Some of you may have a special opportunity

An historically large amount of money has begun to flow to state Departments of Education for a very specific purpose: to turn around failing schools.  If your school does not rank in the bottom five per cent in your state, you may not be interested, but if your school does, it may have a rare opportunity.

This money is intended for schools that are ready to take swift and dramatic action.  The federal Department of Education has identified four approaches that it will fund.  One approach is called a "turnaround," and it involves replacing at least half of the existing staff.  Another approach is called a "restart" which requires that a charter operator or other outside manager take over the school.  One approach is to simply close the school and transfer the students.  The last option is called a "transformation," and it involves training or coaching teachers, and also significantly changing the curriculum and the methods of evaluation.

From the list of options above, it is obvious that the Department of Education is emphasizing changes in personnel more than changes in curriculum.  However, if you find yourself in a school that is going to attempt a "transformation," you might consider the Stevenson Program as part of the solution. 

If the lowest performing students in your school are not making any progress at all, Stevenson can reach them.  If Stevenson is being used as a "last resort," maybe it can become a "first resort."  Reading is so important to all other academic areas, perhaps Stevenson could be used earlier and more widely.  

If you are a teacher, you can pass on these suggestions to your administrators.  If you are an administrator, you can take them to the planning group.  Of course, any school ranked in the bottom five per cent will need more than one curriculum change, but these funds can provide an opportunity to take a truly fresh look at all the basic skills instruction.  

The turnaround funds will mostly move through Title I channels and should be available in all 50 states apportioned by standard Title I formulas.  The money should move from the state level to the actual schools within six months.  Even if you are not involved with one of the low-ranking schools for which this initiative is intended, you might want to keep an eye on developments.  If some of the "transformation" schools, truly transform themselves, we might all learn something about public education.  Let us hope so.