Fortunately, the prospect of a public school or district failing around here is remote. That's a problem much more likely to occur in the state's more metropolitan areas.
Still, people here should take interest in a recent legislative proposal that would give the state school superintendent more power in the case of a failing school or district.
Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Middleton, authored an Assembly bill that would grant the state superintendent of public instruction the power to implement new curriculum, expand school hours, add individual learning plans for pupils, make personnel changes and adopt accountability measures to monitor finances in failing schools and districts.
The impetus for the legislation is the federal stimulus' "Race to the Top" education funding program. Providing the state superintendent with greater authority over failing schools allows Wisconsin greater access to "Race to the Top" funding. In that regard, it's similar to legislation passed recently that allows districts to use student test scores to evaluate teachers.
But where they differ is that the student testing legislation gives power to local school districts to set their own evaluation criteria. (Though the final bill prevents districts from using test scores as a factor in disciplining or firing teachers - a mistake that greatly nullifies the benefit of tying student performance to evaluations.) It's a good change, worth making to qualify for more federal funds.
The legislation to expand the state superintendent's powers wouldn't be a good change, and shouldn't be made regardless of the extra funding Wisconsin could receive. It would take power away from local school district boards, educators and taxpayers. Rarely is shifting control over schools from local districts to the state a desirable thing.
In this case, the powers that would be given to the state schools chief are simply too far reaching. The state can withhold funding from failing schools and districts. Beyond that, solutions to local school problems should be made by local people. Allowing the state superintendent to dictate curriculum, school hours and personnel decisions in a local school district is a bad idea at any price. The proposed legislation should be rejected.
Still, people here should take interest in a recent legislative proposal that would give the state school superintendent more power in the case of a failing school or district.
Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Middleton, authored an Assembly bill that would grant the state superintendent of public instruction the power to implement new curriculum, expand school hours, add individual learning plans for pupils, make personnel changes and adopt accountability measures to monitor finances in failing schools and districts.
The impetus for the legislation is the federal stimulus' "Race to the Top" education funding program. Providing the state superintendent with greater authority over failing schools allows Wisconsin greater access to "Race to the Top" funding. In that regard, it's similar to legislation passed recently that allows districts to use student test scores to evaluate teachers.
But where they differ is that the student testing legislation gives power to local school districts to set their own evaluation criteria. (Though the final bill prevents districts from using test scores as a factor in disciplining or firing teachers - a mistake that greatly nullifies the benefit of tying student performance to evaluations.) It's a good change, worth making to qualify for more federal funds.
The legislation to expand the state superintendent's powers wouldn't be a good change, and shouldn't be made regardless of the extra funding Wisconsin could receive. It would take power away from local school district boards, educators and taxpayers. Rarely is shifting control over schools from local districts to the state a desirable thing.
In this case, the powers that would be given to the state schools chief are simply too far reaching. The state can withhold funding from failing schools and districts. Beyond that, solutions to local school problems should be made by local people. Allowing the state superintendent to dictate curriculum, school hours and personnel decisions in a local school district is a bad idea at any price. The proposed legislation should be rejected.
