Failing the Children

Just released test results indicate more of the same – the status quo is failing to educate America’s children.  In fact, over the last 20 years we’ve lost ground.  First, read the following AP story, and then see what’s happening just across our border in Canada.

High school seniors still have low reading scores
By CHRISTINE ARMARIO, Associated Press Christine Armario, Associated Press, November 18, 2010

MIAMI – The results of a national assessment show high school seniors are making some improvements in math but remain below 1992 achievement levels in reading.

Scores from the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress, referred to as the Nation's Report Card, were released on Thursday. The exam tested 12th-grade students from 1,670 school districts.

Students scored an average of 288 out of 500 points in reading comprehension, two points higher than in 2005, but still below the 1992 average of 292.
Reading scores across grade levels have struggled to improve over the last two decades.

In math, the average score rose from 150 to 153 between 2005 and 2009. The test was significantly changed in 2005, so a comparison with previous years was not possible.

Now , for an educational success story.

The province of Alberta, Canada has a well established system of educational parental choice, including charter, private, and home schooling options.  A just released Heritage Foundation report by Mark Milke documents the remarkable results.  Here are some highlights:

In 2006, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) placed Alberta's students second in the world (up from fourth) in science (the focus subject for the 2006 tests

Alberta was also the only province whose overall science score, as well as each individual test score, was significantly higher than the Canadian average

In the two minor areas of study tested that year, reading and math, Alberta tied for third and fifth in the world, respectively.

Immigrant children have scored equal to or better than native children -- a result that within Canada occurred only in Alberta and was a unique result for PISA.

Milke says, “The relevant lesson for American policymakers is that widespread educational choice has kept public schools more accountable, encouraged competition in the delivery of quality education, and entrenched a culture and expectation of school choice in Alberta.”  

Alberta is not alone.  Decades of anecdotal evidence supports Milke’s conclusion.  Yet, due largely to a highly organized and heavily funded effort by the teachers’ union, American school districts cling to a monopolistic system that isn’t working.  A tragic example occurred when the highly praised Washington, DC voucher plan was scuttled after heavy pressure from the unions, sentencing some of the nation’s most at risk children to return to failing schools from which that had been liberated.

In the November issue of A Line of Sight, we saluted the efforts to expand parental choice currently being explored in Douglas County, Colorado.  We hope they press forward with expansive reforms and that Douglas County may inspire other school districts and government institutions to objectively assess what is working, and what is failing America’s children.