Clackson Newsletter
November 2011
In this Issue:
A Message From Your Executive Committee
Nominating Committee to Begin Its Work
Holiday Raffle and Silent Auction
The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education: Equity and Funding
NOVEMBER UNIT MEETINGS
THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION: PART TWO
Katie Lu, Study Chair
Thank you for your participation in the first part of the study. Equity and Funding are the subjects of the November unit meetings. In the information previously sent you will find two charts that should be reviewed. It would be helpful to have them with you for the meeting. The last six consensus questions will be addressed to complete The Role Of The Federal Government In Public Education Study. The questions and additional information can be found below.
Unit Meeting Schedule: November 14-19
Monday, November 14, 5:30 pm: Soup's on! Come for a soup supper at 5:30, followed by a discussion on Education Financing at 6:00 p.m. Soup, bread and wine to be provided for $5.00. Place: Judi Umaki's; 1421 Greentree Circle, Lake Oswego. South Shore Blvd., left on Greentree Rd. (S), 2nd right on Greentree Circle to the cul-de-sac at the top of the circle. PLEASE (as in must) reserve a place with Judi by Fri., Nov. 11 (503-636-5773 or gordonjudiu@msn.com).
Wednesday, November 16, 3:00 PM at Mary’s Woods. Unit Leader: Jean Hoffman @ 503-697-0833.
Thursday, November, 17, 9:15 AM at Sylvia Smith’s home. Unit Leaders: Sherry Finnigan @ 503-636-5468 or Belinda Wilson @ 503-636-9339.
Friday, November 18 10:00 AM at Willamette View, 12705 SE River Road, Portland, will be held in the Jefferson Room in the Plaza Building (old Health building). Parking on each side of building. June Routson @ 503-786-3856 or Nancy Pratt @ 503-652-6583.
Saturday, November 19, 10:00 AM at Wy’east Book Shoppe in Welches. Unit Leaders: Nancy Dougherty @ 503-622-4789 and Pam Ashland @ 503-622-3568. Future units will meet on Saturdays.
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Lorie James and Sherry Finnigan for the Executive Committee
Our 2011-2012 program year started off with a bang featuring a great speaker on the role of the Federal government in education, followed by well-executed unit consensus meetings presented by chair Katie Lu and members Betty Barber, Joan Batten, Belinda Wilson and Ann Younger. Excellent job, committee. We are looking forward to the November units on funding.
The rest of the year is shaping up with Sherry Finnigan chairing a committee on the privatization of government functions. Karan Kuntz will be chairing the LWVOR coastal management study to be presented in late spring. Mike Taylor and his committee are working hard on the budgeting processes for the cities of Lake Oswego and West Linn. This study promises to be much more interesting than just moving numbers around.
As a member, you can contribute by participating in unit meetings, joining one of the study committees and/or thinking of new studies or action projects for next year. Other volunteer opportunities exist in organizing our popular Lunch and Learn programs which start in January. Observers for city and county governments are needed so we can testify on issues on which we have positions. Joan Batten wants to form a committee to help her with action based on reports from our observers and requests from members.
We have had a powerful start to the year which celebrates the 100th anniversary of women suffrage in Oregon.
At the September board meeting, the board realized that two ballot measures had been placed on the county ballot dealing with voting in urban renewal areas. One measure was put on the ballot by initiative and the second was a county response to the first. We decided that our best effort for information was to have the two measures researched and this explanation printed in the Clackson as a guide to our members. Farol Kahle did the research and wrote the explanation.
Later in the month we were asked as to whether the League was going to take a position on either measure. At the Executive Committee meeting the second week in October, we went over our positions very carefully and found we had no position on urban renewal, including if citizens should vote on formation and, if so, what citizens. At the October board meeting, after discussion, a motion was made and passed unanimously that our League take no position on these measures.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL
Karen Sherman, Program Chair
With so many studies this year, there is sure to be one to pique the interest of each and every member. Currently the League has just completed the core curriculum part of “The Federal Government’s Role in Education” study. Next month units will complete the second half of this study by learning about funding.
The LWVUS study committee on “Privatization of Government Services, Assets, and Functions” is just starting to meet and would welcome anyone interested in joining them. Please contact study chair, Sherry Finnigan, at m_s_finnigan@msn.com or at 503-636-5468. Our local two-year study, “Funding Processes for City Services Using Lake Oswego and West Linn as Examples,” has already started meeting and hopes more members will decide to join what promises to be a very interesting study. Contact study chair, Mike Taylor, at mikewts@comcast.net or at 503-344-4165 to join the study or if you have any questions. The LWVOR “Coastal Management” study will be presenting in the spring. If you are interested in joining this study, contact chair, Karan Kuntz, at karan.kuntz@comcast.net or at 503-636-2673. Also, LWVOR’s Restudy of “Children at Risk” is another excellent opportunity for League members. Contact Betsy Pratt at b.pratt@lwvor.org or Marnie Lonsdale at m.lonsdale@lwvor.org if you would like to be part of this update.
Program planning presenters are needed for January and ballot measure presenters are needed for April. Also, observers are always needed for monitoring city or county issues via cable TV or in person. If any of these activities sound like something you would be interested in doing for League or if you have any questions about any of the above studies or other League opportunities, please contact program chair, Karen Sherman, at klsherman@comcast.net or at 503-636-8223.
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NOMINATING COMMITTEE TO BEGIN ITS WORK
Your Nominating Committee will be starting its journey soon, by canvassing our members, to learn who among us will answer the call to serve an elected term as president, 2nd vice-president, treasurer, or as a board director. YOU have an important part in this journey, as we need you to encourage others to become nominees or volunteer yourself as a nominee for an LWVCC officer or board position. As Heather Drake wrote in the January 2009 Clackson Voter, the “Board is the Heart of the League … The best way to keep your finger on the League’s pulse and help keep it on course is to join the board.” Please contact our Nominating Committee with your suggestions / recommendations / questions. Sonja Kollias, Chair, 503-636-2187 / vskollias@aol.com; Sarah Chaplen, srchaplen@comcast.net; Sylvia Smith, rsmith8107@frontier.com; Heather Drake, htdrake@comcast.net; Judi Umaki, gordonjudiu@msn.com. Looking forward to hearing from you.TOP
Joan Batten, Action Chair
As the new Action Chair, I need some help. I would like to have an action committee, if we can find volunteers. Also, we need members to follow the various governmental meetings - Clackamas County Commissioners and Lake Oswego.
It is difficult to act if we aren't aware of what is happening. Any action we take requires a position which supports our concern. The board must approve of any action we propose. Call or e-mail Joan Batten at 503-639-4064 or joanbatten10@gmail.com.
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LWV CLACKAMAS COUNTY WINTER HOLIDAY BRUNCH
Mark your Calendar Now! Join your League friends and guests for our annual Winter Holiday Brunch. It is always a fun event! This year the League is featuring Barbara McCain, Customer Support Coordinator for Veterans at Clackamas Community College. She will be addressing the job programs for returning veterans plus other support.
Where: Clackamas Meeting & Banquet Facility
15815 SE 82nd Drive, Clackamas, OR
When: Saturday, December 10th, 2011
9:30 A.M. to Noon
Cost: $ 13.00 (includes gratuity)
RSVP: Ann Younger - 503-610-1491 or ann.younger@comcast.net no later than Wednesday, December 7th. Please let me know if you are coming, as we must submit a count in advance.
Bring your Checkbooks! The raffle & Silent Auction will be held, along with a basket available for contributions to the Support Program for veterans’ services.
Driving Instructions to Clackamas Meeting & Banquet Facility: From I-205 take Exit 12 (Estacada/Mt. Hood). Heading east, get in the left lane for an immediate left turn onto the first street, 82nd Drive. Turn left into Denny's parking lot. The meeting room is on the right side of the building.
HOLIDAY PARTY RAFFLE AND SILENT AUCTION
Members will have a special opportunity at the Holiday Party to bid on a beautiful, elegant quilt donated by Lyn Gordon. A Corvallis LWV member made the quilt in 2000 and Lyn won it in a silent auction at the LWVOR Convention that year. The motif is grapes and grapevines in lavenders, greens, pinks and blues and makes a wonderful wall hanging.
Also at the party will be the annual holiday raffle. Items such as holiday decorations, baskets full of goodies (edible and not), candles, linens etc. are all gratefully accepted. Items may be new or gently used. Please let Sherry Finnigan (503-636-5468) know what you will donate. It is always wonderful and helpful to have the item ahead of time and the Finnigans will pick up!!! That way you do not have to worry about getting the item to the brunch early.
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GRAPEFRUIT |
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LEAGUE of WOMEN VOTERS |
The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education: Equity and Funding
Public school funding comes from many sources – federal, state and local taxes as well as grants provided by both governmental and nongovernmental agencies. The federal government adds less than 10 percent to local education budgets, yet it contributes significantly to the rules for how the funding is used. Additionally, the United States invests 5 percent of the GDP in public education. Nearly half of the k-12 education funding in the United States is intended to come from the states, drawn from a combination of income taxes, fees and other taxes. However, some states resemble Illinois, where the state’s share is only 27 percent. The remainder usually comes from local property taxes.
Equity
States that rely heavily on property taxes to fund education tend to have large inequities in school funding, which mirror the inequity of wealth in society-at-large. Hurst (2007) noted that inequities in wealth stem from the fact that wealthy people earn much of their income from investments and/or inherited funds, while the poor earn all of their income from jobs and they spend it on food, shelter, transportation, etc. In the United States, the wealthiest 20 percent own 84 percent of the total wealth.
Inequities in school funding reflect housing patterns. During the past 50 years since Brown vs. Board of Education, schools have become re-segregated (Ladson-Billings, 2006). Currently, three-fourths of the Black and Latino/a students attend schools that are predominately non-white.
Adequacy
Since, 1990, rather than looking at equity, most lawsuits have focused on adequacy—whether a state is providing local districts with just enough funding and resources to give all students a basic education. Odden and Picus (2008) developed a model calculating the cost of an adequate education. They defined an adequate education as one that includes factors such as a full-day kindergarten, core class sizes of 15 for grades K-3, 25 for grades 4-6 and specialist teachers. The cost of an adequate education varies. For instance, more money is needed to educate students from impoverished communities and students with special needs.
Funding Priorities
When schools are not funded adequately, this has a long-lasting impact. For instance, Darling-Hammond (2010) noted that dropouts cost the country at least $200 billion a year in lost wages and taxes, costs for social services and crime. Since the 1980s, national investments have spent three times more on the prison system than on education. Data show that the national average for educating a child is $9500, while it costs $43,000 per year to keep a person incarcerated. With 5 percent of the world’s population in the United States, we house 25 percent of the world criminals (Kang & Hong, 2008).
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
In 2001, President George W. Bush signed the reauthorization of Elementary and Secondary Education Act, “No Child Left Behind,” which was intended to close achievement gaps, particularly for minority children. However, data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveal that scores were higher in math and reading for minority students before NCLB. One provision of NCLB permitted parents to remove a student from a low-performing school and transfer to another, better performing school. They would receive a voucher which would pay some of the cost of attending another school – public or private. Additionally, courts and education agencies stepped in to “remediate.” The sanctions imposed by NCLB had the effect of punishing or threatening punishment to low-performing schools and teachers, sending them the message that they were incompetent and that they should not have the right to make decisions about how to educate students. Studies (Reeve, 2009) showed that threatening public schools and teachers with punishment had harmful effects on students who remained in the public schools.
Supporters of NCLB appreciate the increase in accountability for schools and teachers as well as the focus on low scoring sub-groups. Critics of NCLB decry the lack of federal funding for many of the Act’s mandates, the emphasis on penalties, the reliance on standardized tests, and the lack of attention to gifted students as well as to subjects such as science, social studies and the arts. One goal of NCLB has been to offer choice to parents whose children attend poorly performing schools.
However, large-scale studies of voucher school students have revealed little difference in their performance compared to public school students with similar backgrounds, and having vouchers has not raised the performance of the most needy students (Rouse & Barrows, 2009). Furthermore, many (Holland, 2011) argue that the NCLB goal of 95 percent of students meeting state standards in reading and math by 2014 is unrealistic.
Race to the Top (RttT)
Race to the Top was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009. This program shifted the basis of awarding funds to emphasize competition. Competitive grants reward reform planned in the winning states. Funding is flexible as long as states demonstrate grant dollars are aligned with the agenda outlined in their winning applications. Only twelve states received funding through RttT.
Two of the requirements met by states that received RttT funding were (1) improving teacher and principal effectiveness based on performance and (2) lifting the cap on the number of charter schools that could be created.
While both these funding requirements can be effective, neither is foolproof, and each addresses only one part of the problems schools face. For instance, research studies show that promising increased pay based on teacher effectiveness is not an effective incentive. Furthermore, research showed there is a problem when teacher performance evaluation is based only on student scores in standardized tests (Springer et. al. 2010).
Although there is no question that some charter schools are effective, they have not been the panacea many expected. They were originally proposed as an opportunity for educators to test research-supported methods for reaching hard-to-educate children, and some have done quite well. However, a large-scale research study funded by pro-charter advocates revealed that only 17 percent of the 2403 charter schools had significantly more growth in test scores compared to traditional public schools, and, in fact, 37 percent showed significantly less growth (Center for Research on Education Outcomes, 2009). Furthermore, many charter schools do not admit and/or retain students who need increased support, e.g., students from impoverished communities and students with special needs.
The progress of the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity and Excellence commissions can be tracked through http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/eec/index.html.
References
Center for Research on Education Outcomes. (2009). Multiple choice: Charter school performance in 16 states. Stanford, CA: CREDO. Retrieved from http://credo.stanford.edu/reports/MULTIPLE_CHOICE_CREDO.pdf
Darling-Hammond, L. (2010). The flat world and education: How America’s commitment to equity will determine our future. New York: Teacher College, Columbia University.
Holland, S. (March 9, 2011). Duncan: “No Child Left Behind’ Creates failure for U.S. schools. CNN Politics. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/03/09/education.congress/index.html
Hurst, C.E. (2007). Social inequality: Forms, causes, and consequences. New York: Pearson Education Inc.
Kang, N.H. & Hong, M. (2008). Achieving excellence in teacher workforce and equity in learning opportunities in South Korea. Educational Researcher. 37(4). 200-207.
Ladson-Bilings, G.S. Schools. Educational Researcher, 35(7). 3-12.
Odden, A.R. & Picus, L.O. (2008). School finance: A policy perspective (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Reeve, J. (2009). Why teachers adopt a controlling motivating style toward students and how they can become more autonomy supportive. Educational Psychologist, 44 (3), 159-175.
Rouse, C.E. & Barros, L. (2009). School voucher and school achievement: recent evidence, remaining questions. Annual Review of Economics, 1. Retrieved from http://www.ers.princeton.edu/workingpapers/28ers.pdf and http://www.nscpe.org/publicatiions_files/OP163.pdf
Springer, M.G., Ballou, D., Hamilton, L., Le, V., Lockwood, J.R., McCaffrey, D., Pepper, M. and Strecher, B. (2010). Teacher pay for performance: Experimental evidence from the project on incentives in teaching. Nashville, TN: National Center on Performance Incentives at Vanderbilt University. Retrieved from http://www.hechingerreport.org/static/pointstudy.pdf
Produced by the LWVUS The Education Study: The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education © 2011 by the League of Women Voters of the United States
CONSENSUS QUESTIONS:
10. In the past most of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funding has been non-competitive Based on need. All/Any schools that prove they fall under the federal guidelines for funding receive those funds. However, competitive grants are now being proposed to states/districts who meet certain federal requirements, such as Race to the Top. Which would be appropriate: (choose one)
a. Non-competitive funding for all applicants meeting requirements
b. A combination of non-competitive and competitive grants
c. Competitive grants only
d. No federal funding
11. If the Federal government's role is the concern of the "common good" then: (choose one)
a. Mandates only should be sanctioned.
b. Mandates and funding should both be provided.
c. Funding should be provided through grants only.
d. A combination of funded mandates and grants should apply.
e. No mandates should be required and limited grants for innovation available.
12. Equity in public education means equitable access to : ( Rank order)
a. high quality teaching/learning
b. adequate and current learning materials
c. clean and well maintained physical facilities
d. food and health care
e safe and secure neighborhoods
f. secure housing
13. Currently Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funding is considered "categorical" rather than for general use. This means that it can only be used with special populations for special purposes. ESEA should remain targeted toward poverty and special needs.
Strongly Agree Agree No consensus Disagree Strongly Disagree
14. The federal government has a role in supporting early childhood education, birth to 5 for all children?
Strongly Agree Agree No consensus Disagree Strongly Disagree
15. Federal support for early education programs (e.g. Head Start, Title I, Special Education, Early Start) should include funding for parent education and support regarding child development, child health and nutrition, and access to other supportive services, such as mental health as needed.
a. Strongly Agree Agree No consensus Disagree Strongly Disagree
b. This funding should be extended to:
All children only those with special needs special needs only
THANK YOU, CORPORATE AFFILIATES
Lake Oswego
Accessories from the heart
220 ’A’ Avenue, Suite 100
Lake Oswego, 97034
http://www.accessoriesfromtheheart.com/
Backyard Bird Shop, Inc.
16949 S.W. 65th Ave.
Lake Oswego, 97035
http://www.backyardbirdshop.com/
Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst
17400 Holy Names Dr.
Lake Oswego, 97034
http://www.maryswoods.com/
Otak, Inc.
17355 SW Boones Ferry Rd.
Lake Oswego, 97035
http://www.otak.com/
Portland
Generations - Town Center Village
8801 SE Causey Avenue, Ste 1
Portland, OR 97086
http://www.towncentervillage.com/
Sandy
Strand Tea Company
PO Box 580
Sandy, OR 97055
http://www.strandtea.com/shop/info_2.html
Synergy Consulting Inc.
729 NE Oregon St., Suite 125
Portland, 97232
http://www.synergyhq.com/index.html
Welches
Wy’east Book Shoppe and Art Gallery
67195 E US Highway 26
Welches, OR 97067
West Linn
Words Count – Editing & Writing
2555 Dillow Drive
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Tuesday, November 8: Special Election Ballots due.
Monday, 14 – Saturday, 19: Unit Meetings: The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education: Part Two: Equity and Funding
Monday, 14 |
5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, Judi Umaki”s home. Enjoy a soup supper followed by education study discussion at 6:00. Reserve a place by Friday, November 11. Contact Judi at 503-636-5773 or gordonjudiu@msn.com |
Wednesday, 16 |
3:00 PM, Mary’s Woods, 17400 SW Holy Names Drive, Lake Oswego. Unit Leader: Jean Hoffman (503-697-0833 |
Thursday, 17 |
9:15 AM, Sylvia Smith’s home. Unit Leaders: Sherry Finnigan (503-636-5468) or Belinda Wilson (503-636-9339). |
Friday, 18 |
10:00 AM, Willamette View, 12705 SE River Road, Portland. Meeting is to be held in the Plaza Building (old Health building) in the Jefferson Room. Parking on each side of building. June Routson (503-786-3856) or Nancy Pratt (503-652-6583). |
Saturday, 19 |
10:00 AM, Wy’east Book Shoppe in Welches. Unit Leaders: Nancy Dougherty (503-622-4789) or Pam Ashland (503-622-3568). |
Tuesday, 23: Board Meeting: 9:30 AM, Pacific West Bank, 2040 8th Avenue, West Linn.
DECEMBER 2011 CALENDAR
Saturday, December 10: Winter Holiday Brunch: 9:30 – Noon: Clackamas Meeting and Banquet Facility, 15815 SE 82nd Drive, Clackamas. $13. RSVP: Ann Younger (503-610-1491 or ann.younger@comcast.net) by Wednesday, December 7.