H.R.3130, The Improving America's Schools Act: Is It Really?
By Charles J. O'Malley, Ph.D.
If I were holding a position of leadership in a national private school organization, I think I would be following the progress of H.R. 3130, the "Improving America's Schools Act (the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act with great interest and even greater trepidation. I would be watching its progress even if my schools were not involved in federal programs, i.e., Chapter 1 or Chapter 2. I would be looking at provisions of the legislation other than those normal concerns about the equitable participation of parochial school students or meaningful and timely consultation with appropriate private school representatives.
I recall the debate in the mid and late 1980's when the National Professional Teaching Standards Board sought around 5 million dollars from the federal coffers. That's all they needed from the feds, because they wanted autonomy. I recall the debate about the merits of "alternative certification". And I recall the pleas by governors, educators and legislators to reduce the federal role in areas such as curriculum, teacher certification/credentialing or standards. How times have changed! Just read the following excerpts from H.R. 3130, consider the implications of their provisions, and you may yearn for the "good old days".
"Title II -- IMPROVING TEACHING AND LEARNING
"Part A -- Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program"
"Authorized Activities"
SEC.2112. The Secretary shall use funds available to carry our this subpart for activities that help meet the purposes of this part, such as --
...(4) supporting the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards;
...(6) the development of exemplary methods of assessing teachers, other staff, and administrators for licensure and certification;
...(7) activities that promote the transferability of licensure and certification of teachers and administrators among state and local jurisdictions;
"State Applications"
SEC. 2125 (a) APPLICATIONS REQUIRED. --
...(b) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN. --(1) Each application under this section shall include a state plan for professional development that --...
...(E) describe specific steps for the reform of state requirements for licensure of teachers and administrators, including certification and recertification, ... (Emphasis added)
"State-Level Activities"
SEC. 2126. Each state may use funds reserved under section 2123(2) to carry our activities referred to in section 2125(b), such as --
...(1) reviewing and reforming state requirements for teacher and administrator licensure, including certification and recertification, to align these requirements with the state's content standards...
..(2) developing performance assessments and peer review procedures, as well as other methods, for licensing teachers and administrators;
...(4) developing or supporting professional development networks...that provide a forum for interaction among teachers and that allow exchange of information on advances in content and pedagogy;
...(6) professional development activities designed to increase the numbers of members of minorities and other underrepresented groups in the teaching force in the core subjects. (Defined as ?)
"Local Allocation of Funds and Allowable Activities"
SEC. 2129. (a) Local Allocation of Funds --
...(b) Authorized Activities -- Each local educational agency and school that receives funds under this subpart shall use those funds for activities that contribute to the implementation of the local educational agency's professional development plan..., such as --
(1) professional development for teams of teachers , administrators, or other staff from individual schools, to support teaching consistent with state or voluntary national content standards...
...(13) developing incentive strategies for rewarding schools where a substantial portion of the teachers achieve certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
"Definitions"
SEC. 2132.
...(2) The term 'outcome performance indicators' ...Examples of such indicators include --
(A) the degree to which licensure requirements are tied to state standards;
(B) specific increases in the number of teachers who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards;
...(D) specific increases in the number of teachers licensed in each core subject.
Let me state here that the merits of the National Professional Teaching Standards Board, teacher certification, national standards and national curriculum are not the major focus of this article. Those questions need to be raised by others more qualified than I. The questions I'm asking are:
1) Should the federal government use federal dollars to pressure states to promote certification and licensure of teachers?
(A significant number of private school administrators and leaders, while encouraging their faculty to seek voluntary state certification, have serious problems when mandated teacher certification is imposed upon them. (This was the cause celebre in the Nebraska confrontation involving Pastor Everet Siliven and the State of Nebraska). Mandated teacher certification could pose educational and economic problems for independent and church-related school leaders alike.)
2) Should the federal government pressure on states to participate in the activities of the National Professional Teaching Standards Board?
(In my newsletter, Private Education ISSUES, I have listed my concerns over the lack of private school involvement in the policy activities of the National Professional teaching Standards Board (one representative on the 64-member board, with the bulk of the representation coming from the two teachers' unions). What will be the economic impact on private schools -- if affiliation with the Board is directly or indirectly required?)
3) Should the federal government be using taxpayer dollars to promote a "politically correct" ideology?
(How is "and other underrepresented" defined? Will private and church-related schools which admit or employ only those of their religious denomination be prohibited from participating in Chapter 1/Chapter 2 programs? What are the possibilities of this type of language being incorporated in IRS regulations?)
(Those private school leaders who were involved in the efforts to defeat the original Act For Better Child Care [ABC] Bill may remember some of the provisions of that proposal which so concerned them, i.e., the ideological and "politically correct" provisions. These same leaders may recall that similar provisions were included in the early drafts of the Civil Right Restoration Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act.
4) Is the federal government providing federal dollars to teachers' unions and similar organizations through Section 2126(4) ["developing or supporting professional development networks that provide a forum for interaction among teachers]", to sponsor their meetings and activities? (The definition of "professional development networks" is extremely important!)
5) What impact will these programs have upon private school curriculum, hiring practices, enrollment practices and finances? And,
6) What impact will these programs have upon public schools?
If we are not vigilant, the Improving America's School Act may prove to be more of an agent of unwelcome and intrusive change rather than an agent of education reform.