Spellings Interview

John McLaughlin, of his own PBS program called One on One, interviewed Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. The interview should have been of interest to educators, because it covered a number of topics dear to educators.

Here were those topics:

School Safety
Special fencing and single point entry of schools, as with the policing of schools is a local issue. Such decisions should be based upon the concerns in every individual learning community.

Statistics
She is in charge -- to some degree -- of $56 billion K-12 budget, 15,000 school districts, and 70 million students. Schools gain roughly 8% of their budget from federal funds, the rest being from state and local funds. 90% of jobs require post secondary education. 50% of minority students graduate on time.

Reasons for Student Drop Out
Lack of skill/reading ability. Boredom in school. Lack of desire/ambition. Value crisis?

Intelligent Design within Schools
The Intelligent Design issue may act as a catalyst for fueling debate, interest, motivation, and information with science education.

NCLB - No Child Left Behind
Progress within the past 5 years has exceeded the previous 28 years worth of progress. It is closing the achievement gap. An escalating problem with minority students must have us address that problem, which it does. Local control still exists. SpEd compliance has been adjusted to reflect reasonable demands on schools. A judge threw out a case that argued NCLB is a set of unfunded mandates. NCLB provides for testing.

Consider this a Cliff Notes of the interview. The program's transcripts have yet to be offered on the McLaughlin site.

Resources
The McLaughlin Group (2006) One on One. PBS Television Program aired on Sunday, October 15th.
The McLaughlin Group (2006) One on One. Online Resource Accessed on Monday, October 16th, 2006 at: http://www.mclaughlin.com/moo/.

The Chicago Virtual Charter School

Chicago is experimenting with distance education at the grammar school level via a virtual charter school. This is not an experiment without a track record. In Illinois alone, there are nearly 400 high schools that are taking advantage of its virtual high school. Michigan has gone a step further and distance learning participation.

The Illinois State Board of Education approved the virtual school. Therefore, it is clear there are a multitude of educators at various levels that advocate this kind of learning for all levels of students.

The virtual program has been created to possess the following characteristics:

1. Provide an integrated approach, including mentoring, independent study, structured activities, and online learning.
2. Deliver consistent content, methodologies, and strategies from a single source from kindergarten through eighth grade.
3. Shape a well-rounded child through educational excellence, social interaction, creative pursuits, and physical activity.
4. Help strengthen relationships between parents, children, teachers, and community.
5. Meet or exceed Chicago and Illinois standards of education.

The fifth characteristic separates this virtual school from home-based study. It demands its students use the same measuring tools as those used by all other public schools. Students have to take the ISAT and therefore can be compared against other students in public schools.

As a fervent proponent for distance education, I welcome the opportunities offered to Chicago families.

Resources
Belleview News Democrat (2006) Chicago Teachers Union Sues to Stop Public Funding of Virtual School. Source: http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/state/15680605.htm.

The Chicago Virtual Charter School (2006) Our Curriculum. Source: http://www.chicagovcs.org/curriculum/index.html.