A Great Public School for Every Student: Trends & Opportunities June 2012

1. A Great Public School for Every Student:Trends & OpportunitiesJune 2012 Stephanie Luongo, sluongo@nea.org NEA Center for Advocacy

2. Challenges and Opportunities • Distinct Challenges Impacting Our Education Policy Dialogue • NEA’s Engagement Around Key Issues • What can you do?

3. Factors Influencing Education • Economic Crisis and erosion of funding • Political Climate • ALEC Exposed: promote privatization and anti-union policies • 20% of children living in poverty • Shifting demographics • Urgent need to re-align standards to 21st century economy • Changing role of technology and distance learning

4. Public Education Funding • 37 states cut funding to districts in the 10-11 school year • 30 states provide less $ than they did 4 yrs ago • 17 states have cut $ more than 10% over that 4 yr period • 4 states have cut $ more than 20% (AZ, CA, HI, SC) • Federal ARRA $ and Ed Jobs money disappearing • Foreclosure crisis and lagging housing market a huge factor (40% of all public ed $ comes from local property taxes)

5. Federal aid to close the gaps is disappearing Source: Data from survey by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, September 2010.

6. Political Climate • Rise of the Far Right • Went from divided government in 23 states to divided government in 16 states • 11 states are all Democratic • 20 states are all Republican

7. ALEC Exposed

8. Philanthropic Influence • Altered giving strategy – not only grants to specific, marginalized communities (ala, direct aid) but also grants for advocacy and systemic change (ala, influence policy) • Philanthropic entities are becoming vessels for anonymous giving for folks who see education not as an institution, but as an industry • Philanthropic money fueling the narrative about “bad teachers” and the ”status quo”

9. Public Education as a Market • Education Industry Association – now has 400 member companies (charters, tutoring companies, technology companies, etc) • Vouchers/education tax credits exist in 14 states plus DC • For-profit EMOs operate in 31 states; from 14 companies in 1997 to 98 in 2009 Economic Pressure = Opportunity for Education Entrepreneurs

10. Demographic trends • By 2020, 25% of school-aged population will be Hispanic (up from 13.5% in 1995) • Caucasian students will comprise 51% • African American students – slight decrease in percentage (approx 12%) • 22% of children living in poverty • Rising Income Inequality

11. NEA View: Challenges = Opportunities • Association opportunity to Lead the Profession • NEA’s 3 point plan for transforming the teaching profession • Association leads the way in transforming struggling schools • Priority Schools campaign • Great Public Schools Criteria • Fighting for equity as well as quality conditions for teaching and learning • Community Engagement

12. Leading the Profession • Raising the Bar for Entry • Teachers Ensuring Teacher Quality • Union Leadership to Transform the Profession

13. Transforming Struggling Schools http://neapriorityschools.org/ Five research-driven elements that lead to permanent systemic change • Leveraging community assets • Improving staff capacity and effectiveness • Developing family and community partnerships • Improving district and local association capacity and collaboration • Improving student achievement and learning

14. Family-School-Community Partnerships • Community and family-community programs • Programs to engage parents and other family members • Wraparound social and community services

15. What Can You Do? In addition to everything else you do…. • Seek research-based best practices. • Spend time with educators. • Be a convener.