor's Note: The skyline pictured above is Houston, the eighth-ranked reform-friendly city according to this study.
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Comments
Bill
My city didn't make the list, and I am not surprised. We've struggled to reform the system. Then again, I've never worked to push reform through...
Maybe people like me are part of the problem...
JoAnn Renken
I believe we are on the cusp of major reform. We cannot continue to shortchange our kids and pretend that scoring in the bottom of barrel on national tests is ok. Just because California standards are high doesn't mean kids are learning what and how they should be learning. Teachers cry out that 'kids today can't think' and the only thing we do is throw more 'new methods' out to them. This is a critical issue in the schools. We should look to what worked in the past to sort out what needs to be done now.
Horace Mann, although a proponent of kids with disabilities who knew enough to include them in his reform of the school systems, did not allow for scholarly learning in his new method of instruction. This left only 'worker bee' learning for students during the industrial revolution. And we continue teaching the same way today. Hence the lack of logical thinking and discussions that rely on facts to create logical argument. Let's join together and give our kids what they need. Not what we've always done.
Yvette Ewing
Praise God for the work you guys have begun...I just found out about you today! 25 years of frontline research in community development...and at my weariest point...I felt so alone in my work...until last year...
I'm was so excited that education was on the minds of everyone...after "Waiting for Superman" the movie...I joined every reform movement...attended a Christian conference with Geoffrey Canada where 100's of churches said "we're not waiting for superman"...I just knew God was about to shake the house!
After a year of watching think tanks discussions, research reports, news stories, conference calls with Davis Guggeheim to get involved...hosting and participating at local parties to discuss the topic.
It became really clear there were no "Right Now Solutions" for kids...people were putting on capes to be a solution for the adults (teachers, unions) nothing for the kids.
What if there is no money in a community for a charter school, what if the district doesn't change their approach...? God has a plan...its not complicated, Jesus is the ultimate Superhero for education...his plan is simple. Teach the children to answer the 3 questions that every human wants to know..."Who Am I? What Do I Want? (what do I do with this gift?) How do I get it? Once they have these answers, they will stay in school, because now school has become relevant and meaningful. (We can train the children in our churches)
I have been training for the last 14 years in education setting with secular organizations I raised over $5 million in grant resources because of my results....God showed me how to bring the Gospel into the schools (without violating Caesar's laws) The Lord has given me a plan that will empower churches to empower teachers and empower students and communities. Let's talk! You have an amazing platform to glorify God in this movement.
yewing@atp-ent.com
Comments are now closed
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