Daniel A. Domenech, Ph. D.
Executive Director
American Association of School Administrators
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In 1965, when ESEA was first enacted, it
consisted of 4 titles containing 3 grant
programs.
Today, ESEA has grown to 11 titles containing
93 grant programs.
We have a disjointed collection of unrelated
programs and services begging for
consolidation and focus.
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The heightened level of accountability that is
now part of our school system culture will not
disappear.
The disaggregation of data that monitors the
performance of student subgroups should
remain.
The noble goal to leave no child behind
should endure as well.
Data Connecting Poverty and Student Achievement:
2005 NAEP Data
260
250
Score
240
All Students
230
Eligible
220
Not Eligible
210
200
0 - 10
11 - 25
26 - 50
51 - 75
More than 75
Percentage of students in school eligible for free/reduced-price lunch
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The federal contribution to K-12 spending is
a mere 8%. Maximize the impact of ESEA by
focusing all available federal dollars and
services on the total child!
By focusing federal dollars where they are
needed most, on schools serving children of
poverty, we significantly increase the chances
that those dollars will actually help to close
the achievement gap.
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Health services including pre and post-natal
care
Child care
Pre-school programs
Full day kindergarten
Parenting education and support
Stable housing
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Increase the level of funding.
Refrain from prescribing how children should
be taught.
Compile the research and best practices that
will help the schools.
Assessment should focus on measures of
growth and greater use of formative rather
than summative instruments.
Professional development dollars need to be
allocated for both teachers and system
leaders.
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Every school day 7,000 children disappear
from our schools. (The number of children
that drop out of school).
As a result of the current economic crisis, our
government has bailed out Wall Street at a
cost of $700 billion and may spend more to
bail out the auto industry.
This school year, public school districts
across America have been under-funded by
$42 billion dollars.
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In response to economic downturn as evidenced in
state budget shortfalls, federal buyouts and
interventions, and a series of additional events
characterizing a slowing, stagnant economy
Feedback from members that schools districts were
beginning to feel the pinch
Examine the impact of the economic downturn:
widespread or more concentrated?
When superintendents were asked to identify what
actions their
districts have already implemented as a result of the
economic
downturn, the top responses were:
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Altering thermostats (62 percent)
Eliminating non-essential travel (57 percent)
Reducing staff-level hiring (48 percent)
Reducing consumable supplies (48 percent)
Increasing class size (36 percent)
Deferring maintenance (36 percent)
Reducing instructional material (35 percent)
When superintendents were asked about the economicrelated
problems of the families of students in their districts:
◦ 95% said unemployment has worsened somewhat or a great
deal.
◦ 94% said lack of health insurance has worsened somewhat or
a great deal.
◦ 91% said student mobility has increased somewhat or a great
deal.
◦ 81% said mortgage foreclosures have worsened somewhat or
a great deal.
◦ 70% said homelessness has worsened somewhat or a great
deal.
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President Obama and House and Senate Democratic
leadership are on record for a stimulus package
including billions of dollars to fund school
construction
A new huge education block grant to fill for one
time short term education spending to fill gaps,
stimulate purchases and create jobs is brewing
between Kennedy and Miller
◦ But spending restraint is being urged by some after a
Trillion of so in new spending !!
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AASA is putting IDEA Mandatory funding back on the table
America’s public schools have
billions of dollars in both new and
back-logged construction
projects that
could be alleviated with stimulus
spending. Responders identified
$6,520,400,000 in ready-to-go new
construction projects and
$4,493,100,000 in ready-to-go
renovation and repairs projects
One-time funds for facilities-related
projects are focused on renovation
and repair. The top four facilities
related
projects responders would address
with the stimulus funds are building
repair (68%), building
renovation (59%), security measures
(57%) and deferred school
construction projects (46%).
Survey responders reported an interest in using one-time funds
to provide instructional materials, with an
especially strong focus on classroom technology. The top four
instructional materials-related projects
responders would address with the stimulus funds are classroom
technology (88%), classroom
equipment/supplies (63%), textbooks (46%), and music education
equipment/instruments (41%).
The strong focus on technology-related projects carried over to
professional development and informational
technology. The top four professional development-related
projects responders would address with the
stimulus funds are technology (71%), curriculum instruction (64%),
academic instruction (61%), and
assessment (47%). The top four technology-related projects
responders would address with the stimulus funds
are machines (computers, printers, etc.)(75%), infrastructure/hardware
(66%), software (51%), and
connectivity (47%).
Survey responders also identified a
set of back-logged transportationrelated projects. The top four
transportation projects responders
would address with the stimulus funds
are vehicle purchases/upgrades
(71%), fuel (59%), deferred structural
(bus barn) maintenance (29%), and
deferred fleet maintenance (19%).
Types of Positions Being
Eliminated
12%
17%
Core Teachers
17%
21%
33%
Other
Teachers
Support Staff
Student
Services Staff
Rural
Core Teachers
11% 9%
Other
19%
25%
Teachers
Support Staff
36%
Student
Services Staff
Suburban
13%
14%
Core Teachers
Other Teachers
18%
21%
34%
Support Staff
Student
Services Staff
Urban
Core Teachers
7%
14%
20%
Other
Teachers
22%
37%
Support Staff
Student
Services Staff
Other
All Responders
7%
Attrition
7%
25%
Staff Cuts
Declining
Enrollment
61%
Other
Economic Recovery & Reinvestment Act - main
features:
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$14 billion for a new School Modernization and Repair
Program (to be distributed under the Title I formula);
$13 billion for IDEA over two years;
$11 billion for Title I over two years;
$2 billion for School Improvement Grants;
$1 billion for Title II, Part D: Education Technology;
$250 million for states to develop longitudinal data
systems;
$66 million for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act;
$20.4 Billion for QZABs and Bonds for New Construction
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Economic Recovery Act - main features
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$79 billion for a state stabilization fund, including
– $39 billion for states to use principal elementary and secondary formula to
bring funding up to 2008 level;
– $15 billion to be awarded to states based on their performance in three areas,
including distribution of teachers, creation of longitudinal data systems and
development of assessments for special education and ELL; and
– $25 billion for states to spend anywhere within their state budget, including
education;
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$89 billion for Federal Medicaid Assistant Payments, FMAP,
which will provide necessary relief and reduce competition for
limited state dollars between Medicaid and education; and
$6 billion for broadband deployment.
Extension of the Medicaid Regulations moratoria until June
30, 2009.
Economic Recovery & Reinvestment Act main features:
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$16 billion for a new School Modernization and
Repair Program (likely to be distributed mostly
through competitive grants);
$13 billion for IDEA over two years;
$11 billion for Title I over two years;
$2 billion for School Improvement Grants;
$13 Billion for QZABs and Bonds for New
Construction
Increased marketability of tax exempt bonds
Will the Stimulus come through?
Probably because President Obama is so strong right now.