www.HonoluluAdvertiser.com | Printer-friendly article pagehttp://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2009...1 of 210/31/09 9:55 AM
October 23, 2009
Hawaii erred in cutting education
Reduction in school days is not the way to invest in education
By Arne DuncanU.S. Secretary of Education
Our country is at a crossroads. The economy is in its worst recession in a generation. State and local taxrevenues have been hit especially hard in the economic downturn. We need to make sure our importantgovernment services are sustained during our nation's economic troubles.At the same time, we need to invest in our future. Too many of our schools are not preparing students for success in college and careers.The statistics are troubling. On international tests, American students are struggling to compete with their peers around the globe. Twenty-seven percent of the nation's ninth graders don't finish high school withinfour years. In Hawaii, 36 percent of freshmen don't complete high school on time.As a nation, only 40 percent of our adults complete a two-year or four-year college degree. That was goodenough to lead the world a generation ago. But today it puts us behind our international competitors. Nowmore than ever, we need to invest in schools so we can educate our way to a better economy.Hawaii has been making progress on student achievement. Over the 20 years that the National Assessmentof Educational Progress has been given to states, Hawaii students have recorded steady gains.Now, however, Hawaii is cutting 17 days from the current school year. All states are under financialpressure, but none are cutting this much learning time from their school year. This is a step in the wrongdirection. It's inconceivable to me that this is the best solution for Hawaii.President Obama and Congress worked together to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, alsoknown as the Recovery Act. The law includes $100 billion for education. Of that, $40 billion or more will helpstates avoid devastating cuts in K-12 education and drive reforms in states. My department has alreadymade $105 million available to Hawaii from this stabilization fund. Hawaii is eligible for $52 million more whenwe release the rest of those funds later this year. In total, Hawaii's schools and students are scheduled toreceive more than $500 million from the Recovery Act.In addition, my department has $5 billion for competitive grants to advance school reform. The $4.35 billionRace to the Top Fund will reward states that are leading the way in reform and making education a priority.The $650 million Investing in Innovation Fund will go to districts that are advancing research-based programsto improve student achievement.I understand that Hawaii is feeling the pain of the economy more than many states. The tourism industry isstruggling. The unemployment rate is climbing. Investments in commercial real estate are declining. Taxrevenues aren't meeting your budget projections. These are tough times, I know. But now is not the time todecrease investment in education. Hawaii's economic problems should not be creating an educational crisisfor its children.I was disappointed to learn that Hawaii has started closing its schools on most Fridays and will reduce the2009-10 school year by 17 days. Sure, students may like the three-day weekends now, but I know they alsorealize that they will lose out in the long run if they don't receive the education they need and deserve. Theyunderstand that they won't be prepared for success in the global workforce if we cut back on the amount of time they spend in school.Since becoming secretary of education in January, I've urged states and districts to increase the amount of time students are learning. Our competitors across the globe are doing that — and they're reaping theeconomic benefits of a well-educated work force.School districts across the country are using Recovery Act funds to lengthen their school days or schoolyears. During my seven years as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, I saw schools that extended learning
Leave a Comment